Bears Draft Trade Possibilities, Roach’s Future: Boomer’s Mailbag February 25, 2013
Dec. 23, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA: Chicago Bears wide receiver Devin Hester (23) reacts against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
I was asked a great question on the Bear Goggles On Facebook page and thought it would make for a good post to kick off the 2013 edition of Boomer’s Mailbag.
This question comes from John Mack (via Facebook):
What would the Bears have to give up to acquire 2 or 3 more 2nd rd selections? Since O and D-linemen are plenty on tap, would a trading our 1st rd pick to Miami or Cincinnati for BOTH of their 2 rd picks as well as packing Devin Hester and Kellen Davis off to NYJ for their 2nd + 3rd rd picks be worth it? This seems like a good draft for DTs, LTs, OGs, and LBs. Time to star shopping Bears, I’d be comfortable seeing the beloved select 5 times in round 2 and sell the rest of the farm to prospective teams. Some good old fashion wheelin’ and dealin’ would be nice.
John, after reading your question, I think Phil Emery should be looking over his shoulder, especially if you can swing some of the deals from your question. I have to admit that when I first read your proposal of the Bears trading their first round pick to either the Dolphins or the Bengals for their pair of second rounders, it sounded like a big reach to me. But in fairness to you and to do my due diligence, I referred to the handy NFL Trade Value chart, which assigns a point value to each pick in the draft, so you can see what trades could be made.
The Bengals hold picks 5 and 21 of the second round, numbers 37 and 53 overall. Those picks have values of 530 and 370 each, for a total of 900 points. The 20th overall selection that the Bears hold is worth 850 points, so maybe you’re not too far off. The Dolphins hold picks 10 and 22 in the second round, worth a respective 480 and 360 points, so that might be more reasonable.
Now that we’ve concluded that it’s feasible, let’s consider if it actually makes sense for the Bears. Clearly they’re in need of a few more picks with so many holes to fill and not much to spend in free agency. They already traded away their third rounder (part of the Brandon Marshall trade) and their seventh rounder (for the failed Brian Price trade with the Bucs). If the Bears believe there isn’t a big dropoff between 20 and either 37 or 42, they’d do well to get another late round selection in the process.
It’s starting to look like the top tackle prospects (Luke Joeckel, Eric Fisher and Lane Johnson) will be off the board when the Bears take their turn at #20. Top guards Chance Warmack and Jonathan Cooper may also be off the board too at that point. Unless the Bears are in love with one of the top tight ends (Eiffert or Ertz), they might see a chance to take TE Gavin Escobar or Rice’s Vance McDonald later in the draft and take the next rung of offensive line talent in the second round.
As far as your Hester and Kellen Davis package deal, I think you’re dreaming. I doubt you’d be able to get higher than a fifth round pick for Hester and no one in their right mind is taking Kellen Davis and his contract off your hands, not even his mother.
The next question comes from Sam Solarz via Twitter:
Roach take over for Lach if he leaves? Or do they address in #Draft#Bears
Indications are that the Bears and Urlacher’s people are meeting, so hopefully we don’t have to worry about it and #54 is back patrolling the middle of the Bears’ defense. Don’t forget that Nick Roach, who filled in for Urlacher during his various injuries last preseason and late in the season after he was injured vs the Seahawks, is also a free agent. Of course, I think the Bears will look to bring Roach back if they can’t reach agreement with Urlacher on a short deal.
Roach’s value is diminished if he doesn’t fill in for Urlacher. As the Sam linebacker, he’s out in nickel and dime situations, so you’d be paying for a part time player. If Lovie were still around, I think he’d be a shoe-in to be back. With a new regime, flip a coin to decide if Roach comes back.
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