Jerry Angelo was general manager of the Chicago Bears from 2001-2011. Angelo hired coach Lovie Smith, who led the Bears to a Super Bowl appearance in 2006 season. He also spent time as a scout for the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys. He spoke with ThePostGame about his role on draft day and his thoughts on this year's draft.
ThePostGame: Would you like to tell me what you're doing with Thuzio?
JERRY ANGELO: Sure. They asked me prior to the Super Bowl if I would be their guest speaker at one of their members-only events so I said yes. So it was an opportunity to get back to Chicago, and it really was a great venue, entertaining a number of clients. We had approximately 50 people from all walks of the business life. Male, female, young and old. A very good entrepreneurial-type crowd. We headed downtown to one of the renown steakhouses in the private room. It was very casual. We had a long Q&A. I was able to let my hair down a little bit with no cameras or media taking notes. We had fun with it, but very first class setup and a very enjoyable evening. They have another one coming up, and I'd pay to go to this one with Lance Briggs. They usually get animated, marquee sports figures an they’re right on the money with Briggs.
TPG: What would you do on draft day as a general manager?
ANGELO: Everything is pretty well set a few days before the draft. Your boards are all set. We have them in terms of your strategies. You've pretty much talked over all the scenarios, all the what-ifs. If this happens or a player comes that you weren't expecting, if you get a trade call when you’re on the clock, how far down would you go and still get a quality player? All those types of scenarios you have to flesh out. So most of the time, 48 hours before the draft, it’s more now kind of catching your breath. You're excited obviously. You’re anticipating what could be, and you’re probably fielding some calls and making some calls to get a feel for what’s going to happen not only in the first round, but following rounds. Maybe there’s some trade talk as well and just posturing yourself in the event that you may want to do something on draft day.
TPG: What role do you have in the evaluating process of these prospects? What do you look for for a team to draft a certain player?
ANGELO: I’ve said this, but drafting talent is easy. Drafting talent with character and a good medical is the challenge. There’s a lot of things that the media don’t know. They’re looking more or less at the talent and that's how they’re drawing their conclusions for the most part, not all but most. But there's more to it. Your doctors have to pass the players on the physicals. There's some grey with the players; how much risk, certainly the character has to be determined. Each team has to make their own decision on that. It's very challenging, because when you draft a player, you are making a big investment and for that investment to pay dividends, it’s got to be in the league. You want players to have careers. You just don't want a guy for a year or two and you're looking for the same guy again in a couple of years in the draft process.
TPG: What positions do you feel are overvalued or undervalued in the draft? How important is the quarterback position?
ANGELO: Quarterback speaks for itself. It’s hard to win without one, so you've got to have somebody. There's probably a dozen teams that don't have an established quarterback leading them. Those are the teams and those first two picks will be one of those dozens teams. I don't look at it necessarily as the value of the position. It’s the quality of the player. You want to bring in quality players and the team that has the most quality players usually wins. Again, it's not an exact science. We've heard that cliché a number of times and that’s accurate. Every year is a different year. The field changes and it's a different year, so you have to be able to adapt and adjust. We all want to get good players, players we can win with. That’s the bottom line.
TPG: There’s a debate about the No. 1 pick, so if you were the general manager of the Buccaneers, who would take with that pick?
ANGELO: Right now, Winston looks like he’s got the pole position. Just given the fact that he’s prototypical of what you look for. He’s got it and he’s been groomed in a pro-type offense where Mariota hasn't been. That's not to say he's not going to be a fine quarterback, but there's more projection going on for him. Both are quality prospects. Mariota did an unbelievably good job at the combine, running in the [4.4 seconds]. Good size, quick release, a lot of things to work with. But Winston is just farther along because of the system. He's more poised and probably ready to go.
TPG: Are there any players you see as sleepers in this draft?
ANGELO: That's a tough one. I don’t study the draft as if I were running a team. I stay more focused on the top picks. But those sleeper types, I’m going to leave that for the scouts to find those. I did find one player that’s pretty interesting. He's not a sleeper. The offensive lineman out of Florida State [Cameron Erving]. He’s got an interesting resume, being on defense, having starts at tackle and then center. He's got nice size, he’s got a lot of versatility. It will be interesting to see where he goes. He’s supposedly going to go somewhere in the late first, early second round, but he seems like he could be a sleeper in terms of teams getting him a little later. He may bode very well once he gets into the league because of his versatility.
TPG: Do you have any memories from the NFL draft that stand out?
ANGELO: I've got a lot of great memories. I've certainly been fortunate to be around a lot of great players that we drafted. To single any one out, I really can’t sit there and do not and be unfair to somebody else. I’ve always had great scouts and they’ve done a good job doing their homework and always presented our staff with quality players and we certainly had a good amount of them over my career.
The 10 Players Drafted Before J.J. Watt In 2011
1. CAM NEWTON, CAROLINA PANTHERS
Few people enjoy the trifecta Newton enjoyed starting in his last season at Auburn. The quarterback won the Heisman Trophy and then led the school to a BCS Championship before the Panthers picked him first overall.
1. CAM NEWTON, CAROLINA PANTHERS
Newton may not be as elite a player as Watt, but it's hard to argue with Carolina taking him with the top pick. He's a two-time Pro Bowler who led the Panthers to the second round of the playoffs last year.
2. VON MILLER, DENVER BRONCOS
Like Newton, Von Miller had a strong track record coming out of college. He was a two-time AP All-American who led the NCAA in sacks in 2009.
2. VON MILLER, DENVER BRONCOS
Miller actually won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award over Watt in 2011. The one blemish on his resume came in 2013, when he missed the first six games of the NFL season to serve a suspension for allegedly trying to cheat on a drug test. But on the field, Miller has shined, making the Pro Bowl twice.
3. MARCELL DAREUS, BUFFALO BILLS
Combining size with surprising speed, Marcell Dareus was a nightmare for anyone facing Alabama's defensive line. The defensive end was a sight to see when picking up a fumble and running it back at an impressive clip.
3. MARCELl DAREUS, BUFFALO BILLS
Darueus brought that dominance into the NFL, where he's a star player on an underrated Buffalo defense. Despite having legal troubles involving guns and controlled substances, Dareus was a 2013 Pro Bowl selection.
4. A.J. GREEN, CINCINNATI BENGALS
Standing 6-foot-4, Green was a star from day one at Georgia, using his length to dominate the opposition en route to two straight All-SEC team selections.
4. A.J. GREEN, CINCINNATI BENGALS
But one could argue Green is even more dominant in the NFL, accumulating 30 touchdowns in his short career while earning three straight Pro Bowl selections.
5. PATRICK PETERSON, ARIZONA CARDINALS
Peterson's 2010 season at LSU was truly special. As a sparkplug for the Tigers' defensive and special teams units, Peterson was a unanimous All-America choice, as well as winner of the Thorpe Award and Bednarik Award.
5. PATRICK PETERSON, ARIZONA CARDINALS
In the NFL, little has changed. Peterson still stars regularly on defense and special teams, and he's become one of the most renowned cornerbacks in the league.
6. JULIO JONES, ATLANTA FALCONS
Jones earned acclaim at Alabama as a rare true freshman starter on the team. He developed into one of the team's most reliable stars on a team that won the BCS Championship in 2010.
6. JULIO JONES, ATLANTA FALCONS
Playing opposite receiver Roddy White, Jones has had an exceptional career. In 2012, he made the Pro Bowl thanks to a 1,200-yard, 10-touchdown season.
7. ALDON SMITH, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Aldon Smith was a big contributor at Missouri since he was a freshman, when he won the Big 12 Freshman of the Year award.
7. ALDON SMITH, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Smith started just as quickly in the NFL, setting the 49ers' rookie sack record and winning NFC Defensive Player of the Year in 2012. But after a run-in with TSA at an airport, during which he allegedly became belligerent, Smith was handed a nine-game suspension for this season.
8. JAKE LOCKER, TENNESSEE TITANS
Locker was considered an excellent pro prospect in college, where he led Washington while running a pro-style offense and displaying accurate throwing and strong footwork.
8. JAKE LOCKER, TENNESSEE TITANS
But Locker's career with Tennessee has been a roller coaster, with flashes of brilliance weighed down by injuries and poor decision-making. Without more consistent play, Locker's time as a starter might be winding down.
9. TYRON SMITH, DALLAS COWBOYS
At USC, Smith became one of college football's best lineman while protecting Trojan quarterbacks that also went to the NFL.
9. TYRON SMITH, DALLAS COWBOYS
In Dallas, Smith has evolved into a reliable Pro Bowl lineman. His service is one reason the Cowboys have jumped out to a fast start this season.
10. BLAINE GABBERT, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Gabbert was an electric quarterback in college, where he displayed great ground speed to go with a beautiful throwing motion.
10. BLAINE GABBERT, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
But Gabbert didn't translate to the NFL game. He struggled with timing and comfort in the pocket and lost his starting job last season. This past NFL draft, the Jaguars selected Blake Bortles to start their QB project anew.
11. J.J. WATT, HOUSTON TEXANS
J.J. Watt was already a monster in college. After two years at Central Michigan, Watt transferred to Wisconsin, where he won the Lott Trophy in 2010.
11. J.J. WATT, HOUSTON TEXANS
But you could make a strong argument that Watt has been even better in the NFL. This year alone, he's scored three touchdowns -- a remarkable feat for a defensive end.
