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Dude, this is a discussion board. We are here to discuss football. I dont need to call Poles on the phone and try to get him to listen to me, thats insane. Why would he listen to any fan? But that doesnt mean we cant talk about stuff here, thats what this forum is for. Please cut that out?

I guess, but to me, Linderbaum is like another guard, the way he can get into the second level so quickly. I dunno if anyone watched his highlight tape, but he is something special for sure.

The thing for me is that I simply do not see a center as a game changing position. The fact we have some of the best OGs in the NFL next to a Center, and a really good RT too should mean we can get by with a good but not elite center. Dalman stretched that model last year with his huge contract but at the time we needed that gap closed and he was best available option. Now we know better what we have and we don’t have as much of a learning curve across the entire offense. (I watched Bear Down w/ Adam Mason and also Da German Bears reviews on centers earlier today) Despite that elite contract Dalman still had flaws and was exposed at times in pass protection, both 1v1 and on stunts where he completely whiffed on his block. Biadasz graded out similar to Dalman but he’s not as nimble and won’t be able to make those really wide reach blocks. Yet he’s still good at them and he’s got a better anchor in 1v1 pass pro which would be nice to have. He’s also really quick at picking up stunts. For $10mil/yr (if that is a realistic price tag) I don’t think we’ll see any dropoff in the offense although some things might look different based on his traits (because we have a coach who leverages talent and skillsets). If my luck holds out I might be able to use the left over cap space to bring in Trent Williams for a couple years. That’s a swing for the fences but I would do that and then just use my entire draft to go fix the D. Signing Trent also removes him from a key NFC opponent which only helps us more in the playoffs. If he hits the market, he will definitely be looking to go to a playoff team with a good QB and OC/HC. https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/trent-williams-great-news-bears-163912846.html

Love Linderbaum. Hate the price. He's looking for 25 mil per. With Thuney and Jackson making X, then paying Wright Y; the question of how much investment do you want in one unit comes to play. If Tyler gets his, we have to pay Wright 30. 90 million per for four OL would absolutely be new territory. I'm for signing someone useful and drafting a stud. It's the defenses' turn.

I think Poles will surprise us with who he brings in.

I would say better than Thuney because of his age. Go on Poles X account and present your argument,no one in this group has the power to change anything.. Your suggestion would be great be I don't see them doing that.

Nobody is disagreeing with you. The problem is money. Me and AZ are predicting what we think the bears will do, it's not disliking him .

There is always cap space to be created. When a player like this becomes available (and it's RARE!) then i think you do what you have to to make it happen. I think he will need a 4 year $80M deal. Dalman was getting $14M a year. This guy is worth $6M more. Now I am with you, we NEED to retool the defense. I wouldnt say sign this guy at the expense of the defense. I still think we will make a lot of moves on Defense. But to add $6M a year to our projected cap to have this guy replace Dalman seems right to me. There are ways to create as much as $80M in cap room for us this year. $65M seems more reasonable. But either way, there is room for Linderbaum, an expensive pass rusher, and more mid tier free agents as well. Dalman opens up $10M this year, and Edmunds another $15M. Trading DJ opens another $15M, that's $40M right there before you even start digging or restructuring. I think we should go get him. He's as good at center as Thuney is at guard.

Look at how dominant he is. He's able to get out to the second level (and beyond) and he does a great job of cleaning up errors when other players miss too. He's a freakin stud.

With all the help we need, paying a center 20+ mil doesn't seem doable. He would be a great addition but if we did, the draft is the only way we will add any help at DT, DE, S, LB, LT , and S. Some UFAs at minimum salaries aren't going to make us better. Several teams with a lot of Cap space also need centers. We can't compete in an auction.

I think if we wanted Biadesz, we would have signed him . He was in Hallas Hall. There are a few better options. Here's a video that goes over all the options. It doesn't matter if you agree with him but he did bring up resigning Bates who was our backup center last year. Dalman played every snap so obviously we didn't see him. Bates and draft a rookie center in the second or third? I don't think they will let a rookie center take control of the OL that early. Our OL coach will probably have a big input in who we get. Luke Fortner was the NO center last year. He was 18th ranked giving up 3 sacks but only 11 pressures. Dalman gave up 1 sack but 24 pressures. You could get Fortner for 3 or 4 mil. A year. McGovern is the next best center available but will probably cost 9-10 mil.

I know that paying $20M a year in cap space for a center wasnt on anyone's bingo card, and it's a lot, but Linderbaum is a truly excellent player, and you'd have Caleb's center sorted out for basically his whole career. Also, he's a hell of a run blocker, getting to the second level. Imagine how the run game would look on that right side. Freakin scary. So while I wouldnt genercially pay $20M a year for a center, to get one of the best in the game to call protections and keep Caleb clean and to be a major force in the running game would make Johnson's offense dominant. Play action would be twice as effective, and that's to say nothing of Thuney next to him on the left side too. I totally understand what AZ54 just said too - it's a reasonable and intelligent plan. I'm just saying Linderbaum is SO good, I think it's worth it.

For obvious reasons I never looked into Centers in this years draft but there is some very good depth there. If Linderbaum is going to get $20mil/yr we need to walk away from that. Biadasz has some injuries last year that impacted his play and they walked away from him at a relatively high price in dead money with little cap gain. Would we be better off snagging one of the mid-tier FAs and saving $5-10mil in cap space that we could use toward so many of our other needs, and then just drafting our future Center? "Washington saved just $2.9 million in salary cap space via the cut, while incurring an $8.1 million dead money hit in 2026"

I think their first choice came yesterday. Contract wise he fits. He was rated 11th for Centers, so not a great as Dalhman, but close. Have to see if he has the smarts to run BJ complex offense.

The first order of business right now is finding a FA Center to replace Dalman. Nothing is as important as protecting Caleb right up the middle as well as keeping the running game going. IMO the Bears will close on that deal first then sort out the remaining options.

I expect we can sign Tyler Baidatz for about 10 and do the contract to give relief in this years Cap. I think it's only for 2 years so it stays aligned with the other OL contracts. Connor McGovern has almost the same rating as Baidarz. Is the 6 th rated center in pass blocking and gave up no sacks. But we would have to wait until free agency starts to sign him. He is out of contract, wasn't cut

The Bears get 10 million in cap relief and can take back 2/3 of his signing bonus (4 million). We will find out what kind of balls Poles has. Is he team first or a nice guy that doesnt want to stir the waters. They can sign Tyler Biadaz for about the same money 3 yr 30 mil. Linderbaum will cost too much, estimated 4 yr 70 mil. Biadaz was in today, so if he fits scheme wise he is probably signed soon. Then we can become the badazz bears.

The Falcons are really putting a bad taste in my mouth. They get our assistant GM and the NFL doesn't honor their rule for compensation picks. Then a key FA signing retires after a great season on an ascending team that will take a significant fa signing to replace or a high draft pick. Or is it Poles? Letting his buddy get promoted knowing we wouldnt get picks and signing Dalman knowing he had retirement on his mind. Half or more of last years big FAs is turning out sour. Sorry, I hate getting news like this when you are opening the web for exciting news.

OK I figured it out. we owe $4M of dead cap, amortized signing bonus. But he had $9.5M in guaranteed salary coming. I guess that meant if he didnt retire, we'd have to pay that to cut him. But since he retired, it's not that way. I remember reading rumors last year that he wanted to retire from the Falcons, so maybe Poles convinced him to give it a try, make a little money, but structured the contract so we dont get killed if he retired. Very interesting, but yeah, we just cleared $10M on the cap. Cool.

Yeah, I am hearing experts say it opens up $10M on the cap. So that's the good news. I personally don't see how, because everything I read said the signing bonus accelerates to this year, or this year and next year if post June 1st, like a cut. But I will presume that I am missing something, because people are saying $10M, and Im very glad to be wrong.

It's highly unlikely we give up lots of draft capital for anybody. Poles wants to keep this going through the draft. 8 knee surgeries also worry me.

Aaron Lemning reported we get 10 mil in Cap space, 4 mil in dead money and was talking about the bonus being able to recover the 4 mil in 2027 over some condition. I didn't understand that point. Also seen where we were already talking to Tyler Biadasz the former Washington center who they cut this off-season at a 8.1 cap hit.

I presume retirement has to impact the cap in a different manner so they get flexibility cap wise - but creates a very different wrinkle.

Best I can do is DJ and Tremaine plus this years second round pick.

I respect his decision but I wonder what the cap ramifications are. I would hope the Bears get some of his signing bonus back. Peace