The Case for Trading Lance Briggs

[emperorjones]

I'm a big Briggs fan. So no disrespect to one of the best players ever to play defense for the Bears. (and Yes I am assuming that at age 29 and following another pro bowl selection he is worth a 1st round pick) That said, I think this offseason it makes perfect sense to deal him for a first round pick for the following reasons:

1. This team is desperate for a playmaker on the DL or in the secondary. Yes, I know it would be swapping a play maker for a potential play maker, but thats a risk you have to take IMO.

2. Jamar Williams has shown to be more than a backup and can make plays next to Urlacher in the middle. The drop off just won't be that far and in fact IMO I think Williams could be a hidden star.

3. Most importantly, if we have a lockout in 2011, we would be losing one of the last prime years in Briggs career. IT would be a total waste as he would not get back on the field for us in a meaningful way until 2012 (not assuming 2010 will be meaningful )

I would target the top available free safety or DE wherever we were in the first round of the draft. BTW, my thoughts on trading Hester and our 4th round pick for a 2nd round pick follow the same logic.

Thoughts?

[Kyben36]

Absolutely not, Brigs is one of the few players we have on D,

[WEFFPIM]

Nope. I didn't even read it, honestly, because I'm so very opposed to it.

[Friend_Of_Haley]

I'd consider it, but it'd have to be a situation where we were targeting a very specific player with that pick that we traded him for.

I wouldn't want to trade him for a mid 20's pick in March when we didn't know what kind of value we could get for him.

I'm open to the idea though. Ditto for Hester.

[Chewie]

I think trading away our only pro-bowler would go over like a fart in church with fans ESPECIALLY after everyone's already up in arms over keeping Angelo and Lovie. Sorry, emp.

[emperorjones]

...maybe THAT's why my mom stopped taking me to church???? Lance Briggs is our Scottie Pippen on defense. Love the guy but unless you think we are competing for a top playoff spot (not just one & done), we should move him while we can.

[DJhitek]

I'm on your side emp, Urlacher is untradeable and I'd even consider trading Tommy Harris. We have to rebuild this defense and move on from this aging unit. We just have to, might as well start now.

[Balance-a-Bull]

Unfortunately, Angelo is still the GM and would make would the 1st Rd. selection of a DL.

Given Angelo's track record of not producing a pro bowl play making caliber lineman outside of Tommy Harris in the 1st or any round since arriving..... leaves me in a position where I have no faith in him to make a quality decision now.

If Angelo is launched with Lovie after next season, maybe I would possibly consider such a move with some new direction in upper management.

The line is old, so let's see if any of the guys drafted last year and the expensive and talented Gaines Adams can give anything.

If nothing comes from that.... we have to rebuild the whole ship on D.

[Friend_Of_Haley]

Nope. I didn't even read it, honestly, because I'm so very opposed to it.

Well now that's not the right attitude. Maybe the Rams were going to give their #1 pick. Now we don't get Suh because of you (heh it ryhmes).

Anyone is available on this team, no one is untouchable*


*except Robbie Gould and Patrick Mannelly, our two best players

[SportsWorld]

I'd say Tim Shaw is untouchable as well. Dude was a beast on special teams this year. You could make the argument that he was one of our top 5 players this year. Sad, yet true.

[Howling Mad]

Although I agree, I don't think its the move they choose to make. With Lovie staying, it shows we'll be sticking to the same D. I do think, if you swap out 4-3/3-4 Lance Briggs becomes less effective. I also agree we've got a couple years left until he shows decline and now would be a great time to get some value for him.

[Icness]

It's an interesting question. I think trading him sends the message to the team that they are in rebuild mode, not win-now mode. If Lovie and/or Angelo had been thrown out I could have seen it going down for the reasons you stated emperor, but I can't see Lovie standing for giving up the only real playmaker on his beloved, beleaguered defense.

I don't believe there's any way to get fair value back for him either. Even a late-1st round rookie isn't going to have the kind of impact on the team that Briggs has. Maybe in 2-3 years but not in 2010.

[Friend_Of_Haley]

So we resigned Pisa. Now I bet its a pretty risk adverse deal where we could cut him without much loss, but we will definitely have depth at LB. Could the Bears be thinking of trading off some guys?