"Pre"-Combine Mock Draft

Don't call me an expert, but this is how I see the first round going at the moment. This will probably change over the next few days as NFL Combine testing results happen.

Draft Nightmare: Brock Bowers at #9

Let me preface this with a few statements. First of all, I love Brock Bowers as a player. He shows flashes of George Kittle after the catch. I can say confidently that he will be a monster tight end at the next level if any team (other than Pittsburgh, s/o Arthur Smith for landing an OC job) takes him. Furthermore, if Odunze and Nabers are both off the board at this point, I have little hesitation with declaring Brock as the best offensive weapon available.

But here's the problem. If Brock Bowers is available at 9, the odds of a similar caliber of prospect at a position of greater need also being available are astronomically high. For reference, assuming Chicago takes a quarterback at #1 and trades Fields, the ONLY possible outcome of the subsequent picks leading up to their next selection in which I could potentially consider Bowers to be the most valuable asset that the Bears could acquire with that pick (not including a trade-back) is as follows:

1. Caleb Williams to CHI

2. Marvin Harrison Jr. to WAS

3. Joe Alt to NE

4. Malik Nabers to ARI

5. Olu Fashanu to LAC

6. Dallas Turner to NYG

7. Rome Odunze to TEN

8. Jared Verse to ATL

Even then, it's a toss-up for me between him, one of the top tackles and Nate Wiggins or Quinyon Mitchell for me. I would almost consider a guy like Laiatu Latu, Byron Murphy or Jer'Zhan Newton here if I valued DL talent highly (which I do). This also doesn't take into account the trade value of the pick, which could be unbelievably high for QB-needy teams looking to secure their future at the position with the sliding Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels.

If you couldn't already tell, the absurdity of this scenario is a bit beyond realistic, as four of the seven teams picking in this range outside of Chicago would not hesitate to pick Maye (who would've almost certainly been a lock for #1 overall in either of the last 2 drafts) if he happened to fall to them, and at least three of those teams would highly consider taking (if they hadn't already traded up for) Jayden Daniels if he was available.

So, assuming all three of the top QBs go in the top 8 picks, there is guaranteed to be a player of (in my opinion) equal or greater caliber at a position of greater value or need (or both) available at 9. Not only this, but new OC Shane Waldron is notorious for heavily favoring 3+ WR sets over multiple-TE sets (not a knock on him, just an observation), and the Bears gave a pretty sizeable contract extension to current starting TE Cole Kmet last offseason (who performed well in 2023). All being said. if Ryan Poles and the Bears' front office take Bowers over ANY of the players listed above, all hope I had for the future of this franchise will quickly and violently flush down the toilet.

Mock Prospect Breakdown: Florida Atlantic QB Alvin Harley

Sophomore quarterback Alvin Harley drops back on a crucial 3rd down in Sunday's bowl win over Houston. Note: This is not an actual image of FAU legend Alvin Harley. All real image use intended for fictional purposes only.

As draft season ramps up, NFL teams and draft experts are staring to develop firm opinions on the potential and ability of each individual prospect in the class. Many non-experts form these opinions as well, usually with less clear of a picture and more of a hunch. My goal with these prospect breakdowns is to give a little clearer of a view of certain hotly-debated prospects for those who don't feel like deep-diving into the tape themselves so that the general public (or at least those that read these) can form well-grounded opinions to impress their friends and social media followers with. To introduce the topic, I'll be breaking down the star QB of my current NCAA Football 13 FAU Dynasty (currently in the 2015 preseason). I may continue to release prospect/season reviews from my FAU Dynasty in the future as well.

Alvin Harley - QB, Florida Atlantic

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 178 lbs.

Draft Eligibility Status: True Junior (eligible following the 2015 season)

Games Played: 26

Stats (Passing): 60% completion (328/541), 7,022 yards, 65 TD, 33 INT, 270 YPG, 13 YPA, 197.1 QBR

Stats (Rushing + Sacks): 172 ATT (89 rush, 63 sacks), 410 yards, 6 TD, 2.3 YPA, 167 YAC, 12 runs 20+, 12 BTK, 9 fumbles

Other Noteworthy Stats: 4 solo tackles

Awards: None

Scouting Notes

• Elite arm talent from the pocket. Rarely misses his target (if ever), and has high-end arm strength to drive the ball into tight windows and stretch the field. Inconsistent on the move in terms of accuracy, but still shows off his ability to launch a rocket and adjust the angle of the throw on occasion outside the pocket.

• Tends to panic a little when sensing pressure. Has drives and plays where he settles down and gets the ball out accurately with a defender bearing down on him, but not a consistent habit. Way too often runs into sacks rather than away from them, and rarely flows to the left when pressured from the right.

• Elite top-end speed, but struggles to accelerate and pull away from chasing defenders. Had a few times when a defensive lineman ran him down on the move due to his lack of burst.

• Aggressive to a fault as both a passer and ball-carrier. Will test tight windows frequently and can get caught up in a play's potential on the ground, resulting in higher-than-average touchdown and turnover rates in both phases.

• Impressively clutch player. Has led plenty of impressive comeback efforts already only ten games into his sophomore season, and has been the victim of crucial-down receiver drops throughout his tenure. Big part of the Owls' success this season.

• Significantly underweight for the quarterback position, which has led to him exiting play for parts of games due to injury. Has room to add a little functional weight.

• High effort player, and a great locker room presence. Expects a lot from his teammates stemming from a strong desire to see them succeed, which has led to some emotional outbursts on the sideline. No known off-field concerns.