***Chicago Bears Thread*** Ben Johnson hired. The Resurrection Begins! (10 Viewers)

[InDitkaWeTrust]

I think a lot of Bears fans need to remember that this won't be a 1 year rebuild. It's gonna take 2-3 years to really change the composition of this team for the better. Yes, we have tons of cap room but we don't need to frivolously spend it. Personally, I've been pretty pleased with the method Poles is using to rebuild this team.

 

[flapgreen]

Ekeler allowed to seek a trade. I'd freaking love this guy!

 

[Chreesto]

I'm still scratching my head about tremaine edmunds. He is getting nearly twice as much as the next-highest-paid, off-ball linebacker. I get that he may be more of a stylistic fit for eberflus but, if we wanted to pay this position top money, I think it would be better spent on someone (Roquan) who has all-pro ability. I don't really see edmunds getting there. I would LOVE to be wrong about this but it doesn't seem smart to me. Given the contract that Jakobi Myers just got, I would much rather have gotten him (his advanced metrics suggest he is undervalued) and another value-priced ILB than edmumds.

 

[Max Power]

I'm happy to give Edmonds a chance to be the guy. He's only 24 and was one of the top coverage LBs in football last year.

 

[Chreesto]

I'm happy to give Edmonds a chance to be the guy. He's only 24 and was one of the top coverage LBs in football last year.

I do like that he is young, and I am hopeful. I see red flags though:
1) Last year was his best year - could it have been an anomaly?
2) PFF rates him lower than TJ Edwards but he is 2-3x more expensive
3) This is not a position of emphasis for most NFL teams, based on the style of today's game
4) He was the 16th pick in the draft and has outstanding physical traits - I think that sometimes those players are carried by the belief that they MUST be good, rather than how they haver performed
5) He has to improve his play on a team that is worse in order for his contract to make any sense

I have been squinting pretty hard to see how this makes sense, and I am open to some sort of revelation here. I would have preferred, however, many different ways to spend that money. How about using it (and then some more) for Orlando Brown?

Nobody will be more excited for the season to start than me. Overall I think Poles is doing a very solid job, but I am keeping score. In my accounting there are several good moves and then, on the other side of the ledger, some questionable moves. Letting Roquan leave, trading for Claypool, and now this Edmunds signing. I very much hope that I am wrong and that all three moves end up being wise. I was 8 years old when I watched the 85 Bears win it all, I assumed that it was the first of many Super Bowl victories..........I'm now hoping to see just one more in my lifetime.

 

[Deranged Hermit]

I'm happy to give Edmonds a chance to be the guy. He's only 24 and was one of the top coverage LBs in football last year.

I do like that he is young, and I am hopeful. I see red flags though:
1) Last year was his best year - could it have been an anomaly?
2) PFF rates him lower than TJ Edwards but he is 2-3x more expensive
3) This is not a position of emphasis for most NFL teams, based on the style of today's game
4) He was the 16th pick in the draft and has outstanding physical traits - I think that sometimes those players are carried by the belief that they MUST be good, rather than how they haver performed
5) He has to improve his play on a team that is worse in order for his contract to make any sense

I have been squinting pretty hard to see how this makes sense, and I am open to some sort of revelation here. I would have preferred, however, many different ways to spend that money. How about using it (and then some more) for Orlando Brown?

Nobody will be more excited for the season to start than me. Overall I think Poles is doing a very solid job, but I am keeping score. In my accounting there are several good moves and then, on the other side of the ledger, some questionable moves. Letting Roquan leave, trading for Claypool, and now this Edmunds signing. I very much hope that I am wrong and that all three moves end up being wise. I was 8 years old when I watched the 85 Bears win it all, I assumed that it was the first of many Super Bowl victories..........I'm now hoping to see just one more in my lifetime.

I keep hearing Roquan's name. He wasn't coming back. They were right to get something for him. Claypool, however, I agree with you . I never liked him and wish they would have let GB get him.
As for FA, I am a bit disappointed so far. I really wanted to get one of the big name offensive linemen but that didn't happen. I know this rebuild isn't going to happen overnight, but mistakes are definitely being made imo.

 

[Sunday Gravy]

Ekeler allowed to seek a trade. I'd freaking love this guy!

Now that's a second rounder I'd be happy to give up. I'm still sick over that Claypool trade.

 

[Max Power]

Day 2 =

Both Poles and Eberflus went to Northwestern's Pro Day today. I'm hoping it was because it's so close, but who knows...

 

[travdogg]

Day 2 =

Both Poles and Eberflus went to Northwestern's Pro Day today. I'm hoping it was because it's so close, but who knows...

I'd be thrilled to get Adeboware in round 2.

Side note: Am I the only one who thinks Herbert should just be the starting RB? Like, he led the NFL in YPC among RBs last year.

 

[flapgreen]

Ekeler allowed to seek a trade. I'd freaking love this guy!

Now that's a second rounder I'd be happy to give up. I'm still sick over that Claypool trade.

Orlando still available. If he goes somewhere else, the Bears are almost definitely taking a RT in round 1. Sadly, they've barely addressed the DL as well.

 

[flapgreen]

No idea wtf Poles is doing. The Bears have to spend quite a bit more and will have a lot of space next year as well.

 

[3nOut]

Montgomery to Lions. Wouldn’t mind seeing Kareem Hunt here in Chicago now.

 

[Max Power]

quiet day.

G Will Hernandez resigned with ARI
T McGary resigned with ATL

Panthers signed Andy Dalton and meeting with Thielen Tomorrow. They could be a tad more respectable in 2023 than I first thought.

 

[IHEARTFF]

Bring back D Montgomery and draft defense and o line and you might have a little something

Montgomery shouldn’t cost a lot to bring back, judging from the franchise tags.

Yeah something like 2/12 or so should it.

3/18 11 g from Detroit. Can't like him going to a rival like that. Should have retained him imo.

 

[Max Power]

Montgomery to Lions. Wouldn’t mind seeing Kareem Hunt here in Chicago now.

Big mad if this is true. What were the contract details?

I'm ok letting Monty go, but not Detroit...

 

[Max Power]

Bring back D Montgomery and draft defense and o line and you might have a little something

Montgomery shouldn’t cost a lot to bring back, judging from the franchise tags.

Yeah something like 2/12 or so should it.

3/18 11 g from Detroit. Can't like him going to a rival like that. Should have retained him imo.

agreed. 6 a year was fair. I was hoping he'd stay with Chicago for a slight discount from that, but I would have paid that price.

 

[Sunday Gravy]

Montgomery to Lions. Wouldn’t mind seeing Kareem Hunt here in Chicago now.

I hate this. I love what Montgomery has brought. He's going to a playoff team most likely now. He was a great leader and busted his ***.

 

[Max Power]

That Monty News feels like gut punch after a long day of doing nothing... Still time, but I'm getting nervous now. Now we either needs to sign a RB1/2 or draft one in the first 4-5 picks.

 

[travdogg]

Montgomery to Lions. Wouldn’t mind seeing Kareem Hunt here in Chicago now.

Big mad if this is true. What were the contract details?

I'm ok letting Monty go, but not Detroit...

Man, I'm on the other side of this one too. I don't see anything wrong with letting Montgomery walk. He's a decent RB, but he's not a playmaker, and honestly, Khalil Herbert is better and on a day 3 rookie deal.

I don't see anything wrong with him going to Detroit either. Is he better than Jamaal Williams who is now almost certainly gone? I see it as the Lions spending more money on a similar player, and one who has been less durable than Williams.

I'll admit I'm underwhelmed in spots with the Bears in FA so far. I liked the Edwards and Davis signings, and I think they overpaid for Edmonds. The trade down was nice, so I'd say it's a minor quibble. I would like to see more on the DL, but I'm getting the impression they've identified that as where they are attacking early in the draft. Likely Tyree Wilson or Lukas Van Ness. Might even spend 2/3 picks in the 1st rounds on the DL.

Personally, I think spending on RB, especially for a non-elite one, would be a mistake, so I'd have no interest in Hunt either, and based on how he looked last season, he's not better than Herbert either.

If the Bears want another RB (besides Homer who was probably more of a special teams signing) its a deep draft. Can grab a Tyjae Spears or someone in round 4 or so and be fine.

 

[Sunday Gravy]

The #Bears are adding backup RB and special teamer Travis Homer, formerly of the #Seahawks, on a 2-year deal, source said.

 

[Max Power]

I like Khalil Herbert as the second part of a two back committee. I don't like him as the guy with only unproven players behind him. He doesn't have a 200+ carry season track record to fall back on.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

I like Khalil Herbert as the second part of a two back committee. I don't like him as the guy with only unproven players behind him. He doesn't have a 200+ carry season track record to fall back on.

I expect they’ll sign a FA or draft a guy. This is a team with a lot of needs and there are a bunch of RB out there.

 

[Max Power]

Montgomery to Lions. Wouldn’t mind seeing Kareem Hunt here in Chicago now.

Big mad if this is true. What were the contract details?

I'm ok letting Monty go, but not Detroit...

Man, I'm on the other side of this one too. I don't see anything wrong with letting Montgomery walk. He's a decent RB, but he's not a playmaker, and honestly, Khalil Herbert is better and on a day 3 rookie deal.

I don't see anything wrong with him going to Detroit either. Is he better than Jamaal Williams who is now almost certainly gone? I see it as the Lions spending more money on a similar player, and one who has been less durable than Williams.

I'll admit I'm underwhelmed in spots with the Bears in FA so far. I liked the Edwards and Davis signings, and I think they overpaid for Edmonds. The trade down was nice, so I'd say it's a minor quibble. I would like to see more on the DL, but I'm getting the impression they've identified that as where they are attacking early in the draft. Likely Tyree Wilson or Lukas Van Ness. Might even spend 2/3 picks in the 1st rounds on the DL.

Personally, I think spending on RB, especially for a non-elite one, would be a mistake, so I'd have no interest in Hunt either, and based on how he looked last season, he's not better than Herbert either.

If the Bears want another RB (besides Homer who was probably more of a special teams signing) its a deep draft. Can grab a Tyjae Spears or someone in round 4 or so and be fine.

I think Monty is twice the player Jamaal is. Monty has played on some bad teams with subpar OLs where he was the focal point and still pulled his own weight. Jamaal makes the most of his situations, but teams don't gameplan for the guy. I see this as a nice upgrade for Detroit.

I don't know what Chicago does now, but adding a middle rd RB to a RB room of Herbert, Homer and Ebner is depressing.

 

[Max Power]

I like Khalil Herbert as the second part of a two back committee. I don't like him as the guy with only unproven players behind him. He doesn't have a 200+ carry season track record to fall back on.

I expect they’ll sign a FA or draft a guy. This is a team with a lot of needs and there are a bunch of RB out there.

FA list is drying up. Sanders and maybe Hunt/Harris are the only quality RBs left. Everyone else is a clear backup.

Maybe I could get excited for a James Robinson

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

FA list is drying up. Sanders and maybe Hunt/Harris are the only quality RBs left. Everyone else is a clear backup.

Alexander Mattison is arguably the best FA RB left.

I’m very much hoping that MIN deals Cook and re-signs AM though.

Glaring omission.

 

[Max Power]

FA list is drying up. Sanders and maybe Hunt/Harris are the only quality RBs left. Everyone else is a clear backup.

Alexander Mattison is arguably the best FA RB left.

I’m very much hoping that MIN deals Cook and re-signs AM though.

Glaring omission.

I don't see Mattison as an option really. If Monty wasn't "good enough" to bring back, Mattison is clearly a tier below him.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

I don't see Mattison as an option really. If Monty wasn't "good enough" to bring back, Mattison is clearly a tier below him.

We can agree to disagree on that - I watched enough Mattison to be impressed. And maybe he’s a lot cheaper than the 11M guaranteed Monty got.

 

[travdogg]

I think Damien Harris is/was the best RB in FA.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

I think Damien Harris is/was the best RB in FA.

I don’t at all. Get back behind your couch and wallow in your wrongness.

lol - kidding. He’s ok. I’ve never been very impressed with him, but that might just be because I’ve watched a lot of R.S. In direct comparison.

 

[travdogg]

I think Damien Harris is/was the best RB in FA.

I don’t at all. Get back behind your couch and wallow in your wrongness.

lol - kidding. He’s ok. I’ve never been very impressed with him, but that might just be because I’ve watched a lot of R.S. In direct comparison.

I think Harris is a top-20 RB talent. Stevenson is a top-10. Ala Jones/Dillon.

 

[candian fantasy guy]

I loved Monty’s days as a Bear, but I’m very cool with more touches for Hebert and a rookie. We are a rebuilding team that will only be in shape by the end of Monty’s career. Not as big of a loss as some are saying here.

 

[IHEARTFF]

Damien Harris would be a perfect cheap FA pickup. Mattison would work. A draft pick would work. I dont think Herbert is getting 300 touches. He might be 1A depending on what the Bears choose.

 

[Max Power]

Damien Harris would be a perfect cheap FA pickup. Mattison would work. A draft pick would work. I dont think Herbert is getting 300 touches. He might be 1A depending on what the Bears choose.

My concern is that Herbert excelled getting 125-150 touches a year. He carried the load for a handful of NFL games, but I'm skeptical he's the guy for a full season. I'd feel better about him in the 1B role.

Reading more on Homer he is a solid 3rd down back. Great pass blocker and he can catch. Not a wow signing, but makes sense.

 

[Max Power]

Rumor is Orlando Brown remains unsigned because he wants Franchise LT money. The teams interested are offering Franchise RT money.

If that doesn't scream Bears, I don't know what does.

 

[IHEARTFF]

Rumor is Orlando Brown remains unsigned because he wants Franchise LT money. The teams interested are offering Franchise RT money.

If that doesn't scream Bears, I don't know what does.

He’s theirs for the taking I would think if they want him

 

[Max Power]

Rumor is Orlando Brown remains unsigned because he wants Franchise LT money. The teams interested are offering Franchise RT money.

If that doesn't scream Bears, I don't know what does.

He’s theirs for the taking I would think if they want him

I was willing to take McGary or McGlinchy, but now that it looks like we're going with a full RBBC, I think Brown ices this off-season.

It's hard to justify not offering a contract. If Brown is being unreasonable that is another story.

 

[Max Power]

Panthers aren't going full rebuild. Signed Dalton, Miles Sanders, Hurst and in talks with Thielen. That could be a decent offense.

 

[Ack88]

I like Khalil Herbert as the second part of a two back committee. I don't like him as the guy with only unproven players behind him. He doesn't have a 200+ carry season track record to fall back on.

I expect they’ll sign a FA or draft a guy. This is a team with a lot of needs and there are a bunch of RB out there.

Take Bijan Robinson at 9, come back with an interior lineman at 61. Putting Bijan with Fields, Moore, Mooney, and Kmet is a massive upgrade.

Bijan will be worth it.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

I like Khalil Herbert as the second part of a two back committee. I don't like him as the guy with only unproven players behind him. He doesn't have a 200+ carry season track record to fall back on.

I expect they’ll sign a FA or draft a guy. This is a team with a lot of needs and there are a bunch of RB out there.

Take Bijan Robinson at 9, come back with an interior lineman at 61. Putting Bijan with Fields, Moore, Mooney, and Kmet is a massive upgrade.

Bijan will be worth it.

While I agree Bijan would be worth it, I cannot condone this move. IMO they have bigger needs than RB. They could pick up McKissic for pennies on the dollar, and would presumably be ok with a Herbert/McKissic committee. Or any one of a dozen other receiving backs available.

I just can't see taking a RB top 10 with premium Edge, OT, or CB on the board.

And I am taking Bijan in both dynasty leagues - I think he'd be a monster in CHI with Fields threat to run. I just can't see it happening, nor do I think it would be wise.

 

[3nOut]

So aside from taking an RB in the draft, what are the Bears remaining options in Free Agency? Who should they target? Here are the top available age 27 and under.

• Zeke Eliott
• Karem Hunt
• Damien Harris
• D'Onta Foreman
• Devin Singletary
• Austin Ekeler (trade)

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

So aside from taking an RB in the draft, what are the Bears remaining options in Free Agency? Who should they target? Here are the top available age 27 and under.

• Zeke Eliott
• Karem Hunt
• Damien Harris
• D'Onta Foreman
• Devin Singletary
• Austin Ekeler (trade)

Dalvin Cook is 27, but trading in the division seems unlikely.

Though i’m sure the Vikings would love to unload a big contract & injury prone player on a division rival.

Won’t happen.

 

[Deranged Hermit]

Well, no Orlando Brown. So much for the great off season we were hoping for. I guess the only thing left to do is wait to see how they screw up the draft.

 

[Max Power]

So aside from taking an RB in the draft, what are the Bears remaining options in Free Agency? Who should they target? Here are the top available age 27 and under.

• Zeke Eliott
• Karem Hunt
• Damien Harris
• D'Onta Foreman
• Devin Singletary
• Austin Ekeler (trade)

Please no Zeke.
I don't want Hunt, but he makes some sense.
Harris might be a good fit at the right price.
Foreman and Singletary are backups who I think middle round Draft picks are comparable to.

Ekeler would be interesting depending on the compensation angle. I assume he wants a new contract along with having to send a pick to LA? For a RB turning 28 before the season starts this just seems like too much to give up for a team not in win now mode.

At this rate I think the Bears have to spend one of their first 5 picks on a RB.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

At this rate I think the Bears have to spend one of their first 5 picks on a RB.

Harris would be a much wiser investment, IMO.

 

[travdogg]

So aside from taking an RB in the draft, what are the Bears remaining options in Free Agency? Who should they target? Here are the top available age 27 and under.

• Zeke Eliott
• Karem Hunt
• Damien Harris
• D'Onta Foreman
• Devin Singletary
• Austin Ekeler (trade)

Would love Harris, and I think he makes the most sense as a 1/2 punch with Herbert as he has a different game. Foreman to a lesser extent as well.

Ekeler would be a bad use of resources assuming it'd cost a huge contract and likely a 2nd.

Singletary is an undervalued RB I think, but his game is pretty similar to Herbert's.

I want no part of Hunt or especially Zeke. Hell, I'd take Fournette over Zeke.

Browns didn't tender D'Ernest Johnson, he looked solid for a stretch, and would be cheaper than any of these guys if you wanna dig deep.

There are 8 RBs in this draft that I think are at least 100+ touch good as rookies. At least a couple will be there at the top of round 4.

 

[flapgreen]

Bears positioned perfectly with all the cap in the world and still manage to **** it up and not improve either line. An organization of **** ups until the very end.

 

[fatness]

Don't they need help on both the offensive and defensive lines?

 

[Anarchy99]

I like Khalil Herbert as the second part of a two back committee. I don't like him as the guy with only unproven players behind him. He doesn't have a 200+ carry season track record to fall back on.

I expect they’ll sign a FA or draft a guy. This is a team with a lot of needs and there are a bunch of RB out there.

Take Bijan Robinson at 9, come back with an interior lineman at 61. Putting Bijan with Fields, Moore, Mooney, and Kmet is a massive upgrade.

Bijan will be worth it.

Taking a RB in the first round is questionable (and in this day and age probably not advisable), but taking one in the Top 10 doesn't make a lot of sense. You have to essentially draft a lock HOFer. Here were all the RB selected in the Top 10 in the past 20 years. I listed the number of seasons with 1500 YFS and 10 TD.

Saquon Barkley 2 / 2
Leonard Fournette 1 / 2
Christian McCaffrey 3 / 3
Ezekiel Elliott 3 / 4
Todd Gurley 2 / 4
Trent Richardson 0 / 1
C.J. Spiller 1 / 0
Darren McFadden 1 / 1
Adrian Peterson 6 / 8
Reggie Bush 1 / 0
Ronnie Brown 0 / 1
Cedric Benson 0 / 0
Cadillac Williams 0 / 0

Not a lot of home runs, and a few guys that had a few strong years. But for many of them, their shelf life as an impact player didn't last very long. I count 8 guys that really didn't seem worth it. ADP was a gem, but would 5 good years out of Gurley or Zeke be considered a win for where they were selected? Too soon to tell about Barkley and McCaffrey. They are trending as top producers, but how many times have we seen RB hit a wall and turn average (or worse) overnight?

IMO, a top OT would help way more than a RB. That tackle could also help make an average runner an above average runner. The tackle could easily play twice as long as the RB, so IMO, CHI taking a OLman seems like a better strategy.

 

[rockaction]

CHI taking a OLman seems like a better strategy.

Agree heartily. It all starts with the line. Running backs are dependent upon and really a function of the guys up front.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

CHI taking a OLman seems like a better strategy.

Agree heartily. It all starts with the line. Running backs are dependent upon and really a function of the guys up front.

See: Emmett Smith

Massive OL. HOF career. Not saying Smith wasn’t a great RB, but his OL sure did him a lot of good.