Bears 10.0: GM and coach watch before the draft

[sco]

I kept thinking to myself, well if Mahomes struggled with this sort of pressure, maybe I shouldn't feel as bad about Caleb. Reinforced the importance of us shoring up our Oline this offseason.

And lets not forget the dline as well. The defense getting our offense back on the field for more chances to score and more chances for themselves to rest. Need that perfect balance. A well rounded team is a well oiled machine.

I am squarely in the Oline before Dline this offseason. Both are needs, but Caleb is teetering on the fence of being another throw away. Too many young QB's careers have ended by becoming seeing ghosts and getting the permanent yips.

[IliketheBullsNBearstoo]

I kept thinking to myself, well if Mahomes struggled with this sort of pressure, maybe I shouldn't feel as bad about Caleb. Reinforced the importance of us shoring up our Oline this offseason.

And lets not forget the dline as well. The defense getting our offense back on the field for more chances to score and more chances for themselves to rest. Need that perfect balance. A well rounded team is a well oiled machine.

I am squarely in the Oline before Dline this offseason. Both are needs, but Caleb is teetering on the fence of being another throw away. Too many young QB's careers have ended by becoming seeing ghosts and getting the permanent yips.

Yes primary focus because it is our weakest group of talent. But we should not forget to upgrade the dline as well. It is a need.

[patryk7754]

What's funny about the chief's OL is that they possibly have/had the best interior in the entire ol but they took that advantage away by keeping Thuney at LT. I thought they should have moved him back inside and go with whoever they had at LT.

[patryk7754]

Josh Sweat probably earned himself a major contract after last night but it could be a "trap". We need a high volume sacker and he finished the season with 8 sacks. If he gets 20 plus, I would avoid him, but for 15m-ish, I think he'd be worth it, especially if we get another DE in FA or the first two rounds.

[patryk7754]

Josh sweat had 8 sacks playing 59% of the eagles defensive snaps. 622 snaps

Hendrickson had 17.5 on 72.5% of snaps. 826 snaps

Garret had 14 playing 76.2% of snaps 825 snaps

Montez had 5.5 sacks playing 61% of snaps on 616snaps.

I think I’d prefer a higher volume sacker

[molepharmer]

There was a lot of talk of Mahomes not being his normal self all year long but KC was still winning the close ones. So his unsuperman-like year was brushed aside. Looks like the mediocrity finally caught up to him and KC. He threw some very bad passes, even when he wasn't under pressure.

I was most impressed by the discipline of the Eagles front for staying in their lanes when rushing the passer. I don't think Mahomes was able to escape the collapsing pocket more than once or twice all game. Hopefully Bears can draft a couple of difference makers like DeJean and Mitchell with their first two picks.

[Dresden]

There was a lot of talk of Mahomes not being his normal self all year long but KC was still winning the close ones. So his unsuperman-like year was brushed aside. Looks like the mediocrity finally caught up to him and KC. He threw some very bad passes, even when he wasn't under pressure.

I was most impressed by the discipline of the Eagles front for staying in their lanes when rushing the passer. I don't think Mahomes was able to escape the collapsing pocket more than once or twice all game. Hopefully Bears can draft a couple of difference makers like DeJean and Mitchell with their first two picks.

They showed some numbers during the game about how the Eagle's turned around their defense so fast. Went from near last in the league to first in the league in one year. Did thru the draft, via FA, and added Fangio. I wish the Bears had never let him go.

[Dresden]

A couple of other eye popping stats they mentioned yesterday: There were 10 runs of 60+ yards in the NFL last year, and Saquon Barkley had 7 of them.

And the price of a ticket to watch Super Bowl 1 was $12. Average price for yesterday's game, around $ 5,600. Imagine going to see a SB for $12. Even back in 1966, that wasn't all that much money- maybe $50 in today's money.

[patryk7754]

Here's the can't miss off-season plan:

Cuts
Ryan Bates
DeMarcus Walker
Gerald Everett

Saves: 15m in cap giving us 80.6 to spend.

Resign
Jaylon Jones, S: 1.1
Jack Sanborn, LB: 1.1
Josh Blackwell, CB: 1.1
Scott Daly, LS: 1.03
Matt Pryor, OT/OG: 1.03
Amen Ogbongbemiga, OLB: 1.03

Go into FA with 74m in cap

Offensive Line

Starters:
Ronnie Stanley, LT: 2/36m
Kevin Zeitler, RG: 2/8m
Drew Dalman, C: 4/32m

Backups:
Dan Skipper, OT: 2/6m
Ryan Neuzil, C: 2/4m
Matt Pryor, OT/G: 1/1.03m (already accounted for)

Defensive Line
Malcolm Koonce, DE: 1/15m (not really sure what his market is because he didn't play this past season, but he would have gotten paid big money if he played. Had a great 2023 and was ready to have a breakout season)
Khalil Mack, DE: 1/10m
Morgan Fox, DE/DT: 1/2.5m
John Hankins, DT: 1/1.5m

Other Free Agents
Mo Ali-Cox, TE: 1/1.2m
Teddy Bridgewater: 1/2m

Honorable mention: Trade Edumonds away. Doing so adds an extra 12.5m in cap space. Can use that to sign a cheaper LB and either add some cap cushion or sign other player(s). The patriots could be a good trade partner. Possible replacements could include: Zach Baun (probably way too expensive), Dre Greenlaw (would be my top choice), Denzel Perryman, Eric Kendricks, Kyzir White, Shaq Thompson, Nick Bolton.


Draft Night
Trade 1: Braxton Jones and a 6th to the Saints for Rasheed Saheed and a 4th (cost less than 1m in cap)
Trade 2: Trade pick 10 to Seattle for picks 18 (RD1) and 50 (RD2). (Matches on the trade value chart) Not sure if SEA does it but the 18-22 range is where I would want to fall. If we base it on the Giants/bears trade in 2021, should be getting more).

RD1: Tyler Booker, OG
RD2: JT Tuimoloau, DE
RD2:Jihaad Campbell, LB
RD2: Deone Walker, DT
RD3: Xavier Watts, S
RD4: Jack Nelson, OT
RD5: Ollie Gordon, RB
RD7: Brant Kuithe, TE
RD7: Garret Dellinger, OG

QB: Williams/Bagent/Bridgewater
RB: Swfit/Johnson/Gordon
WR: Moore/Odunze/Shaheed
TE: Kemt/Ali-Cox
OL: Stanley/Booker/Dalman/Zeitler/Wright (Skipper, Neuzil, Pryor, Kiran, Nelson)

DL: Koonce/Dexter/Walker/Sweat (Mack/JTT/Billings/Pickens/Fox/Robinson/Booker)
LB: Edumonds/Edwards/Campbell (Sanburn/Amen/Sewell)
CB: Johnson/Stevenson/Gordon/Smith
S: Byard/Brisker/Watts

[patryk7754]

I think i'm starting to sour on the idea of signing Trey Smith. He's going to get a record deal that would mean 22 plus. Some have even speculated that he could even get 25 a year. That's LT money. By no means do I want to bargain shop, but I think there are several options that will just be cheap. Possible alternatives:

Kevin Zeitler (my top choice)
Will Fries (2nd choice)
Patrick Mekari
Brandon Scherff
Mekhi Becton
Dalton Risner

Some will be cheaper because of age and some will be cheaper because they're just not as good. But they are all good and someone like Zeitler is arguably on the same level. Zeitller will be almost 20m cheaper because of age but there is no drop off in talent. Guys like Will Fries and Becton are probowl caliber talents but will probably get 15ish million. I think its better to get a B+ OG and another B FA than to just get a A+ OG. Draft our other starting OG in this draft and if we do sign a "bridge" OG like Zeilter, we draft his replacement in a later draft.


Another thought I've been having about the OL is that I would not be surprised if we kept Braxton Jones as the starter. Theoretically, if we get three new starters on the interior (lets say Booker/Dalman/Fries) our LG-RT is really, really strong on paper. Jones being our weakest link wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, especially with better coaching. I'd still prefer to get a new LT but at the very least, I would want to sign a vet OT (Skipper would be my top choice) to compete with him.


If the plan is to have Jones/Rookie/Dalman/Fires/Wright as our starters, that would give us about an extra 10m in cap and that would allow us to purse a top notch defensive lineman vs average to above average guy.


Passing on trey smith resulting in being a positive would ultimately depend on who we sign at OG as an alternative and who we spend the extra money one.

[patryk7754]

I think Deone Walker would be my top target in the 2nd. He's an absolute beefcake. 6-6 345lbs. Powerful as hell. Maybe most impressive is his quickness and agility for someone his size. I think he's projected late 2nd. I'll guess he will have an impressive combine so he's definitely a candidate that could sky rocket. He could become more consistent as a tackler and he's needs to lower his center of gravity, he tends to play high.

Watch on YouTube

;ab_channel=Prospects

[jc23]

made me laugh

Read on Twitter

[fleet]

Josh Sweat probably earned himself a major contract after last night but it could be a "trap". We need a high volume sacker and he finished the season with 8 sacks. If he gets 20 plus, I would avoid him, but for 15m-ish, I think he'd be worth it, especially if we get another DE in FA or the first two rounds.

If he gets a similar deal to what he’s been playing on, I’m cool with Sweat. Then draft Campbell and sign Smith if you can. If Campbell is not there, trade down for a different edge like Shemar Stewart and you have the pass rush all fixed young and old. Draft O-line and defensive tackle in second round. Trenches done.

[patryk7754]

Josh Sweat probably earned himself a major contract after last night but it could be a "trap". We need a high volume sacker and he finished the season with 8 sacks. If he gets 20 plus, I would avoid him, but for 15m-ish, I think he'd be worth it, especially if we get another DE in FA or the first two rounds.

If he gets a similar deal to what he’s been playing on, I’m cool with Sweat. Then draft Campbell and sign Smith if you can. If Campbell is not there, trade down for a different edge like Shemar Stewart and you have the pass rush all fixed young and old. Draft O-line and defensive tackle in second round. Trenches done.

I'd guess Sweat's contract will push close to 20m a year.

[nomorezorro]

i'm partial to the idea of signing mack to a 2-year deal and letting him be a bridge while you develop a first/second round edge.

don't think there's a great long-term option available in free agency who fits allen's preferred archetype. sweat would be fine, but he's nothing special and i think he's gonna be overpaid. chase young is ok too but i wouldn't want to commit to him for more than a year or two. as far as mid-tier options go, i would be interested in dayo odeyingbo, but he's more of a rotation piece than a sure-fire starter (and he probably won't be cheap anyway)

[moorhosj]

I think Deone Walker would be my top target in the 2nd. He's an absolute beefcake. 6-6 345lbs. Powerful as hell. Maybe most impressive is his quickness and agility for someone his size. I think he's projected late 2nd. I'll guess he will have an impressive combine so he's definitely a candidate that could sky rocket. He could become more consistent as a tackler and he's needs to lower his center of gravity, he tends to play high.

I'm not so sure on Walker. He was one of PFF's biggest "fallers" at the Senior Bowl. It is mostly technique-based, but I would like our 2nd rounders to come in and contribute next year. There are likely to be some plug-and-play guards available in the 2nd.

https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2025-reeses-senior-bowl-risers-fallers-practices

Walker’s athleticism at 340 pounds was supposed to give him a chance to dominate this week and potentially push him into first-round consideration in April. His lack of technique didn’t quite match up with his imposing frame.

Walker’s primary issue is his pad level coming out of his stance. He needs to play with better leverage at 6-foot-7. That was evident during pass-rush reps, when he was stonewalled by North Carolina’s Willie Lampkin, who falls 9 inches and 70 pounds short of Walker. He may flash his athletic talent at the NFL Combine, but Walker’s play on the field looks more like a mid-to-late Day 2 pick.

[nomorezorro]

walker was a huge disappointment whenever i watched kentucky last year, and i watched a few games specifically for him. i love the idea of him but the dude just disappears way too much for his size and athleticism.

obviously there's a ton of potential but i wouldn't touch him in the first two rounds, and probably not in round 3 either

[fleet]

Josh Sweat probably earned himself a major contract after last night but it could be a "trap". We need a high volume sacker and he finished the season with 8 sacks. If he gets 20 plus, I would avoid him, but for 15m-ish, I think he'd be worth it, especially if we get another DE in FA or the first two rounds.

If he gets a similar deal to what he’s been playing on, I’m cool with Sweat. Then draft Campbell and sign Smith if you can. If Campbell is not there, trade down for a different edge like Shemar Stewart and you have the pass rush all fixed young and old. Draft O-line and defensive tackle in second round. Trenches done.

I'd guess Sweat's contract will push close to 20m a year.

Plan B. Insert Khalil Mack for Sweat then. Let’s go.

[TheSuzerain]

I'd consider him in round 2.

I thought i saw something about UK playing him 90%+ of the defensive snaps. Which is just like shockingly bad coaching.

[Charlesareed]

What happened to mahomes in the superbowl is what happened to Caleb all season long only mahomes had a better OL and he’s a seasoned vet he should’ve been able to read the defense better his OL did him no favors at all