The real work happened on the phones. The Bears fleeced their trade partners, turning their picks into a noticeably bigger pile than they started with. This is how you run a draft, and the A- reflects it.

However the rest shakes out, Carson at that price is a win they earned. Leaving edge rusher unaddressed is the roster risk they will have to answer for in the fall. Adding Derwin James Jr. by trade rounds out the weekend beyond the rookies.

It is a bet on later, and a defensible one for a team playing the long game.

Bottom line, with Joe Alt leading the way, this is a class that should pay off fast and rarely be regretted.