Bears 10.0: GM and coach watch before the draft

[fleet]

This almost sounds like Ben Johnson is running the team. And that’s fine by me.

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there was also reporting that poles wasn't gonna focus on EDGE in FA. which strongly suggests EDGE in draft. which i have been advocating due to abundance at that position

If you’re talking about the first round, that is what I am thinking as well. With a couple caveats. One, Campbell is already gone by #10. And two, the Bears don’t want to pull the trigger on Simmons because of the knee. There are a couple edge guys around where the Bears are picking that scream prototype upside traits, which Poles loves. The O-linemen comparatively, eh.

[Dresden]

This almost sounds like Ben Johnson is running the team. And that’s fine by me.

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there was also reporting that poles wasn't gonna focus on EDGE in FA. which strongly suggests EDGE in draft. which i have been advocating due to abundance at that position

How would anybody know that?

[Dresden]

At this point, I think i'm set on bring four new starters on the OL through Free agency.

Ronnie Stanley: 3/57 (I assume this will be the ceiling of what he makes. based on the Jackson deal)
Kevin Zeitler: 2/12
Drew Dalman: 4/36
Will Fries: 4/60

That would average out to about 49m for this year in cap hits, leaving us with 25m left over. We can use that to resign key players, sign a decent DE, and probably one or two quality backups.

Stanley/Jones ( I would trade him)
Zeitler/2025 2nd
Dalman/Bates (I'd cut him and replace with a cheaper backup)
Fries/McFadden
Wright/FA

I would love to see that happen, but how realistic is it? Those are 4 of the top lineman being discussed in FA- it seems highly unlikely the bears would sign all 4.

So far, Poles has been very selective and conservative in FA. He rarely seems to do what people expect (or hope) he will do. It would not surprise me if we only come away with one new starter on the O line in FA, and only use one of our top 4 picks on an O lineman.

[nomorezorro]

none of that is realistic. stanley's ceiling on the open market isn't going to be constrained by jackson's contract (and there's still a good chance he re-signs with baltmore), zeitler is getting more than $6m a year and dalman is getting more than $8 million a year.

[patryk7754]

none of that is realistic. stanley's ceiling on the open market isn't going to be constrained by jackson's contract (and there's still a good chance he re-signs with baltmore), zeitler is getting more than $6m a year and dalman is getting more than $8 million a year.

Stanley will be 31 be for the end of the month with an injury history. It’s wasn’t unrealistic that he signed for 19/20m before the deal. And now that Jackson signed his deal, it makes it more likely. And yea, Baltimore can still resign him but so can every team with any free agent. Hes still a free agent so he still an option. And he should be one of our top options.

Zeitler made 6m this past season. He’s going to be 35. Nothing unrealistic about assuming he gets similar pay. And even if the number is low, the actual number isn’t going to be a one that makes it impossible to sign him

Dalman isn’t some pro bowl center. Centers don’t get paid. And again, even if the number is low the actual number wouldn’t be so high that we can’t sign him and everyone else.

[patryk7754]

At this point, I think i'm set on bring four new starters on the OL through Free agency.

Ronnie Stanley: 3/57 (I assume this will be the ceiling of what he makes. based on the Jackson deal)
Kevin Zeitler: 2/12
Drew Dalman: 4/36
Will Fries: 4/60

That would average out to about 49m for this year in cap hits, leaving us with 25m left over. We can use that to resign key players, sign a decent DE, and probably one or two quality backups.

Stanley/Jones ( I would trade him)
Zeitler/2025 2nd
Dalman/Bates (I'd cut him and replace with a cheaper backup)
Fries/McFadden
Wright/FA

I would love to see that happen, but how realistic is it? Those are 4 of the top lineman being discussed in FA- it seems highly unlikely the bears would sign all 4.

So far, Poles has been very selective and conservative in FA. He rarely seems to do what people expect (or hope) he will do. It would not surprise me if we only come away with one new starter on the O line in FA, and only use one of our top 4 picks on an O lineman.

I wouldn’t say unrealistic. Improbable? Sure. Maybe that’s just semantics.

We have four major needs on the line. We can sign four really good players to fill those needs. And we have more than enough cap space to make it happen. I’d say it’s a realistic option, even if not likely

[_txchilibowl_]

Deebo for a 5th mean the Commanders can still get their punter in the 4th. Sweet.

[fleet]

If Stanley is 31 and has an injury history, why is he ok but Jenkins is not? Any of the o-line guys the Bears sign should be the picture of health if Jenkins is being held away because of injuries.

[The Evidence]

Tez Johnson running a 4.55 in his 40 could a nice gift in r3.

[fleet]

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Dalman might be a Bear, yes.

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[Almost Retired]

If Poles can get us 2 Offensive linemen in Free Agency...Dalman to play Center and a guard then I look for the Bears to go Defense with #10 and my thinking after looking at the combine results is that they would pick Shemar Stewart, if he even makes it to #10. He tested off the charts for a guy his size. 6' 5", close to 270 lbs, 40 in under 4.6. 40" Vertical. Good arm length. One inch short of 11 feet in the standing broad jump. A RAS score of a perfect 10.0. Highest rating for any defensive end from 1987 until today. That's #1 out of 1802 defensive linemen tested. Too much potential to let him get by #10. My only fear is that he goes higher, as the 2nd EDGE off the board after Abdul Carter.

[biggestbullsfan]

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I still doubt Campell falls, but if he did, definitely taking him at 10. Guard or tackle, idc. Best o-line in the draft.

Campell
Banks
Booker

[_txchilibowl_]

If Poles can get us 2 Offensive linemen in Free Agency...Dalman to play Center and a guard then I look for the Bears to go Defense with #10 and my thinking after looking at the combine results is that they would pick Shemar Stewart, if he even makes it to #10. He tested off the charts for a guy his size. 6' 5", close to 270 lbs, 40 in under 4.6. 40" Vertical. Good arm length. One inch short of 11 feet in the standing broad jump. A RAS score of a perfect 10.0. Highest rating for any defensive end from 1987 until today. That's #1 out of 1802 defensive linemen tested. Too much potential to let him get by #10. My only fear is that he goes higher, as the 2nd EDGE off the board after Abdul Carter.

That sounds great until you see he had exactly 1.5 sacks in each of his college seasons.

Mike Mamula once had a great combine...

[fleet]

Josh Simmons only 33’ arms. Not good for him either. But the wingspan for Campbell is not even good for a guard along with the short arm length for tackle. Definitely a guard now. Campbell going to be mocked to the Bears on most mocks for awhile. Now I see where Sikkma’s idea to play Campbell at center is coming from

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[Chi town]

If Poles can get us 2 Offensive linemen in Free Agency...Dalman to play Center and a guard then I look for the Bears to go Defense with #10 and my thinking after looking at the combine results is that they would pick Shemar Stewart, if he even makes it to #10. He tested off the charts for a guy his size. 6' 5", close to 270 lbs, 40 in under 4.6. 40" Vertical. Good arm length. One inch short of 11 feet in the standing broad jump. A RAS score of a perfect 10.0. Highest rating for any defensive end from 1987 until today. That's #1 out of 1802 defensive linemen tested. Too much potential to let him get by #10. My only fear is that he goes higher, as the 2nd EDGE off the board after Abdul Carter.

I agree. Two FA oline and then DE at 10.

Shemar is a freak and a gamble. Barely any production because he couldn’t finish his plays with tackles. Had he… he’d be going top 3.

I still prefer a trade back if Graham is gone at 10. I think we can get a productive DE with a good ceiling later. I’m wary of the freaks that never produce.

[Dresden]

At this point, I think i'm set on bring four new starters on the OL through Free agency.

Ronnie Stanley: 3/57 (I assume this will be the ceiling of what he makes. based on the Jackson deal)
Kevin Zeitler: 2/12
Drew Dalman: 4/36
Will Fries: 4/60

That would average out to about 49m for this year in cap hits, leaving us with 25m left over. We can use that to resign key players, sign a decent DE, and probably one or two quality backups.

Stanley/Jones ( I would trade him)
Zeitler/2025 2nd
Dalman/Bates (I'd cut him and replace with a cheaper backup)
Fries/McFadden
Wright/FA

I would love to see that happen, but how realistic is it? Those are 4 of the top lineman being discussed in FA- it seems highly unlikely the bears would sign all 4.

So far, Poles has been very selective and conservative in FA. He rarely seems to do what people expect (or hope) he will do. It would not surprise me if we only come away with one new starter on the O line in FA, and only use one of our top 4 picks on an O lineman.

I wouldn’t say unrealistic. Improbable? Sure. Maybe that’s just semantics.

We have four major needs on the line. We can sign four really good players to fill those needs. And we have more than enough cap space to make it happen. I’d say it’s a realistic option, even if not likely

But there are a lot of other teams who will be competing with us for those guys too. If we sign two of those 4, I'd call that a coup.

[Dresden]

If Poles can get us 2 Offensive linemen in Free Agency...Dalman to play Center and a guard then I look for the Bears to go Defense with #10 and my thinking after looking at the combine results is that they would pick Shemar Stewart, if he even makes it to #10. He tested off the charts for a guy his size. 6' 5", close to 270 lbs, 40 in under 4.6. 40" Vertical. Good arm length. One inch short of 11 feet in the standing broad jump. A RAS score of a perfect 10.0. Highest rating for any defensive end from 1987 until today. That's #1 out of 1802 defensive linemen tested. Too much potential to let him get by #10. My only fear is that he goes higher, as the 2nd EDGE off the board after Abdul Carter.

That sounds great until you see he had exactly 1.5 sacks in each of his college seasons.

Mike Mamula once had a great combine...

Didn't we also draft Pickens and Dexter because of their physical traits, rather than production? And neither has turned into a difference maker, although there's still time, esp. for Dexter. I'm leery of guys like that.

[Dresden]

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Dalman might be a Bear, yes.

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So Dalman will cost at least 13/yr. That's pretty rich for a center. I'd prefer drafting one if at all possible. And at least one guard. Pick up a guard in FA in the 8-12 range and call it a day. Then you can go OT or DE at 10.

[nomorezorro]

there is maybe one player in this entire draft who you can comfortably plug in as a day-one starter at C, and he didn't play the position in college so even that would be something of a gamble

also it would be a dicey proposition to ask a rookie to take on the responsibilities of a C in a new offense with a second-year qb and an offensive line with several new pieces

[nomorezorro]

obviously, ideally you wouldn't be building the line through free agency. but the bears have struggled at that position long enough that you just can't afford to assume you will successfully draft and develop quality interior offensive linemen or find "value contracts" in FA. and for caleb's sake, you need to stabilize the interior of the offensive line quickly.

if that means you have to overpay to get solid starters in place, then that's the cost of doing business — and it's something you should honestly be able to get away with as long as you have a starting QB on a rookie contract.

(if you truly are averse to bringing in the biggest-dollar iOL free agents, then at the very least you need to bring in a few veterans like ryan kelly/kevin zeitler to hold down the fort for a year or two while you try to do your long-term building through the draft)