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When the time finally came for new Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles to enter the 2022 NFL draft — after 38 players had been selected and a dozen trades were made league-wide — the team’s draft board at Halas Hall pointed Poles to a defensive prospect.In the second round Friday, Poles made Washington cornerback Kyler Gordon his first pick as a GM and the headliner of the Bears’ 2022 draft class. A little more than 45 minutes later, Poles stayed on that side of the ball with the No. 48 pick, adding Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker to the new defense being installed by coach Matt Eberflus.AdvertisementSo much for any urgency to get young quarterback Justin Fields help early in the draft with a playmaking receiver or needed offensive line support. Instead, Poles used his two second-round picks to add two potential Week 1 starters to the defensive backfield.Gordon played three seasons in the Pac-12 but only started as a junior at Washington in 2021. The expectation is he will quickly emerge as a starter in Eberflus’ defense and plug an obvious hole in the secondary.AdvertisementGordon has drawn praise from talent evaluators for his toughness and vision and, perhaps most of all, his versatility to be play both outside and in the slot.Francis St. Paul, the Bears’ area scout in the West, labeled Gordon an “elite mover.”“His change of direction. His feet. (His) ball skills,” St. Paul said. “That stuck out.”Washington cornerback Kyler Gordon puts on a hat after being selected by the Chicago Bears during the second round of the NFL draft, April 29, 2022, in Las Vegas. (John Locher/AP)Gordon was also a special teams standout in college and has proven to be a willing and physical tackler. He grew up participating in martial arts and all sorts of traveling competitive dance — from ballet to jazz to lyrical.Ballet, Gordon said, may have been the most demanding, requiring him to improve his flexibility, his core strength and his attention to detail, all things that have helped him as a football player.“(I remember) how strict, honestly, a lot of teachers were in how they want you to perfect your craft and whatever choreography that may be,” Gordon said. “It’s tough. They just demand perfection.“I’ve got a little bit of that in me, too. Just trying to do what I do and perfect my craft.”St. Paul sees the dance influence in Gordon’s football skill set.Advertisement“You see it in his balance,” he said. “You see it in his change of direction.”Still, Gordon’s two interceptions last season were the only two of his career. And some evaluators wonder if he can overcome a lack of top-tier speed at the next level.Gordon’s 40-yard dash time of 4.52 seconds at the scouting combine in March may have been a significant moment on his pre-draft runway. If that ordinary time gave other teams pause, for the Bears it generated a few fist pumps and a small celebration.“We were like, ‘Uh oh, we may have a chance (to draft him) now,’” St. Paul said. “He plays way faster than that time. And you see it all the time. There are a lot of players that don’t run as fast as we’re all expecting but they play faster. And he has great play speed.”Brisker, meanwhile, spent extensive time with the Bears in recent months, first during an interview at the combine and later on a top-30 visit to Halas Hall. His purpose left an impression.Penn State defensive back Jaquan Brisker prepares to run the 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine, March 6, 2022, in Indianapolis. (Charlie Neibergall / AP)“He’s very direct,” Bears scout Chris Prescott said. “You feel a presence about him. When you meet him, it’s just a good feeling. You feel a tough, hard-nosed kid. … Football is his life. This is this kid’s life. So there’s a lot to like when you see a guy who is so passionate about football.”AdvertisementPrescott appreciates Brisker’s toughness and sees his value to the defense as a player who can be impactful inside the box but still be dependable in coverage.“He’s kind of a good chess piece,” Prescott said. “A lot of moving parts. You can play him close to the line of scrimmage and he can come up and play the run and fit in there. But he can also revert and you flip him back where he has enough speed and range and good enough eyes where he can go locate the ball and play the ball well.”The Bears entered the draft with six selections and a boatload of roster needs. So just about anything they did Friday night would have qualified as need-based. Still, the early emphasis on defense won’t sit well with pockets of the fan base given the need to catalyze Fields’ development as soon as possible.The Bears waited until the third round to add an offensive player, using the 71st pick on speedy Tennessee receiver Velus Jones, who will also arrive with the potential to become the team’s new kickoff returner. The Bears will have additional opportunities to add talent and depth on Saturday, currently owning a fifth-round pick plus two more in the sixth.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Chicago Blackhawks forward Philipp Kurashev is about as subdued a personality as they come, but he broke out in a big smile when he thought back to the first time he met Pavel Datsyuk, one of his idols.To the best of his recollection, Kurashev’s uncle knew Datsyuk and introduced his teenage nephew to the “The Magic Man” after the Detroit Red Wings lost a home playoff game to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2015.Advertisement“It was really awesome,” Kurashev told the Tribune before the Hawks’ season finale Friday against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. “I was way too shy. I don’t think I could really talk to him. I was too excited.”For Kurashev, Datsyuk and Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin have been his “main guys,” the players he holds up as model pros: “Everyone knows how good they are and why I would like them.”AdvertisementFriday’s curtain-closer marked the completion of Kurashev’s second season, though this time he was around the team for a full 82-game season and feeling more like a veteran.“It’s a really big summer for me,” he said. “Now I experienced a full NHL season. The one before was kind of short and now I know exactly what it takes.“I’m trying to work in areas in my game that can help me become the player I want to become.”Chicago Blackhawks forward Philipp Kurashev (23) brings the puck from behind the net as Edmonton Oilers defenseman William Lagesson (84) looks on at the United Center, March 3, 2022. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)Kurashev had six goals and 15 assists in 66 games entering Friday, but the ups and downs he faced would make any 22-year-old’s head spin.“We had a tough start to the year, and the losing streak and all those moments that were kind of hard for us,” he said of the Hawks’ 1-9-2 start — beginning with a nine-game winless streak — that led to coach Jeremy Colliton’s firing in early November.Kurashev has gone from the fourth to the top line (including coach Derek King trusting him with the Jonathan Toews-Patrick Kane reunion line) and everything in between.Kurashev also had a three-game stint in Rockford in December and a series of healthy scratches in March and April.For example, his play against the San Jose Sharks on April 14 prompted King to bench him for the next game against the Nashville Predators.Advertisement“Wasn’t drastic,” King said at the time. “But, you know, don’t give a coach an excuse to pull a guy, right?”Kurashev said he never let it affect him mentally.“Control what you can,” he said.There also have been glimpses of a player rounding out his game: two assists against the Los Angeles Kings on April 12, and a career high four-blocks against the Philadelphia Flyers on April 25.And Kurashev is versatile. He can play center or wing, though he spent 57% of his ice time at left wing, according to leftwinglock.com.As quick as King has been to give Kurashev the hook, he still has high expectations for the forward.Advertisement“Ideal world, he’s got to be a top-six player,” King said earlier this month.Said Kurashev on Friday: “It’s a great compliment (that) the coach thinks like this. I have a lot of work to do this offseason and hopefully come back a better player and fill out this role.”Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.That’s one area where coach and player agree.The other part of King’s assessment was this: “The work part of it — the consistency on the work ethic — was his struggle. He’d give you a couple good games and then he’d fade away.”Kurashev said he wants to use the summer to improve his play away from the puck.“Be in better position, always, (and) try to be a player they could lean on,” he said. “And then offensively, too, get to areas where I can get the puck to shoot more and use my shot and my skill more.” AdvertisementToo bad he never got any shooting tips from Datsyuk when he had the chance.“I haven’t talked to him since then,” Kurashev laughed. “Hopefully I wouldn’t be as shy as when I was 14 and I would actually ask him some questions. There’s a lot of things, how he plays the game, how he was a complete player. There was nothing he couldn’t do, just ask him some of those things.”Then after some thought, Kurashev said, “Maybe he can show me a Magic trick.”

After sitting out the first round of the NFL draft, Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles made his first selections Friday night from Halas Hall.The Bears started the night with three picks on Day 2 — at Nos. 39 and 48 in the second round and 71 in the third round.AdvertisementThe Bears also have three picks on Day 3 — Nos. 148 and 150 in the fifth round and 186 in the sixth round.Here’s a quick look at each of the Bears new players.AdvertisementWashington cornerback Kyler Gordon stands on the stage after being selected by the Chicago Bears during the second round of the NFL draft, April 29, 2022, in Las Vegas. (John Locher/AP)No. 39, second roundHeight, weight: 5-11, 194Why the Bears picked himThe Bears had a major need for a starter at cornerback opposite Jaylon Johnson, and now they have an option. Gordon had two interceptions and nine passes defended in 12 games in 2021, being named a first-team All-Pac 12 player. He finished his career with 14 passes defended, 98 tackles, three tackles for a loss and two forced fumbles. Gordon’s teammate, cornerback Trent McDuffie, was picked 21st in the first round by the Kansas City Chiefs.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement

It’s hard to remember the Chicago Cubs were 11 games over .500 in mid-June 2021, looking like a team on a mission to avoid a fire sale.But that’s exactly what happened, of course, and after team President Jed Hoyer’s summer sell-off led to a 91-loss season, the new-look Cubs started this season with several fresh faces and lowered expectations.AdvertisementWhether it was a rebuild, a re-do or a retro version of a mid-1990s Cubs team, there was no pressure to get off to a great start. And without any expectations, there was no angst Friday over a mediocre 8-11 record heading into a three-game series against the Brewers in Milwaukee.The preferred focus was on the team’s improved hitting. The Cubs entered Friday leading the majors with a .260 average and a .344 on-base percentage, while ranking second to the Los Angeles Angels with a .746 OPS in spite of a lineup without anyone named Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani or Anthony Rendon.AdvertisementThat begs the question of whether it’s just a small sample size — the equivalent of a Yermín Mercedes-like April — or a sign of better things to come.The Cubs set out to produce a lineup that made more contact after the swing-and-miss-and-miss-and-miss era that followed their 2016 World Series title. And so far, so good.Last April the Cubs hit .216 and averaged 4.4 runs per game. Now they’re not only leading the majors in hitting but averaging 4.8 runs per game, albeit with a 21-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates skewing the numbers.Small sample sizes are fine by me. They helped get me through college.But even after three-plus decades of covering baseball, I’m still not sure when a “small sample size” morphs into a big enough sample size to make realistic judgments. I asked the Tribune’s Cubs beat writer, Meghan Montemurro, to ask manager David Ross when a sample size was considered legit.One month? Two months? If we thought the Cubs were legit at 11 games over .500 in mid-June last year, we were sadly mistaken.“Yeah, I’ll send one of our R&D guys out here to talk to you about that,” Ross said in Atlanta.I wasn’t interested enough to force Meghan to listen to an R&D guy, which is cruel and unusual punishment. But fortunately Ross was just kidding.Advertisement“To be honest with you, there’s probably five to 10 different stats where there’s some of them that normalized quicker than others,” he said. “Whether it’s strikeouts, exit velocity, contact rate, the on-base (percentage). … Some of those things take a little while till you get to (about) 100-150 at-bats. And some of them normalize a lot quicker, like 50 at-bats.“That’s what they would tell you. And so that’s what I’m sticking with.”Fair enough. But Ross quickly changed course and went on to say that a sample size to assess one player may be completely different for another. He’s just getting to know Seiya Suzuki, but already can tell he’s a major-league hitter.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.“I think you’ve got to watch with your eye, too, right?” he said. “I mean, you’ve got to trust in the season and the long process and the guys that you believe in, and some of the guys you know.“Let’s take Ian Happ, for example. Last year he had a really tough first half but he’s a guy we believe in, tried to keep (in the lineup). Give them days off here and there, but still have moments where you’ve got to just get out there and figure it out. He figures it out and has a great second half, so he’s rolled that right into this season with a lot of confidence.“So you’ve got to trust in your players. We’ve got guys in here that are going to be here all year, and we need them to be successful. … You try to just rely on that.”AdvertisementHapp entered Friday’s game with 102 at-bats since September 18, hitting .315 with five home runs, 22 RBIs, a .424 OBP and a .924 OPS over that span. That seems like enough of a sample size to believe he’s becoming the hitter the Cubs envisioned when they made him the ninth pick of the 2015 draft. After a .226 average last season, there was some question if he would be non-tendered.Hoyer stuck with Happ after his hot finish, and though it’s early, his faith appears to be paying off.“Everybody’s going to have ups and downs,” Ross said. “It’s a really hard season to just be great all the way or just stink all the way through. We’ve got good players that have got some track records. We’re going to trust in them to continue to work and get better at their weaknesses, and to hone in on their strengths, and be the best version we can.“Be better at the end than we are now.”

NEW YORK — Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer was suspended Friday for two full seasons without pay by Major League Baseball for violating the league’s domestic violence and sexual assault policy, which he denies.Bauer’s lengthy suspension comes after a San Diego woman, whom the pitcher had met through social media, alleged that Bauer beat and sexually abused her last year. Los Angeles prosecutors said in February there was insufficient evidence to prove the woman’s accusations beyond a reasonable doubt.Advertisement“In the strongest possible terms, I deny committing any violation of the league’s domestic violence and sexual assault policy,” Bauer said Friday in a statement. “I am appealing this action and expect to prevail. As we have throughout this process, my representatives and I respect the confidentiality of the proceedings.”If the suspension is upheld, Bauer will lose about $60 million in salary.AdvertisementBauer earlier this week sued his accuser in federal court, a move that came less than three months after prosecutors decided not to file criminal charges against the pitcher.Bauer named the woman and one of her attorneys, Niranjan Fred Thiagarajah, as defendants in the lawsuit. The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they have been victims of sexual assault.The pitcher was placed on administrative leave last July 2 under the joint domestic violence and sexual assault policy of MLB and the players’ association. The leave has been repeatedly extended.Bauer has continued to be paid his $32 million salary while on leave.After winning his first Cy Young Award with the Cincinnati Reds in 2020, Bauer agreed to a $102 million, three-year contract to join his hometown Dodgers. He did not pitch after June 29 and finished with an 8-2 record and a 2.59 ERA in 17 appearances. He was paid his $28 million salary last year.“The Dodgers organization takes all allegations of this nature very seriously and does not condone or excuse any acts of domestic violence or sexual assault,” the team’s statement said. “We’ve cooperated fully with MLB’s investigation since it began, and we fully support MLB’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse Policy, and the Commissioner’s enforcement of the Policy. We understand that Trevor has the right to appeal the Commissioner’s decision. Therefore, we will not comment further until the process is complete.”

Zach LaVine isn’t showing his hand as he approaches his first summer as an unrestricted free agent.

LONDON — Tennis great Boris Becker was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison on Friday

ATLANTA — The emotions initially hit Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras around 3 p.m. Thursday.When a call came from younger brother William, he figured the 24-year-old catcher intended to bother him or perhaps was bored. Instead, William informed Willson the Atlanta Braves had recalled him ahead of Thursday night’s series finale against the Cubs at Truist Field.Advertisement“Ever since then I got very emotional,” Willson said after the Cubs’ 5-1 loss.The game represented the first time the Contreras brothers played against each other during their professional baseball careers. The Braves placed backup catcher Manny Piña on the injured list, prompting them to recall William Contreras, who initially made the opening-day roster as the team’s third catcher.AdvertisementCubs manager David Ross and Braves manager Brian Snitker arranged to have the brothers exchange the lineup cards with the umpires at home plate before the game.Remembering how he watched William play Little League produced tears as Willson engaged in a long hug with his brother. Willson tried to discreetly wipe them away before returning to the Cubs dugout.“It was really special for me because everything that we went through to get to where we are right now as a family …” Willson trailed off.He paused, fighting back more tears.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.“No one knows how hard the road is to get to the big leagues,” he continued. “I’m trying to set an example for him to follow and that’s what made me proud the most.”Willson, 29, was close with William growing up in Venezuela, and that strong bond persisted amid their journeys through the minors to Major League Baseball.[ [Don’t miss] Willson Contreras’ bigger Chicago Cubs leadership role is fueled by years of listening — and putting in work ]Ross doesn’t have brothers and couldn’t directly relate to the Contrerases’ moment, but he understands what it means to share a special experience with family. He made sure a team photographer was on the field to capture the exchange for the brothers and their family.“The emotion that you saw on his face says a lot,” Ross said. “As much as we compete against each other and want to win every second, the moment you get to enjoy family dynamics and appreciate what a special place it is to be in the major leagues, I think that’s awesome.”AdvertisementTheir unconditional support over the years included Willson wearing his brother’s No. 24 Braves jersey to Game 3 of the World Series last year and cheering him on en route to the team’s championship. They each have a World Series ring after William earned one for appearing in 52 regular-season games with the Braves in 2021. He also got one at-bat in the National League Division Series versus the Milwaukee Brewers.The Cubs and Braves play their final three-game series June 17-19 at Wrigley Field.“I always recall those moments when we were growing up together back home, just dreaming to get signed by somebody and then driven to get to the big leagues,” Willson said. “And I’m crying because I’m proud of the job we put together to get to where we are.”

Thursday was an exercise in waiting for Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles. Inside the team’s draft room at Halas Hall, Poles had a snack table and extra reserves of patience to help him pass the time during the NFL draft’s first night. But he didn’t have a first-round selection.That meant two hours and 33 minutes of observing and adjusting, of hand-wringing and fist-pumping. Thirty-two players were drafted in the first round with Georgia pass rusher Travon Walker going No. 1 to the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Minnesota Vikings picking Georgia safety Lewis Cine with the night’s final selection.AdvertisementNow Poles gets his chance. The 36-year-old GM will enter the party Friday with two second-round selections (Nos. 39 and 48) and another in the third (No. 71).[ [Don’t miss] When do the Chicago Bears pick? What do the mock drafts say? Everything you need to know about the 2022 NFL draft. ]The Bears have plenty of holes to fill on their roster and for now own only six selections. Poles will have to be resourceful and might have to get creative to make the most of his first draft as GM.AdvertisementAfter Thursday’s first round, here are 10 things you should know about the Bears and the rest of draft weekend.NFL fans attend the draft on April 28, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Steve Luciano/AP)This year’s quarterback class was widely considered to be ordinary. That’s why teams looking to upgrade that position this offseason heated up the trade market in March.The Denver Broncos dealt for Russell Wilson. The Cleveland Browns rolled the dice on Deshaun Watson. The Indianapolis Colts landed Matt Ryan. And the Washington Commanders reeled in Carson Wentz.Three other teams dipped into free agency to sign potential starters with the Pittsburgh Steelers signing former Bear Mitch Trubisky as a potential bridge option, the Atlanta Falcons giving Marcus Mariota a fresh start and the Miami Dolphins bringing in Teddy Bridgewater as a potential Plan B behind Tua Tagovailoa.So how would all of those toppled dominoes from earlier this spring affect the draft?Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett was the first quarterback to come off the board Thursday night, selected 20th by the Steelers. That was the latest the first quarterback was selected since 1997, when Jim Druckenmiller lasted until No. 26 before the San Francisco 49ers picked him.No other quarterbacks were picked in Round 1.Before Thursday, a quarterback had been picked No. 1 in the previous four drafts and multiple quarterbacks had been selected in the top 10 of every draft since 2014.AdvertisementThe Bears were without a first-round selection, having dealt it to the New York Giants as part of the 2021 trade up to snag quarterback Justin Fields. That pick wound up slotted at No. 7 with the Giants using it on Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal.New Giants general manager Joe Schoen, who also interviewed for the Bears GM opening in January, had two top-10 picks, the first coming at No. 5, where he selected Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux. Schoen might have been considering Neal with the fifth pick. But when cornerbacks Derek Stingley and Sauce Gardner went third and fourth, the board shifted in a way that allowed Schoen to wait on selecting an offensive tackle.For record-keeping purposes, the Bears dealt four picks to the Giants last year to jump from No. 20 to No. 11 to grab Fields. In 2021, the Giants used the No. 20 selection on receiver Kadarius Toney and a fifth-round selection from the Bears at No. 164 as part of a deal that allowed them to trade up five slots in Round 3 for cornerback Aaron Robinson.They still have a fourth-round selection from the Bears (No. 112) in their wallet for Saturday.Central Michigan offensive lineman Bernhard Raimann runs a drill during the NFL combine on March 4, 2022. (Darron Cummings/AP)For those hoping Poles’ efforts to support Fields lead him to the offensive line shelf first, the best available tackles heading into Friday are Central Michigan’s Bernhard Raimann, Washington State’s Abraham Lucas, Ohio State’s Nicholas Petit-Frere and Minnesota’s Daniel Faalele.AdvertisementRaimann and Petit-Frere are on the Tribune’s lengthy “best players still available” list.The Bears had a bottom-three passing offense in 2021, averaging just 188.8 yards per game. No team saw its quarterbacks sacked more with Fields, Andy Dalton and Nick Foles taken down a combined 58 times.At last week’s voluntary minicamp, the new Bears coaching staff looked at second-year tackles Teven Jenkins and Larry Borom on the right and left sides, respectively. But Poles won’t shy away from adding a potential starter up front this weekend.Nine offensive lineman were picked Thursday night.Poles and his staff kept a close eye on the Round 1 run on receivers in which six were taken in the first 18 picks, including four in a five-pick span from No. 8 to No. 12.USC’s Drake London was the first receiver selected, picked eighth by the Falcons. Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson went two picks later to the New York Jets. Then the New Orleans Saints and Detroit Lions engineered aggressive trades up to get Ohio State’s Chris Olave and Alabama’s Jameson Williams, respectively. The Lions jumped 20 spots to No. 12 to grab Williams.Advertisement[ [Don’t miss] Column: Ryan Poles didn’t mention receiver as a strength of this draft. Is that a sign the Chicago Bears are targeting the position? ]Later in the first round the Commanders took Penn State’s Jahan Dotson at No. 16, and Arkansas’ Treylon Burks went to the Tennessee Titans at No. 18.From the menu of 12 possible Day 2 receiver targets for the Bears, 10 are still on the board. That list — with scouting reports here — includes Georgia’s George Pickens, Western Michigan’s Skyy Moore, Cincinnati’s Alec Pierce, North Dakota State’s Christian Watson and Alabama’s John Metchie III.In a nutshell, Poles has plenty of intriguing options, particularly if he opts to address that need with his first selection at No. 39. But the Bears should still be in the mix for a good receiver if they wait until No. 48.[embedded content]Two teams got rid of established receivers Thursday night. The Baltimore Ravens sent Marquise “Hollywood” Brown to the Arizona Cardinals to reunite with his college quarterback, Kyler Murray, and the Titans sent A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles.Eagles general manager Howie Roseman put together a blockbuster deal for A.J. Brown, giving up the No. 18 selection plus a third-round pick and then finalizing a four-year contract extension with the standout receiver worth up to $100 million. The Titans quickly used the No. 18 pick to draft Burks.AdvertisementThe Cardinals traded the No. 23 pick for Hollywood Brown, and the Ravens then traded that selection to the Buffalo Bills for the 25th pick and a fourth-rounder.Man, what a spring this has been on the receiver market with headline-grabbing trades, record-breaking contracts and Thursday’s impressive first-round draft class.Memphis wide receiver Calvin Austin III runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine on March 3, 2022. (Charlie Neibergall/AP)Four years ago, the Bears dipped into the University of Memphis talent pool on Day 2 of the draft to grab a receiver with top-tier quickness and a full tank of competitive tenacity. Anthony Miller had joined the Tigers as a walk-on, then driven himself to become the program’s all-time leading receiver.“The Memphis grind is one of a kind,” Miller said the night he was drafted at No. 51.Miller’s career in Chicago fizzled, however, after his seven-touchdown rookie season. The Bears traded him last summer and he failed to break through in subsequent stops with the Houston Texans and Steelers.All of that is simply background information as another Memphis receiver, Calvin Austin III, sits on the Day 2 draft menu with the Bears seeking to add weaponry for Fields. Like Miller, Austin also entered the Tigers program as a walk-on before emerging as a playmaking standout. He, too, has eye-catching quickness and a hunger to win plus a library of game film that is like a 32-ounce energy drink for talent evaluators.Advertisement“Man, he’s fun to watch,” ESPN senior draft analyst Todd McShay said.Added NFL Network draft expert Daniel Jeremiah: “That dude is just a blur.”[ [Don’t miss] NFL draft storylines for Chicago Bears: Ryan Poles’ biggest dilemma, the hole at wide receiver and the appeal of trading down ]Coming off a 74-catch, 1,149-yard, eight-touchdown season at Memphis, Austin went to the combine and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.32 seconds before adding a vertical jump of 39 inches and a broad jump of 11 feet, 3 inches. That kind of explosion reduces the understandable worry about his size: 5-foot-9, 162 pounds.Miller’s NFL nosedive shouldn’t have anything to do with Austin’s projected potential. And maybe Austin will be the Day 2 receiver Poles falls in love with because of what Jeremiah calls his “juice.”“It’s instant. There’s no buildup to it,” Jeremiah said. “It just happens right now. He’s going to run by people at the next level.”Nine teams made multiple selections Thursday with the Giants and Jets picking twice apiece in the top 10. The Giants, as noted above, put together the Thibodeaux-Neal pairing, while the Jets went with a combination of Gardner at cornerback and Wilson at receiver with the Nos. 4 and 10 picks.AdvertisementThe Jets later traded back into the back end of Round 1, working a deal with the Titans for the No. 26 pick, which they used on Florida State edge rusher Jermaine Johnson.The other teams who picked more than once were the Lions, Texans, Saints, Jaguars, Green Bay Packers, Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs.The nine teams besides the Bears that sat out Thursday’s action were the 49ers, Broncos, Browns, Cardinals, Colts, Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Rams and Las Vegas Raiders.ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 46Head coach Matt Eberflus walks the field, April 19, 2022, during Chicago Bears minicamp at Halas Hall. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)As of Thursday night, the Bears had 65 players on their roster, leaving 25 vacancies to fill as they piece together a 90-man roster for organized team activities, minicamp and training camp. Yet they have only six selections over the next two days. You do the math.It will take more than this draft class to replenish the roster with talent and quality depth. And given the overall strength of this year’s draft pool, don’t be surprised if Poles does substantial work on the undrafted free agent market Saturday night and into Sunday.The COVID-19 pandemic created a ripple effect in college football, with the NCAA granting all players from the 2020 season an added year of eligibility. That, in turn, added volume to this draft with folks around the league believing the later rounds will include some notable value picks.AdvertisementJeremiah tried to put things in perspective last week. He typically tries to study about 400 players as he works through his pre-draft grades and analysis.“Usually I get to about 350 or 360 and then it’s a mad scramble to find some more guys to get to that 400 number,” Jeremiah said. “This year I got to 400 pretty easily.”This draft comprises 262 picks. That means quality players can be found in the seventh round and undrafted free agency.Don’t be shocked if Poles opts not to use all three of his draft choices Friday night as he looks to expand his first draft class beyond six players. To do so, he will have to be ready to wheel and deal, looking for opportunities to trade picks — or even players? — for added draft capital.[ [Don’t miss] NFL draft in Las Vegas: Bellagio fountains, scuba divers, slot machines — and a Ferris wheel ]In fact, it would be surprising if the Bears didn’t trade down at least once in this draft to collect more picks.As we noted earlier this week, Poles isn’t averse to trading up if he sees something he really likes. But he was pretty clear Tuesday that he wasn’t leaning in that direction with the current state of his roster and the draft capital available.Advertisement“You have to know where your team is at and how many picks you have,” Poles said. “And it’s a big-picture decision. Because there is an effect of losing picks to move up and get that player.”For those wondering when they should tune in to the draft to catch the Bears picks Friday, we have you covered. Barring any trades up or down, of course.The Bears are scheduled to go on the clock first with the No. 39 pick. Over the last five years, that selection has been made as early as 6:32 p.m. and as late as 6:47. The No. 48 pick has come in the 7:14-7:30 range. The ballpark for No. 71 in the third round is 8:35-9:01. You’re welcome.

Yoán Moncada sprinted to first base during a workout Thursday morning at Guaranteed Rate Field.A few moments later, Moncada raced from first to third. Eventually, Moncada headed to home plate.AdvertisementThe Chicago White Sox third baseman, who is recovering from a right oblique strain, is looking forward to the chance to run — and hit — in a game this weekend when he begins a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte.[ [Don’t miss] A ‘cruel’ 10-inning loss for the White Sox is their 9th in 10 games: ‘This game will drive you nuts’ ]“I am feeling much better,” Moncada said Wednesday through an interpreter. “I thank God. I’m going to start playing in Charlotte and see how it goes. But I’m feeling pretty good.”AdvertisementMoncada is slated to play for the Knights on Saturday. The Sox will be patient with his return.“He’s been swinging really well here, so he may come out there and just (have) 15 at-bats and look like he’s ready,” Sox manager Tony La Russa said Wednesday. “But it may take him 25, no way to predict it.“It’s always a mistake to bring a guy up to the big leagues before he’s ready. Because he’s going to struggle and then he’s got to get out of the struggle. It’s better to come in here ready to play.”ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 18Chicago White Sox third baseman Jake Burger (30) breaks his bat while grounding into a double play in the second inning against the Kansas City Royals at Guaranteed Rate Field on April 28, 2022. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Moncada suffered the injury during the final day of spring training in Glendale, Ariz. The Sox placed him on the injured list April 5.The switch hitter said he felt the impact of the injury mostly when swinging from the left side.“I felt it sometimes when I was playing defense, when I moved to the right side,” Moncada said. “But it’s mostly in my swing. Right now, I feel much better. I don’t feel anything when I’m fielding and just a little bit when I hit. It’s not a big deal right now.”Moncada slashed .263/.375/.412 with 33 doubles, 14 home runs and 61 RBIs in 144 games in 2021.“For me personally, it’s been very, very difficult not being able to be on the field and helping the team, especially this month,” he said. “But there’s just so little I can do and I’m doing everything I can to get ready to come back and help the team.Advertisement“(I’ve been) just cheering up the guys, trying to motivate them. At the same time, even though I’m sidelined, I’m working to join them and to help them too.”[ [Don’t miss] Why Liam Hendriks doesn’t like intentional walks: ‘I’m never thinking about putting somebody on,’ the White Sox closer says ]Injuries have hampered the Sox early this season, with left fielder Eloy Jiménez (torn right hamstring) among the latest.“It’s very hard, honestly,” Moncada said. “It’s hard to see that unfortunate situation that he has been put into last year (missing almost four months with a ruptured left pectoral tendon) and now this year again. “But there’s so little you can control in this game. You try to do your best, try to be prepared every day and stuff like that happens. I am hoping he’s going to come back stronger, and he knows that everybody here wishes him the best.”Jiménez stumbled after crossing first base Saturday and exited the game against the Minnesota Twins. His estimated recovery time is six to eight weeks.Starting pitcher Lance Lynn could be back by late May, La Russa said Thursday. The right-hander had right knee surgery to repair a torn tendon after suffering an injury during a Cactus League game.AdvertisementReliever Joe Kelly (right biceps nerve injury) is expected to be in Charlotte this weekend with Moncada.“I’m excited to be able to start playing again,” Moncada said. “I was wishing for that for several weeks and now I’m going to start, so that’s good.”