Bearstalk

We're starting to see some nearly final draft boards. There are some surprising changes or maybe wide variance in player grades from one to the next. Rotoworld has Chase Claypool list #26 overall! He was 4th Rd prospect 2 months ago. Josh Jones OT and a favorite of sorts on the board for our 43rd pick is listed #19 overall. Denzel Mims another 2-3rd prospect is #12 overall. Antonio Gibson RB/WR another oft mentioned 4th/5th Rd target for us is listed at #39. His production and lack of a formal position (meaning he couldn't win either job) moves him way down my board. https://www.rotoworld.com/article/nfl-draft-preview/norris-nfl-draft-rankings-top-50-0 …

This is how we want Tarik Cohen to run but he's at home happy with his 4ypc. I'm not saying we should draft Taylor because his pass protection isn't that good and he's undersized so his pass catching radius (like Cohen's) isn't the best but he's a tough runner who will get north/south very quickly and he's not afraid to knock a defender down. He runs a 4.61 forty at the combine but his film shows he's faster than that. With that slow time he'll definitely be available on Day 3 and possibly even UDFA.

Pace kicks us in the nuts yesterday and now makes us quit bad mouthing him.

Wow, shocked at this one. I didn't think he fit the mold they were looking for. A good pass catcher, but so-so blocker. Seems like an overpay after what Burton makes. $8M AAV for a soon to be 34 yr old TE? Hooper got $11M a year for 4 years. We save 3M but get a much older TE. Odd move for me.

This is it. Foles and Graham? That's the answer. We get an upgrade with Quinn over Floyd, a slight downgrade at rotational ILB, and probably CB and S. Our TE room is still weak and we have no RG and our OT's suck. Adding Foles did nothing to improve QB unless you consider him an upgrade over Daniel. I feel like this is it for Pace. He failed on every first-round pick outside of Smith and the jury is still out on him after that weird situation last year. I can see Smith being one of those players that retires young. White, Floyd, Trubisky, and Shaheen. Epic early draft failures. Then he gives up the remaining capital for Mack, which didn't win us anything. Now we are …

Lately I’ve been feeling stressed about our offensive line (Granted, as I work in education, I’ve had more time than usual to worry about frivolous things). One thing that made me feel better is that as per SportsMockery & Brad Biggs, Alex Bars may be the reason we have no upgraded our offensive line: https://sportsmockery.com/2020/03/belief-is-alex-bars-might-be-keeping-bears-from-signing-help-at-guard/ He’d have been drafted if he hadn’t injured his knee and the Patriots wanted to sign him to their active roster last season. Realistically, we were never going to move on from Massie or Leno. We were too happy with them after the 2018 season, we have to…

Holy crap: I will be shocked if this happens. This definitely means Floyd, Shaheen, and Braunecker are gone.

Surprised he just got another 1yr deal worth $4mil with $2.5 guaranteed. Back with his old HC too. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/cowboys/2020/03/19/dallas-cowboys-ha-ha-clinton-dix-sign-nfl-free-agency/2882362001/

Artie Burns, former 1st round pick, signs a one-year deal with Bears:

Completely fine with this move and would be comfortable with him starting, though I assume they give him some competition in the draft. He made some mistakes early in the year, but seemed better when he got reps near the end of the year.

Another former first rounder signed, mainly a St player but can play Edge too.

https://www.thephinsider.com/2020/3/23/21191720/phinsider-question-of-the-day-w-live-thread-general-discussion-03-23-2020 Just wasting time tonight and ran across this. Don't even know what to make of the posts. 70 of them just talking about replacing a switch on a garbage disposal. They all most go back years. I mean, there are so many ways to make a joke, but they also seem to be kinda all on the same page. I have just never seen a back and forth like that. A kinder gentler discourse. I assume they talk about football sometimes.

Ok, getting some Safeties back in play. Also, our special teams is going to be a huge strength this year.

per his wife lol:

https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2020/3/22/21189967/bears-free-agency-2020-jordan-lucas-agrees-contract-chiefs-safety-ryan-pace-deon-bush-matt-nagy

Pace is filling out the bottom of the roster. https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2020/3/21/21189114/chicago-bears-bring-back-isaiah-irving-free-agency-edge-khalil-mack-robert-quinn-outside-linebacker

Because it's funny..who is to blame for Brady leaving NE? https://twitter.com/i/status/1240483951258591232

Completely missed this news yesterday. Anyone know any details? https://twitter.com/FieldYates/status/1240451182209859584

Fishburn and Durkin in the athletic had some interesting ideas. They say to sign Keenum, 1 yr 5 mil Golden, 1 yr 6 mil Trade the 4th pick to ravens for Hayden Hurst (the idea that he is 3rd string in Baltimore). Was a first round pick and has big upside at 3 mil. Kevin Johnson/ CB 2 yr 7 mil ( played well at buffalo last year) Halapoulicaati Vaitai OT 3 yr 24 mil. Backup at philly that would play RG this year and take a OT spot in future. Anybody know much about Vaitai?