Bearstalk

I don’t necessarily agree with all these takes, but they do make some sense so given the Bears needs there I thought I’d pass them along. https://jonledyard.substack.com/p/2023-nfl-draft-edge-defender-rankings

For my entire life the Chicago Bears have been portrayed as blue collar, hard nosed, black and blue, great defense and great running game. It hasn't worked for over 30 years! Time fix it, once and for all. We have a chance to create the greatest offense we have ever had. It all begins with my tag line from the old site, "IT ALL STARTS UP FRONT". It's time! We have an opportunity to draft the final two pieces to an OL that has been neglected for decades. Those are decades of not developing a QB or winning a Superbowl. I'm not saying who Poles should draft, he has multiple options at RT and C. All I am asking is to get it done and do it with certainty. Other t…

Decent production for 568 defensive snaps: 3.5 sacks, 20 QB Pressures, and 5 TFL. He played the Bears in 2022, had 0.5 sacks, 7 total tackles, and 2 QB Hits against Fields. This seems like a upgraded rotational piece over the likes of Muhammad/Blackson.

Similar to previous years, a team could draft pretty much all Alabama players and it would be good draft. Trade Back 1.XX - Brian Branch, S 2.22 - Jaymyr Gibbs, RB 2.XX - Tyler Steen, OT 2.30 - Eli Ricks, CB 3.1 - Henry To'oTo'o, LB 4.1 - Byron Young, DL 5.1 - Emil Ekiyor Jr., G 5.XX - Cameron Latu, TE I can't say I'd be entirely upset by that. Normally, the position sequence isn't my favorite, but grabbing all Bama players would be awesome.

There's a lot of smoke these days around the draft including some potential trades. At the top of my list is the spectacle in NE where Belichick is reportedly shopping Mac Jones. I'm so old I can remember when the media loved Jones and how he was the better pick over the other QBs. What this could mean for the draft I'm not sure and I have no clue what kind of value Jones would garner. At this point it seems clear we'll see 3 QBs go in the top 5: Stroud, Young, and Richardson. Levis is the wildcard but will he drop out of the top 10 or does Tenn come up and grab him at 9? What exactly is Belichick plan at QB? Hendon Hooker? Trade up to get Levis if he drops? …

According to "Swift Sports Network" the Bears will be designated as the away team in a matchup with KC in Germany. I haven't seen this confirmed anywhere else. If true, it would be a good trade off. I'd prefer playing KC on a neutral site than at Arrowhead. Found this: Report: Bears expected to play Chiefs in Germany in 2023

This guy makes you like being a Bears fan

Didn't see that coming. Guess we get another RB in the draft.

He releases his full list "The Beast" in the next week or so, but here is his top 100: https://theathletic.com/4307966/2023/03/29/nfl-draft-2023-prospect-rankings-board/ I really like his assessments. If you have access, each player has a write up. His top 10 is: Anderson, Young, Carter, Gonzalez, Stroud, Skoronski, Robinson, Wilson, Witherspoon, and Van Ness. Obviously that won't be the draft, order, so the Bears will have an opportunity to get one of those guys at #9 (or someone outside of the top 10). In his top 50, there are 10 Edge, 7 WR, 7 CB, 5 OT, 4 TE, 4 QB, 4 DT, 3 OG, 2 LB, 2 RB, 1 OC, 1 S So the Bears can easily get a top 50 playe…

Swift Sports Network put out a short video about Poles interest in Jake Witt. Seems he has been in touch with him for over a year, interviewed him, took him out to dinner, etc... Then I read an interview held with him on windycitygridiron.com. I suspect Poles will draft him with one of our 7th round picks or gamble and pick him up as a UFA. One way or another, don't be surprised if this kid doesn't wind up as a special project for Poles on our practice squad.

So what do we do with pick 9? Using taknathon for reference 1) Draft the best OT in the draft. Whoever they rate top player, grab Paris Johnson, Pete Skoroski, or Broderick Jones. 2) If Jalen Carter drops - take him? The interview we have with him will determine that decision. 3) Take a DL there? Byran Bresee, or Luke Van Ness. 4) Left field pick, Devon Witherspoon/ CB Option 1 9) Paris Johnson/OT 53) Tuli Tuipulotu/edge or 3T 61) Felix Anudike-Uzomah/edge 64) Keeanu Benton/DT Option 2 9) Jalen Carter/DT 53) Tuli Tuipulotu/ DT 61) Felix Anudike- Uzomah 64) Jaelyn Duncan/ OT Option 3 …

A big splash: The #Bears are signing star LB Tremaine Edmunds. — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2023

Hmmmm 2022 Rushing Stats: Montgomery 201-801 yds, 4.0 YPC, 5 TD Foreman 203-914 yds, 4.5 YPC, 5 TD Tonyan an upgrade over any of the Bears backup TEs last year. Foreman a huge upgrade over Evans.

Really interested in how people see the Bears’ CBs shaking out. Obviously help is needed but what kind of help kind of depends on how you see the current roster: Jaylon Johnson - His contract is up next year. Is he a #1 despite his lack of takeaways? Do you extend him this off-season? Kyler Gordon - He has a rough start last season but got better and definitely flashed. Is he an outside CB or do you leave him in the slot? If he’s a slot guy who is your #2? Kindle Vildor - Do you trust him? Seems like one of those guys who has done well relative to where he was drafted but you can’t really count on. Worth keeping absent better options but I’d like to have be…

I am not too worried as long as he puts up, but I bet this quote is planted in Claypool and Mooneys head. Any thoughts? Moore telling Adam Schefter about phone call with Justin. "It shocked him when I got traded," Moore said of Fields. "It was like 'Uh oh.' Let's go be QB1, receiver 1, and then we got [Darnell] Mooney and Chase [Claypool]. It's gonna be a good offense." it is nice seeing them all together building chemistry. Add Kmet and Tonyan to this group and this might be Chicago Bears best.

I'm sure it was a cheap signing for depth at LB and a good ST player. Still, good move. Roster Move: Bears sign LB Dylan Cole

So here is the current estimated available cap for teams with over $10M in effective cap space. These teams are really the only ones that could sign a player to a decent contract without other cap restructuring. If you consider you need $5M for rookie pool and $5-10M for operating money for the year, The Bears, Falcons, and Packers are really the only teams with room to sign players to a deal that is over $7M AAV. There are still several players left like that. The Bears could sign 2 of them and still have the most cap space. So Poles is not done yet.

Worth watching for insights on the plan.. https://www.chicagobears.com/video/ryan-poles-discusses-dj-moore-free-agent-signings-press-conference He holds to his valuations/performance as well as scheme fits (i.e. Orlando Brown) Ok to pay top dollar for young high performers (relative to their peers) who fit scheme and needs and that's why we signed the two LBs. Also explains backing out of negotiations for McGlinchey when price got too high. He is on a multi-year plan to build a sustainable winning organization. (translation - fans might be in more of a rush) Therefore avoid overpaying for the quick "need" fix. This will leave some gaps (i.e.…

With Rodgers leaving the Division and handing the franchise over to Jordan Love, it feels like the division is up for grabs. Detroit is a decent but needed to win 2 meaningless games to finish 9-8. They still have Goff at QB and with his cap hit over $30M again, they didn't get much better. They do have some decent picks from the Stafford trade, but for free agency, it seems like they are just replacing their losses and not really upgrading there. I figure they will be in the 7-9 win range again. In Minnesota, they are basically just replacing their free agent losses, and don't have many draft picks. Right now they only have 5 picks, no 2nd rounder, and only 2 p…

This is probably a big DUH! for some but I still found this article refreshing. When's the last time players were drawn to Chicago by our QUARTERBACK! Maybe a few players signed on to come play with Cutler, initially, but at the end of the day, that faded. And that was probably exclusively on the O side of the ball. This kid's dynamic play is apparently making Pole's job easier. Which is awesome! I don't think it's just his play on the field either, it's his quiet confidence and demeanor. I think we may have a lot to look forward to in the years to come! https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bears/justin-fields-attracting-free-agents-shows-qb-can-accelerate-…