Bears 10.0: GM and coach watch before the draft

[Dresden]

Matt Pryor is worth keeping as a backup, maybe even Shelton, although ideally we'd get both a good starting center, and a better backup. I'm surprised Sanborn didn't play 25% of the snaps- I thought he was a starter.

We definitely need another corner or two- right now we only have one depth piece: T. Smith. Ideally, we'd replace Stevenson and then also get a good backup.

[dice]

simulated offseason:

cut - everett
re-sign - jenkins - 2 yrs, 30 mil - everything i've heard suggests he's very unlikely to be back, so this is an unlikely scenario, and the price would be high, but i'd respect acknowledging his performance rather than making a change just for the sake of it - grade B

https://www.si.com/nfl/bears/teven-jenkins-projection-can-make-for-tough-bears-decision-if-accurate#:~:text=Teven%20Jenkins'%20departure%20in%20free,just%20didn't%20happen.%E2%80%9D

FA acquisitions

EDGE haason reddick - 2/29.5 - age 31 - definitely on the downside after all-pro 2022 and PB 2023, struggled mightily as rotational piece this year after returning from injury midseason - terrible FA priority when should be drafting EDGE at #10 - signals willingness if not desire to move on from braxton via draft - grade D-

DI levi onwuzurike - 1/12 - age 27 - solid 2024 after 3 yrs of major injury struggles and bad performance - 2nd rd pick - grade D+

CB charvarious ward - 1/10.5 - age 29 - terrible 2024 dealing w/ personal tragedy, 2023 all-pro - potentially excellent counterpart to JJ - grade A-

OL patrick mekari - 3/29 - age 28 - has played all along OL for ravens as part-time starter - lotta money for this guy - change for the sake of it - grade D+

TE mike gesicki - 2/13 - age 30 - elite backup
EDGE derek barnett - 3/14 - age 29 - former #14 pick - injury ended his days as starter, has excelled as backup - signing would lock down EDGE position prior to draft
DI poona ford - 2/8 - age 29 - fantastic 2024 coming off injury - nice rotational piece to lock down entire D-line prior to draft
CB jonathan jones - 1/3 - age 32 - bad 2024 in 3rd year of pretty good run as starter - signing would lock down corner position prior to draft and marginalize stevenson, who would likely be cut or traded for scrap

draft

TEN - ward - current expectation is that titans are leaning away from QB here
CLE - sanders - slipping on draft boards as carter is rising - very unlikely that QBs go 1 and 2
NYG - hunter
pats - carter
jags - CB johnson
LVR - S starks
NYJ - DI graham
CAR - TE warren - surprise pick
saints - WR burden - another surprise, leaving #6 overall prospect mcmillan (WR) available
bears - OT kelvin banks - would have liked mcmillan or a trade down in this scenario given poor choice to address EDGE in free agency...banks may bump inside to G or even C, however, due to size and athleticism deficiencies - grade C-

remaining draft needs: WR3, safety and O-line depth
overall offseason grade: C+

[Dresden]

Bears have a new running backs coach: https://sports.yahoo.com/eric-bieniemy-former-chiefs-and-commanders-oc-returns-to-nfl-as-bears-rb-coach-231803265.html

[nitetrain8603]

simulated offseason:

cut - everett
re-sign - jenkins - 2 yrs, 30 mil - everything i've heard suggests he's very unlikely to be back, so this is an unlikely scenario, and the price would be high, but i'd respect acknowledging his performance rather than making a change just for the sake of it - grade B

https://www.si.com/nfl/bears/teven-jenkins-projection-can-make-for-tough-bears-decision-if-accurate#:~:text=Teven%20Jenkins'%20departure%20in%20free,just%20didn't%20happen.%E2%80%9D

FA acquisitions

EDGE haason reddick - 2/29.5 - age 31 - definitely on the downside after all-pro 2022 and PB 2023, struggled mightily as rotational piece this year after returning from injury midseason - terrible FA priority when should be drafting EDGE at #10 - signals willingness if not desire to move on from braxton via draft - grade D-

DI levi onwuzurike - 1/12 - age 27 - solid 2024 after 3 yrs of major injury struggles and bad performance - 2nd rd pick - grade D+

CB charvarious ward - 1/10.5 - age 29 - terrible 2024 dealing w/ personal tragedy, 2023 all-pro - potentially excellent counterpart to JJ - grade A-

OL patrick mekari - 3/29 - age 28 - has played all along OL for ravens as part-time starter - lotta money for this guy - change for the sake of it - grade D+

TE mike gesicki - 2/13 - age 30 - elite backup
EDGE derek barnett - 3/14 - age 29 - former #14 pick - injury ended his days as starter, has excelled as backup - signing would lock down EDGE position prior to draft
DI poona ford - 2/8 - age 29 - fantastic 2024 coming off injury - nice rotational piece to lock down entire D-line prior to draft
CB jonathan jones - 1/3 - age 32 - bad 2024 in 3rd year of pretty good run as starter - signing would lock down corner position prior to draft and marginalize stevenson, who would likely be cut or traded for scrap

draft

TEN - ward - current expectation is that titans are leaning away from QB here
CLE - sanders - slipping on draft boards as carter is rising - very unlikely that QBs go 1 and 2
NYG - hunter
pats - carter
jags - CB johnson
LVR - S starks
NYJ - DI graham
CAR - TE warren - surprise pick
saints - WR burden - another surprise, leaving #6 overall prospect mcmillan (WR) available
bears - OT kelvin banks - would have liked mcmillan or a trade down in this scenario given poor choice to address EDGE in free agency...banks may bump inside to G or even C, however, due to size and athleticism deficiencies - grade C-

remaining draft needs: WR3, safety and O-line depth
overall offseason grade: C+

At 15 mil per no way in he'll i would sign Tevin Jenkins. I don't know that any team would give him more than 8 right now

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[fleet]

With a big name RB coach now, pretty safe bet the Bears are drafting a RB, and if they get a Cunningham compensatory pick, imo definitely before the third round is over. So that’s one thing. The other is that I feel like the Bears could and should be in the Tevin Jenkins market conservatively as a bridge guy if they can’t meet the big price for Smith. Maybe… even if they do. We aren’t in the position to start a rookie on purpose in front of Caleb. A 2 year deal would indeed be pretty nice.

On the O-line, we’re all speculating based on a lot of missing information. We don’t even know if Smith and Jenkins will fit with what Ben Johnson is doing with his blocking scheme. I guess that goes with all of the O-linemen. Even Wright, although Wright isn’t going anywhere even if he wasn’t fitting perfectly.

[fleet]

To make an isolated comment about Ben Johnson, not sure the NFL has ever seen such an eclectic mix of coaches all put together. Ben is a mad scientist. The Bears have made adventurous forays before (Trestman), but this has been fascinating. And Nagy had a boring and traditional staff under him. So the Bears are going off into the woods.

[Betta Bulleavit]

Bears have a new running backs coach: https://sports.yahoo.com/eric-bieniemy-former-chiefs-and-commanders-oc-returns-to-nfl-as-bears-rb-coach-231803265.html

I know he’s a guy that many have wanted in the fold for some time. Seems like a nice get on the surface at least.

[fleet]

The Bears will be getting off the bus running (the ball). One way to get the heat and the pass rush off Caleb is to get blockers. The other is to be serious about being a team that runs the ball.

[Betta Bulleavit]

The Bears will be getting off the bus running (the ball). One way to get the heat and the pass rush off Caleb is to get blockers. The other is to be serious about being a team that runs the ball.

Do you think there’s any legs to some of the rumors that they may be looking at Jeanty?

[fleet]

The Bears will be getting off the bus running (the ball). One way to get the heat and the pass rush off Caleb is to get blockers. The other is to be serious about being a team that runs the ball.

Do you think there’s any legs to some of the rumors that they may be looking at Jeanty?

The Bears might signal that possible pick by signing 2 free agents on the O-line. But ultimately, the Bears having other needs like the D line, and the depth of this RB class would make that kind of a luxury pick that would be inefficient use of assets. And the Lions were a way more complete team when they took Gibbs. However I will say that RB is an underrated need for the Bears because Swift is observably not Ben Johnson’s type of back by the way Ben used him in Detroit (sparingly), and the type of physical backs that Detroit ultimately brought in to replace Swift. Gibbs isn’t afraid of contact, and Monty is Monty. Honestly, I don’t even know if Jeanty is like those guys or not. The highlights I have seen is Jeanty bursting through open holes and running past the second and third levels. Not that Ben wouldn’t be able to use him. But there will be some very nice RB options in the second and third round that would allow the Bears to pass on Jeanty, and imo be a better overall team for it.

[Dresden]

I'm not sure where Swift gets the knock that he's afraid of contact. I watched him put his shoulder down and initiate contact plenty of times last year when he had to.

And last season, I think the Bears really wanted to run the ball, but when you're getting less than 2 yards on first down when you run the ball, it makes it pretty difficult to keep trying to attack teams that way.

As bad as the pass blocking was last year, I think the run blocking may have been even worse. If they want to be a running team, they better get serious about bringing in almost a whole new O line.

[sco]

Bears have a new running backs coach: https://sports.yahoo.com/eric-bieniemy-former-chiefs-and-commanders-oc-returns-to-nfl-as-bears-rb-coach-231803265.html

I know he’s a guy that many have wanted in the fold for some time. Seems like a nice get on the surface at least.

Yeah. I would have preferred him as the OC. Great get!

[Jimako10]

I personally believe that it is a waste to draft a RB in the early rounds unless you're a unicorn RB in the mold of CMC/Saquon/Bijan, in which case you're getting drafted in the 1st round.

If you're not a unicorn RB, then you're probably a dime a dozen IMO. Just look at even the 2024 draft and see how many decent/solid RBs showed out in the later rounds.

Jaylen Wright (4th round): Miami loves him and probably taking over the Mostert role next year
Bucky Irving (4th round): Monster year, starter for the foreseeable future
Ray Davis (4th round): Solid complement to James Cook
Isaac Guerendo (4th round): Showed some flashes and probably in the mix to be starter/complement if CMC is done
Braelon Allen (4th round): Looked great on the field, sometimes looked better than Breece Hall
Tyrone Tracy Jr (5th round): Looked great and is likely the starter for the foreseeable future

I'd take all of the above for the Bears as part of a 1-2 punch for the running game. I'd much rather spend those early round picks on the trenches or secondary.

[Jcool0]

Big hire

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[Chi town]

The Bears will be getting off the bus running (the ball). One way to get the heat and the pass rush off Caleb is to get blockers. The other is to be serious about being a team that runs the ball.

Do you think there’s any legs to some of the rumors that they may be looking at Jeanty?

The Bears might signal that possible pick by signing 2 free agents on the O-line. But ultimately, the Bears having other needs like the D line, and the depth of this RB class would make that kind of a luxury pick that would be inefficient use of assets. And the Lions were a way more complete team when they took Gibbs. However I will say that RB is an underrated need for the Bears because Swift is observably not Ben Johnson’s type of back by the way Ben used him in Detroit (sparingly), and the type of physical backs that Detroit ultimately brought in to replace Swift. Gibbs isn’t afraid of contact, and Monty is Monty. Honestly, I don’t even know if Jeanty is like those guys or not. The highlights I have seen is Jeanty bursting through open holes and running past the second and third levels. Not that Ben wouldn’t be able to use him. But there will be some very nice RB options in the second and third round that would allow the Bears to pass on Jeanty, and imo be a better overall team for it.

I could see Swift traded.

[Dresden]

I personally believe that it is a waste to draft a RB in the early rounds unless you're a unicorn RB in the mold of CMC/Saquon/Bijan, in which case you're getting drafted in the 1st round.

If you're not a unicorn RB, then you're probably a dime a dozen IMO. Just look at even the 2024 draft and see how many decent/solid RBs showed out in the later rounds.

Jaylen Wright (4th round): Miami loves him and probably taking over the Mostert role next year
Bucky Irving (4th round): Monster year, starter for the foreseeable future
Ray Davis (4th round): Solid complement to James Cook
Isaac Guerendo (4th round): Showed some flashes and probably in the mix to be starter/complement if CMC is done
Braelon Allen (4th round): Looked great on the field, sometimes looked better than Breece Hall
Tyrone Tracy Jr (5th round): Looked great and is likely the starter for the foreseeable future

I'd take all of the above for the Bears as part of a 1-2 punch for the running game. I'd much rather spend those early round picks on the trenches or secondary.

Those are good examples. It's a shame neither Travis Ebner nor Roschon Johnson worked out that way.

[Howling Mad]

I personally believe that it is a waste to draft a RB in the early rounds unless you're a unicorn RB in the mold of CMC/Saquon/Bijan, in which case you're getting drafted in the 1st round.

If you're not a unicorn RB, then you're probably a dime a dozen IMO. Just look at even the 2024 draft and see how many decent/solid RBs showed out in the later rounds.

Jaylen Wright (4th round): Miami loves him and probably taking over the Mostert role next year
Bucky Irving (4th round): Monster year, starter for the foreseeable future
Ray Davis (4th round): Solid complement to James Cook
Isaac Guerendo (4th round): Showed some flashes and probably in the mix to be starter/complement if CMC is done
Braelon Allen (4th round): Looked great on the field, sometimes looked better than Breece Hall
Tyrone Tracy Jr (5th round): Looked great and is likely the starter for the foreseeable future

I'd take all of the above for the Bears as part of a 1-2 punch for the running game. I'd much rather spend those early round picks on the trenches or secondary.

This is usually my logic but don't be surprised if it is a RB is the early rounds. Lions picked Gibbs after a fresh signing of David Montgomery. We'll probably never know but gotta think Ben Johnson was part of that decision. Worked out pretty well for them.

Ben Johnson's first year at Detriot was Swift's last year there. That's kinda interesting. So a RB overhaul wouldn't be surprising.

[panthermark]

Don't forgot B Robinson was a 1st round pick (a few spots ahead of Gibbs) and has been pretty much what you would expect from a RB drafted in the first round. He has not been as good as Gibbs, but he also didn't have the same OC.

[fleet]

Guy people are connecting to the Bears.

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[ThisGuyFawkes]

Guy people are connecting to the Bears.

Read on Twitter

Just based of my very limited viewing of the clip you linked, he seems like he has a lot of patience to let the play resolve before using a change in speed plus breaking tackles to make big plays. Kinda reminds me of Forte.