Bears off-season thread 2022

raw · May 2, 2022

I think there's a couple things at play here. I have said since the hire that new GMs just don't make big splashes. Because big splashes = expectations. Poles is at a place where he can claim this team was just so devoid of talent that he had to take a lot of time to fix it. To be fair, he didn't inherit a good team, but the team wasn't devoid of talent. They potentially have building blocks at QB, RB, WR, TE, both tackles, CB, LB and DE (Gipson) that Pace left Poles with. Honestly, even a modest attempt at helping the offense with a couple lesser known signings (a step up from Patrick and Pringle, his 2 biggest signings) or even just simply re-signing Daniels, could have meant this team was a threat to a wildcard berth. One sure thing on offense would go a long way.

But I think the other issue is they aren't 100% sure on Fields. I know they are "sold" on Fields, but they aren't putting their futures in his hands, simply because it's not their pick. For all they know, Fields could be ruined from Nagy's horsefeathers show last year. So, I think they aren't throwing all their chips on the table for him. That doesn't mean they don't love him or don't think he's going to be a star. But they are hedging their bets. They are making sure Fields is the guy before they go all-in on him. I think there's a middle ground between "not going all-in yet" and the bare minimum roster filling they've done on offense. Because it's kind of weird to say, "OK Justin, prove you're good enough to build around" without giving him the tools to prove it.

I don't know what they need to see from Fields to go that next step, and don't imagine they'll throw around money and draft picks like a combo of the Rams and Jags if Fields does show them what they need to see. But I wonder if the draft was about getting some defensive guys in place before going O heavy next year. Fields is good in 2022, now you draft your version of Jamarr Chase and sign a big time stud lineman. And if he's not good, they can continue to turnover the roster. Tag and trade Roquan, cut/trade Quinn, don't extend Mooney or whoever else. Add players in the 2023 draft, then 2024 draft your own guy.

PackLandVA · May 2, 2022

Second free agency period starts after June 1. There will be more players available.

CubinNY · May 2, 2022

I think there's a couple things at play here. I have said since the hire that new GMs just don't make big splashes. Because big splashes = expectations. Poles is at a place where he can claim this team was just so devoid of talent that he had to take a lot of time to fix it. To be fair, he didn't inherit a good team, but the team wasn't devoid of talent. They potentially have building blocks at QB, RB, WR, TE, both tackles, CB, LB and DE (Gipson) that Pace left Poles with. Honestly, even a modest attempt at helping the offense with a couple lesser known signings (a step up from Patrick and Pringle, his 2 biggest signings) or even just simply re-signing Daniels, could have meant this team was a threat to a wildcard berth. One sure thing on offense would go a long way.

But I think the other issue is they aren't 100% sure on Fields. I know they are "sold" on Fields, but they aren't putting their futures in his hands, simply because it's not their pick. For all they know, Fields could be ruined from Nagy's horsefeathers show last year. So, I think they aren't throwing all their chips on the table for him. That doesn't mean they don't love him or don't think he's going to be a star. But they are hedging their bets. They are making sure Fields is the guy before they go all-in on him. I think there's a middle ground between "not going all-in yet" and the bare minimum roster filling they've done on offense. Because it's kind of weird to say, "OK Justin, prove you're good enough to build around" without giving him the tools to prove it.

I don't know what they need to see from Fields to go that next step, and don't imagine they'll throw around money and draft picks like a combo of the Rams and Jags if Fields does show them what they need to see. But I wonder if the draft was about getting some defensive guys in place before going O heavy next year. Fields is good in 2022, now you draft your version of Jamarr Chase and sign a big time stud lineman. And if he's not good, they can continue to turnover the roster. Tag and trade Roquan, cut/trade Quinn, don't extend Mooney or whoever else. Add players in the 2023 draft, then 2024 draft your own guy.

I don't really follow football so take this post for what it's worth. But if Poles is intentionally not getting talent to help his young QB who may or may not be good, he is unintentionally sabotaging the QB and sealing his fate. I mean, how can Fields do anything if he doesn't have time or people who can get open? It just seems really dumb and infuriating.

My read of the situation is that Poles doesn't think Fields is the guy.

Edited May 2, 2022 by CubinNY

Old Style · May 2, 2022

I can't imagine Poles would have been hired if he didn't say that he believed in Fields. So are some of you thinking he lied? Personally I just think it's a new GM being conservative along with realizing that the whole roster needs to be rebuilt. He's not hyper-focused on the young QB, for better or worse.

WrigleyField 22 · May 2, 2022

I can't imagine Poles would have been hired if he didn't say that he believed in Fields. So are some of you thinking he lied? Personally I just think it's a new GM being conservative along with realizing that the whole roster needs to be rebuilt. He's not hyper-focused on the young QB, for better or worse.

Right or wrong he's treating it like a re-do of Fields rookie year. Sometime rookie QBs are built around because there is no certainty they will even be in a position to draft a rookie. But even in cases where it's obvious a rookie is being drafted, the big investment often comes in year 2.

So Poles is basically the GM who knew he was gonna draft a QB first overall, but didnt go agressive in building around them for year 1. Basically everything is reset for Fields new "year 1"

I still don't agree with that approach, but I think that's basically what's happening.

jersey cubs fan · May 2, 2022

I can't imagine Poles would have been hired if he didn't say that he believed in Fields. So are some of you thinking he lied? Personally I just think it's a new GM being conservative along with realizing that the whole roster needs to be rebuilt. He's not hyper-focused on the young QB, for better or worse.

He probably said some variation of “I believe he has all the potential in the world but he hasn’t shown it yet and we’ll evaluate as we go along and remain flexible “

He’s treating it like he doesn’t believe in him at all, but maybe he’s telling George that if he truly had “it” he’ll show progress even without weapons or strong protection.

We Got The Whole 9 · May 2, 2022

There's still a lot of free agency to go. Get Fisher or Tretter, look at Fuller, maybe Sanders

Things will feel a lot less worrisome. Poles said he would be active in those second and third waves.

raw · May 2, 2022

I can't imagine Poles would have been hired if he didn't say that he believed in Fields. So are some of you thinking he lied? Personally I just think it's a new GM being conservative along with realizing that the whole roster needs to be rebuilt. He's not hyper-focused on the young QB, for better or worse.
Right or wrong he's treating it like a re-do of Fields rookie year. Sometime rookie QBs are built around because there is no certainty they will even be in a position to draft a rookie. But even in cases where it's obvious a rookie is being drafted, the big investment often comes in year 2.

So Poles is basically the GM who knew he was gonna draft a QB first overall, but didnt go agressive in building around them for year 1. Basically everything is reset for Fields new "year 1"

I still don't agree with that approach, but I think that's basically what's happening.

Yeah, I'm not saying he lied at all. I think they completely believe in Fields. But this is the NFL there's no sure things. Like I believe Fields will be a star QB in this league, but I'm not willing to bet my house, life savings, and 401K on it. That's basically where Poles and crew are.

While I agree, it doesn't make any sense to just throw him out there with nothing....I think the logic here is, "well I don't want to spend all this money and high draft picks on players and be locked into them for 4 years, if I find out in the next 2 years that the QB isn't good enough". It's one thing to see all these tools Fields has on tape. It's another to see how he does in person, everyday in OTAs, minicamp, training camp, preseason and during the season. It's seeing how he takes to the new coaching staff, and new offense. They used him to look at tape to help determine what guys to draft, so I don't think he necessarily lied.

Like I said earlier, there's definitely a middle ground I would have taken. Having a good RG on a 3-4 year deal is still good even if you do have QB issues. Obviously, QB is the most important piece, but it's not all or nothing w/ a QB. You can actually add good players to the unit before you have the sure thing at QB. I'm guessing the logic here is that they don't want a bunch of talent masking how good Fields actually is. LOL. Guys like Mayfield, Jimmy G, maybe even Cousins are guys who got paid (only 5th year option in Baker's case) and are not quite good enough because the talented supporting cast carries them a bit. I guess that's what they want to avoid. Makes no sense to me, but I sorta get it.

raw · May 2, 2022

There's still a lot of free agency to go. Get Fisher or Tretter, look at Fuller, maybe Sanders

Things will feel a lot less worrisome. Poles said he would be active in those second and third waves.

I've given up on these types of moves a long time ago. At this point, I'd rather go with Borom, Jenkins and the dude they drafted with the first 5th rounder than add Fisher, who is on his very last legs. Tretter I like, but I feel like they value Patrick's knowledge of the O at center. But they still have 13Mil in cap space, that will go up after Goldman and Trevathan's money becomes available June 1. They gotta bring in somebody, I'd imagine.

WrigleyField 22 · May 2, 2022

I can't imagine Poles would have been hired if he didn't say that he believed in Fields. So are some of you thinking he lied? Personally I just think it's a new GM being conservative along with realizing that the whole roster needs to be rebuilt. He's not hyper-focused on the young QB, for better or worse.
Right or wrong he's treating it like a re-do of Fields rookie year. Sometime rookie QBs are built around because there is no certainty they will even be in a position to draft a rookie. But even in cases where it's obvious a rookie is being drafted, the big investment often comes in year 2.

So Poles is basically the GM who knew he was gonna draft a QB first overall, but didnt go agressive in building around them for year 1. Basically everything is reset for Fields new "year 1"

I still don't agree with that approach, but I think that's basically what's happening.

Yeah, I'm not saying he lied at all. I think they completely believe in Fields. But this is the NFL there's no sure things. Like I believe Fields will be a star QB in this league, but I'm not willing to bet my house, life savings, and 401K on it. That's basically where Poles and crew are.

While I agree, it doesn't make any sense to just throw him out there with nothing....I think the logic here is, "well I don't want to spend all this money and high draft picks on players and be locked into them for 4 years, if I find out in the next 2 years that the QB isn't good enough". It's one thing to see all these tools Fields has on tape. It's another to see how he does in person, everyday in OTAs, minicamp, training camp, preseason and during the season. It's seeing how he takes to the new coaching staff, and new offense. They used him to look at tape to help determine what guys to draft, so I don't think he necessarily lied.

Like I said earlier, there's definitely a middle ground I would have taken. Having a good RG on a 3-4 year deal is still good even if you do have QB issues. Obviously, QB is the most important piece, but it's not all or nothing w/ a QB. You can actually add good players to the unit before you have the sure thing at QB. I'm guessing the logic here is that they don't want a bunch of talent masking how good Fields actually is. LOL. Guys like Mayfield, Jimmy G, maybe even Cousins are guys who got paid (only 5th year option in Baker's case) and are not quite good enough because the talented supporting cast carries them a bit. I guess that's what they want to avoid. Makes no sense to me, but I sorta get it.

Exactly agreed on the bolded. The goal of building around the next 3-4 years could have included more up front investments that still paid dividends 3 years from now.

Look at Cleveland building around Baker and him flopping. They had a core in place and then just needed to be opportunistic to add a QB to it. Or they could have opted to restart again and you have pieces from which you could do that. The Bears didn't have to be Rams/Packers 2021 level of short term thinking in order to field a better team for 2022. For instance the Mack trade still made a lot of sense. So adding via draft capital is important, but CLE did a lot in FA and trades too.

Anyways 2023 FA is gonna be huge. They have lots of money to spend to meet the Minimum cash requirements and I'd be shocked if they don't do it through FA (some resignings, but those won't be siginificant part of pie).

One more WR and a G or G/T swing would be good at minimum. Fuller or Landry at WR. Daryl Williams at G/T? Or see if any cuts happen. Those aren't exciting long term adds, but I think they still need some one year stop gaps at this stage to give Fields fair shot to grow and develop.

minnesotacubsfan · May 2, 2022

I'll give Poles credit and say he must not have seen any o-lineman or wr's in the draft better then what we have or not worth the value of the pick when he picked past the 1st 2nd round pick, meaning he went strictly bpa on a long list of needs. I'm not sure I agree, but whatever.

It'll be interesting to see what they do in FA here into training camp.

minnesotacubsfan · May 2, 2022

also, I like investing in the secondary. you aren't likely to beat Aaron Rodgers with your offense alone, but if you can contain and minimize him with solid coverage, it gives Fields and the offense less of a hill to climb

raw · May 2, 2022

I will say this. On paper, this team has a chance to 2019 Bills or 2019 Ravens their way into a surprise playoff berth. Also, the team I compared the Bears to, the 2016 Titans, went 9-7 but didn't make the playoffs.

Eberflus has shown so far he can roll out of bed and turn a defense into a top 10 group. The Bears have a talent advantage over the 2018 Colts D he had 10th in points and 11 in yards allowed. That team didn't have a pass rusher as good as Quinn. They had Al-Quaddin Muhammad as a young player, not the polished pass rusher he is now. Darius Leonard was a rookie, compared to Roquan already playing at a high level. And the defensive backfield is much more talented.

I think if this defense is a top 10 unit, the offense, like those 3 teams I named, just have to run the ball well, take advantage of turnovers, and avoid mistakes to put together a decent season against the 2nd easiest schedule on paper. I'm not predicting it to happen, but if Eberflus and Fields are the right guys, it's certainly possible.

CubinNY · May 2, 2022

WrigleyField 22 · May 2, 2022

also, I like investing in the secondary. you aren't likely to beat Aaron Rodgers with your offense alone, but if you can contain and minimize him with solid coverage, it gives Fields and the offense less of a hill to climb

Without question Gordon at CB add is at least a premium position so no qualms that he went D with first pick.

S definitely a lower value position value by most metrics, but I don't think you can bum it at both spots and this will provide the team options. And by most opinions Brisker was a good value pick there. Would anyone have batted and eye if he went top 30? Maybe Jackson turns it around and sees out his contract too and you have a all around premium group, but adding athletes on D on small deals is good.

Now about next offseason and going hog wild on offense adds...

gflore34 · May 2, 2022

First thing that came to my mind as well, its uncanny at first glance.

Bertz · May 2, 2022

He doesn't fit Poles' fetish of fast O-lineman, but he's young (not even 24) and PFF thinks he's solid (has hovered around a 70 each of his first three years).

Hairyducked Idiot · May 2, 2022

I will say this. On paper, this team has a chance to 2019 Bills or 2019 Ravens their way into a surprise playoff berth. Also, the team I compared the Bears to, the 2016 Titans, went 9-7 but didn't make the playoffs.

Eberflus has shown so far he can roll out of bed and turn a defense into a top 10 group. The Bears have a talent advantage over the 2018 Colts D he had 10th in points and 11 in yards allowed. That team didn't have a pass rusher as good as Quinn. They had Al-Quaddin Muhammad as a young player, not the polished pass rusher he is now. Darius Leonard was a rookie, compared to Roquan already playing at a high level. And the defensive backfield is much more talented.

I think if this defense is a top 10 unit, the offense, like those 3 teams I named, just have to run the ball well, take advantage of turnovers, and avoid mistakes to put together a decent season against the 2nd easiest schedule on paper. I'm not predicting it to happen, but if Eberflus and Fields are the right guys, it's certainly possible.

I would literally rather fold the franchise than sit through another run of "ok we snuck in at 10-6 thanks to our defense, oops we got rocked in the playoffs by a team with an elite QB" seasons

UMFan83 · May 2, 2022

I will say this. On paper, this team has a chance to 2019 Bills or 2019 Ravens their way into a surprise playoff berth. Also, the team I compared the Bears to, the 2016 Titans, went 9-7 but didn't make the playoffs.

Eberflus has shown so far he can roll out of bed and turn a defense into a top 10 group. The Bears have a talent advantage over the 2018 Colts D he had 10th in points and 11 in yards allowed. That team didn't have a pass rusher as good as Quinn. They had Al-Quaddin Muhammad as a young player, not the polished pass rusher he is now. Darius Leonard was a rookie, compared to Roquan already playing at a high level. And the defensive backfield is much more talented.

I think if this defense is a top 10 unit, the offense, like those 3 teams I named, just have to run the ball well, take advantage of turnovers, and avoid mistakes to put together a decent season against the 2nd easiest schedule on paper. I'm not predicting it to happen, but if Eberflus and Fields are the right guys, it's certainly possible.

I would literally rather fold the franchise than sit through another run of "ok we snuck in at 10-6 thanks to our defense, oops we got rocked in the playoffs by a team with an elite QB" seasons

I don't think that's what he's suggesting. Maybe for this year due to the lack of offensive options, but if the defense can lead them to 10-7 on the back of an easy schedule and an opportunistic defense while Fields shows that he's the guy then this season is a rousing success, especially when you consider how much cap space the Bears would have following the season to go absolutely nuts.

That said, I think 10-7 is like a 98th percentile outcome. Almost certainly 7-10 at best, more likely 5-12 or 6-11.

jersey cubs fan · May 2, 2022

I will say this. On paper, this team has a chance to 2019 Bills or 2019 Ravens their way into a surprise playoff berth. Also, the team I compared the Bears to, the 2016 Titans, went 9-7 but didn't make the playoffs.

Eberflus has shown so far he can roll out of bed and turn a defense into a top 10 group. The Bears have a talent advantage over the 2018 Colts D he had 10th in points and 11 in yards allowed. That team didn't have a pass rusher as good as Quinn. They had Al-Quaddin Muhammad as a young player, not the polished pass rusher he is now. Darius Leonard was a rookie, compared to Roquan already playing at a high level. And the defensive backfield is much more talented.

I think if this defense is a top 10 unit, the offense, like those 3 teams I named, just have to run the ball well, take advantage of turnovers, and avoid mistakes to put together a decent season against the 2nd easiest schedule on paper. I'm not predicting it to happen, but if Eberflus and Fields are the right guys, it's certainly possible.

I would literally rather fold the franchise than sit through another run of "ok we snuck in at 10-6 thanks to our defense, oops we got rocked in the playoffs by a team with an elite QB" seasons

I would be ecstatic if they lucked into the playoffs on defense and running with a competent Fields, as they don’t have any other options and winning is better than losing. That wouldn’t preclude them doing it the right way the following season.

itisallpartoftheplan · May 2, 2022

Hairyducked Idiot · May 2, 2022

I will say this. On paper, this team has a chance to 2019 Bills or 2019 Ravens their way into a surprise playoff berth. Also, the team I compared the Bears to, the 2016 Titans, went 9-7 but didn't make the playoffs.

Eberflus has shown so far he can roll out of bed and turn a defense into a top 10 group. The Bears have a talent advantage over the 2018 Colts D he had 10th in points and 11 in yards allowed. That team didn't have a pass rusher as good as Quinn. They had Al-Quaddin Muhammad as a young player, not the polished pass rusher he is now. Darius Leonard was a rookie, compared to Roquan already playing at a high level. And the defensive backfield is much more talented.

I think if this defense is a top 10 unit, the offense, like those 3 teams I named, just have to run the ball well, take advantage of turnovers, and avoid mistakes to put together a decent season against the 2nd easiest schedule on paper. I'm not predicting it to happen, but if Eberflus and Fields are the right guys, it's certainly possible.

I would literally rather fold the franchise than sit through another run of "ok we snuck in at 10-6 thanks to our defense, oops we got rocked in the playoffs by a team with an elite QB" seasons

I don't think that's what he's suggesting. Maybe for this year due to the lack of offensive options, but if the defense can lead them to 10-7 on the back of an easy schedule and an opportunistic defense while Fields shows that he's the guy then this season is a rousing success, especially when you consider how much cap space the Bears would have following the season to go absolutely nuts.

That said, I think 10-7 is like a 98th percentile outcome. Almost certainly 7-10 at best, more likely 5-12 or 6-11.

I can't wait to spend that cap space on a linebacker, a corner, an offensive lineman with lots of grit who is a little weak in pass-blocking and a special teams specalist. (don't try to reason with me I'm doom bonering)