Chisoxfn

The center they picked up isn't half bad. He isn't good, but he is definitely upgrade over what the Bears had last year.

I do think Renfrow is a solid get. Not sexy and I don't know why his numbers fell apart, but presuming he doesn't have any injury issues he just seems like a solid #3 / #4 wideout who would be a good safety net for a young QB.

This is true. Rome and MHJ have the work ethic I would love in a wideout and both seem like just great all around dudes. Nabers has athleticism that is just insane though - but off field issues. The one thing I worry about with Rome is - is he good enough of an athlete to be elite (not like his 40 or 3 cone was bad). MHJ is elite everywhere. Rome seems like a really good compliment though and than sign Samuel (and if you can draft another wideout in 4th or 5th - great do that too).

I presume they really wanted good vet catcher(s) around the young pitchers but also around the Sox young catching prospects. They also probably knew Stassi and Maldonado were on their last legs but had the attributes they wanted so they doubled down in that direction. Hopefully all of young Sox catching prospects are spending a lot of time with them around the defensive and mental aspects of the game and at same time - I hope our various pitchers benefit from the experience they bring. Probably overselling all of the above - but given how bad the stench from the outside was (and presumably even worse internally) - I can live with it, but I do agree with you - why everyone wrote off Lee vs. hey give him another few hundred AB's and lets see didn't make sense. I would imagine Lee will still get plenty of AB's (it isn't like it is that hard to replace the 2 catchers they have).

At this point - my lean is go offense, we have investments to make. I still like the idea of taking a LT to be completely honest and just get to the point where we have 2 1st round top 10 tackles and than draft 2 wideouts later. I kind of like Ridley cause he's flexible. Keenan Allen would have been perfect - solid bridge guy / good vet for a young wideout and keep adding. But maybe Michael Gallup gets dumped and Bears go bargain hunting for a Samuel and than also one of Renfrow / Gallup and than take a receiver early. I don't see that as all that awful and I don't think Tyler Scott is terrible (he's not great either - but I also believe our wideouts didn't benefit from Field(s) since he was much more of a one read type of QB).

Mack restructuring - he will stay in San Diego. Bears evidently signed a swing tackle from San Fran to a 1yr deal (he also was in Indy for a year when Eberflus was there). Matt Pryror. Know nothing else about him.

Mike Williams was released - so Chargers are now under the cap. They still have decisions to make cause I think there are some roster bonuses coming due here by 1PM, so either the other 3 will restructure or get traded, but I think Chargers probalby still want to create a bit more cap space. My guess is Bosa would be the odd man out like Williams, given both have had durability issues.

I do agree with you and think Armstread and maybe some of the upcoming cap casualties could all be in play. Bears are also meeting with the Vikings pass rusher (Forget his name - but he had like 7 sacks last year and is pretty young). Know nothing about him otherwise though.

They need 3 more wideouts, in my opinion. If they intend to take one at 9 - than I'm less concerned, but they still need another vet, even if it is more the Hunter Renfroe type. For whatever reason - I am guessing they move down at 9 - pick up some extra picks and than still add a defensive player and wideout (I think they might draft 2 wideouts - given strenght of the draft).

Yeah - I presume they are as low as $30M - but its NFL - so if they wanted to - I presume they could cap maneuver and probably create as much as another $10-$15M. On the other hand - maybe they are earmarkign some money to resign Jenkins (I believe he is extension eligible). My guess is they would wait and see given his injury issues though. So tough cause when healthy Jenkins is a MONSTER, but we don't get to see that very often.

Are you taking away $10M for draft picks? I think OTC and Spotrac don't have the Everett or Byrad signing in their numbers yet. Not sure why.

Bears sitting around 30-35M of cap space (setting aside $10M for draft picks) so that is their current position.

You can designate 2 guys as June 1st cuts and cut them now - which I presume is what they would do.

They are interesting. I presume they will eventually trade one or two of them and restructure, but for sure 2 of them are gone...potentially 3. I think Keenan Allen will stick around and Mack will get traded. My guess is Williams and Bosa get cut.

I kind of expect a similar season - slow start with building momentum and maybe they make a late run, maybe they don’t - but they should finish hopefully on an upward trajectory. I would guess most with challenges of a rookie qb - 7-9 wins, injuries could drive it lower - Caleb being like Stroud could make them a 10 win type of team. Again - I don’t see them winning 11 or 12 games (I would love to be wrong) and if they are I bet we see a Poles 2nd round trade special (hopefully in the Sweat fashion haha). I do think we see an even more aggressive play next offseason. I also think Poles has some tricks up his sleeve - at wideout and I bet another linemen or two.

I like getting Lorenzen as well. Shoot I’d be fine throwing a bunch of money on a 1yr deal to one of the last big arms out there - tell them we will manage their pitch count - they kick butt for us - than we move em to a contender so they can play in October and get a massive deal next year if all goes well (and we buy some prospects )

Now being cheap on oline and wideout when you need to develop Caleb that would be stupid - but they don’t need to blow it all on some stud defensive player just yet - they can still be patient. But I will be livid if they hand Caleb some crap wide receiver corps. Go sign Samuel or Ridley plus wait around and draft one and than either draft one more or sign one of the vets who is caught waiting longer than expected.

I don’t think you can state that. There have been very very few teams led by a rookie qb to ever make the playoffs. So no I don’t think not making the playoffs would be a failure. I think building a real offense and seeing real progress and lots of upside from Caleb and the offense will be important and continued growth in defense will also be key - but no this isn’t the year to put all your chips in just yet. Now I do think this is the type of team that if Caleb can get to that high level by year 2 than you are talking about getting to high high aspirations quickly. It has happened only 14 times and that counts Brock Purdy (who didn’t exactly lead the team all season) in NFL history. A few more are guys like Field Yates and Aaron Brooks who again got into playoffs but didn’t lead the team to playoffs. Stroud Big Ben Russel Wilson Shaun King (benefited from historically great defenses) Joe Flacco (some damn good defenses) Mark Sanchez (amazing how went to 2 AFC conference games before totally being a bust) Aaron Brooks (3-2 in regular season) Field Yates - I believe he relieved for an injured Matt Schaub) Above are recent examples.

The cap can be rolled forward.

It’s not like Bears are a Super Bowl team next year so in some ways patience is fine. Making a bad deal and blowing 25M in long term cap space can be a disaster. I do think Hunter should have been a no brainer - short term cap space usage for an elite player - even if he is a bit old. I wonder if they will be interested in Bosa or Mack if they get cut? Or heck maybe some creative trade of Fields to Chargers as a back up and somehow make a cap friendly play for Bosa and Mike Williams (I think Bears get a benefit if you trade for them).

Ok - I'm going to throw out my hypothetical go big or go home off-season. I have no idea if any of this even work's cap wise, but I should be clear - this is all around knowing we are going to have a QB on the cheap - so why not splurge in a few areas, knowing we have our full draft capital in future years (+ Panthers 2nd rounder and I'm ignoring Field(s) at this point - so his compensation is gravy). Draft Caleb Sign Hunter for $25-$30M AAV (but keep years manageable so you have flexibility on the back-end) Trade back from #9 to #18 + get Tee Higgins - Sign Higgins to a $25M per year AAV deal Trade back again from 18 to say 25 - draft best center/oline/dline at this point (but pick up a late 2nd / early 3rd rounder - I presume 3rd for moving back). Or if you like a dlinemen here - take one - maybe take a swing at the UCLA guy and accept the injury risk 3rd Round - Take Best Available Wideout or best available interior linemen (strong draft at both spots hence priortizing here) 3rd Round - Take best available of the other spot BPA rest of the way Probably stupid - but Dline is upgraded, we have offensive upgrades, plus are making investments in the oline. I also believe if you are going to spend big - spend in on really good players who are either very elite (see Hunter) or still in or buying into their prime (Higgins).

Bears sign Everett (TE from Chargers) to a 2yr 12M deal. He's been a pretty consistent 40-50 (400-500 yard) TE during his career. Fingers crossed - durability has been good - he's 29 though so aging in NFL terms. Pretty solid depth signing though.

Lets get Jones added and get this deal done.

Mooney signs 3yr 39M deal with the Falcons. Bears have a TON of needs in wide receiver room. I also think this is a reflection of what the league thinks of Field(s). I think they are saying - Mooney was open - the QB wasn't using him and finding him. Again - kind of like league is saying Getsy wasn't that bad since he got another gig.

I don't think so - but I suppose anything is possible. I would think if Bears were not really listening on Field(s) - there would have ended up being more reports leaking from other teams speculating whether Bears weren't as interested in Caleb as possible.