Chisoxfn

Plus if they go the LT route - they probably can't afford Robinson.

I think you are right - either him or Fields.

I am assuming so - but I might be wrong.

I here you - Foles was a disaster - but Andy Dalton is significantly better than Foles. While he hasn't won a playoff game - he's been a key part to a ton of playoff teams and proven himself as a full time starter. He's also proven who he is - which is a middle of the road starting caliber QB (unless father time has caught him). He clearly is not a top 10 QB (and never will be). That said - he's a heck of a lot better and more stable player than Nick Foles (Foles is a hot & cold QB who is immobile and very injury prone who has really never been a full-time starter other than his flash-in the pan with Chip Kelly). Cap wise though - having Dalton & Foles + moving up to get a QB is a bad use of cap space - but in a year it won't look so bad (cause Foles is gone in a year).

I use Mac Jones - because he's probably the most realistic 1st round QB get - but you could insert any of the potential candidates there. Just think of this as being - I can be excited with any of them - because they could be amazing - they could be okay - they could be bad. But the important part is - there is at least a possibility (how probable - who knows) - that they could be elite - so that gives me something to be excited for.

Yeah - the one person I follow is Riddick - and Riddick has been adamant the club will swing big. He is pretty tight with Nagy so I feel there is some info being shared there and Riddick is always careful with what he shares (rarely player specific on the Bears). For all we know - Bears are using the Wilson/Watson as a smoke-screen to keep leverage with teams they are talking with in terms of moving up in the draft.

No - I should be clear - when I say Bears are going to get a QB in round 1 - it has to be them trading future picks and/or assets to move up (probably into the top 10). I think if they go with Dalton - they are basically saying we aren't going to stick with Foles - we just can't - but we also need to make a play at the future. I actually am okay with this move - it just goes back to how bad the Nick Foles move was a year ago. I think a lot of reports have been out there that a year ago - Pace panicked and got Foles. I think it was a pure reaction to missing out on Bridgewater (or some other unnamed QB) and he didn't want to not have anyone so he made a move.

Winston & Fitzmagic both off the market. More and more rumblings indicating Dalton might be on Bears short list. I don't get excited about him - I guess if I'm Nagy he's a massive upgrade over any QB Bears have had since he was HC - but he is nothing more than okay - again a major step up from Foles/Mitch - but still a long ways away from anything else. I honestly wouldn't have been that upset going that route + a potential pick entering the off-season but at this point - would be so hard after having fantasties of Watson/Mac Jones/Wilson.

Well - they aren't rebuilding - so I don't really think the Mack move hurt them much since reality was they weren't trading him this year anyway. On Arob - if they wanted to - they could always trade him. So I don't think they really did that much to mortgage the future - but your point on Foles has always been the case, but I think more are coming around to it - no front office/HC combo in position that Nagy/Pace is - is hitching there wagon to Foles at this point. I know there are some reports of Dalton - I guess maybe that could be true - but again - I don't see Nagy/Pace going out that way. I think they go with a Winston (who is a more upside guy than Dalton), a trade, or 1st round QB (most likely via a trade-up). All 3 of those offer real upside (yes - bust risk too) - but they all are targeted big swings at the position - which with a hit dramatically alter the direction of the franchise.

Evidently some insider indicated Bears intend to add Williams and Wilson.

So when their lockdown ended - what did that entail? Is that like all restaurants wide open, no masks being worn, etc? Just curious.

I have no idea - but any choice Hoiberg comes back? It isn't like Nebraska has dominated and its home for Fred and seems like the timing would make sense from ISU perspective? What actually happened to Iowa State this year? Was it injuries or just a massive talent issue (i.e., they lost ability to recruit)? Its okay - Iowa will lose to Grand Canyon and be one and done.

Roy Robertson Harris getting 14M guaranteed from the Jags. This should be worth a 5th round comp pick next year (depending on whether the Bears sign someone that cancels this out).

I've long said I think Watson is a more likely target and the Watson market may not be as big as we think. I don't think the Dolphins are going to be as aggressive as we might think - because I think their GM's are like - hey - we have all these picks - we can take multiple swings and be even better than getting Watson. Plus - I think with Watson not moving for a while - it probably will push down prices to some extent anyway. But I also don't know that the Bears can wait that long - unless they play the game and literally don't blink. It will be interesting to see what happens with Winston / start of NFL free agency. Things are going to move fast - so I could see momentum moving towards a deal with Wilson - as I presume Bears would want to know what is going on before jumping into free agency. It also means if they like Winston - they would need to know and pivot pretty quick there as well. Now if the Bears options are really - move up and draft a QB or trade for a QB - that is a different boat - as it allows the front office more time on the decision making front. Note: Well - I hadn't saw the Taysom Hill news - I presume that puts Winston at play. The question here is - what does it say about Winston that Payton bet on the other horse?

Would be nice if someone other than Lavine or Lauri showed up yesterday. This schedule coming off all star break is brutal and the one easy win should have been the first game where they got smashed by a Philly team with no Embid or Simmons.

It is funny you say that - last week I have been hearing everyone ripping Eagles for giving away Wentz and just roaring about what a sweet deal it was for Colts. I still am bummed they didn’t pull that move off. Seemed like such a slam dunk - minimal risk - real upside - and if it doesn’t work out a pretty quick out. Wilson is obviously a way better and more proven qb though. Really hoping they can land him but I assume this drags into April (much closer to the draft).

I read that somewhere. I know basketball has its rules around back to back 1st round picks and the like. Don’t know football as well but I read it at some point. There also have never really been a trade I can ever think of that is more than that either...but maybe I’m missing something.

I think the most they can trade is 3. I might be wrong but think that is all they can do.

Is it really not until May 1st? I’ve been holding out a ton of hope that somehow by end of this month or first few weeks in April. Delusional - yea - but damn it I want my shot.

There is no reason for them not to do these deals. This things are status quo in nfl. They get a few hundred grand to go through exercise and get to play with better players. Literally no downside fo Fuller or Hicks.

I don’t get the sense Seattle is going down that path. They seem pretty open to maybe making the move. Feels like Pete carrol might be okay with rolling with another qb. With Houston - I say yes, but the real pressure is going to be draft day. That is going to be the best price they ever get - after that his value will decline (at least a bit) - because whatever picks you acquire will have less certainty.

By the way - below is the article (no idea if this is accurate) - but Bmags - I think at very least - you'll get goosebumps reading this. Same with Kyle. Bear with the links - long story short - the franchise has a heck of a lot of reasonable levers to pull without totally gutting the team while creating a massive amount of cap space. https://beargoggleson.com/2021/03/10/chicago-bears-salary-2021-cap-situation-fix/

The beauty is - if they wait until June 1 to trade Watson - it works in Bears favor - because at that point - Miami isn't dangling a top 5 pick. Everyone's picks look a heck of a lot more comparable in the packages. With Wilson - I think the same might be there - but if I'm Seattle - I want to make my moves now, not wait a year - so why wait if you are going to move - even if it means taking the cap hit on Wilson - you are at least starting your "swings".

I saw a good article out there that the Bears could get all the way down to $60M under the cap relatively easily (pre Wilson) and than from there you add Wilson and restructure and you could actually have a TON of cap space. They have a lot more flexibility in terms of resttructuring and kicking bonuses out...and before people go...well you'll have to pay for that later...sure you will...but the cap will also jump so if there was ever a year to create capacity this would be a great year - cause there will likely be a much deeper pool of available players to sign (+) and with the smaller pool of teams with cap space - we'll likely see a more favorable buyers market (+). Things are not near as dire as people make-up in terms of Pace's inability to make moves. Like the Bears could legitimately be in a positino where they have Wilson + $30M of cap space (if not $40M).

Its crazy to be at that point - cause I still think the Seahawks have real big reasons for why they wouldn't make a move now and would instead wait.