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

[moorhosj]

There's a middle ground, but the "just build slow" people don't understand the value of Caleb's rookie contract window.

Coming out of my self-impossed ban for a quick comment.

Draft picks aren't traded 5 years out is because that is not legal under the NFL's rules. Picks can only be traded 3 drafts into the future, so a 5th rounder in 2028 is literally worthless today.

I haven't seen any mention of how trading for players may set you up to receive compensatory draft picks next year and in the future:

-- If we aren't signing 2 free agent guards this year for $40 million, that is less spending to be balanced when comp picks are determined. If Teven signs a big deal somewhere else, that could actually help net the Bears a draft pick for next year. We will still likely spend a bunch on FA this offseason, so it might not matter. It should still be noted as a consideration in these moves.

-- Same reason why signing recently cut players has hidden value compared to signing true free agents, as players who are cut don't count in the comp pick formula.

-- Now that we have Jackson and Thuney on the team, we are set up to potentially re-coup comp picks if they leave in free agency after the 2026 season.[/list]

[TheSuzerain]

There's a middle ground, but the "just build slow" people don't understand the value of Caleb's rookie contract window.

Coming out of my self-impossed ban for a quick comment.

Draft picks aren't traded 5 years out is because that is not legal under the NFL's rules. Picks can only be traded 3 drafts into the future, so a 5th rounder in 2028 is literally worthless today.

I haven't seen any mention of how trading for players may set you up to receive compensatory draft picks next year and in the future:

-- If we aren't signing 2 free agent guards this year for $40 million, that is less spending to be balanced when comp picks are determined. If Teven signs a big deal somewhere else, that could actually help net the Bears a draft pick for next year. We will still likely spend a bunch on FA this offseason, so it might not matter. It should still be noted as a consideration in these moves.

-- Same reason why signing recently cut players has hidden value compared to signing true free agents, as players who are cut don't count in the comp pick formula.

-- Now that we have Jackson and Thuney on the team, we are set up to potentially re-coup comp picks if they leave in free agency after the 2026 season.[/list]

The Bears have been awful with comp pick manipulation. No debate there.

But this is clearly a year for us to be spending (perhaps even overspending). We should 100% be setting up contracts for future years to better game the comp pick system (e.g. we don't sign any FAs next year other than cuts).

Honestly, I don't even think the system should exist. It's silly.

[chitowndish]

I'm glad we are getting some veteran guys in on the IOL that can help from day 1 and I'd still draft some young guys but this takes a lot of pressure off of trying to draft guys that can contribute or depending on rookies in general. I probably wouldn't trade draft capital for a vet defensive lineman I'd rather use all of our picks on young guys as I think we do have a number of places we could use talent, both lines, RB, fast WR and I think we'll need to look at young secondary guys because Stephenson has his issues and Brisker and the way some of our other guys hit has me concerned about injury.

Overall I feel like we have enough holes where I would just use the picks. I wouldn't be upset with a trade for an established edge but I'd probably rather sign a vet and draft a young guy than trade a pick to sign a vet.

[patryk7754]

Harold Landry and Jonathan Allen are being released

[Jvaughn]

So if we can come out of FA with Dalman and one of the dozen DEs that have been released this week, what direction do you guys want to go in the draft?

[NZB2323]

So if we can come out of FA with Dalman and one of the dozen DEs that have been released this week, what direction do you guys want to go in the draft?

I’d still like us to focus on the lines with our first 3 picks to really shore up both lines. Then we can go for RB, safety, and other positions with the rest of our picks, but I’d like us to focus on the lines with our first 3 picks and turn them into strengths for this season and the future.

[patryk7754]

Javon Hargreaves also officially going to be released. We have several options for our final major needs.

I think I prefer signing Mack and koonce instead of trading for Hendrickson. Mack will be relatively cheap. I imagine koonce won’t get a big deal. My guess is a one year price it deal at around 10-15m. If koonce plays great we can resigning him to a real contract next offseason.

On top of Mack and Koonce, I’d like to come out with a vet DT. Hargrave and Allen would be my top two choices. I would guess they both get less than 10m.

On offense, we obviously need a center. If Dalman is going to get 15+ id much rather pass on him. Kelly would be my top choice. Bradley Bozeman would be a good short term stopgap. Josh Meyers would be good value signing. In the draft, I’d only really be interested in Jake majors. 2nd or 3rd round probably. After addressing those spots, being able to afford a vet WR3 would be great. Allen is probably out of the question. Maybe Tyler Lockett. If we miss out on WR3 in FA I wouldn’t be surprised if we got on in the 2nd round.

Mack, koonce, j. Allen, Ryan Kelly, Lockett. Would be amazing if we got that done to finish off free agency.

Trade down from 10 to late teens to early 20s and acquire a 2nd

RD1 Tyler Warren
RD2: Treyveyon Henderson
RD2: Ohio states DT
RD2-7:best player available

[biggestbullsfan]

Read on Twitter

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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

[patryk7754]

I think the best strategy for center would be see how much Bradley Bozeman will get. He’s always been a top 10ish center but never gets paid any sort of money. He got $2m last season i think. If we can do that, it’s a no brainer. I’d sign him up to 5/6m a year on a 1 or 2 year deal.

If he is too expensive I’d target Nuezil. Started like half of the season and played well in place of Dalman. 2/6m. Then target Jake majors in the second or 3rd. Let those two and even bates compete for the starting spot with majors being the center of the future

[patryk7754]

Hopefully Mack comes back for like 8m. That would give us a crazy amount of flexibility. But it’s probably closer to 15. If he even resigns with us

[Dresden]

So if we can come out of FA with Dalman and one of the dozen DEs that have been released this week, what direction do you guys want to go in the draft?

Well it frees us up to take a RB in round 2, which I think is likely in any case. After Jeanty and likely Hampton, there are quite a few RBs slotted in the 2-3 round right now. If we want to take our pick of this group, we likely need to use one of our seconds on one.

Other than that, I'd continue to stack lineman. We can't consider that done just because we've filled the most gaping holes. We need to stockpile some depth for the future/injuries.

[Dresden]

Hopefully Mack comes back for like 8m. That would give us a crazy amount of flexibility. But it’s probably closer to 15. If he even resigns with us

Get real: "Spotrac currently has Mack's value set at $23.6 million per year, with a projected contract of three years, $70.9 million."

[Dresden]

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

[Dresden]

There's a middle ground, but the "just build slow" people don't understand the value of Caleb's rookie contract window.

The Redskins were as bad as we were two years ago, and made it to the NFC title game last year. The Texans took a similar jump the year before. The Bears are poised to compete this coming year. Heck, we should have beat WAS last year, we should have beat GB twice, we should have beat the Lions once, and could have beaten the Vines once. We aren't that far away. We have everything but a good interior o line, and a few pieces on the D line.

Of course, I thought 10 wins was a cinch last year for this team, so maybe they'll disappoint again. But I'd be surprised if they weren't in the mix for a playoff spot.

[nitetrain8603]

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

[mack2354]

So if we can come out of FA with Dalman and one of the dozen DEs that have been released this week, what direction do you guys want to go in the draft?

BPA with the #10 pick. Someone with Top 5-8 talent is going to slip for one reason or another. I'd like to leave the draft with at least 1 guy with a high probability to be a star. The 2nd round picks should be depth picks for the O Line and D Line.

Sent from my SM-A146U using RealGM Forums mobile app

[Dresden]

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

One of these years the Raiders will be relevant again.

[patryk7754]

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."

[patryk7754]

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

Maybe the seahwks are open for business. His name is slipping my mind, but the DL out of USC would be a good pick up. I'm sure they'll be looking to add a QB for sure now. Already thought Dart would be a good fit for them, maybe they would be inclined to trade up for him

10 to the hawks for that defensive lineman and 18? or maybe their OT. Cross

[patryk7754]

Leonard Williams is the DL I’d want to trade for if the Seahawks are doing a fire sale. According to spotrac, his cap hit would only be 2m. My guess is that he’d play DT for us.