Chicago Bears Offseason Thread (the tank must payoff)

[WrigleyField 22]

2 minutes ago, Hairyducked Idiot said:

... use the rest on defense if you want 

Are you feeling okay? 

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Just now, WrigleyField 22 said:

Are you feeling okay? 

I mean I won't complain if we draft a 3rd RB, or a project guy at WR to set the stage for if Mooney and claypool leave, or a depth QB 

[UMFan83]

Very sad to see how many great players are still on the board and knowing the Bears could have been in position to draft one of them

[SpongeWorthy]

9 minutes ago, Hairyducked Idiot said:

Defense is the least important side of the ball 

Edge and CB are undoubtedly more important than DT, and in modern NFL offenses coverage LBs are starting to be too.  DT can be tied with safety 

so you love the brain trust that has said publicly said the most important position in its defense is the three technique DT, traded away the best coverage linebacker in the league, and drafted a safety with its first defensive pick? 

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Put it this way. The Bears have now gone two free agency periods without giving a DT more than $6m/year on a non-voided contract, and have made 12 draft picks without taking one.  It's easily the worst position on the roster.

They may end up being wrong and foolish, but I think their priorities are coming into focus.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

1 minute ago, SpongeWorthy said:

so you love the brain trust that has said publicly said the most important position in its defense is the three technique DT, traded away the best coverage linebacker in the league, and drafted a safety with its first defensive pick? 

Words are wind.  I'm pretty happy with the braintrust that has, as per the other post I just made, steadfastly refused to make any commitment to DT and let it become the worst position on the roster (voided contract to one guy notwithstanding)

[SpongeWorthy]

Just now, Hairyducked Idiot said:

Put it this way. The Bears have now gone two free agency periods without giving a DT more than $6m/year on a non-voided contract, and have made 12 draft picks without taking one.  It's easily the worst position on the roster.

They may end up being wrong and foolish, but I think their priorities are coming into focus.

and the last two super bowl champions have all world DTs

 

[mfcubs22]

14 minutes ago, Outshined_One said:

None of those guys are Day 1 starters in their rookie years at T, imo. Mauch had a Day 2 grade with most publications, whereas Harrison and Jones were seen as projects.

Wright can anchor RT immediately. He's not a splash pick, but he's climbed the boards following the combine and workouts. It's a good pick.

This. You can’t quote a 2022 article as your reasoning that there are 4 tackles more highly rated than Wright (including or not including PJJ). And you quote PFF, who most recently had them rated Skoronski, PJJ (16), Jones (20), Wright (22). Mauch was 51 overall, for the record. 

[Hairyducked Idiot]

3 minutes ago, SpongeWorthy said:

and the last two super bowl champions have all world DTs

 

Ok, let's follow the chiefs blue print then.   All-world offense and a middle of the pack defense with an all-world DT we got in the 2nd round.  We can get one tomorrow 

[Tim]

1 minute ago, mfcubs22 said:

This. You can’t quote a 2022 article as your reasoning that there are 4 tackles more highly rated than Wright (including or not including PJJ). And you quote PFF, who most recently had them rated Skoronski, PJJ (16), Jones (20), Wright (22). Mauch was 51 overall, for the record. 

Brugler at the Athletic had them as:

1) PJJ (12 overall)

2) Jones (15)

3) Wright (24)

4) Harrison (50)

I feel like they could have traded back and gotten Wright a little later in the round, but I'm not sure what trade back was available given how things played out. I would have taken the big swing with Carter. Failing that, I would have traded back if it was there. If it wasn't, then I'm fine with Wright.

[Tim]

Just now, Hairyducked Idiot said:

Ok, let's follow the chiefs blue print then.   All-world offense and a middle of the pack defense with an all-world DT we got in the 2nd round.  We can get one tomorrow 

Let's hope Adebawore is available at 53

[mfcubs22]

7 minutes ago, Tim said:

Brugler at the Athletic had them as:

1) PJJ (12 overall)

2) Jones (15)

3) Wright (24)

4) Harrison (50)

I feel like they could have traded back and gotten Wright a little later in the round, but I'm not sure what trade back was available given how things played out. I would have taken the big swing with Carter. Failing that, I would have traded back if it was there. If it wasn't, then I'm fine with Wright.

With all the OTs going right after Wright, I doubt we could have dropped lower than 14 and still gotten him. Jones is more of a project (though higher ceiling). Skoronski will probably have to play guard. Wright is the most day 1 ready of the bunch. And has plenty of successful tape at RT specifically. I want to surround JF with as much ready to play talent for 2023 to evaluate him properly while we have 2 potential top 10 picks in a QB heavy 2024 draft. 
 

Also, Patriots got pick 120 to move down from 14 to 17. And that’s with the last remaining tier 1 OT left on the board. So I don’t think a worthwhile trade down would have been available. 
 

 

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Anything's possible in the NFL, but at this point I think it's more likely neither of our 2023 firsts are top 10 than both are 

[UMFan83]

Hopefully Derwood sees this on ESPN before he checks this thread

 

Edited April 28, 2023 by UMFan83

[Tim]

I think my dream outcome for tomorrow is Adebawore, Schmitz & White. But all three would have to fall to get them. The other two are at least reasonable in that range. If Adebawore is still on the board at 53, I'd prioritize him first.

[profisme]

27 minutes ago, Tim said:

I think my dream outcome for tomorrow is Adebawore, Schmitz & White. But all three would have to fall to get them. The other two are at least reasonable in that range. If Adebawore is still on the board at 53, I'd prioritize him first.

I think I would go Schmitz first but it is likely both splitting hairs and unlikely to happen for either to be there, thus making this a moot post. 

[David]

Can't believe these horsefeathering morons passed on Carter

[Derwood]

7 hours ago, UMFan83 said:

Very sad to see how many great players are still on the board and knowing the Bears could have been in position to draft one of them

I won’t be surprised to see Pittsburgh draft Porter. That team always seems to get great talent later in the draft than they should. 

[jersey cubs fan]

8 hours ago, Hairyducked Idiot said:

I wouldn't call making multiple first-round trades "passive."

When the trades are down, yes it is. 

[jersey cubs fan]

9 hours ago, UK said:

So far the Bears under Poles have taken a cautious, passive, and cheap approach. 

I won't be surprised next year at this time thinking, "What are they going to do with all this cap space?"

They are definitely more interested in future assets than actually acquiring football players.

[raw]

So, I'm going to assume that ownership wasn't OK with Carter. Which if you're Poles, not much you can do about that. The last couple days with the "the buzz is Carter to the Bears at 9", I felt that was signaling that the Bears were inviting teams AKA Philly to trade up ahead of them. It just felt like there was some disagreement within the organization on Carter and they really were kind of hoping they didn't have to make that decision. 

NGL, I was hoping Carter would be the pick. The potential to trade down from the #1 pick AND potentially still get arguably the best player in the draft was too good to be true to me. I get the off-field and motor concerns, but DTs who bust don't get the GM fired. I think that aspect of the pick was overstated. Carter was a risk, but definitely a worthy one, IMO.

That being said, the Wright pick is fine. This pick along with insisting Moore be in the Carolina trade shows a clear investment in Justin Fields at the QB position. It's a safe pick. It's as "win now" as a draft pick can be. He doesn't have the most upside of the top tackles in the draft, but he's probably most ready to play the position he most recently played of all of the tackles. Paris and Jones were 1-year starters. Skoronski is maybe not even a LT at all. So Wright was the anti-Braxton Jones in that you aren't hoping you have something on the bookend. You probably have a solid, yet talented protection for your QB. There's obviously nothing wrong with that. But it also makes me a little upset that there was not more done last year to get Fields solid, yet talented protection. 

That also being said, I hope the motivation for the pick wasn't because Wright was "safe". I hope he wasn't prioritized because they are so into Braxton and looked at Wright being a RT as an easy way to avoid any controversy about who would play on the left and right sides. But it all comes back to Poles blatantly ignoring help for Fields last year, now he's potentially chasing positions instead of talent. 

[BigbadB]

Thought for sure it would be Jalen Carter at #9 since he seemed like the guy they might have taken with the first overall. I'm sitting there thinking to myself that Poles is absolutely brilliant to trade back 9 places and still get his man, but then they traded it away and he went with OT. That was still one of my predictions. If PJJ and Carter are gone, he trades back and takes the best OT. So I was still somewhat right, but was shocked he didn't take Carter there. 

Maybe with the available cap space, they look to trade for a 3 tech in the second round today. I don't think I'd be opposed to a move up that nets them a starter on defense in the trenches, whether it be a veteran or a draft pick that fits.

[Old Style]

Will Anderson: Darnell Wright "The Best Tackle" He Faced

Call me crazy, but I like this pick.

[raw]

My top guys available for today for the Bears (not really in any order):

John Michael Schmitz, C Minnesota

BJ Ojulari, Edge, LSU

Adetomiwa Adebawore, DT Northwestern

Jayden Reed, WR Michigan St

Jonathan Mingo, WR Ole Miss

Steve Avila, OG/OC TCU

Keeanu Benton, DT Wisconsin

Joey Porter Jr, CB Penn State

Tyrique Stevenson, CB Miami

Julius Brents, CB Kansas State

Cam Smith, CB South Carolina

 

I'd love one of those top 3 guys at 53 (Ojulari seems unlikeliest). Then trade down from 61 to around the 75-82 range. And use pick 64.

53- Adebawore, 64- one of the CBs, Mid 3rd- Juice Scruggs, C Penn State

53- Schmitz, 64- one of the CBs, Mid 3rd- Zacch Pickens, DT South Carolina or next tier edge guy (Diaby, McGuire, Harrison?)

 

[minnesotacubsfan]

9 minutes ago, Old Style said:

Will Anderson: Darnell Wright "The Best Tackle" He Faced

Call me crazy, but I like this pick.

I read that Wright shut Anderson down, basically man/kid style. And I'll reiterate that RT's are as valuable as LT's, so I can buy the idea that Poles and Co thought he was the best tackle option. But damn...Carter