2025 Bears Offseason Thread

[WrigleyField 22]

Let go of the ****** RB value takes. It's a brave new world with nuance.

[We Got The Whole 9]

Go super hard in FA. I mean spend it all. Besides the guys chasing rings we should be the prime destination to every FA. Plug every damn hole you can.

[jumbo]

9 hours ago, Hairyducked Idiot said:

1) It's all about Caleb Williams now.  These plays are creating open receivers, but they *have* to be recognized and hit quickly by the QB to be effective.  If he flinches or looks confused, as he often did (which is understandable as a rookie), the whole thing falls apart.

2) I know everyone's gung-ho about the line, but we need some more speed at the skill positions to match this.  A better RB and at least one fast WR.

Great video

Detroit has their starting LG Zeitler coming into FA. This would be a logical pick up as a short term starter (guy is 35). 

Will be fun to see if they can plug all the holes in FA (at least in some way) so they can truly be BPA in the draft. 

[jumbo]

Double post

Edited January 22, 2025 by jumbo

[17 Seconds]

 

[jersey cubs fan]

8 hours ago, WrigleyField 22 said:

Let go of the ****** RB value takes. It's a brave new world with nuance.

It’s not even a new world. There have always been running backs worthy of top ten picks. RB has a pecking order and top line guys do make a difference and are worth investment. The problem was people used to take the 3rd or 4th best RB in the first round as well. You can plug and play most RB but you cannot replicate excellence at the position. 
 

A weapon is a weapon 

[Derwood]

I remember the Cowboys catching criticism when they took Zeke in the first round (as ignoring RB was really the fashion at the time). Turned out to be a pretty good pick

[WrigleyField 22]

9 hours ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

Go super hard in FA. I mean spend it all. Besides the guys chasing rings we should be the prime destination to every FA. Plug every damn hole you can.

I'm probably as spend aggressive as anyone in the world not named Mickey Loomis, but one thing I low key hate is having all in years like that in FA.  I hope Johnson teaches Poles about having a set of balls, not fearing the cap, and we see them spend like a team intent on winning... But it shouldnt ALL splurge this year either, IMO.

 

But back up the Brinks truck to Trey Smith and the OL and DL with just bodies of wave 2-3 guys.  And a fringe starter Safety (Brisker protection) and moderate WR 3 (also wave 2-3).  But that probably doesn't equal like a top 3 spender either.  And start structuring contracts like you intend to be a top 7-10ish spender year in and year out.

Edited January 22, 2025 by WrigleyField 22

[Bobson Dugnutt]

38 minutes ago, WrigleyField 22 said:

I'm probably as spend aggressive as anyone in the world not named Mickey Loomis, but one thing I low key hate is having all in years like that in FA.  I hope Johnson teaches Poles about having a set of balls, not fearing the cap, and we see them spend like a team intent on winning... But it shouldnt ALL splurge this year either, IMO.

 

But back up the Brinks truck to Trey Smith and the OL and DL with just bodies of wave 2-3 guys.  And a fringe starter Safety (Brisker protection) and moderate WR 3 (also wave 2-3).  But that probably doesn't equal like a top 3 spender either.  And start structuring contracts like you intend to be a top 7-10ish spender year in and year out.

I may be misinterpreting your point, but isn’t “just bodies” the approach they took with the OL last year? I’m hoping for more than just one surefire starter out of FA.

[gflore34]

1 hour ago, Bobson Dugnutt said:

I may be misinterpreting your point, but isn’t “just bodies” the approach they took with the OL last year? I’m hoping for more than just one surefire starter out of FA.

Those "bodies" have to be starter types.  If they come out of FA with multiple OL starters, I can almost guarantee that means Jeanty at 10, even if someone like Carter or Graham falls.  I'm OK with this, screw defense, I want a Bears team to light up the scoreboard, no more 6-3 losses, no more touchdown-less first halves.  I want Caleb to horsefeathers bury Daniels, Nix, Maye and whatever 2025 rookie QB is supposed to better than Caleb as well.

Edited January 22, 2025 by gflore34

[Soul]

1 minute ago, gflore34 said:

no more touchdown-less first halves.

^^^^^THIS^^^^^

[bukie]

Robert Mays spends 20 minutes talking about how much he loves the Bears coaching hire:

 

[raw]

3 hours ago, jersey cubs fan said:

It’s not even a new world. There have always been running backs worthy of top ten picks. RB has a pecking order and top line guys do make a difference and are worth investment. The problem was people used to take the 3rd or 4th best RB in the first round as well. You can plug and play most RB but you cannot replicate excellence at the position. 
 

A weapon is a weapon 

Interesting to see what type of RB they go with. This is a very fun RB draft. Lions ran a lot of inside zone and duo, not a lot of outside zone, even though Gibbs did a ton of damage on the outside, it was mostly power runs. There's not really a Gibbs in this draft.

Henderson from Ohio St is a fun weapon. Can get the edge, great in the pass game as a receiver and the best pass blocker in the draft. But him in a backfield with Swift is kind of a weird combo. Would have to really like Roschon a lot for short yardage.
 

Omarion Hampton from UNC is interesting. Ben Johnson's alma mater for one. Secondly, he is kinda similar to David Montgomery in his ability to just abuse defenders and bounce off of them for tough yards. But probably more limited laterally than Monty, with more long speed.

Jeanty is probably the best combo of Montgomery's contact balance and Gibbs' speed, but requires using the 10th pick on. Not the best blocker or an accomplished receiver, but potential bellcow. 

Kaleb Johnson is fun, but more of a glider and outside zone fit, IMO. 
Judkins from Ohio St has the contact balance and better lateral movement than Hampton/Monty, but not a lot of long speed.

The other RBs in this class are probably more RB2s, IMO. Have a few big speed guys, a couple guys with size, but not speed, and then Skattebo, who's an amazing receiver with great vision, but kinda slow. 

[Brian707]

If they do go Jeanty, is it possible to do a trade down? A lot of mocks (I know its early) have him more around the 15-20 range

[raw]

Just now, Brian707 said:

If they do go Jeanty, is it possible to do a trade down? A lot of mocks (I know its early) have him more around the 15-20 range

Possible. But Dallas is lurking at 12 as a RB needy team who loves big named prospects.

[Tryptamine]

10 minutes ago, raw said:

Possible. But Dallas is lurking at 12 as a RB needy team who loves big named prospects.

Yeah, there is about zero chance Jeanty gets past Dallas, it's about the worst held secret in the draft. 

[Bobson Dugnutt]

Just now, raw said:

Possible. But Dallas is lurking at 12 as a RB needy team who loves big named prospects.

Yeah before Ben Johnson chose the Bears, nearly every mock I saw had Dallas taking him at 12. He also played high school football in Frisco, which feels like something that might matter to Jerry and Cowboys fans.

[Brian707]

 

For those who want to watch live at 11 CST

[bukie]

I'm pro Ben Johnson because he ran the Lions offense the past 3 years, and that offense has been near the top of the NFL, averaging 33.5 points per game this past season.

In comparison, the Bears offense has scored over 33 points exactly 6 times the past 5 seasons (and they were a playoff team in one of those seasons!).

In addition, everywhere I've seen him, he looks like he just has his horsefeathers together, which is something sorely missed in this franchise in recent memory. Even the speech to the employees, which was fairly normal and straightforward, was treated like he was some kind of rainbow unicorn because the franchise has sorely missed any kind of quality coaching and head coach that just simply has his horsefeathers together.

[gflore34]

2 minutes ago, bukie said:

I'm pro Ben Johnson because he ran the Lions offense the past 3 years, and that offense has been near the top of the NFL, averaging 33.5 points per game this past season.

In comparison, the Bears offense has scored over 33 points exactly 6 times the past 5 seasons (and they were a playoff team in one of those seasons!).

In addition, everywhere I've seen him, he looks like he just has his horsefeathers together, which is something sorely missed in this franchise in recent memory. Even the speech to the employees, which was fairly normal and straightforward, was treated like he was some kind of rainbow unicorn because the franchise has sorely missed any kind of quality coaching and head coach that just simply has his horsefeathers together.

I don't think there's any Warren fans here, did read a piece about him recognizing the lack of this throughout the Bears organization.  He's taken steps to help the Bears get their horsefeathers together, the aggressive and quick securing of Johnson is evidence.

[Wilson A2000]

 

[bukie]

22 minutes ago, Wilson A2000 said:

 

I see there's no offensive line in front of them, so it must feel just like a regular season game for them out there.

[David]

I need a cigarette.

Edited January 22, 2025 by David

[Brian707]

I only saw the first 20 minutes

[WrigleyField 22]

2 hours ago, Bobson Dugnutt said:

I may be misinterpreting your point, but isn’t “just bodies” the approach they took with the OL last year? I’m hoping for more than just one surefire starter out of FA.

Wave 2-3 guys are gonna still be starters and quality swing guys on OL.  Of course some vet min flyers too. May include Shelton resigning as one of those guys as Center market doesn't look deep.

 

I do think the talent level of the players isn't as wide of a gap as some people think though too.  A lot of the truely terrible plays were obvious scheme breakdowns.  Better coaching elevates a ton. Wonder if Ben has something to say about load management and the constant nagging injuries some of our OL seemed to have... He made an interesting comment about practicing with intent and then getting feet up at the PC. 

Edited January 22, 2025 by WrigleyField 22