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I think that ship has sailed. Maybe he could have done that role when he was younger. In fact, that's what he did at Georgia. But nowadays, I think you just put his hand in the dirt and leave him there. He's shown to be good enough at the POA to hold up in the run game, despite being undersized, though he has only (I think) played in 3-4s.

I don't want Clowney, but I'm cool with those others guys. I'd also throw in Yannick Ngaouke if he hasn't signed anywhere today. He and Ingram are pass rush only guys at this point. Floyd has all around game, but not sure if he'd come back here. Sounded like Poles was done with interior OL based on the press conference today, but I'd cut Whitehair and bring him in without thinking twice. Seumalo has play C before at least in college.

Billings is a good add. Probably cheaper than A'Shawn Robinson who I wanted to add. A true 1-tech NT Still need a true 3-tech, but Walker will be there a bunch. An early draft pick and Justin Jones and the DT group is probably bottom 10, maybe bottom half in the league instead of the actual bottom like last year.

Whitehair was a borderline disaster snapping. Not a ton of bad snaps per se, but there would be plenty bad ones. But there were also complaints about the way he snaps as well. Can't remember what it quite was, but I know they tried to coach it out of him.

I don't see Skoronski as a fit. Short arms, and I think he's a guard, which seemingly is covered by Davis, Jenkins, Whitehair, and Carter all being on the roster still. Jenkins could move back to OT, but he doesn't have ideal length either. I hope they add someone. Even if it's just a placeholder on a 1-year deal. Cam Fleming seems like the safest bet out there. But Taylor Lewan and Donovan Smith are interesting options in that they were once really good LTs until injuries and age set in (Smith isn't quite 30 yet but has a lot a mileage). Maybe you can get a Jason Peters season out of 1 of them, which is possible since they are 10 years younger. LOL. But those type of moves wouldn't force you into OT at 9. And I personally, think I'd rather have one of the 2nd round guys (Jaelyn Duncan, Matthew Bergeron, Wanya Morris-3rd/4th) than Johnson at 9. Trade back, and I feel more comfortable with one of the 1st tier guys. Anton Harrison is my guy, OT2 for me with Paris only ahead because of star upside and Darnell Wright is my OT3, who showed at the combine he's athletic enough for this scheme and college showed an amazing anchor against top tier talent.

I know nothing about this guy, what's to like? He's not necessarily a particularly good QB but he has a good rapport with Moore and he's a really good practice guy from what I've read. Scout team legend. Pretty sure Siemien is still on the roster so he'd be the 3rd QB but I'd feel better about him coming in an emergency situation than most QB3s. In a different year I'd suggest that its possibly a waste to pay 3 vet QBs but the Bears have money to burn so I don't mind it. IDK why, but I'm a big PJ Walker fan. LOL. I watched him be a start in the XFL the first time around and thought he should be given a legit shot. He probably shouldn't actually be given a legit shot now, but he's a fun guy to watch and actually has been moderately successful when he has played. 4-3 as a starter, and 2 of those losses are a game he left injured in the 1st half and another was the infamous DJ Moore helmet removal penalty that led to a missed GW PAT and an OT loss. Walker threw for 300+ in the latter game (partly due to a Hail Mary to Moore). But yeah, he's a good guy to have to mimic the mobile QBs for the scout team O. And while I agree w/ Goony that I hate trying to mimic the skillset of the starter with a backup, Walker isn't much of a runner at all. Only 6 rush attempts in 5 starts last year. So, it's not like you're going to be running QB power with him. Like any backup, I hope he never sees the field other than blowout wins. But if he does play in the short term, he can win you a game against a bad team. That's pretty much all you can ask for.

Fun fact. When a thread title is changed, it apparently takes your subscription to the thread off. I was thinking there were no posts in here all day and never went in to check.

They didn't want him. He didn't fit what they want to do (outside zone runs) hence Herbert got 1.5 yards per carry more than him. This was bound to happen the day Luke Getsy was brought in as OC.

Based on...? When he was with Baltimore, his 1st 2 seasons he was a pro bowler at RT which could mask his lack of agility better than at LT. He was one of the best at RT which suits his strengths better than LT. Outdated thinking. Wirfs, Lane Johnson, Sewell, and Ramczyk are top 10 overall OTs and play right side. Guys like Watt, Nick Bosa, Reddick rush exclusively from the left side of the D.

I'm not an Orlando Brown fan. He wants to be paid top LT money, and he's not a top 5 LT. He's also not a good fit to move around in the outside zone run game. That being said, the Bears are desperate to A) improve the pass blocking and B) spend a bunch of money. And Brown checks both those boxes. I'm thinking. Orlando Brown- LT/RT A'Shawn Robinson- 1-tech Samson Ebukam- Edge And if Ekeler is available, go get him. Trade one of the 2nds for him + a future pick no higher than a 3rd/4th. The Bears still could use an additional weapon and he caught 107 passes last year, and they can afford to pay him with the top RBs in the league. Maybe add a CB. Maybe add a TE2. Draft Jalen Carter at 9. Draft a DE in the 2nd. That gives you a DL of: Ebukam, Carter, A'Shawn, Walker on run downs Ebukam, Walker, Carter, Draft pick (Ojulari?, I'd like a smaller pass rush specialist type) on passing downs. Mix in Justin Jones, Dominique Robinson and Gipson. OL is: Brown, Davis, C (Patrick or 2nd rounder), Jenkins, Jones Ekeler and Herbert in the backfield.

I noticed when looking at free agent lists that there weren't really many LGs on the list. The only of the top 10 or so guards were Ben Powers from the Ravens (who I didn't think was a fit, he's a big power blocking guy) and Dalton Risner from Denver, who's still out there. So, I'm going to say much ado about nothing right now.

I said free agency wasn't good at DE. The draft is definitely good at DE, it's the best position group in this draft. I also didn't really say much about Nate Davis and zone blocking, other than he doesn't have a lot of experience with it. He definitely fits the athletic profile of a zone blocker, though.

I wanted the first 3 picks to be OL and DL anyway. The DE class isn't great, so they need a long term piece regardless of who they added at DE. Even if they sign 2 DTs, they need 3 possibly 4 anyway, so a draft pick there was always also needed. They also need to find depth and potentially a long term C in the draft, so early on OL is needed a well. I've done 7000 mocks online and 90% of them I pick a combination of 3 DL/OL in my first 4 picks. It's always a place to add talent and depth, and it's where the value is in this draft, especially day 2.

Given what we're upgrading from, even a decent starter is a pretty substantial upgrade. Yeah, he's probably partially replacing Muhammad and partially replacing Angelo Blackson. Definitely an upgrade. I'd like it if he was the 4th best DL instead 1st or 2nd best. If they insist on adding more defense, give me Ebukam, a 1T with a little pass rush ability, draft Jalen Carter/Van Ness and an edge or DT with one of the 2nds and it's a respectable group.

IDK what position Walker plays. He's been a 3-4 DE his entire career IIRC. 6-4, 280lbs, so a little small for a 3-tech. A little big for 4-3 DE. I'm guessing he'll play LDE in base and move inside on passing downs. He's a Justin Jones level player. Doesn't move the needle very much.

The Bears will be fine, they finished *checks notes* last in the NFL in sacks last year. Get a RT. Another RB. More weapons and if they have the #1 offense, I won't care if they're last in sacks.

I was worried that was going to be your take. I would have said going into the off season that the Bears biggest holes were in the trenches, even more than WR. So far we haven't done a ton to change that. While they could focus heavily on this in the draft, I don't want the Bears to be in a position where they have to take OL and DL instead of BPA. I watched a YouTube video from a guy I follow on Twitter (didn't know he had his own YouTube channel until today). He's a Titans fan and he made me feel much better about Nate Davis. He thinks he's still an ascending player and he did say he became a really good pass blocker since midway thru 2021 and had his best PFF pass blocking grade this year, before getting injured late in the season. So, I could make that a solid B with potential to be a B+

So, I'm kind of indifferent on the moves so far. TJ Edwards is a fine signing. And hella cheap. I would have paid double digit million AAV for him and they got him for 6.5M per. He's a solid Mike LB who takes on blockers really well. If you remember, I called this signing in my mock offseason! Good, not great, player who has worked his ass off to get better every year. I'll give this signing an A. Nate Davis is an OK signing. 3 years, 30M is a little high for him. He's a better run blocker than pass blocker, but IIRC he has gotten better pass blocking every year. He hasn't really played in zone blocking scheme and Tennessee was a big power/gap team. Didn't see him play much this year since my nephew was no longer there. But he's always been solid. Can't complain about solid OL help, but I can't help but think this contract would have been better for Isaac Seumalo or Dalton Risner, both of whom I like better. Davis is younger than both though, has only played RG. I give this signing a C Tremaine Edmunds is interesting. I'm going to guess he's going to be the Will LB. He's fun. He's big, fast and makes flashy plays. He hasn't quite lived up to his draft billing, and I honestly preferred him to drafting Roquan 5 years ago. IDK how he's still only 24 for a couple months with 5 years experience. He could shine in this defense. That being said, I feel like this moves shows a bit of panic that they had to spend big for cash floor purposes and am going to guess this means no big money players at OT or DT are being signed, which is where I would have rather spent 19M AAV. I give this signing a C+ Obviously, I don't know if players are even interested or if the Bears had offers out there. I don't hate that they didn't spend those contracts on Jawaan Taylor or Mike McGlinchey, but could have justified if they grossly overpaid like those other teams did. It sounds like Dre'Mont Jones is going to get 20M AAV as well between the Browns and Broncos. Maybe the Bears can get in on that as well. The Bears are better than they were when we all woke up this morning, but the needle isn't moved enough yet, IMO. A long way to go, so no big deal, but the trenches are still very bad.

I've been wondering that myself. I always thought DJ Moore was more of a slot guy, but he's played more outside than both Claypool and Mooney (percentage wise) in their careers. So, the Bears still kinda need a slot guy, unless they throw Mooney there the majority of the time. It may be a wait and see approach to see who they can get in the draft, but I don't imagine Claypool has more value than a 4th and 6th or something like that. Maybe a 3rd if a team gets desperate from missing out in both free agency and the draft. IDK who else was interested last year besides the Packers, and I don't think that trade's gonna happen. Ironically enough, the team that may have the biggest need and in the worst position in FA and the draft to add a WR is now Carolina.

It could easily be bad enough - depending on who they draft at 1. Their QB is either going to be a rookie with no weapons (seriously, their best WR is probably Laviska Shenault, who iirc they were offering around, and their starting RB right now is probably Chuba Hubbard. OL is decent and D should be solid, but they will likely struggle to score points. Laviska was a Jag, who had him on the market. The Panthers traded for him last year. But yeah, he's basically his game is what we can hope Velus Jones becomes. I'd say Terrace Marshall is their best WR. He didn't have great numbers, but did get 17.4 yards per catch. He was Part 3 of that LSU team with Jefferson and Chase, so I think they have high hopes for him, but he hasn't quite put it together yet. He was probably most hurt by the QB issues there. Their defense though, while I can see the potential for it to be solid, they were below average in all phases last year. They were also wildly inconsistent. Gave up 3 points to Tampa, but they followed with 37 allowed to Atlanta. Two weeks later only allowed 15 the 2nd time vs Atlanta. Then they gave up 30 to the same Tampa team they shut down earlier.

I hate the way Pickett takes the air out of the ball. So much dribbling, backing people down from half court. Yet IU has seen it for 2 games and can't do anything about it so I wouldn't stop either. In the game last night, I kinda got depressed watching. A lot of talk about Hood-Schifino leaving for the NBA after this season by the announcers. I guess it never really crossed my mind that he could leave this year. LOL. He's obviously an NBA talent, but I figured he would come back with his buddy Reneau and go back to his natural 2-guard role (though he is a combo guard). Work on increasing his range a bit more out to the 3pt line. He's projected in the late 20s or early 30s, so I just assumed he'd come back and try to become a lottery pick. For a minute, I forgot what thread I was in. Thought you were saying the steelers let air out of the ball so that Pickett can hold it with one hand. It's rare that I venture outside of NFL talk, so I get it. LOL

I hate the way Pickett takes the air out of the ball. So much dribbling, backing people down from half court. Yet IU has seen it for 2 games and can't do anything about it so I wouldn't stop either. In the game last night, I kinda got depressed watching. A lot of talk about Hood-Schifino leaving for the NBA after this season by the announcers. I guess it never really crossed my mind that he could leave this year. LOL. He's obviously an NBA talent, but I figured he would come back with his buddy Reneau and go back to his natural 2-guard role (though he is a combo guard). Work on increasing his range a bit more out to the 3pt line. He's projected in the late 20s or early 30s, so I just assumed he'd come back and try to become a lottery pick.

Jones, I hope that is the case. Brown is interesting. Everything Poles and Flus have said is they want fast, big, and athletic players for their team, and Brown is probably the least athletic player in the NFL. He's certainly still a very good player, but to pay him top of his position pay and then put him in a scheme that wants their OL to move get to the outside or the 2nd level, seems like a change in everything they've told us.

Yeah I think if Tyree Wilson is gone by 9 (more likely than not, but not definite?) this is the way I'd go. Let's make the offense around Justin just absolutely absurd. I love Bijan. I think he's a top 3 non QB in this draft. He'll be the BPA from like 6 on. That being said, Khalil Herbert is really good. Better than a lot of people realize. As Bears fans, we focus on what he can't do. But what he can do is run the ball in the outside zone. We all agree Montgomery isn't a bad player, but Herbert averaged 1.5 yards MORE per carry than him behind the same line, in the same scheme. Herbert is also one of the most efficient RBs in the league. He spends among the least amount of time actually in the backfield, reads and hits the hole fast, and he gets yards after contact (Monty better here). So I think it would be a bit of a waste demoting Herbert to a clear #2 RB again. I think the best use of resources would be to find a complement to him that can pass block and catch the ball and give Herbert 200 carries for the first time in his career. There's tons of guys in this draft that would be good complements, and if they want to go with a dynamic RB, I'd rather wait until the 2nd to see if Jahmyr Gibbs is on the board.

Just taking those rankings into account, am I crazy to like Jones? Well rounded and young. How much should we buy into McGary's career year as something he should carry forward? Yeah, I'm iffy on if McGary can carry that forward. He's not a young guy coming into his prime (28). He was not a raw talent from a small school coming out of the draft who should have taken a while to get his footing. He played at Power 5 Washington and started 47 collegiate games. His career year came in a contract year, which obviously happens a bit. But more concerning is that the Falcons did probably more to help their passing game than the Bears did this year. I watched every Falcons game from Week 3 on, since my nephew plays there, and they ran far more RPOs than the Bears, along with having a ton of moving pockets with Mariota. They also help TEs in to pass block a bunch, which is why Kyle Pitts didn't have great numbers when he was healthy. And they had the 2nd fewest passing attempts in the league to the Bears. Not that the Bears are all of a sudden going to open it up and throw the ball 45 times a game, but I have very big concerns McGary can hold up if they did.