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Although we're probably not completely done making moves I think now is a pretty good time to give out some grades.

Needs
ILBs, Pass Rusher, CB depth/starter, Safety depth/Starter, DE, O-Line depth, Backup QB

Cuts
Jermon Bushrod: A++++
Antoine Smith
Ziggurat Hood
Thomas Gafford
Jimmy Clausen: A
Terrence Mitchell
John Chiles
Antrel Rolle: C
Matt Slauson: C-

Ive hated the Bushrod signing since day one, so when I saw he was cut I could literally feel my heart fill with rainbows. Clausen is trash and we are no longer reliant on him in case Cutty goes down. Although Rolle didn't play at the highest level, I think having him around to lead our very young safety core would be very beneficial. The Slauson cut was coming with us adding more guards than malls when they see "urban childs" but he was a high level player. Grades for Rolle and Slauson can change depending on how much we save

Free Agents
Jerrell Freeman: A+
Danny Trevathan: A
Manny Ramirez
Donte Thompson
Akiem Hicks: A
Bobbie Massie: C+
Brian Hoyer: A
Omer Bolden
Ted Larsen: A

Jerrel was a steal. One of the most underrated ILB and we got him for a good deal. Trevathan would be A+ but the Freeman deal was to good. Trevathan really has no weakness, he's right behind Bowman, Luke, and Levy. Hick was very under the radar this season. I was really high on him and thought he might get 8mil a year. He signed for a lot less. I think this can be one of the best signings of this Free Agency. I originally like the Massie signing thinking he would be at G, where I think he would be at his best. He has gotten better every year, however, so he could be good. Hoyer has had success as a starter but he's clearly a backup, one you can trust not to take you out of playoff contention if Jay goes down. In Larsen, we got a guy who I believe started both G and T for a good Cards line and now he's our backup [ /i]

Re-signings
Tagged Alson: Imcomplete (probably A)
Josh Bellamy
Sam Acho
Chris Prosinski
Mitch Unrein
Rob Housler
Sherrick McManis: F
Zach Miller: B+
Tracey Porter: C

[i]Wont go wrong with signing Al to a top 5 WR contract. McManis is just ass. Miller was a good signing on a good deal but there is a chance that we are putting a lot of trust in someone who had a handful of notable games. Also, he's a little old so relying on him to be the starter is a bit risky. Porter had an unexpectedly good season last year. He got ridiculous money which implies the team is ok with him being our starting CB. I believe he'd be at his best at nickel. Plus, Boykins got less than a mil and they're pretty similar


Draft
Leonard Floyd: C
Cody Whitehair: A+
Jonathan Bullard: A+
Nick Kwiatkoski
Deon Bush
Deiondre' Hall
Jordan Howard
DeAndre Houston-Carson
Daniel Braverman

I am biased on the Flyod pick, but I think it's reasonable. We trade a 4th, where we could potentially have drafted a starter, to move up two spots for a guys potential. Also with the cut of Rolle our biggest need is now and Karl Joseph and Keanu Neal were available (being compared to Earl Thomas and Cam Cam, respectively). We could have gotten the guy out of Wisconsin in the late second (via trade) who averaged a pressure every 9 plays, played at a high level at every LB position and is by far the better coverage defender. Whitehair could prove to be Pace's best pick thus far. Probably the best G and could easily start at T. Bullard will be our starter, got round one talent in the third

Un-Drafted FA
Adrian Bellard, OT, Texas State
Dan Buchholz, OL, Duquesne
Ben Braunecker, TE, Harvard: A+
Taveze Calhoun, DB, Mississippi State
Don Cherry, LB, Villanova
Deonte Gibson, DL, Northwestern
John Kling, OL, Buffalo
Darrin Peterson, WR, Liberty
Kevin Peterson, CB, Oklahoma State
Roy Robertson-Harris, DE, UTEP
Joe Sommers, TE, Wisconsin-Oshkosh

Ben could be a huge steal. He's clearly a master of smart and the guys a ESPN put him in the same sentence Gronk. We have a potential smart Gronk

Other
Forte Leaving: F
Bennett trade: B

Forte is without a doubt a top3-5 HB in the NFL and it sounds like the Bears didn't even try to negotiate. What makes this a F is that we offered 4/22 (i think)to Hillman, who is nowhere near Matt, who got a 3/12 with 9 guaranteed. It's a no brainier we missed on this one. I think Bennett is worth more than a 4th but it's probably the best we could have gotten

Overview

We basically filled every need with starting talent. Another great FA and draft class. I can't forgive the Forte mishap (in my opinion) and we don't have a legit starting S to play with Amos, when we had Joseph on the board. Still, there's so much greatness in this off-season in addition to my trust in this FO and coaching staff to prove me wrong it's hard not to give them a close to perfect grade. AND WE CUT BUSHROD!!!

A

In addition to everything the Bears have already done, we got a good amount of cap after cutting Rolle and Slauson, I'm assuming. Maybe still keeping us in contention for a trade, possibly Wilkerson

Pace is all about football character. If Jeffery doesn't start putting the team first, I could see a scenario where I'm not shocked if Jeffery gets traded. Just a hunch of mine.

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City of Trees wrote:Pace is all about football character. If Jeffery doesn't start putting the team first, I could see a scenario where I'm not shocked if Jeffery gets traded. Just a hunch of mine.

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I would really sour on Pace if he did something like that. Especially considering Pace had no problem signing a guy like Ray Mcdonald.

This is a business. Alshon has every right to try and get as much money he can. Same way Pace has to try and get a fair deal for the Bears org.

The McDonald situation is completely different to Alshon. In Alshon's case, he very well could be traded if he's being unrealistic and trying to hold the team to ransom. In the McDonald case, yes Pace signed him but that was AFTER a thorough investigation into his character and everyone said bring him in. When he got in trouble again though, Pace had no problem sending him packing.

If McDonald had messed up again and we had kept him then that would be different, but that's not what happened. Pace and the coaching staff are making it very clear that the team comes first and that people who negatively umps t the team will not be kept around. That's what happened with McDonald, and it could (and should) happen with any other player, including Alshon.


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As for the business side of things, you're right. Alshon has every right to go after every cent he can get, and Pace has the responsibility of doing the right thing by the Bears. No one is begrudging Alshon the right to chase money, but he and fans have to understand that if he chooses to do that, and wont accept a fair offer from Chicago, then Pace has the responsibility to move him.

Chase as much money as you want, that's your right as a player, but if you're demanding more than makes sense for the Bears to offer, then you've got no one to blame but yourself if you get sent to a new team.


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