, weak-side linebacker and arguably cornerback, Poles needs more flexibility than he currently has in terms of draft capital to begin acquiring building blocks for the future. The Bears could/should be seeking three new starters on the defensive line and two on the offensive line. All of these answers won’t come via free agency. It would be best if most of them arrived via a blockbuster draft.
Alabama quarterback Bryce Young speaks during a news conference at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis on March 3, 2023. I’m not convinced Young’s measurements changed many questions about him. He’s still undersized. Perhaps getting over 200 pounds will help him, but is he going to weigh that much in Week 4 of his rookie season? Maybe a small handful of teams won’t carebecause they really like what they see on tape.
“You are going to have to take a risk with any of these quarterbacks,” Jeremiah said in a media conference call. “It’s just a different type of risk. Some might be how they’re going to continue to develop. The accuracy is going to improve or the instincts are going to get better. With Bryce, the gamble is just the durability. Is he going to be able to physically hold up?”
Some have suggested the Bears should deal down no lower than No. 4 with the Indianapolis Colts. The idea is the Bears likely would be in position to select one of the top two defensive players, although that theory was clouded last week by the arrest of Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter on charges of reckless driving and street racing in connection with a crash that resulted in the deaths of a Bulldogs teammate and a staff member.
Along those lines, there’s no guarantee the Texans are set on drafting a quarterback. Perhaps GM Nick Caserio will go that route, but the Texans have a roster in disarray, much like the Bears, and a rookie quarterback wouldn’t have much of a chance for instant success. It’s possible the Texans take that view and decide to do everything they can to improve the depth chart around the quarterback with an eye toward adding one a year from now.
“The position that we are in, we are totally connected to the quarterbacks that are coming out,” Carroll said last week. “This is a really huge opportunity for us. It’s a rare opportunity for us. We’ve been drafting in the low 20s for such a long time, you just don’t get the chance for these guys. So we’re deeply involved with all of them.”