2014 Chicago Bears Offseason Thread

[Guest]

Charlie's @ walterfootball has his mock draft updated today. http://walterfootball.com/draft2014charlie.php

 

Here are the Bears picks and what Charlie said for each one...

 

1- Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota (Nix went 15th to Steelers)

 

2- Dion Bailey, S, USC

 

3- Marcus Smith, DE/OLB, Louisville

 

This is how I'm expecting the Bears draft go in the first 3 rounds barring someone falling to the Bears lap. All defense with the first 3 picks. Then something like a C/BPA on defense the rest of the way or possibly RB (only if James Wilder Jr or Dri Archer is there in the 6th- love both of those guys) so they can cut Bush and I don't have to watch him anymore. I'm not seeing a WR at the moment unless somebody Emery really like falls to him or Earl is cut. I think Bears will sign a few undrafted OLs just to keep addressing the depth there.

 

I'd have taken Nix in round 1 and definitely would have taken Bradley Roby, Calvin Pryor (S, Louisville) or Dominique Easley in round 2. Marcus Smith sounds like another tweener DE in a 4-3; they better not pick one of those again unless they're shifting the defense.

 

I guess he has Kony Ealy returning for his senior year because there's no other reason for him to not be in the first few rounds.

 

Marcus Smith is awesome. He looks like he can bulk up too. I'd absolutely love that pick. I agree with your 2nd round picks too. I still think Roby is the top CB despite his down year.

 

I actually don't know much about Marcus Smith (despite watching Louisville a fair amount). I'm just afraid of Shea 2.0, but what you said sounds good.

[Soul]

I'd argue that Shea's problem isn't so much that he's a tweener. It's that he sucks at football.

 

This notion that they're going to somehow shift him around and make him successful that way isn't going to work.

[Banedon]

So Spiegel on the Score is saying that the $54 million is a prorated bonus over the first 5 years, and that it makes the cap hits look like this:

 

Year 1: $11 million

Year 2: $15.3 million

Year 3: $16.8 million

Year 4: $18.3 million

Year 5: $18.8 million

Year 6: $22 million

Year 7: $23 million

 

that's nice

 

Well now apparently this info just happens to match up with a spreadsheet someone posted yesterday on reddit with "estimates" before Florio posted his article...

 

http://i.imgur.com/nDBvfCF.jpg

 

So it looks like Spiegel's "source" just got his info from reddit.

 

Who knows now.

[minnesotacubsfan]

I trust everything on the interwebs

[Splendid Splinter]

I trust Spotrac more than the prorated bonus over 5 years...

 

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/chicago-bears/jay-cutler/

[davell]

Jennings has a 6.045,000 roster bonus due on the 3rd day of the calendar year. Michael Wright thinks these two deals take up around 30 mill of space.

[jersey cubs fan]

I trust Spotrac more than the prorated bonus over 5 years...

 

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/chicago-bears/jay-cutler/

 

What is spotrac and why would the Bears negotiate a deal that gives them a $22m cap hit this year after talking about how damaging the one year cap hit is for franchise tags?

[Soul]

I trust Spotrac more than the prorated bonus over 5 years...

 

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/chicago-bears/jay-cutler/

 

What is spotrac and why would the Bears negotiate a deal that gives them a $22m cap hit this year after talking about how damaging the one year cap hit is for franchise tags?

 

It looks like spotrac is just re-posting overthecap.com info

 

http://www.overthecap.com/cap.php?Name=Jay%20Cutler&Position=QB&Team=Bears

[davell]

I trust Spotrac more than the prorated bonus over 5 years...

 

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/chicago-bears/jay-cutler/

 

What is spotrac and why would the Bears negotiate a deal that gives them a $22m cap hit this year after talking about how damaging the one year cap hit is for franchise tags?

 

I'm not sure which one is right, but even if we've spent 30 mill of cap space on 2 players for this year, we've still got another 15 mill currently and another 15, if we cut Bennett, Bush, and Peppers. Last year, I remember Martellus and Bushrod had very small 1st year cap hits, so maybe it's a strategy to offset things like that. Sign your own FA one way and structure the other FA the opposite, since they're more likely to need the signing bonus anyway?

[jersey cubs fan]

I trust Spotrac more than the prorated bonus over 5 years...

 

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/chicago-bears/jay-cutler/

 

What is spotrac and why would the Bears negotiate a deal that gives them a $22m cap hit this year after talking about how damaging the one year cap hit is for franchise tags?

 

I'm not sure which one is right, but even if we've spent 30 mill of cap space on 2 players for this year, we've still got another 15 mill currently and another 15, if we cut Bennett, Bush, and Peppers. Last year, I remember Martellus and Bushrod had very small 1st year cap hits, so maybe it's a strategy to offset things like that. Sign your own FA one way and structure the other FA the opposite, since they're more likely to need the signing bonus anyway?

 

They also need to add more players to the roster than anybody but the Raiders, right? They have space this year and they need that space.

[davell]

I trust Spotrac more than the prorated bonus over 5 years...

 

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/chicago-bears/jay-cutler/

 

What is spotrac and why would the Bears negotiate a deal that gives them a $22m cap hit this year after talking about how damaging the one year cap hit is for franchise tags?

 

I'm not sure which one is right, but even if we've spent 30 mill of cap space on 2 players for this year, we've still got another 15 mill currently and another 15, if we cut Bennett, Bush, and Peppers. Last year, I remember Martellus and Bushrod had very small 1st year cap hits, so maybe it's a strategy to offset things like that. Sign your own FA one way and structure the other FA the opposite, since they're more likely to need the signing bonus anyway?

 

They also need to add more players to the roster than anybody but the Raiders, right? They have space this year and they need that space.

 

True, but you have to figure we'll keep 5 draft picks, maybe more, if we trade back. We'll also sign quite a few minimum contract types at backup spots. Hell, they got Slauson for 800,000 last year. I'd PREFER to see Cutler, Jennings, and Slauson's deals to have low initial cap hits, don't get me wrong. But I can see them also trying to balance them out with outside FA as well. I'm confident that Emery will be active in FA. He likes impact players and I'll be surprised if we don't land at least 2 very solid defensive starters thru FA, plus hold on to a couple of our own.(2 of Melton, Ratliff, DJ, Anderson, Peanut)

[WrigleyField 22]

Bottom line the Bears have almost always been in a solid cap situation so I don't expect that to change dramatically. Finally having a big money QB makes it a little tougher, but I'm sure they'll have room to make improvements.

[Banedon]

Sporttrac says right on the page the source is Mike Florio.

[jersey cubs fan]

Sporttrac says right on the page the source is Mike Florio.

 

oh geez, well that's good for him.

[sweetpeteman]

I trust Spotrac more than the prorated bonus over 5 years...

 

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/chicago-bears/jay-cutler/

 

What is spotrac and why would the Bears negotiate a deal that gives them a $22m cap hit this year after talking about how damaging the one year cap hit is for franchise tags?

 

It looks like spotrac is just re-posting overthecap.com info

 

http://www.overthecap.com/cap.php?Name=Jay%20Cutler&Position=QB&Team=Bears

 

 

I personally like OtC more than Spotrac.

 

 

To answer jersey's question: The reason is because they feel they have a lot of flexibility and cap room this year. By front loading the contract, it will give them more room in later seasons. While we talked about the one year impact of a franchise tag for Cutler, in the end we gave it more weight than the front office did. The one year impact was seen as more favorable, and allows Emery to limit the multi-year impact.

 

 

Also, while some have commented on the contract as overpaying, which at first I agreed with, I can now see the reason behind the overpayment. In order to get Jay to agree to a contract that is very favorable to the team after four years, they had to overpay for those four years. In the end I feel it was a very smart move by Emery.

[Guest]

I'd argue that Shea's problem isn't so much that he's a tweener. It's that he sucks at football.

 

This notion that they're going to somehow shift him around and make him successful that way isn't going to work.

 

looking at film, he looks like a guy who performs best when you don't know where he's going to lineup and you lose track of him in the chaos.

[jersey cubs fan]

Leslie Frazier to TB

[jersey cubs fan]

I trust Spotrac more than the prorated bonus over 5 years...

 

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/chicago-bears/jay-cutler/

 

What is spotrac and why would the Bears negotiate a deal that gives them a $22m cap hit this year after talking about how damaging the one year cap hit is for franchise tags?

 

It looks like spotrac is just re-posting overthecap.com info

 

http://www.overthecap.com/cap.php?Name=Jay%20Cutler&Position=QB&Team=Bears

 

 

I personally like OtC more than Spotrac.

 

 

To answer jersey's question: The reason is because they feel they have a lot of flexibility and cap room this year. By front loading the contract, it will give them more room in later seasons. While we talked about the one year impact of a franchise tag for Cutler, in the end we gave it more weight than the front office did. The one year impact was seen as more favorable, and allows Emery to limit the multi-year impact.

 

 

Also, while some have commented on the contract as overpaying, which at first I agreed with, I can now see the reason behind the overpayment. In order to get Jay to agree to a contract that is very favorable to the team after four years, they had to overpay for those four years. In the end I feel it was a very smart move by Emery.

It was the front office that talked about it, not us.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Leslie Frazier to TB

Good. After the Kluwe article I don't want him near Halas Hall.

[rawaction]

If I was running the Bears draft, my draft board for pick 14 would look like:

 

Louis Nix, DT- Notre Dame

Ra'Shede Hageman, DT- Minnesota

Kony Ealy, DE- Missouri

CJ Mosely, LB- Alabama

Darqueze Dennard, CB- Michigan St.

 

Nix gets a huge edge if the Bears go hybrid or straight 3-4 D.

 

If the Bears trade down, that brings these guys into play:

 

Stephon Tuitt, DE/DT- Notre Dame

Trent Murphy, DE- Stanford

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S- Alabama

Timmy Jernigan, DT- Florida State

Justin Gilbert, CB- Oklahoma State

 

Those are pretty much the only realistic players I would take in the 1st round.

[rawaction]

I've been reading a lot about the hybrid defense, and I'm pretty sure this is the way the Bears go. The only question is if Tucker runs it or not, which I'm sure Trestman and Emery are trying to figure out themselves.

 

The talk of moving Bostic to OLB. The talk of moving McClellin from the DE position. The leadership talk leads me to believe Briggs will stick around.

 

With the hybrid D, Bostic looks like he'd be able to play the SLB. The SLB lines up, obviously on the TE side, but he is close to the line of scrimmage and is responsible for the TE, keeping contain, and can blitz off the edge. This seems like it would lessen Bostic's responsibilities as he would just have part of the field, with just the TE as a key, and also have SS help directly behind him. McClellin could also play SLB in a hybrid as the OT to that strong side, will be occupied by the DE lined up over him....giving him some 1-on-1s with a TE or RB in the pass rush.

 

McClellin could also play the rush LB on the weak side as he'd be standing up and just going after the QB/holding the edge. That's more desirable on pass downs though, as teams would be able to run all over him. It would also play into the versatility of a lot of guys on the roster. Paea could play the NT, the 3-tech or the 5-tech. Ratliff the same, if back. Wootton, if back, could play the rush LB or 5-tech with this ability to play inside the tackles.

 

But most important probably to Emery is that it really opens up every defensive prospect in the draft. You don't have to gear your draft board to just players that fit into a single scheme. You can draft an Aldon Smith type and not have to worry about can he hold up at 4-3 DE. You can draft a Stephon Tuitt and not have to worry about if he's quick enough off the edge at 4-3 DE or can get off blocks enough to play 3-tech. Emery can draft the best athletes and the scheme will find a spot for them so they get the best of their abilities.

[WrigleyField 22]

I've been reading a lot about the hybrid defense, and I'm pretty sure this is the way the Bears go. The only question is if Tucker runs it or not, which I'm sure Trestman and Emery are trying to figure out themselves.

 

The talk of moving Bostic to OLB. The talk of moving McClellin from the DE position. The leadership talk leads me to believe Briggs will stick around.

 

With the hybrid D, Bostic looks like he'd be able to play the SLB. The SLB lines up, obviously on the TE side, but he is close to the line of scrimmage and is responsible for the TE, keeping contain, and can blitz off the edge. This seems like it would lessen Bostic's responsibilities as he would just have part of the field, with just the TE as a key, and also have SS help directly behind him. McClellin could also play SLB in a hybrid as the OT to that strong side, will be occupied by the DE lined up over him....giving him some 1-on-1s with a TE or RB in the pass rush.

 

McClellin could also play the rush LB on the weak side as he'd be standing up and just going after the QB/holding the edge. That's more desirable on pass downs though, as teams would be able to run all over him. It would also play into the versatility of a lot of guys on the roster. Paea could play the NT, the 3-tech or the 5-tech. Ratliff the same, if back. Wootton, if back, could play the rush LB or 5-tech with this ability to play inside the tackles.

 

But most important probably to Emery is that it really opens up every defensive prospect in the draft. You don't have to gear your draft board to just players that fit into a single scheme. You can draft an Aldon Smith type and not have to worry about can he hold up at 4-3 DE. You can draft a Stephon Tuitt and not have to worry about if he's quick enough off the edge at 4-3 DE or can get off blocks enough to play 3-tech. Emery can draft the best athletes and the scheme will find a spot for them so they get the best of their abilities.

Agreed. Doesn't Tucker have experience running a mixed front in Cleveland? Could work in his favor. Ultimately I think even any 3 man front we decide to run won't be the traditional 3-4 with two man gaps, but we'll just look to disguise as much as possible and just bring in the best playmakers we can.

[davell]

Cap figures for Gould and Fiametta in 2014 are 2.6 and 730,000 respectively.

[davell]

Jennings 2014 cap hit is 7.5. We've currently got a tad over 12.6 mill left, with Slauson still coming out of that number.

 

The draft cap will be 5-6 mill probably? In trying to figure out cuts, Peppers, Bennett, Bush , and Podlesh would open up a bit over 15 mill.

 

Maybe a Marshall extension opens up more room? Don't see anyone else to restructure. Peppers being a slight possibility, I guess. At any rate, I think we'll use FA much like last year, where Bushrod had a 3.015 1st year cap number and Martellus was 1.9, both by prorating the signing bonus and giving them extremely low 1st year base salaries.

 

Still, by the looks of things, I'll be surprised if we can keep more than one of Melton, Ratliff, and Wootton. Which of the 3 is most important?

 

I do think Garza and DJ will be back, Bowman and Britton as well. Peanut looks like a goner though for sure. Kind of see Anderson gone too.

[UMFan83]

I'm guessing it's not likely we can pick up an impact FA defensive player at this point?