Bears 11.0: Free Agency, College Pro days, Draft & beyond

[Dresden]

I also think you'd be lucky to get Dalman for 15/yr. It's likely going to be more.

Get real: "Spotrac currently has Dalman's value set at $6.8 million per year, with a projected contract of three years, $20.2 million."

We'll see, but from what Ive read, that's not even close: https://www.sportstalkatl.com/new-report-bodes-well-for-falcons-to-re-sign-drew-dalman/

Floor looks to be 13-14 mil, ceiling as high as 20.

[ThisGuyFawkes]

I think DT is a bigger need than edge. I also think finding a true difference maker at DT is harder than finding an impact edge. Even an elite edge will take 2-3 seconds to get to the QB. A great DT will push the interior O-line back right at the snap and get in the QB's face. The QB will feel that pressure right away.

[NZB2323]

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It definitely feels like Mack is coming back on a short cheaper deal. This video is so random to post and make. What’s the point? Late on a Friday lol

The point is engagement.

[Dresden]

I think DT is a bigger need than edge. I also think finding a true difference maker at DT is harder than finding an impact edge. Even an elite edge will take 2-3 seconds to get to the QB. A great DT will push the interior O-line back right at the snap and get in the QB's face. The QB will feel that pressure right away.

Right now, we have Billings, Dexter and Pickens at DT, plus some depth pieces. At Edge, we only have Sweat who has proven himself. I guess there's also Booker and Hardy. I agree that getting pressure up the middle is huge. But it seems like we drafted Pickens and Dexter to do that. Whether they can or not is anybody's guess, but we definitely could use a bona fide Edge to pair with Sweat. It's probably a 1a and 1b situation as to which is a bigger need- we need both.

[Jeffster81]

I also think you'd be lucky to get Dalman for 15/yr. It's likely going to be more.

Get real: "Spotrac currently has Dalman's value set at $6.8 million per year, with a projected contract of three years, $20.2 million."

It is going to take more than 3/20 to land Dalman. Spotrac is off with that projection. I'm guessing he ends up with 3 years anything between 35 and 40.

[biggestbullsfan]

I think DT is a bigger need than edge. I also think finding a true difference maker at DT is harder than finding an impact edge. Even an elite edge will take 2-3 seconds to get to the QB. A great DT will push the interior O-line back right at the snap and get in the QB's face. The QB will feel that pressure right away.

Right now, we have Billings, Dexter and Pickens at DT, plus some depth pieces. At Edge, we only have Sweat who has proven himself. I guess there's also Booker and Hardy. I agree that getting pressure up the middle is huge. But it seems like we drafted Pickens and Dexter to do that. Whether they can or not is anybody's guess, but we definitely could use a bona fide Edge to pair with Sweat. It's probably a 1a and 1b situation as to which is a bigger need- we need both.

Pickens might be cut at this point. He hasn’t done anything to prove he is nfl caliber. We need 2 DT. Once we lost Billings our interior game went down the drain.

We have to invest in a high quality DE or DT and draft/develop the other. There’s quality available at both positions in the market.

[molepharmer]

Geno Smith to the Raiders. Seahawks get a 2025 3rd rounder.

One of these years the Raiders will be relevant again.

Pete Carroll effect trading for Smith. 3rd round pick seems a bit pricey; 34 yrs old FA who needs a contract.

[Almost Retired]

I think DT is a bigger need than edge. I also think finding a true difference maker at DT is harder than finding an impact edge. Even an elite edge will take 2-3 seconds to get to the QB. A great DT will push the interior O-line back right at the snap and get in the QB's face. The QB will feel that pressure right away.

Right now, we have Billings, Dexter and Pickens at DT, plus some depth pieces. At Edge, we only have Sweat who has proven himself. I guess there's also Booker and Hardy. I agree that getting pressure up the middle is huge. But it seems like we drafted Pickens and Dexter to do that. Whether they can or not is anybody's guess, but we definitely could use a bona fide Edge to pair with Sweat. It's probably a 1a and 1b situation as to which is a bigger need- we need both.

Pickens might be cut at this point. He hasn’t done anything to prove he is nfl caliber. We need 2 DT. Once we lost Billings our interior game went down the drain.

We have to invest in a high quality DE or DT and draft/develop the other. There’s quality available at both positions in the market.

I would go EDGE and defensive tackle with 2 of our first 3 picks. If we stay at #10 Shemar Stewart could be available. If we were to trade down we could look at Nic Scourton or Landon Jackson. Mykel Williams or Mike Green. At DT I would go with Kenneth Grant of Michigan. Trench warriors are getting bigger and bigger every year. I think Walter Nolan and Mason Graham are a bit undersized for the position, I think they would struggle against size like the Eagles have. Grant is bigger.

With the other 2nd round pick I would add to our O-Line depth with Aireontae Ersery. With a year of coaching he might be able to take over at LT in 2026, and if not he can probably move inside and be highly effective. He's a pretty good athlete and has elite size.

And if we were able to trade down from #10 to pick up an extra 2nd rounder then that's where I'd grab a RB. Both Ohio State RBs might still be on the board and so would Kaleb Johnson from Iowa.

[Dresden]

Right now, we have Billings, Dexter and Pickens at DT, plus some depth pieces. At Edge, we only have Sweat who has proven himself. I guess there's also Booker and Hardy. I agree that getting pressure up the middle is huge. But it seems like we drafted Pickens and Dexter to do that. Whether they can or not is anybody's guess, but we definitely could use a bona fide Edge to pair with Sweat. It's probably a 1a and 1b situation as to which is a bigger need- we need both.

Pickens might be cut at this point. He hasn’t done anything to prove he is nfl caliber. We need 2 DT. Once we lost Billings our interior game went down the drain.

We have to invest in a high quality DE or DT and draft/develop the other. There’s quality available at both positions in the market.

I would go EDGE and defensive tackle with 2 of our first 3 picks. If we stay at #10 Shemar Stewart could be available. If we were to trade down we could look at Nic Scourton or Landon Jackson. Mykel Williams or Mike Green. At DT I would go with Kenneth Grant of Michigan. Trench warriors are getting bigger and bigger every year. I think Walter Nolan and Mason Graham are a bit undersized for the position, I think they would struggle against size like the Eagles have. Grant is bigger.

With the other 2nd round pick I would add to our O-Line depth with Aireontae Ersery. With a year of coaching he might be able to take over at LT in 2026, and if not he can probably move inside and be highly effective. He's a pretty good athlete and has elite size.

And if we were able to trade down from #10 to pick up an extra 2nd rounder then that's where I'd grab a RB. Both Ohio State RBs might still be on the board and so would Kaleb Johnson from Iowa.

So much depends on what happens between now and the draft. If we get an Edge or DT before then, it really will free up what we can do with those draft picks. Jeanty probably becomes a real possibility if he is there at 10. It's hard to imagine we won't get at least one def. lineman before the draft. But in reality we could use two Edges- unless they really believe in Hardy or Booker. One to start, and one to rotate in. it

I hope Billings will return to his previous form. He and Dexter are not a bad combo, but it would be nice to get someone to push Dexter a bit- he may be more of a rotational piece than a starter. TBD.

[jnrjr79]

I also think you'd be lucky to get Dalman for 15/yr. It's likely going to be more.

Get real: "Spotrac currently has Dalman's value set at $6.8 million per year, with a projected contract of three years, $20.2 million."

I assume Spotrac doesn’t take market scarcity into account. Dalman is going to get overpaid due to the dearth of options at C.

[patryk7754]

Obviously Dalman is going to get more than 7m a year. You can’t use a website to tell someone to get real about assuming a 34 DE won’t get 23m a year and then ignore the website for a different player. I was just pointing out the hypocrisy

[Chi town]

Right now, we have Billings, Dexter and Pickens at DT, plus some depth pieces. At Edge, we only have Sweat who has proven himself. I guess there's also Booker and Hardy. I agree that getting pressure up the middle is huge. But it seems like we drafted Pickens and Dexter to do that. Whether they can or not is anybody's guess, but we definitely could use a bona fide Edge to pair with Sweat. It's probably a 1a and 1b situation as to which is a bigger need- we need both.

Pickens might be cut at this point. He hasn’t done anything to prove he is nfl caliber. We need 2 DT. Once we lost Billings our interior game went down the drain.

We have to invest in a high quality DE or DT and draft/develop the other. There’s quality available at both positions in the market.

I would go EDGE and defensive tackle with 2 of our first 3 picks. If we stay at #10 Shemar Stewart could be available. If we were to trade down we could look at Nic Scourton or Landon Jackson. Mykel Williams or Mike Green. At DT I would go with Kenneth Grant of Michigan. Trench warriors are getting bigger and bigger every year. I think Walter Nolan and Mason Graham are a bit undersized for the position, I think they would struggle against size like the Eagles have. Grant is bigger.

With the other 2nd round pick I would add to our O-Line depth with Aireontae Ersery. With a year of coaching he might be able to take over at LT in 2026, and if not he can probably move inside and be highly effective. He's a pretty good athlete and has elite size.

And if we were able to trade down from #10 to pick up an extra 2nd rounder then that's where I'd grab a RB. Both Ohio State RBs might still be on the board and so would Kaleb Johnson from Iowa.

Yep. Fully agree. Get a DT Edge and OL. Those should be our first 3 picks.

Get Mack even though he won’t be the guy we saw in the highlights above.

[Dresden]

Obviously Dalman is going to get more than 7m a year. You can’t use a website to tell someone to get real about assuming a 34 DE won’t get 23m a year and then ignore the website for a different player. I was just pointing out the hypocrisy

You really think Mack is going to get only 8M? Everything I've seen has him at around 20.

[Betta Bulleavit]

Obviously Dalman is going to get more than 7m a year. You can’t use a website to tell someone to get real about assuming a 34 DE won’t get 23m a year and then ignore the website for a different player. I was just pointing out the hypocrisy

You really think Mack is going to get only 8M? Everything I've seen has him at around 20.

Mack isn’t going to get 20M a year and I’d bet a large sum of money on that. I’d be shocked if he got a penny more than 15M and I could be being generous.

[Chi town]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/44165658/sources-hollywood-brown-returning-chiefs-1-year-deal

Hollywood Brown back to Chiefs for 11M.

We need to draft our quick shifty slot WR in the 3rd round. Give me that kid from MIA Restrepo.

[Dresden]

Obviously Dalman is going to get more than 7m a year. You can’t use a website to tell someone to get real about assuming a 34 DE won’t get 23m a year and then ignore the website for a different player. I was just pointing out the hypocrisy

You really think Mack is going to get only 8M? Everything I've seen has him at around 20.

Mack isn’t going to get 20M a year and I’d bet a large sum of money on that. I’d be shocked if he got a penny more than 15M and I could be being generous.

Maybe but that's not what is being projected:

"PFF (which is usually fairly accurate with its projections) projects Mack to sign a two-year, $45 million contract with $40 million guaranteed."

[Dresden]

PFF has a more palatable projection for Dalman though: PFF predicted Dalman to receive a 4-year, $46 million contract, giving him an average annual salary of $11.5 million.

[Betta Bulleavit]

You really think Mack is going to get only 8M? Everything I've seen has him at around 20.

Mack isn’t going to get 20M a year and I’d bet a large sum of money on that. I’d be shocked if he got a penny more than 15M and I could be being generous.

Maybe but that's not what is being projected:

"PFF (which is usually fairly accurate with its projections) projects Mack to sign a two-year, $45 million contract with $40 million guaranteed."

Yeah, I think CBS has him projected to land a 2/46 deal but I think the projections are being a bit kind based on the fact that he’s still a quality player. But as it tends to play out, player quality is only one indicator of the type of deal that a player can get. Most of the teams that Mack wants that would want him back will begin to compress his projected compensation.

[nomorezorro]

pff graded mack as a top-5 edge last year and he had a 17-sack season the year before. something like 2 years/$40 million would be an eminently reasonable deal for him (ideally with the second year very lightly guaranteed, although even that might be too favorable a deal for whoever signs him)

[dice]

Obviously Dalman is going to get more than 7m a year. You can’t use a website to tell someone to get real about assuming a 34 DE won’t get 23m a year and then ignore the website for a different player. I was just pointing out the hypocrisy

You really think Mack is going to get only 8M? Everything I've seen has him at around 20.

Mack isn’t going to get 20M a year and I’d bet a large sum of money on that. I’d be shocked if he got a penny more than 15M and I could be being generous.

PFF says 2/45 for mack, 4/56 (30 guar.) for dalman

PFF's player comparison made 2.9% of cap (equiv. of $8 mil a year for dalman). so obviously spotrac is not factoring in market conditions in their contract projections

$14 mil a year for a center that isn't good in pass protection is a questionable investment at best