jonjon

I generally do at least once during the first round of the draft

None of those picks have anything to do whatsoever with Richardson. Richardson is like a Winston wannabe and how's he worked out? I will literally laugh out loud at any team who drafts him in the first round. QBs with a lot of athleticism and "high ceiling" with little in the way of actual credentials or production don't exactly have a great history in the NFL.

I think this is a situation (as in most) where stats fail, or at least can be misleading and are overrated. The only way to really tell how good a QB is is to watch him play. A lot. I wish we had easy access to game tapes of the top QBs this past year. Watching them would IMO be the only way to really know how good they are.

Not with the first pick at least.

A reasonable viewpoint, there are no guarantees. But they don't have to pick one with that first rounder, although the pressure on Ballard to do so is so intense I think he will if for no other reason than to save his skin. But given the IMO underwhelming options, if they can trade down and get a ton for it for a team that DOES panic, I think that is the smart move. Then they can move up next year if necessary even if they have a lower pick. But trading up would be the very dumbest thing he could do given the cost and no surefire QB available. THAT would be panic.

...and none of the avail QBs in this year's draft are near any of those QBs in terms of talent. We could actually have a lower draft pick next year and a better chance at a franchise QB. I'm not saying we shouldn't draft a QB, but as stated earlier don't draft one out of panic or out of an instant gratificiaton need. Play for the long haul. I also think it's hilarious that Richardson is being lumped in with the other three. Heck for that matter it's semi-amusing that Levis is really. Here's a guy who couldn't beat out Sean Clifford at Penn State.

It doesn't appear Ryan is retiring, so we are "stuck" with him and that large chunk of lost change. Given we're almost certain to draft a QB with that first pick who won't cost much, it shouldn't hurt us too much, but having that extra money could have gone elsewhere.

Players don't "price themselves." If their price is high, it's because they're good. And players aren't re-signed for many reasons, it's not just they aren't good enough. Salary cap management is a very tricky and complex thing.

If it's Levis, I won't.

Yeah. Their contracts ended.

esp for our big positions of need like OL. But still there is talent to be had. I hope he doesn't just do a hard pass like last year.

Sadly, that's a good point. He loves the "athletic" guys with good measurables, even if they underwhelmed in college. Lord help us, we're getting Levis.

Yeah I'm sure once that gets out his stock will plummet.

Which he will have anyway because the Bears aren't taking a QB. No way does this happen.

PS can someone explain this "the top three QBs" thing? No way would I put Levis in the same grouping with Young and Stroud. Sigh. It's just a shame this is a weak QB class.