Chicago Bears Offseason Thread (the tank must payoff)

[WrigleyField 22]

 

Lot of bodies. Mooney is gonna play. Claypool is gonna play. They kind of need to see what they have in Velus and Harry. But St. Brown has kind of earned a right to play. Pettis has the highest YPC on the team and lead in TD receptions. Pringle was productive last year for KC and they had hopes for him, but probably no reason to give him a ton of reps at this point, he has 0 chance of being back in 2023.

If the NE and DAL games are an indication, Harry has passed St Brown already. Probably still 12-18 snaps for him, but not much more.

 

Man, I was never a fan of Pringle signing. I know you can't predixt injuries, but what a waste.

 

It wound up costing the Bears a 3rd or 4th round comp too. I was fine with the signing. The lack of OL help is and was the reason to be upset this offseason.

Bears were never gonna be in a position to collect on the comp pick though. In 2024 they might have a chance at being comp pick players and if a Claypool extension doesn't happen he could be part of that. So from that standpoint they set up their timing well by pushing a 2023 CFA vet to a 2024 CFA vet.

 

That's all assuming the franchise tag wasn't on the table, which I think was a safe bet. Based on multiple career holdout/ins with Smith, a franchise tag was not a route you wanted to take.

[WrigleyField 22]

Looking forward to the off-season, who are the OL FA to keep an eye on? I’m assuming the focus in free agency is going to be on both sides of the line.

Yea I think trenches on both sides will be the FA focus and very likely R1 focus. I'm sure Miami will resign Chubb who woulda been the biggest edge name. Davenport next biggest edge name possible after him. Lots of OT possible to hit market. I'd put money on that spot being one of their big signings.

 

They'll need to sign some bodies at LB with Morrow being a FA. But hopefully not a $20M LB like Smith. Edmunds is the biggest LB on market. Spotrac who's valuations I don't necessarily trust put him at 4/57. He might be closer to

 

Vander Esch probably another LB in that $10M type range among LB FA.

[Bobson Dugnutt]

Looking forward to the off-season, who are the OL FA to keep an eye on? I’m assuming the focus in free agency is going to be on both sides of the line.

Yea I think trenches on both sides will be the FA focus and very likely R1 focus. I'm sure Miami will resign Chubb who woulda been the biggest edge name. Davenport next biggest edge name possible after him. Lots of OT possible to hit market. I'd put money on that spot being one of their big signings.

 

They'll need to sign some bodies at LB with Morrow being a FA. But hopefully not a $20M LB like Smith. Edmunds is the biggest LB on market. Spotrac who's valuations I don't necessarily trust put him at 4/57. He might be closer to

 

Vander Esch probably another LB in that $10M type range among LB FA.

 

Should be some nice options on The DLine:

 

[tweet]

[/tweet]

 

Daron Payne and David Onyemata interest me at DT. Marcus Davenport and Yannick Ngakoue on the edge.

 

For OT, are Brown, Wynn, and Jenkins the biggest names out there? I know pretty little about the current OL landscape but at a glance these three seemed like the best combinations of age + talent.

[WrigleyField 22]

McGlinchey the other big OT name.

[gflore34]

Yesterday Poles said there was plenty of transparency and discussions with the coaching staff prior to the transactions. Think Eberflus said something to the effect of - "I'll fix the defense just get Justin a guy who catch the horsefeathering ball, you know, someone an NFL defense might actually take seriously..."?

[raw]

Yesterday Poles said there was plenty of transparency and discussions with the coaching staff prior to the transactions. Think Eberflus said something to the effect of - "I'll fix the defense just get Justin a guy who catch the horsefeathering ball, you know, someone an NFL defense might actually take seriously..."?

 

Yeah, I think this is all coming together. I know people were skeptical about what the team thought about Fields being that they gave him nothing to work with. I know people were skeptical about the defensive coaching hire. But as I said all offseason, I think Poles believed in Fields, he just wasn't going to bet his career on him succeeding by going HAM year 1. Fields has shown enough, so far. And the defensive hire makes sense now that they are seemingly going all-in on Fields. Poles will hopefully add the talent there. Eberflus will be able to get the talent and mold them the way he wants.

 

Sunday really opened my eyes. IDK if I said this here or twitter, but we all want Fields to throw 50 times in a game to see what happens, and Dallas was the opportunity to do so. They were behind big, he was playing well. But they didn't because I really felt for the first time they were protecting him from a fierce pass rush instead of protecting him from mistakes or playing to not lose. Taking him out of the game late really sealed the deal that they were doing this. I actually smiled when I saw Siemien on the field. This staff knows they can't drop Fields back 50 times and keep him upright all season.

[David]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3WLfogsz4M&ab_channel=THEHERDonFS1

 

Dilfer comes on at around 0:50 and says some fun things

[WrigleyField 22]

Yesterday Poles said there was plenty of transparency and discussions with the coaching staff prior to the transactions. Think Eberflus said something to the effect of - "I'll fix the defense just get Justin a guy who catch the horsefeathering ball, you know, someone an NFL defense might actually take seriously..."?

 

Yeah, I think this is all coming together. I know people were skeptical about what the team thought about Fields being that they gave him nothing to work with. I know people were skeptical about the defensive coaching hire. But as I said all offseason, I think Poles believed in Fields, he just wasn't going to bet his career on him succeeding by going HAM year 1. Fields has shown enough, so far. And the defensive hire makes sense now that they are seemingly going all-in on Fields. Poles will hopefully add the talent there. Eberflus will be able to get the talent and mold them the way he wants.

 

Sunday really opened my eyes. IDK if I said this here or twitter, but we all want Fields to throw 50 times in a game to see what happens, and Dallas was the opportunity to do so. They were behind big, he was playing well. But they didn't because I really felt for the first time they were protecting him from a fierce pass rush instead of protecting him from mistakes or playing to not lose. Taking him out of the game late really sealed the deal that they were doing this. I actually smiled when I saw Siemien on the field. This staff knows they can't drop Fields back 50 times and keep him upright all season.

100% agree on all this.

[Derwood]

ESPN gave the Campbell trade a D+

[minnesotacubsfan]

ESPN gave the Campbell trade a D+

Claypool?

[David]

ESPN gave the Campbell trade a D+

 

Is that the guy we traded Armstrong for?

[Old Style]

ESPN gave the Campbell trade a D+

[Derwood]

Yeah, sorry, Claypool

[gflore34]

Never put much stock into ESPN' opinions of the Bears, believe there's far better analysis and opinion in or on a multitude of places. Just for shits and giggles I wonder how ESPN' would grade on a trade of Claypool to the Packers? A to the infinity? I'll bet it chaps their collective asses that there' signs of Fields actually being good and the answer for the Bears while their beloved Rodgers and the Packers are beginning to show signs of vulnerability. Signs of the slow decent into mediocrity maybe, even, badness for the Packers.

[jumbo]

Never put much stock into ESPN' opinions of the Bears, believe there's far better analysis and opinion in or on a multitude of places. Just for horsefeathers and giggles I wonder how ESPN' would grade on a trade of Claypool to the Packers? A to the infinity? I'll bet it chaps their collective asses that there' signs of Fields actually being good and the answer for the Bears while their beloved Rodgers and the Packers are beginning to show signs of vulnerability. Signs of the slow decent into mediocrity maybe, even, badness for the Packers.

 

I follow PFF Brad on Twitter. He has pretty unbiased analysis even though he is somewhat of a Bears fan. He said giving the Ravens' second would be an overpay. I think he said Khan "fleeced" Poles by getting the Bears' second instead. I think everyone feels like it's an overpay, but so is free agency. Why, because you have to have the best offer to get what you want.

I'm overall encouraged that more resources are going to the offense instead of defense to right what has been a franchise-long wrong to some extent.

 

Oh, also, I listen to no one from ESPN. It is the network of who can scream the loudest. Not interested in that.

[raw]

Yeah, grain of salt. I was watching NFL Network when the trade was announced and they were confused why the Bears would make the trade as well. I think the media is looking at it as "Why did a bad team trade for a player when they should be trying to add draft picks?" They are looking at the fact that the Bears are not competing this year, whereas the Packers could compete by adding a WR. They are ignoring the fact that there is 0 in the pending free agency class and that Fields gets 9 games to work with Claypool instead of waiting until the offseason and not get this season with a good WR. Bad teams sell. Good teams buy. It's all black and white to media types.

[Tryptamine]

When the FA class next year is highlighted by Allen Lazard and Jakobi Meyers then yeah, I don't mind this trade. It also frees up their draft so they don't feel like they have to take a WR in the 1st or 2nd now. I'd love to see them trade back for a 1st and a 2nd then grab a DE,OL,WR in the first 2 rounds.

[raw]

When the FA class next year is highlighted by Allen Lazard and Jakobi Meyers then yeah, I don't mind this trade. It also frees up their draft so they don't feel like they have to take a WR in the 1st or 2nd now. I'd love to see them trade back for a 1st and a 2nd then grab a DE,OL,WR in the first 2 rounds.

 

This is the way!

[WrigleyField 22]

Never put much stock into ESPN' opinions of the Bears, believe there's far better analysis and opinion in or on a multitude of places. Just for horsefeathers and giggles I wonder how ESPN' would grade on a trade of Claypool to the Packers? A to the infinity? I'll bet it chaps their collective asses that there' signs of Fields actually being good and the answer for the Bears while their beloved Rodgers and the Packers are beginning to show signs of vulnerability. Signs of the slow decent into mediocrity maybe, even, badness for the Packers.

 

I follow PFF Brad on Twitter. He has pretty unbiased analysis even though he is somewhat of a Bears fan. He said giving the Ravens' second would be an overpay. I think he said Khan "fleeced" Poles by getting the Bears' second instead. I think everyone feels like it's an overpay, but so is free agency. Why, because you have to have the best offer to get what you want.

I'm overall encouraged that more resources are going to the offense instead of defense to right what has been a franchise-long wrong to some extent.

 

Oh, also, I listen to no one from ESPN. It is the network of who can scream the loudest. Not interested in that.

Brad is one of my favorite follows. But I immediately noticed that the trade chart he developed basically calls the 2nd round difference the value of a 7th. I didn't directly @ him about it, but someone eventually did. Kind of funny.

 

[gflore34]

When the FA class next year is highlighted by Allen Lazard and Jakobi Meyers then yeah, I don't mind this trade. It also frees up their draft so they don't feel like they have to take a WR in the 1st or 2nd now. I'd love to see them trade back for a 1st and a 2nd then grab a DE,OL,WR in the first 2 rounds.

 

I really think one of Boutte (LSU), Addison (USC) or Smith-Njigba (OSU) will be available when the Bears pick in the 2nd.

[WrigleyField 22]

When the FA class next year is highlighted by Allen Lazard and Jakobi Meyers then yeah, I don't mind this trade. It also frees up their draft so they don't feel like they have to take a WR in the 1st or 2nd now. I'd love to see them trade back for a 1st and a 2nd then grab a DE,OL,WR in the first 2 rounds.

 

I really think one of Boutte (LSU), Addison (USC) or Smith-Njigba (OSU) will be available when the Bears pick in the 2nd.

That's probably gonna be in the back half of the second, are you sure?

 

Briefly heard on the Hoge and Jahns podcast but I think Jahns said he asked the Athletic's NFL draft guy about it and he said the run of 5+ WR in the first will end this year. So I guess not as exciting of a talent pool as past couple years.

[Old Style]

I think you also have to consider that the Packers by all accounts were expected to land Claypool before Poles stepped up the offer. So not only does it make the Bears better it keeps their rival from getting better at the same time. And Green Bay sitting there doing nothing at the trade deadline as they flounder may be the straw to break the Rodgers' back as far as his future there is concerned.

[jumbo]

Never put much stock into ESPN' opinions of the Bears, believe there's far better analysis and opinion in or on a multitude of places. Just for horsefeathers and giggles I wonder how ESPN' would grade on a trade of Claypool to the Packers? A to the infinity? I'll bet it chaps their collective asses that there' signs of Fields actually being good and the answer for the Bears while their beloved Rodgers and the Packers are beginning to show signs of vulnerability. Signs of the slow decent into mediocrity maybe, even, badness for the Packers.

 

I follow PFF Brad on Twitter. He has pretty unbiased analysis even though he is somewhat of a Bears fan. He said giving the Ravens' second would be an overpay. I think he said Khan "fleeced" Poles by getting the Bears' second instead. I think everyone feels like it's an overpay, but so is free agency. Why, because you have to have the best offer to get what you want.

I'm overall encouraged that more resources are going to the offense instead of defense to right what has been a franchise-long wrong to some extent.

 

Oh, also, I listen to no one from ESPN. It is the network of who can scream the loudest. Not interested in that.

Brad is one of my favorite follows. But I immediately noticed that the trade chart he developed basically calls the 2nd round difference the value of a 7th. I didn't directly @ him about it, but someone eventually did. Kind of funny.

 

 

Ha - you have to appreciate the fact that he is intellectually honest about being wrong. Few are these days, so kudos to him and McCarron who asked the question.

This also makes me feel better about the trade and the value. One trade back or manuever could offer a chance to recoup that value easily.

[mul21]

When the FA class next year is highlighted by Allen Lazard and Jakobi Meyers then yeah, I don't mind this trade. It also frees up their draft so they don't feel like they have to take a WR in the 1st or 2nd now. I'd love to see them trade back for a 1st and a 2nd then grab a DE,OL,WR in the first 2 rounds.

 

I 100% agree with this and am kind of amazed that even while they mention it being a factor, it's being almost completely discounted in grading the trade by the pundits. The lack of options in FA plus stealing a resource from the Packers makes the grade from me significantly higher than the deal would be in a vacuum.

[jersey cubs fan]

When the FA class next year is highlighted by Allen Lazard and Jakobi Meyers then yeah, I don't mind this trade. It also frees up their draft so they don't feel like they have to take a WR in the 1st or 2nd now. I'd love to see them trade back for a 1st and a 2nd then grab a DE,OL,WR in the first 2 rounds.

 

I 100% agree with this and am kind of amazed that even while they mention it being a factor, it's being almost completely discounted in grading the trade by the pundits. The lack of options in FA plus stealing a resource from the Packers makes the grade from me significantly higher than the deal would be in a vacuum.

To play devils advocate, if they kept that pick and used it on an overdraft WR instead of best player available, they’d get criticized for it. They didn’t have to put themselves in a position where an overpay for a wr via trade was a viable option, they could have done something to help Fields 6 months ago. They didn’t. They put themselves in a position where they were desperate enough to overpay, and by all accounts, they overpaid. Frankly I’m glad they did it for multiple reasons, but it deserves to be viewed honestly.