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Exact same trade as Marshall to the Jets.

That's quite a bit to give up for Stills. A 3rd and a decent player. But the Dolphins are getting a pretty good player and gaining cap space. I guess that's worth a 3rd round pick. The closest to an equivalent the Bears could have done would have been Lamarr Houston and a 3rd....which I don't know that I would have done.

I would think they would be. I've heard Karl Klug as a potential 5-technique interest.

Uh, based on the little I watched of McPhee a couple days ago, if they run some of the Ravens blitzes, you'll see a lot of guys standing up at the line of scrimmage. Like 2 down lineman with a 3-tech and 5-tech, then stand up a LBoutside the tackle (7-tech or wide-9) and then have another LB standing in the A-gap. Obviously, you can drop back the LBs and blitz the LBs off the LOS or safeties or CBs.

I do believe you might be right: Wonder what happens to Ryan Mundy. Not that it matters, because he's terrible.....but the Bears needed 2 safeties etiher way. Only Mundy and Vereen on the roster (besides filler like Anthony Walters). A couple interesting things to come out of yesterday's press conference. Lamarr Houston is also going to be an OLB. Pace said the team is going to be in 2-4-5 nickel or 2-3-6 dime personnel probably more than 60% of the time. So, I don't know that you'll get a lot of money spent on a NT, and probably not the 7th pick (thankfully). But seriously, at this point there's just Ratliff, Ego, and Sutton on the DL. And a previously barren LB position now has Houston, McPhee, Allen, Young, McClellin, Bostic, Jones, Greene, Bass, and Washington. I hadn't heard about the lean towards 2-4-5 and 2-3-6. If that's the case, I have to think they will be drafting at least one CB and FS. If they sign Parker, they'll have their FS. Fangio likes to play 3 safeties in the dime, so Vereen could get some time there. He and Parker are both guys who have/can play some CB, so you can put one of them over the slot. Could still justify drafting another S though. Definitely need to pick a CB early. I think they need to sign a DL and draft DL too. That would make the top 3 picks DL, CB, and WR based on biggest needs, though I still don't want to pass up on all the OLBs at the top of this draft, especially since Houston and McPhee can play inside on passing downs.

I do believe you might be right: Wonder what happens to Ryan Mundy. Not that it matters, because he's terrible.....but the Bears needed 2 safeties etiher way. Only Mundy and Vereen on the roster (besides filler like Anthony Walters). A couple interesting things to come out of yesterday's press conference. Lamarr Houston is also going to be an OLB. Pace said the team is going to be in 2-4-5 nickel or 2-3-6 dime personnel probably more than 60% of the time. So, I don't know that you'll get a lot of money spent on a NT, and probably not the 7th pick (thankfully). But seriously, at this point there's just Ratliff, Ego, and Sutton on the DL. And a previously barren LB position now has Houston, McPhee, Allen, Young, McClellin, Bostic, Jones, Greene, Bass, and Washington.

That's a pretty awesome Bears draft. OLB Beasley WR Coates WR Dorsett DE Raciti DT McCarthy S Johnson The first 2 are the same 2 picks I have on my personal mock draft. Dorsett is one of my favorite players in this draft, though I don't think he's necessary, assuming this Royal deal becomes official at some point soon. I'd probably go CB or S there and a couple of my favorites are on the board (PJ Williams and Cody Prewitt) and I'd take either running to the podium. McCarthy if he falls that far has the potential to be a steal if he can finally put it together. Believe he was pretty highly recruited. Raisin could give more details why he didn't live up to expectations, but I have no idea why he didn't or why he came out this year.

Assuming, McPhee, Rolle and Royal become official tomorrow. The Bears still have a bunch of holes to fill. Obviously, there's the draft. But by my count they still need: NT (starter quality) ILB (starter quality, maybe a backup depending on where Jones plays) DE (backup to Houston, Ratliff) WR (starter quality, neither Royal or Wilson are #2s) CB (starter quality, or at least a very good nickel) S (potential starter, Mundy still sucks, Vereen only other S on roster) OT (starter quality) OC (starter quality, or potential starter at worst) And the Bears have been looking at #2 TEs, and hopefully another OLB at #7. They have been tied to ILBs (Mason Foster), NTs (Knighton, Dan Williams), and I think those are the priorities. I don't think they can afford a top CB anymore. Maybe they can find a FA at one of those OL spots. That leaves OLB, WR, CB and either OL or S as the top 4 picks.

Royal is at best a #3. It shouldn't stop them from picking any WR at any point in the draft. Put it this way, the Bears needed a WR with Marshall on the roster. Royal isn't as good as Marshall, so they still need a pretty good one to make up for the loss of Marshall.

Houston played the exact role in the Raiders 3-4 that the Bears say McPhee is going to play. Played some 5-technique, some OLB, some inside, some outside with hand on ground. I am assuming the Bears are going to use both like that this year. Washington played 3-4 at Georgia. He was an OLB, but he looks like a guy that could bulk up to play a backup role of the same thing Houston and McPhee will play. Same body type as those guys, plus he slimmed down to get teams to look at him as a 3-4 OLB. He can get up to 270-280 pretty easily, I'm sure. McClellin also played 3-4 in college. Played OLB and ILB. Ratliff also played in the 3-4 in Dallas. 4-time probowl NT in that scheme. Though, I hope he plays DE/DT, in the Justin Smith role. Smith played a LOT of 3-technique in SF last year, in what basically was a 4-3 under scheme like Seattle runs. I think Ferguson could play the nose in the 3-4. Could be a really good developmental backup at NT. Bass is interesting. He had one of the best rates of putting on QB pressure last year, in a very limited number of snaps. He may actually be better at OLB than DE. Allen, I'm assuming gets cut. Oh and Jimmy Graham traded to the Seahawks. Allen counts fully ($12.5mil) against the cap, even if cut. I can't see that happening. If he's odd man out, it's likely for whatever low round draft pick someone will give up. Who's going to give up a pick AND pay him 12.5Mil?

he still plays and put up 780 yards with 7 TD las tyear Yeah, he's still a pretty good WR. Probably came cheaper or similar to Harry Douglas and he's a better WR. Actual factor in the red zone which is hard for a short guy.

Houston played the exact role in the Raiders 3-4 that the Bears say McPhee is going to play. Played some 5-technique, some OLB, some inside, some outside with hand on ground. I am assuming the Bears are going to use both like that this year. Washington played 3-4 at Georgia. He was an OLB, but he looks like a guy that could bulk up to play a backup role of the same thing Houston and McPhee will play. Same body type as those guys, plus he slimmed down to get teams to look at him as a 3-4 OLB. He can get up to 270-280 pretty easily, I'm sure. McClellin also played 3-4 in college. Played OLB and ILB. Ratliff also played in the 3-4 in Dallas. 4-time probowl NT in that scheme. Though, I hope he plays DE/DT, in the Justin Smith role. Smith played a LOT of 3-technique in SF last year, in what basically was a 4-3 under scheme like Seattle runs. I think Ferguson could play the nose in the 3-4. Could be a really good developmental backup at NT. Bass is interesting. He had one of the best rates of putting on QB pressure last year, in a very limited number of snaps. He may actually be better at OLB than DE. Allen, I'm assuming gets cut. Oh and Jimmy Graham traded to the Seahawks.

Never wanted anything less.

My two votes went here as well. Same reasoning. Jimenez is probably next. And also agree I'd have Vogelbach around mid-to-late teens. 15-18.

Good for him coming from being a complete unknown to getting a huge contract. Hopefully he donates some of it to Peyton Manning's charity of choice. This is going to be a complete bust of a contract solely due to the atrocious Jags QB situation. Eh. Bortles has promise. And Bradley looks to be a pretty good coach. At the least, he's getting people around the league to buy in.

Really? The defensive base story is the least interesting part of this offseason to me. Well, I didn't say anything about comparing it to other offseason issues. I just like to know what the Bears are running and who they're running it with. I'm a draft guy, and that helps me to try and guess who and what types of players the Bears will be drafting. Offense isn't as big of a deal, because most players fit in most offenses.

Nicely done. Nabbing McPhee, Wiz, and Knighton would be a very nice start to this offseason. Particularly if they grab Knighton, I am hoping they will go completely BPA at no. 7. Hopefully Cooper or White will be there; I'm guessing the former. But if not, I would love to see Gregory somehow fall to us. I genuinely see him as a Suggs kind of guy in the 3-4. Completely different skill sets and body types between Gregory and Suggs.

McPhee and Houston seem like exactly the same player, but McPhee may be better and is younger. I don't know what position either will play in a 3-4, but both have played both DE and OLB in that scheme. If both are at DE, that puts Ratliff at NT (which I don't like). Or if 1 is at OLB, I hope that doesn't mean the Bears don't go OLB in the 1st (and instead go Shelton or Cooper). I hate not knowing what the hell defense I'm going to be watching next year.

So, there's this tweet.... With Jimmy Clausen signed Friday, this is pretty interesting.

Pretty good. 330lb man that can really move. More than just a big run stopper. Can get after the passer some. Had like 3-4 sacks in Broncos Superbowl run laat year. Not going to play a ton of snaps though.

We've also been linked to McCourty, Culliver, Searcy, etc. And also supposedly looking at every pass rusher. In other words, there's nothing to worry about. Yeah, Aaron Lemming (who broke the Marshall trade), tweeted "Based on what I've heard, I'd be surprised if the Bears didn't sign one of the top FA safeties. Name I've heard most is Da'Norris Searcy from Buffalo". It's also been mentioned that the Bears have been making contact with FA defensive ends. They were mentioned with 2 4-3 teams, meaning likely after edge rushers. In particular, I've heard them linked to Jerry Hughes. Also, read they in play for Byron Maxwell, but expect to be outbid...fallback options are the 2 CBs from SF and Davon House. I did read that they're out on Suh though, and it's down to Miami or Detroit.

I like Rizzo batting 2nd....especially if the pitcher is going to be 8th. Though, I'd go: CF- Fowler 1B- Rizzo RF- Soler SS- Castro C/3B- Montero/Bryant 2B- Baez 3B/LF- Olt/Coghlan P LF/3B- Coghlan/LaStella/Alcantara

Oh well. I'm sure our soft, confusing junk defenses along with our expertly executed offensive scheme will carry us through next weekend in Chicago. That previous possession was terrible. Down 3 with 23 seconds left. And they didn't even get a shot off. Got bailed out because of a near turnover caused a foul with 5 seconds left in the game. Crean probably needs to get fired if the team isn't in the NCAAs (and they shouldn't be without 2 tourney wins), but may give him 1 more year to see if he can pull another strong recruiting class.

Same I'd have been interested in bringing Briggs back. Honestly, 3-4 ILB where he just plays 2 downs and hits people between the tackles is where he's at in his career now. The Bears are probably going to pay someone to do this within the next week anyway. Briggs would probably be just as good as any of them. Though, won't fault the Bears for getting rid of him.

kind of in the same vein - if the Bears don't resign Conte or Paea, Forte will be the only Bear left from the 2007-2011 drafts. The first one didn't faze me at all because nine years is near eternity in the NFL. But the draft tidbit floored me. The draft fact is an utter failure. There's only 2 reasons why a guy doesn't last on the same team beyond his rookie contract. 1. He's not good 2. The team is so good that they can afford to NOT pay the player. A) because they draft well enough to replace him (see Patriots since forever) B) because they have to pay all their other good players (see Seahawks with Maxwell) Of course, Paea doesn't really fit into either. And Danieal Manning kinda doesn't, though I'd guess Lovie and Angelo thought 2A.