11 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

The Bears had a chance to land that monster (Jalen Carter). They were on the clock with the No. 9 pick in the 2023 draft when they traded back one spot with the Eagles, who selected Carter out of Georgia. General manager Ryan Poles drafted right tackle Darnell Wright with the No. 10 pick. With the fourth-round pick in 2024 the Bears received in the trade, Poles drafted punter Tory Taylor.

The Bears didn’t want any part of Carter after a precipitous fall in his draft stock. Rated as the top player in the draft by ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Carter was involved in a fatal accident on Jan. 15, 2023, when a car he was alleged to be racing against crashed, killing a Georgia teammate and a football staffer. The next month, he left the NFL Scouting Combine early because he was being charged. He pleaded no-contest to misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing.

Because Carter left the combine, scouts took particular interest in his pro day. He showed up out of shape and couldn’t finish all the drills.

The Bears held the No. 1 pick and were in dire need of a defensive tackle after Poles had tried a year earlier to sign Larry Ogunjobi, only for him to fail his physical. Their trade with the Panthers moved the Bears down to the ninth pick, where Carter was still available. It didn’t matter. After the draft, Poles said he didn’t want to comment specifically about Carter, but he said, ‘‘Character’s always going to be important for us.’’ The Bears had enough questions about Carter’s to pass on his considerable skills.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2025/02/05/bears-super-bowl-jalen-carter-defensive-tackle-trade-not-draft-dominating-ryan-poles-nfl?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Sports 020625&utm_content=Sports 020625+CID_fe2c37786a4dee162baf969705bea83f&utm_source=cst_campaign_monitor&utm_term=READ STORY&tpcc=cst_cm

They made the wrong choice, but I do think there was some logic to it. I still understand the idea of not wanting to bring his “baggage” in, but that was also an inditement of the Bears having a shitty/bad locker room, not being able to support him. Also, if they totally wiffed on who they picked instead, it would be worse, but Wright has graded out and played very well for the Bears, and without him, literally they would have to replace all 5 players on the OL this offseason. 

I'd still pick Carter over Wright in a re-draft, but it's not like they took Velus Jones Jr. instead of Carter. 

28 minutes ago, Tony said:

They made the wrong choice, but I do think there was some logic to it. I still understand the idea of not wanting to bring his “baggage” in, but that was also an inditement of the Bears having a shitty/bad locker room, not being able to support him. Also, if they totally wiffed on who they picked instead, it would be worse, but Wright has graded out and played very well for the Bears, and without him, literally they would have to replace all 5 players on the OL this offseason. 

I'd still pick Carter over Wright in a re-draft, but it's not like they took Velus Jones Jr. instead of Carter. 

At that time, this dude could have ended up in jail as a real possibility.  I get the thought behind this non-pick for sure.  Yeah it didn't work out, but if this dude destroyed himself with the Bears, which was a real possibility, that would have been WAY worse.  8 other teams also passed on him.

Obviously shottenheimer sticks out, but shows what a great coaching cycle this was that even the team “left out” got the offensive playcaller for the Super Bowl champs (and 3x OC who is still young).

Not all will be good, they never are, but damn good group. And schottenheimer.

58 minutes ago, Tony said:

They made the wrong choice, but I do think there was some logic to it. I still understand the idea of not wanting to bring his “baggage” in, but that was also an inditement of the Bears having a shitty/bad locker room, not being able to support him. Also, if they totally wiffed on who they picked instead, it would be worse, but Wright has graded out and played very well for the Bears, and without him, literally they would have to replace all 5 players on the OL this offseason. 

I'd still pick Carter over Wright in a re-draft, but it's not like they took Velus Jones Jr. instead of Carter. 

I wonder if Wright can take a big step forward with more quality around him (or not).  I don't know the answer but if Wright can become a top 5 RT than it works out okay.  I also don't know what happens with Carter if he spent his first half of his rookie season on that team a year ago (in fairness). But Carter > Wright and a punter.  

1 hour ago, Chisoxfn said:

I wonder if Wright can take a big step forward with more quality around him (or not).  I don't know the answer but if Wright can become a top 5 RT than it works out okay.  I also don't know what happens with Carter if he spent his first half of his rookie season on that team a year ago (in fairness). But Carter > Wright and a punter.  

We don't know (and won't ever fully know) how bad the coaching was on the OL vs. talent, but there is no question Wright will grade out even better with more talent and stability around him. OL obviously works as a unit, everyone has to be doing the right thing for it to work as intended. 

But at the very least, Wright seems like a guy you can count on at RT for the next 6-8 years and it's not a hole you need to fill. He stays healthy and that position should be set for the decade, which is a very nice thing to have. 

Bears raising season ticket prices 10%. They definitely deserve more of my money. 

Edited February 19, 20251 yr by Marqhead

https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2025/2/19/24368970/topps-greatest-football-card-all-time-chicago-bears-green-bay-packers-suck-caleb-williams

 

Well that sucks.

f*** kc.

Booooo

Meanwhile, the Commanders are now right where we wished the Bears would be at this point in time.  Sad…

 

Edited March 2, 20251 yr by WhiteSox2023

https://www.milehighreport.com/2025/3/3/24376005/nfl-eliminates-chain-measurements-2025

No more bringing the chains in the field. 

 

Is he a center?  I thought he was a guard

16 minutes ago, Kyyle23 said:

Is he a center?  I thought he was a guard

He's played all 3 interior spots.  Good news is he knows the system and cannot be worse than what was on the field last year.  Bad news is the Bears had to give up a pick and pay $17.5 million to let the Rams out of their mistake.  The Bears should've been getting a pick and the Rams eating salary.

He's at his best as a left guard which I'm assuming that's where he'll be. Also he's signed for another year but if he sucks this season, Bears can easily cut him next year with a minimum dead cap hit. 

I hope the Bears get Dalman and Zeitler as well and still draft o-line with a few of their picks to groom those prospects for the future. 

He is way better than Bates. Johnson knows him and when he is healthy he is an above average guard. I think his cap hit is just under 10M. 

33 minutes ago, Chisoxfn said:

He is way better than Bates. Johnson knows him and when he is healthy he is an above average guard. I think his cap hit is just under 10M. 

It's actually $17.5 million for this year with no dead money next year. I guess for a one year deal, it's not a terrible bet. But I would have liked them to trade for someone who's been healthier than Jenkins.

5 hours ago, champagne030 said:

He's played all 3 interior spots.  Good news is he knows the system and cannot be worse than what was on the field last year.  Bad news is the Bears had to give up a pick and pay $17.5 million to let the Rams out of their mistake.  The Bears should've been getting a pick and the Rams eating salary.

Yeah, is it just me or does Poles leave a lot on the table in most of his trades? Outside of the Panthers trade, I feel like he's been on the losing end of pretty much every trade.

 

That was fast.

BJ and Poles must really like Ashton Jeanty

 

14 minutes ago, Quin said:

 

Pass.  Poles doesn’t seem to understand that the Chiefs aren’t going to trade you one of their OL unless he is soon to be on the decline.  32 years old.  Come on, Poles.  Enough with this makeshift OL bullshit.

Edited March 5, 20251 yr by WhiteSox2023

7 minutes ago, Quin said:

That was fast.

BJ and Poles must really like Ashton Jeanty

 

A 4th round pick for a 32 year old OL.  I’m sure this will work.  Yuck.

15 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

A 4th round pick for a 32 year old OL.  I’m sure this will work.  Yuck.

He was an All-Pro and Pro Bowler…in 2024. Lol

8 minutes ago, Tony said:

He was an All-Pro and Pro Bowler…in 2024. Lol

I know, but 32 years old already.  Shredded in the Super Bowl, albeit the Eagles.  The Chiefs are trading him to upgrade.  Poles is once again taking the short-term approach to building an OL.  On a one year deal and looking to be paid another big contract at age 33.

Edited March 5, 20251 yr by WhiteSox2023