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The Bears won't be able to afford Edge, LT, DT, or CB in free agency once Caleb's contract extension hits. So the best way to offset that is to have as many players at the highest cap positions on rookie deals in 2029. So any player drafted this year after the 1st round would have one year before they would have to be resigned. I have to think that was considered. Basically every player in a high cap positional value position would be unlikely to get a 2nd contract unless they were a stud. However, lesser position guys like S, C, and TE could be resigned, because their average cap hit for that position is less. So it would make sense for the Bears to invest fully in Edge, DT, CB, and OT in the top 3 rounds of 2027, 2028, and 2029 to offset Caleb's incoming deal.

All concerns are valid, but truly think you are missing a valuable point with DJ. We obviously needed the cap relief. After that, we have three ultra talented weapons that are still NFL babies. The babies need fed. I can see all of them getting 30 extra targets apiece this year. Add in Walker developing as well. BJ wants to play 12 and 13 personnel more often, so getting the best blocking TE, who is a physical freak, is a bonus who can also be deployed as a weapon. Depth in the right place is also a great thing to have. Different folks see DJ in a different way. I liked the guy, but am somewhat relieved he's gone. I'm still concerned about the DL, more than DJ being gone. Our success and failure will be there, not offense...

if that WERE the case then what you do is bundle picks to move UP in the draft for a quality player at another position.

SOLD!! my problem is this: a first/second day pick, as in this case a third rounder, has to project as a starter or rotational front line player within a year or two. the first three rounds you should be getting premium players that will individually make your team better. these are NOT the rounds you want to draft long shots (as we have done since finks left) or positional players like kickers, punters, special team aces or third string players of ANY kind. fourth round and below is where you draft for those needs. remember trace armstrong? we traded a 10 sack DE for a 2nd round pick and proceeded to draft a F'ng punter in todd saurkraut. this is similar to what we did this off season with DJ Moore. all that said.... third string tight ends are not at a premium now or at any time in my memory of the NFL. to say this guy is going to be worth that pick is ridiculous. there are probably 10 TE's that could fill that role after june 1st. all this especially when we have a need for other position starters or at the very LEAST a 2nd string quality player. instead of moving down we should have been moving up. if there was no DT or DE there then we should have targeted a LB. if we had stayed where we were slotted, a quality RB would have been a better pick to fill out our number two spot and strive for our #1 starting position. if this is all on poles listening to our HC then someone needs to put a leash on johnson.

Poles mentioned trading up in the second for a DE and mentioned Zion Young that was going to cost to much . I think targeting specific edge rushers that fit what you want to do is difficult so they stick to their board and grab someone that can help in another area. I think they would have drafted Jacas but NE moved up. They read the board right because he would have been there. They didnt get him and took Jones which I think would have been the pick at 60. People complain to move up at any cost to get a need but then you dont fill other needs. Players like Howell, Thomas and Josephs didnt fit which thy wanted. Fans and pundits say draft anyways. Every pick had its purpose. The biggest complaint was taking Roush and Zavion Thomas. Those were BJ wants. I think maybe with other teams they might have been a luxury pick but with BJ they are weapons . I trust BJ. This is just another opinion but he overwhelming liked the draft.

Another point that BJ brought up on a press conference was that the new coaches needed to acclimate themselves to what BJ and DA wanted to do. That in the second year they will be able to execute the offense and defense better. Not any different from a player learning the system. Here is a podcast, I watch a lot of them , that explains the consensus and team boards. If you dont want to watch the whole podcast, the post by Bucky Brooks is at 5:00 minutes. He makes some good points.

Oddly our new OC was a high school sprinter. Easily replaces Dalman

If he Keeps Caleb upright and the offense scores more points than last year I’ll buy your swamp. 🙂

Im not sure Ben Johnson will let Poles trade top draftcapital for one. He could have had Jermaine Johnson for a 2nd round pick but Ben preferred to hold that pick and instead they sent a 6th for Tryon Shoyinka. Good thing since we now have a potential probowl center in a couple years. I think we will have to find one in FA or the draft.

Dude was limping and still outran everyone.

Im not really even sure if DDS is going to be any good. Im not even sure if the DE we needed wasnt gone before pick 25. I cant really complain about the specific picks, it's more like "somewhere in the process, we need an Edge Rusher" Maybe a trade, maybe in free agency, I dunno. But the plan seems to have left one out.

We can watch Dani Dennis-Suttons career vs Zavion Thomas and the Bears defense especially pass rush to see if they screwed up. I know the guy I wanted was DDS. Thats one problem giving the head coach the weight to sway who to pick. He gave DA the first pick, took the next 3 for O, and the rest to D. DAs 4 picks to BJs 3.

Im not anti Dennis Allen at all. I'm just saying if we cant bring a pass rush, his chair gets hot. And maybe thats not fair, but it's probably true. And I have read similar, ASHKUM, I know you're right. His scheme isn't necessarily the normal one. And yes he likes bigger Ends etc. Im just saying if our defense lacks a pass rush like it did last year, it's gonna be a problem. We'll see I guess. Not even saying that Booker and Turner cant ascend, it's just a heck of a bet.

To be fair, Dennis Allen hasn't received much help with injuries and now 2 drafts with minimal input. He went most of the season without his top two CBs, LBs, DEs, and Jarett missed time and Brisker tip toeing his way through the season. Historically, he never had that top DE, but creates a rush through blitzes. If they come in healthy, they will be more prepared to start off knowing the scheme instead of preparing guys they had to pick up to field a team. There should be an uptick in sacks that I see spread out and if one guy hits 12 thats good.

Yeah the players we did pick were all strong selections. Definitely building a roster thats fast, has production, character, committment and a nasty streak. That can only help us. But we do need a pass rush LOL

It is just starting to feel like Poles MO. Zig when the league is zagging.

true, or maybe had the board fallen a different way we'd have Jacas or something, and so his contingency in this case is something yet to come. So maybe he had the option but not the certainty that he'd do it? And it just may be as simple as they think Shemar Turner is a better prospect than any of the rookies available at pick 25 and below. But I hate it. I guess if youre on the fence about a trade for a Max Crobsy or a Myles Garrett, and you know what it will cost you, you might put that off until the trade deadline to see if we are winning enough to warrant it. I think that's the kind of move the trade deadline is for. But I hate it. We need something more at edge. Is it possible that Booker and Turner will ascend and be amazing? Of course. But the bet thats being made right now, is a big one, and if it doesnt pay off, then you left at team who is pretty stacked everywhere else without a pass rush. And if that happens, that might be the end of Dennis Allen too. And maybe that's a good thing, Johnson will have his pick of eager DC candidates, and a first round 2027 pick to spend on Edge for the new guy. That would all make strategic sense. But 2026 is here, and we should be making a run. I hope theres another shoe yet to drop.

oops I mean CANT fault. Ill go edit it

The Vanilla Gorilla? https://bearswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/bears/2026/04/27/bears-signed-six-top-undrafted-free-agents-caden-barnett/89820082007/

There are a few RBs I already like because I expected them to enter this past draft. I hope no earlier than round 3.

If Poles is cooking something, then that makes the draft make more sense because you don't want to lock in a roster spot (due to draft pick status) if you need the spot available for a move like this.

Yeah, I can't fault any of the picks or free agent moves we made, except that I think we need an Edge Rusher somewhere in there. Maybe a move is still coming.

From everything I have looked at, it appears to me Squirrel White, Jayden Loving and Caden Bennett have a chance to make the 53 man roster. Several others could land on the practice squad. This is area that Poles has had some success.

If the Bears get one more vet, like Cam Jordan or DaJuan Jones, I would be happy. Bosa would be a consolation prize, but I almost think run stopping is a bigger issue than the pass rush, but both are equally bad.