You're not slick, ESPN.
With only two weeks left before the NFL Draft mercifully arrives, everyone's digging deep into the bottom of their pockets to find the last bit of content they can juice out of the pre-draft process. The big boards have all settled in, the re-drafts have come and gone, and we may, in fact, be out of tape to grind.
So now's when everyone starts to get creative. For example, ESPN published a long list of prospect rankings – again, for some reason? – and you cannot covince me that their Tyler Warren comp wasn't done on purpose. Warren, who's been a popular pick for the Bears over the past few weeks, just so happened to get a Very Bearsy projection: former tight end and fan favorite Greg Olsen. How convenient!Tyler Warren could be the Bears' next Greg Olsen according to ESPN
ESPN's comp: Greg Olsen
"Warren was a huge part of Penn State's offensive improvement last season, posting an incredible 104 catches for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns. He was at his best against USC, when he had 17 catches for 224 yards and one score. Warren has the speed to separate downfield and is the ideal "move" tight end, yet he does it with enormous size. He also showcased his all-around versatility, playing Wildcat quarterback and even center on a trick play."
I am not nearly smart enough as a draft analysis to actually debate this comp on its football merits, so I'm not going to even try. Miller is one of ESPN's draft guys for a reason – if he tells me that Warren actually is the next coming of Olsen, I'll believe him. Still, you just know some digital content VP had a hand in this – they absolutely recognized that a popular Bears pick being compared to one of the better 'what if' cases in recent team history would play well on the internet.
I don't even hate it – the game's the game. Warren and Cole Kmet could do some damage together, and at the risk of angering all the St Viator High School alums reading this blog, tight end is still a position of need for Chicago. If they can land the next Olsen – and, you know, actually keep him this time – that'd be as good a draft pick as any this year. Fair play, ESPN. Fair play.
