The Bears Offseason Thread

[Soul]

I think a few people are disregarding the value of trading up in the 2nd round. Lets just look at this through draft points

 

http://www.theredzone.org/2006/draft/draftvaluechart.asp

 

63rd pick - 276 pts

37th pick - 530 pts

Gain in pts - 254 pts

 

Rd 3 pick 3, 67 overall - 255 points

 

So, in terms of draft points, its like trading for an early 3rd rounder.

 

That's a good point. Maybe I am undervaluing what we got in return. I do think this is a good opportunity for Angelo to look for 1st round talent at a 2nd round price (albeit likely late 1st round talent, but there's always a couple guys who slip).

[Soul]

Prosecutors want Tank in jail. But they say he'd only be doing 30-90 days.

 

UGH.

 

WHO THINKS THE bEARS WILL LET HIM GO IF HE GOES TO JAIL? I HOPE NOT. I THINK THIS WHOLE EXPERIENCE HAS TAUGHT HIM A LESSON, AT LEAST I HOPE SO, AND TANK IS A GOOD DT.

 

I think they decided to stick with him on a "next strike and you're out" basis. They could use the excuse of jail time to cut him, but I'm guessing they won't.

 

It's all guesswork what they will do, but I would be suprised if the Bears didn't already know some jail time was likely when they dealt with this situation earlier.

[rawaction]

If the Bears do end up trading Briggs, I could see them coming out of this draft with a huge influx of young talent that would allow their current run of success to last well beyond the typical 3-5 year window. A straight up trade of Briggs for a 1st and 3rd would be nice, but probably not realistic. What I could see, however, is packaging Briggs and a 3rd, or even Briggs and the new 2nd for some significant early picks.

 

I wouldn't be upset to see Briggs and Ogunleye both traded for a plethora of picks, if that's even possible.

 

I agree, particularly re Wally, who has been a major disappointment, IMO.

 

I would be very happy about having picks# 37, another first rounder, and two 4th rounders for Jones, Briggs, and Ogunleye. (Assuming Wale goes for a 4th and Briggs for 1st and 4th). The Bears already have the starters in place for Jones and Ogunleye, and they are probably gonna be upgrades. Then they get would have plenty of picks to replace Briggs and upgrade every possible position that needs it.

 

Like Goony said, that would replace some huge contracts with youth, and for the net result would likely be a better team in 2007 and in the future.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

If the Bears do end up trading Briggs, I could see them coming out of this draft with a huge influx of young talent that would allow their current run of success to last well beyond the typical 3-5 year window. A straight up trade of Briggs for a 1st and 3rd would be nice, but probably not realistic. What I could see, however, is packaging Briggs and a 3rd, or even Briggs and the new 2nd for some significant early picks.

 

I wouldn't be upset to see Briggs and Ogunleye both traded for a plethora of picks, if that's even possible.

 

I agree, particularly re Wally, who has been a major disappointment, IMO.

 

I would be very happy about having picks# 37, another first rounder, and two 4th rounders for Jones, Briggs, and Ogunleye. (Assuming Wale goes for a 4th and Briggs for 1st and 4th). The Bears already have the starters in place for Jones and Ogunleye, and they are probably gonna be upgrades. Then they get would have plenty of picks to replace Briggs and upgrade every possible position that needs it.

 

Like Goony said, that would replace some huge contracts with youth, and for the net result would likely be a better team in 2007 and in the future.

 

Gosh, the Bears really could re-load the D and OL with all those picks.

[Handlebar McSkullet]

Man I wish we had more picks for the simple fact that I dont think there is a better GM, right now, in the league at drafting mid round talent.

[Soul]

If there is a better draft GM in rounds 2-5 than Angelo, then that guy better have signed an extension through 2020.

[CubColtPacer]

Man I wish we had more picks for the simple fact that I dont think there is a better GM, right now, in the league at drafting mid round talent.

 

Isn't it funny how every good GM has their niche in the draft? For example, Bill Polian of the Colts is exactly the opposite of Angelo. Polian is the best in the league at his first pick in the draft, and he is the best in the league at picking up great undrafted free agents. As you said, Angelo is the best at the time in between those two points. I just find it interesting that GM's have trouble in certain rounds, but do very well in others-it would seem to defy sense (I mean, a good talent evaluator should be a good talent evaluator all the way through) but it definitely happens.

[goonys evil twin]

Man I wish we had more picks for the simple fact that I dont think there is a better GM, right now, in the league at drafting mid round talent.

 

Isn't it funny how every good GM has their niche in the draft? For example, Bill Polian of the Colts is exactly the opposite of Angelo. Polian is the best in the league at his first pick in the draft, and he is the best in the league at picking up great undrafted free agents. As you said, Angelo is the best at the time in between those two points. I just find it interesting that GM's have trouble in certain rounds, but do very well in others-it would seem to defy sense (I mean, a good talent evaluator should be a good talent evaluator all the way through) but it definitely happens.

 

I think there are different skills involved. And a lot depends on how your system works. Some systems require star caliber offensive players, which you need to get early. The Bears defense needs fast guys who can hit, but aside from one or two positions, they don't really need stars.

[Handlebar McSkullet]

Man I wish we had more picks for the simple fact that I dont think there is a better GM, right now, in the league at drafting mid round talent.

 

Isn't it funny how every good GM has their niche in the draft? For example, Bill Polian of the Colts is exactly the opposite of Angelo. Polian is the best in the league at his first pick in the draft, and he is the best in the league at picking up great undrafted free agents. As you said, Angelo is the best at the time in between those two points. I just find it interesting that GM's have trouble in certain rounds, but do very well in others-it would seem to defy sense (I mean, a good talent evaluator should be a good talent evaluator all the way through) but it definitely happens.

 

I think there are different skills involved. And a lot depends on how your system works. Some systems require star caliber offensive players, which you need to get early. The Bears defense needs fast guys who can hit, but aside from one or two positions, they don't really need stars.

 

I couldnt agree more. It seems that the GM's that are better at drafting higher round picks like Polian(great example) or AJ Smith are better at evaluating overall talent, while great late round GM like Angelo or Ron Wolf, understand the archetype of each position and find players that fit that mold.

[Handlebar McSkullet]

Sportingnews has Zach Miller as the number one TE, and number six prospect overall. Im a big ten guy so I never saw Miller play this year. Any Thoughts?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Sportingnews has Zach Miller as the number one TE, and number six prospect overall. Im a big ten guy so I never saw Miller play this year. Any Thoughts?

 

Zach's ok, great hands, good route-running, ok blocker, horribly slow as the combine showed.

 

But he's a 2nd round prosect and Greg Olsen is easily the first TE off the board.

[Soriano12]

No, No, No, No, to Zach Miller. If we go TE I want a burner that stretches the field like Olsen. Otherwise I am fine with Dez Clark.

[Omar]

Just wanna comment on Briggs.. I am deeply disappointed. At both the organization AND him.

 

I dont think I've ever seen a player wanting to get out of Chicago so badly.

[YearofDaCubs]

Just wanna comment on Briggs.. I am deeply disappointed. At both the organization AND him.

 

I dont think I've ever seen a player wanting to get out of Chicago so badly.

Let him pout. 7 mil he will be getting next year is not bad at all. His demands are ridiculous and he already turned down a multi-year deal from us last year. Then he has the audacity to say he was disrespected? Ha.

[BigSlick]

No, No, No, No, to Zach Miller. If we go TE I want a burner that stretches the field like Olsen. Otherwise I am fine with Dez Clark.

 

I'm pretty much with this. I'll take Olsen, but after that I wouldn't waste a decently high pick on anyone. Maybe we can pick someone up that was undrafted thats just as good as Gabe Reid. That shouldn't be too difficult.

[KaiserCesar]

No, No, No, No, to Zach Miller. If we go TE I want a burner that stretches the field like Olsen. Otherwise I am fine with Dez Clark.

 

I'm pretty much with this. I'll take Olsen, but after that I wouldn't waste a decently high pick on anyone. Maybe we can pick someone up that was undrafted thats just as good as Gabe Reid. That shouldn't be too difficult.

 

I think this would require a change in philosophy. Clark's weakness comes from poor blocking for the most part, poor route running and poor YAC and often poor hands. The tight end in the sytem acts like a safety valve and YAC ability and route running are the most important. I think the "burner" tight ends are overrated and will be drafted high, too high to get enough value out of these types in the Bears offense to justify a higher pick.

[Handlebar McSkullet]

No, No, No, No, to Zach Miller. If we go TE I want a burner that stretches the field like Olsen. Otherwise I am fine with Dez Clark.

 

I'm pretty much with this. I'll take Olsen, but after that I wouldn't waste a decently high pick on anyone. Maybe we can pick someone up that was undrafted thats just as good as Gabe Reid. That shouldn't be too difficult.

 

I think this would require a change in philosophy. Clark's weakness comes from poor blocking for the most part, poor route running and poor YAC and often poor hands. The tight end in the sytem acts like a safety valve and YAC ability and route running are the most important. I think the "burner" tight ends are overrated and will be drafted high, too high to get enough value out of these types in the Bears offense to justify a higher pick.

 

Not to argue with you Kaiser, we have done that enough, but actually Clark is regarded as one of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL.

 

I think the whole burner thing is just to have another viable weapon on offense, which is what they need. I think you could have both Clark and Olsen on the field and would create alot of matchup problems. I would be annoyed if they drafted another WR, you dont need a high round runningback, plus you dont get much more useless than john gilmore and gabe reid.

[BigSlick]

No, No, No, No, to Zach Miller. If we go TE I want a burner that stretches the field like Olsen. Otherwise I am fine with Dez Clark.

 

I'm pretty much with this. I'll take Olsen, but after that I wouldn't waste a decently high pick on anyone. Maybe we can pick someone up that was undrafted thats just as good as Gabe Reid. That shouldn't be too difficult.

 

I think this would require a change in philosophy. Clark's weakness comes from poor blocking for the most part, poor route running and poor YAC and often poor hands. The tight end in the sytem acts like a safety valve and YAC ability and route running are the most important. I think the "burner" tight ends are overrated and will be drafted high, too high to get enough value out of these types in the Bears offense to justify a higher pick.

 

Not to argue with you Kaiser, we have done that enough, but actually Clark is regarded as one of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL.

 

I think the whole burner thing is just to have another viable weapon on offense, which is what they need. I think you could have both Clark and Olsen on the field and would create alot of matchup problems. I would be annoyed if they drafted another WR, you dont need a high round runningback, plus you dont get much more useless than john gilmore and gabe reid.

 

You would be annoyed if they picked another WR? We have an aging Moose (who has been actually dissapointing to his contract, not that I expected anything different, he was a need-based sign), a fairly one-dimensional Berrian, a constantly injured Mark Bradley that seems to be more prospect than reality, and Rashied Davis...who's merely O.K.

 

If we drafted someone like Anthony Gonzalez I wouldn't complain. Great route runner, great attitude, great hands.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

If the Bears go day 1 WR, the only two guys I want (outside of Calvin Johnson :P) are Anthony Gonzalez and Steve Smith.

[Handlebar McSkullet]

No, No, No, No, to Zach Miller. If we go TE I want a burner that stretches the field like Olsen. Otherwise I am fine with Dez Clark.

 

I'm pretty much with this. I'll take Olsen, but after that I wouldn't waste a decently high pick on anyone. Maybe we can pick someone up that was undrafted thats just as good as Gabe Reid. That shouldn't be too difficult.

 

I think this would require a change in philosophy. Clark's weakness comes from poor blocking for the most part, poor route running and poor YAC and often poor hands. The tight end in the sytem acts like a safety valve and YAC ability and route running are the most important. I think the "burner" tight ends are overrated and will be drafted high, too high to get enough value out of these types in the Bears offense to justify a higher pick.

 

Not to argue with you Kaiser, we have done that enough, but actually Clark is regarded as one of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL.

 

I think the whole burner thing is just to have another viable weapon on offense, which is what they need. I think you could have both Clark and Olsen on the field and would create alot of matchup problems. I would be annoyed if they drafted another WR, you dont need a high round runningback, plus you dont get much more useless than john gilmore and gabe reid.

 

You would be annoyed if they picked another WR? We have an aging Moose (who has been actually dissapointing to his contract, not that I expected anything different, he was a need-based sign), a fairly one-dimensional Berrian, a constantly injured Mark Bradley that seems to be more prospect than reality, and Rashied Davis...who's merely O.K.

 

If we drafted someone like Anthony Gonzalez I wouldn't complain. Great route runner, great attitude, great hands.

 

I think comparatively with the rest of the NFL, the Bears have a solid WR corp. Not great but not bad either. They have a solid possession receiver, consistent deep threat, and good slot receiver. Add a Greg Olson or Zach Miller at TE with Dez Clark. That is a pretty good receiving corp. Then again, I agree, I really really like Gonzalez.

[KaiserCesar]

No, No, No, No, to Zach Miller. If we go TE I want a burner that stretches the field like Olsen. Otherwise I am fine with Dez Clark.

 

I'm pretty much with this. I'll take Olsen, but after that I wouldn't waste a decently high pick on anyone. Maybe we can pick someone up that was undrafted thats just as good as Gabe Reid. That shouldn't be too difficult.

 

I think this would require a change in philosophy. Clark's weakness comes from poor blocking for the most part, poor route running and poor YAC and often poor hands. The tight end in the sytem acts like a safety valve and YAC ability and route running are the most important. I think the "burner" tight ends are overrated and will be drafted high, too high to get enough value out of these types in the Bears offense to justify a higher pick.

 

Not to argue with you Kaiser, we have done that enough, but actually Clark is regarded as one of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL.

 

I think the whole burner thing is just to have another viable weapon on offense, which is what they need. I think you could have both Clark and Olsen on the field and would create alot of matchup problems. I would be annoyed if they drafted another WR, you dont need a high round runningback, plus you dont get much more useless than john gilmore and gabe reid.

 

I'd say Clark isn't bad at blocking, but Troy Aikman did a good job of building him up quite a bit towards the end of the year and in the playoffs, but I don't know about one of the best blocking tight ends. Nonetheless, I agree that another TE outside of the useless Reid and Gilmore would be nice and Clark would be a good backup #2 who can servicably fit the TE role in this offense. I really don't know if you want to just jump into 2 TE all of a sudden because that likely means no fullback and an overall philosophical change in the running game and the whole offense. In terms of WR, I don't believe in drafting them high ever due to their overall touches in a game, and you can normally find one that fits your teams needs later without going top 20. With Moose on the decline, that could definitely be an area that needs improvement.

 

Overall, a TE and WR are on my wishlist but I wouldn't stretch too high via trade for either.

[soapy]

Angelo claims that Briggs is staying put. I assumed the two sides would be working on a long-term deal before training camp, but this doesn't make it sound that way.

[Soul]

Angelo claims that Briggs is staying put. I assumed the two sides would be working on a long-term deal before training camp, but this doesn't make it sound that way.

 

I heard that conference call on the radio last night.

 

There's one big, gaping hole in Briggs' argument. He says he's been quietly waiting for a long term deal that never came. That's just not true. There's a long term deal on the table. He just won't take it.

 

We don't know all the inside details, but I'm thinking this stand Briggs is taking has alot to do with Rosenhaus. Briggs should be careful: Drew isn't going to care about him if this whole thing falls through and he doesn't get his cut of a huge signing bonus.

[RynoRules]

Briggs has conveniently forgotten the 6 yr, 33 mil offer that the Bears made last Spring. I would bet at least 15 mill of it was guaranteed, which is the really big issue in NFL contracts. That would have given him the security he is now seeking.

 

I would also bet that he is seething over the deal that Porter got from the Phins, but he has no one to blame but himself. If he had gone to Angelo and said, "I really would prefer to work out a long-term deal with you or be traded", rather than this public ultimatim (remember who his agent is?), I would bet that Angelo would at least try to take care of him. But now he has put Angelo in a tough spot now.

[rawaction]

 

I'd say Clark isn't bad at blocking, but Troy Aikman did a good job of building him up quite a bit towards the end of the year and in the playoffs, but I don't know about one of the best blocking tight ends. Nonetheless, I agree that another TE outside of the useless Reid and Gilmore would be nice and Clark would be a good backup #2 who can servicably fit the TE role in this offense. I really don't know if you want to just jump into 2 TE all of a sudden because that likely means no fullback and an overall philosophical change in the running game and the whole offense. In terms of WR, I don't believe in drafting them high ever due to their overall touches in a game, and you can normally find one that fits your teams needs later without going top 20. With Moose on the decline, that could definitely be an area that needs improvement.

 

Overall, a TE and WR are on my wishlist but I wouldn't stretch too high via trade for either.

 

Agreed. I think the Bears goal this offseason should be making the pass game better and making the defensive depth better. If the Bears are gonna stay with Grossman (which I think they should), he is the key to the offense. They gotta make him consistently better. The best way to make that happen is to give him protection, as he was mostly great with pass protection. The 2nd best way is to give him better weapons in the middle of the field.

 

I see Olsen as similar to Dallas Clark. He's big and can run. Clark was the Colts #3 WR. Sure, Rashied Davis made some big plays in 2006 as the 3, and Mark Bradley has amazing talent, but Olsen is about 8 inches taller than Davis, and most likely will be a lot more reliable target in the middle of the field than Bradley, who hasn't shown much other than being a speed guy. (wow, that's a run-on sentence)

 

As for the WR, I wouldn't mind another guy being brought in. Berrian could be gone after this year. Moose could be gone period. Bradley hasn't stepped up, and Davis isn't that great. I wouldn't trade up to get a 1st round WR, but if a guy like Steve Smith or Anthony Gonzalez slips to the end of the 2nd round, they would be worth a look. 3rd and 4th round, I would look for a value pick at WR.

 

The Bears were in the position last year of having no glaring holes. Now, they have no major holes, except for depth. There's not a single position that is off limits in this draft, IMO, except for possibly CB. (that does not include K or P)