2014 Chicago Bears Offseason Thread

[Guest]

Seems like weakside would be best for Bostic, though. Strong side still gets him having to fight off blockers. The best player on the D plays WLB right now.

 

Yep, WLB seems like the best choice.

[davell]

Raw just brought up an interesting point to Biggs on Twitter and I figure it'll come up here fairly often over the next few months.....Biggs mentioned he thinks the Bears would draft almost solely defensively.....Raw brought up the need to keep giving to the strong side of our team as well. Closer to a 50/50 split on picks.

 

So, while it's obviously too early to know exactly what we'll have coming back or what we do in FA, what possibilities could you see us using draft picks for on offense?

 

If McCown isn't re-signed, QB is an obvious one, maybe even an early rounder. But I could see a late rounder used even if he is brought back.

 

I doubt we'd draft a RB even if Bush is cut. My guess is we can find a journeyman number 2, if Ford doesn't appear to be the answer.

 

What if Watkins were somehow on the board at 14? It'd be hard for me to pass him up, even with the needs on the other side of the ball. At any rate, I could see a late round pick used on a WR that may have kick returning ability and/or a blocking TE type, even if I think thats more likely to get addressed in FA.

 

Definitely think we'll take an O-Lineman, maybe 2, if Garza is not brought back.

 

So while I figure most of the early round picks will eventually go towards the D-Line and the secondary, I think Raw is right, in that we'll still draft some offensive help as well.

[Sammy Sofa]

Raw just brought up an interesting point to Biggs on Twitter and I figure it'll come up here fairly often over the next few months.....Biggs mentioned he thinks the Bears would draft almost solely defensively.....Raw brought up the need to keep giving to the strong side of our team as well. Closer to a 50/50 split on picks.

 

I definitely agree along those lines; I think with the way the offense is shaping up you can get by with simply having a defense that isn't terrible and still easily have a competitive team. That's not saying they should halfass the defensive rebuild, but I don't think they should or need to basically devote nearly their entire drafting and FA focus on it.

[UK1679666180]

They're still going at least one OL©, backup HB, 3rd string QB, possibly 2nd string. It would be foolish to ignore the offense at this point. I still think the o-line is subpar and the #1 goal of the offense to allocate in-game resources to max protect.

 

Id have a hard time drafting Watkins at 14 despite the BPA belief, mainly due to how deep the draft is.

[Guest]

so, draft Nix and bring Melton back, then go LaMarcus Joyner or Dion Bailey in the second. Surprisingly, the Bears are rather set at CB, even without Peanut. Jennings played well and Bowman played really really well late. They could use some depth, but their real weakness is obviously at safety.

 

I'd go very hard after a solution at DE, maybe Johnson or Bennett or even Hardy, whom I hear is possibly going to hit the market, and then draft a DE that can get after the passer in round 3, like a Chris Smith from Arkansas.

 

After that, I think you can go safety again or take an O-lineman, backup CB, or depth at DT or DE.

 

I don't see the need to draft a backup RB, nor a backup QB.

Edited January 3, 2014 by Stannis

[Guest]

also, according to PFF, Slauson was the 5th best guard in football in 2013. That's amazing.

[davell]

Marshall had the best WR yearly grade in history and by a fairly substantial margin.

[davell]

By the way, Bowman is a FA himself. TJ and Frey are all we have currently at CB.

[Guest]

By the way, Bowman is a FA himself. TJ and Frey are all we have currently at CB.

 

well, i stand corrected. but if bowman comes back, the bears are fairly set and only need depth.

[Guest]

Marshall had the best WR yearly grade in history and by a fairly substantial margin.

 

that can't be, don't you know that megatron is the greatest ever?

[davell]

I just looked up WR contracts, if he IS better than Megatron, I hope like hell he's willing to take less on a contract than he got. That said, we're going to need to ante up. Realistically, he should get more than anyone else has gotten. Wallace and Fitzgerald at 27 guaranteed is second behind Megatron at 48+. This will be expensive, still want it to happen though.

[Butterscup1679666578]

marshall's gonna walk, jeffrey becomes marshall, bears draft DGB.

 

thats what i hoped would happen before the cutler extension anyway.

[RynoRules]

Lost in the McClellin talk, sounds like Emery suggested Bostic is headed to OLB sooner than later.

 

At the risk of patting myself on the back, that's what I suggested earlier in this thread. He needs to be able to run free to be effective. Same with Shea. Makes you wonder what the plan at LB will be.

[JonJayCutler]

I imagine Marshall will do everything he can to stay with Jay, even if it means discount. Thus, there's a pretty good chance we locked up both Jay and Brandon today, even if the latter won't be official for another year.

[Banedon]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/01/02/cutlers-deal-is-three-years-54-million-with-year-to-year-option-thereafter/

 

Per a source with knowledge of the deal, Cutler will make $54 million over the next three years, with a rolling guarantee that starts at $17.5 million upon signing, increases to $38 million on March 14, 2014, moves to $48 million in March 2015, and caps out at $54 million in March 2016.

 

The deal contains no signing bonus, creating a pay-as-you-go series of cap charges for the Bears, based only on his base salaries.

 

In 2014, Cutler will earn a base salary of $22.5 million. In 2015, the base salary is $15.5 million. In 2016, it increases to $16 million.

 

After 2016, the deal becomes a year-to-year, no-cap-hit proposition, with salaries of $12.5 million in 2017, $13.5 million in 2018, $17.5 million in 2019, and $19.2 million in 2020. In each of those four seasons, Cutler earns $156,250 for each game he appears on the active roster, for a maximum additional earnings of $2.5 million per year and $10 million over four.

 

Thus, he’ll get the full $126.7 million only if he’s on the active roster for every game from 2017 through 2020

[Guest]

I imagine Marshall will do everything he can to stay with Jay, even if it means discount. Thus, there's a pretty good chance we locked up both Jay and Brandon today, even if the latter won't be official for another year.

 

plus, with the mental health issues, and marshall being in the exact right place, i think he'd take a pretty decent discount.

[Guest]

marshall's gonna walk, jeffrey becomes marshall, bears draft DGB.

 

thats what i hoped would happen before the cutler extension anyway.

 

You want the Bears to not make the playoffs again next year?

[Mark Priors Calves]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/01/02/cutlers-deal-is-three-years-54-million-with-year-to-year-option-thereafter/

 

Per a source with knowledge of the deal, Cutler will make $54 million over the next three years, with a rolling guarantee that starts at $17.5 million upon signing, increases to $38 million on March 14, 2014, moves to $48 million in March 2015, and caps out at $54 million in March 2016.

 

The deal contains no signing bonus, creating a pay-as-you-go series of cap charges for the Bears, based only on his base salaries.

 

In 2014, Cutler will earn a base salary of $22.5 million. In 2015, the base salary is $15.5 million. In 2016, it increases to $16 million.

 

After 2016, the deal becomes a year-to-year, no-cap-hit proposition, with salaries of $12.5 million in 2017, $13.5 million in 2018, $17.5 million in 2019, and $19.2 million in 2020. In each of those four seasons, Cutler earns $156,250 for each game he appears on the active roster, for a maximum additional earnings of $2.5 million per year and $10 million over four.

 

Thus, he’ll get the full $126.7 million only if he’s on the active roster for every game from 2017 through 2020

Seems like a fair and responsible deal for the Bears.

[davell]

Ecstatic we kept Jay, but not thrilled if he's got a 22.5 mill cap charge in 2014. That's what the article basically is saying, right?

[Guest]

Ecstatic we kept Jay, but not thrilled if he's got a 22.5 mill cap charge in 2014. That's what the article basically is saying, right?

 

no, he's making 22.5, but that's not his cap number, it's significantly lower than that.

[Guest]

Man, CJ Mosley would look fantastic on the Bears. Especially if he can stay in the middle.

[Guest]

Kyle Long is a Pro Bowl alternate.

[davell]

Ecstatic we kept Jay, but not thrilled if he's got a 22.5 mill cap charge in 2014. That's what the article basically is saying, right?

 

no, he's making 22.5, but that's not his cap number, it's significantly lower than that.

Cool. I thought signing bonuses were what cut into initial cap numbers though?

[CubColtPacer]

Ecstatic we kept Jay, but not thrilled if he's got a 22.5 mill cap charge in 2014. That's what the article basically is saying, right?

 

no, he's making 22.5, but that's not his cap number, it's significantly lower than that.

 

If he truly has a base salary of 22.5 million, then that's his cap number as well. You can't prorate base salary.

 

If true, that's a fantastic structure for the Bears. It turns it essentially into a 3 year, 54 million dollar deal with club options each of the last four years. It looks like the Bears believe that the cap is going to continue to stay relatively flat over the next few years, and they have prepared well for the long-term. The Bears won't be able to get as much talent in free agency this year, but that structure does seem to indicate that they're saving money for things like Marshall and Jeffrey extensions.

[WrigleyField 22]

CAP GENIUS CLIFF STIEN!!

 

Loving that structure, and I'm guessing the slightly higher AAV is making up for the fact he can be dumped without consequence in three years. I'm sure if we wanted a more traditional structure that AAV would have fallen. So I definitely prefer this structure.