The Bear’s Den, April 16, 2020

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

This week we are on to Notorious Earworm songs... those songs that you can’t get out of your head... how about some Chumbawamba?

BEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS, BEAR DOWN!!!!

BEARRRSSSS

In search of a back. – Irish Sweetness – Bears Talk - The experts have all opined on what they see as the needs of the Chicago Bears going into the 2020 draft. Nowhere is anyone talking about the massive and gaping hole at running back.

Cameron Dantzler Makes Up for Lost Time with Bears - SI.com - The nightmare of all nightmares for NFL draft prospects in this strange year is haunting Mississippi State cornerback Cameron Dantzler.

Bradlee Anae an Edge Rusher with an Edge Bears Can Use - SI.com - Utah’s Bradlee Anae turned in some pretty mundane numbers at the NFL Scouting Combine for an edge rusher.

Potential Bears 2020 NFL Draft Targets: Florida International QB James Morgan - Bleacher Nation - The Chicago Bears are set to embark on what might be the most important draft weekend of GM Ryan Pace’s tenure. After delivering a dud in 2019, they must make changes at important positions to get back on the winning track. After navigating the early waves of free agency, the team has moved into NFL Draft mode. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the more promising draft-eligible prospects to see if there’s a fit for the Bears in 2020.

Emma: Assessing Bears’ QB Options In NFL Draft - 670 The Score - When Bears general manager Ryan Pace joined the organization in January 2015, he privately planned to take multiple chances at the quarterback position. But since then, he has selected just one quarterback in five drafts: Mitchell Trubisky at No. 2 overall in 2017.

Bears DL Roy Robertson-Harris Signs 1-Year Tender - 670 The Score - Bears defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris on Wednesday signed his one-year tender with the team, keeping him under contract in Chicago in 2020.

Bears defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris signs tender - Chicago Sun-Times - The move was considered a certainty after the Bears attached a second-round tender to the restricted free agent last month.

2020 NFL Draft: 5 tight ends Bears could pick, from Cole Kmet to Brycen Hopkins - NBC Sports Chicago - There may only be one or two legitimate tight end options for the Bears in the second round of this year’s draft, but there is some intriguing talent to be potentially had if they trade down.

NFL Draft analysis: Bears not in the market for a running back - Chicago Sun-Times - David Montgomery, a third-round pick last year, was no better than Jordan Howard. But that’s considered an indictment of the Bears’ woeful offense than a misjudgment of Montgomery.

Chicago Bears Q&A with Brad Biggs - Chicago Tribune - Brad Biggs' latest Bears mailbag includes questions about drafting a safety in Round 2, cornerback options in free agency and what the virtual offseason program might look like.

NFL is reportedly mulling contingency plans for delayed start, empty stadiums - NBC Sports Chicago - The plan is still to play a full season with fans in attendance, however.

Ryan Pace's remote NFL Draft war room is just as complex as you'd imagine - NBC Sports Chicago - The Bears' GM has apparently lived on Skype for the last month or so.

Pace details his setup for NFL's first virtual draft - ChicagoBears.com - With NFL team facilities closed due to the coronavirus, Bears general manager Ryan Pace has been preparing for the first virtual draft in league history in the basement of his home.

NFL Draft: Bears' top 10 second-round picks in franchise history - NBC Sports Chicago - While the Bears don’t have a first-round pick, they do have two in the second round. In the past, the Bears have had a lot of success with players drafted in the second round, including two hall of famers. Let’s take a look at the Top-10 Bears second-round picks. Slideshow.

Odell Beckham Jr.'s name keeps showing up in Vikings trade rumors - NBC Sports Chicago - Do we have a blockbuster NFL trade on our hands??

DE Roy Robertson-Harris signs tender, returns to Bears - Bears Wire - The Bears returned an essential part of their DL, announcing that DE Roy Robertson-Harris has signed his 2nd-round tender.

Dark Horse QB Piques Interest of Bears, Patriots, Panthers - SI.com - The final days before the NFL draft can lead to wild talk as teams try to dredge up talent using every possible option.

RIP

Legendary Packers defensive end Willie Davis has died at 85 - Acme Packing Company - The Packers family has lost a legendary player, businessman, and gentleman.

POLISH SAUSAGE

“No Coke, Pepsi” will be the motto for the NFL’s 58 on-air draft prospects - ProFootballTalk - The motto for draft night will be “no Coke, Pepsi,” because the NFL wants incoming players who will provide free content during the draft to not infringe on the league’s paid partnerships.

2020 NFL Draft: QB Jordan Love among six high-risk prospects - NFL.com - Will Jordan Love be a pick machine in the NFL? Can A.J. Epenesa and K'Lavon Chaisson flourish as professional edge rushers? Led by the analytics of the Next Gen Stats NFL Draft Model, Mike Band identifies the six potential first-round picks who carry the most risk.

2020 NFL Draft: CeeDee Lamb among seven can't-miss prospects - NFL.com - By combining the scouting eye of Daniel Jeremiah and the analytics of the Next Gen Stats NFL Draft Model, Mike Band identifies seven can't-miss prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft.

KNOW THINE ENEMY

Kirk Cousins: Games without fans "would kind of be refreshing" - ProFootballTalk - As 49ers tight end George Kittle said last week, there’s a silver lining to the prospect of playing games without fans, specifically when the time comes to play in places like Seattle or New Orleans.

OBJ trade: Browns reportedly may send WR to Vikings - NBC Sports - OBJ trade: The Cleveland Browns are reportedly considering a trade of star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to the Minnesota Vikings.

Looking at recent players selected 22nd and 25th in the first round of the NFL Draft - Daily Norseman - Are there big names? Are there busts? Let’s find out

APC Mock Draft 2020: Packers find an answer at right tackle with the 30th pick - Acme Packing Company - The back third of round one in our mock is here, and it includes the Packers’ selection with pick number 30.

NFC North Free Agency: Detroit Lions additions and subtractions in 2020 - Acme Packing Company - Let’s take a look at the moves across the NFC North division this offseason, moving on to the Lions in Motor City.

NFC North Free Agency: Chicago Bears additions and subtractions in 2020 - Acme Packing Company - Let’s take a look at the moves across the NFC North division this offseason, starting with the Packers’ oldest rivals.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Schweickert & Berckes: WCG Draft Livestream feat. Bears over Beers! - Windy City Gridiron - The crossover everybody wants, as Jeff and EJ take their podcasting act to the WCG Livestream arena for a live discussion of the draft!

Infante: Vegas favors Bears taking defensive player with first second-round pick - Windy City Gridiron - Though their offense was the bigger issue in 2019, bettors believe the Bears will address their defense with their first draft pick, presumably in the secondary.

Wiltfong: Roy Robertson-Harris signs his 1-year tender with Bears - Windy City Gridiron - Big number 95 is back with the Bears!

Zeglinski & Company: Get familiar with WCG - Last suppers - Windy City Gridiron - Everything and anything is on the menu. Eat your heart and stomach out. (Not literally.)

Wiltfong: Grading Ryan Pace’s Third Round Draft Picks - Windy City Gridiron - In this seven-part series we’re asking you guys to grade each round of Ryan Pace’s drafts through the years.

THE RULES

Windy City Gridiron Community Guidelines - SBNation.com - We strive to make our communities open and inclusive to sports fans of all backgrounds. The following is not permitted in comments. No personal attacks, politics, gender based insults of any kind, racial insults, etc.

WCG CONTRIBUTORS BEARS PODCASTS & STREAMS

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