ASHKUM BEAR

Spent the evening and I layed out the Bears current roster with their contracts expiration dates to get a look at needs. As I see it now, if no major injury takes place, the Bears may sit on the remaining cap to lock up Alshon Jeffery. Depending how the season plays out, the Bears will have major needs in the following: Defense 3-4 DE - McDonald, Jenkins, and Ratliff contract expires. That will leave Furguson, Sutton, Washington, and Dunn NT- Depth will be needed behind Goldman CB-Fuller on one end, Jennings I see as a nickel leaves finding a long term man cover CB a big need S-Mundys contract expires, depth behind Vereen and Amos will be a need OLB is locked until 2019 if Houston, McPhee work out. Young behind them then depth becomes a need Offense TE- Bennett has 2 years remaining, a young threat needs to be considered soon. The rest are on one years or unknown. QB-Jay Cutler may do well will new leadership. If so, he is signed unti 2020 G-I think Long stays with hope Fabuluje develops. If so backups will be a need with Groy/Ducasse with 1yr left RB-Carey/Langford will be the stable, another committee man will be needed unless Forte gets another deal OT-Bushrod, Leno, Mills Fabuluje are here a couple more years but an upgrade is a need. C-Finding a capable back up a need also As for early draft projections, I see the Bears at 8-8 and picking 15th. If Cutler suceeds, the Bears go CB Kendal Fuller. TE round 2, 3-4 DE round 3. With plenty of cap space, they could go big on a need or two also.

Maybe that is why the Bears yanked Goldman and Fabio out of drills?

Hroniss Grasu is now signed, making the Chicago Bears the first team again to get all draft picks under contract. Grasu signed earlier Friday and will compete for the starting Center spot. Great to get this done, Grasu can start taking the reins as he did in Oregon in leading the oline. Kyle Long and Grasu will be a grueling dual for years in the run game. Both are agressive maulers. Great work Cliff Stein once again and great pick Pace.

I am thinking maybe the NFL owners or maybe the NFL made some type of agreement with the teams to not make the pick. Something fishy was up. Why would all 32 teams take this kids word that he wouldn't sign if he was drafted?

Do you think we had a chance with Collins? I would assume we pursued, but since he had choice maybe he seen Dallas as the best fit. Too bad they didn't use the 6th on him.

You are correct. Oregon has a different schedule. As many schools are doing finals this week, Oregons finals take place the second week of June. I dont think he will be signed until then, unless he can fly to Chicago on the weekend with his agent or if the Bears go to him. Sutton did miss a mandatory OTA which was excused by Trestman for a family "vacation" matters.

Exactly what I meant in my post. If we get them all signed, this rookie practice coming up will go smoother. If I recall, Will Sutton missed it for family vacation or something.

That wasn't the case until after the CBA. It may not be impressive, but more impressive than the other 31 teams that go on vacation. It also helps that the Bears have a rookie camp this coming weekend and having them signed allows them to participate.

Take it for granted, but this guy has kept the Bears out of cap hell for years. Whether it be getting draft picks signed before anyone else or allowing the gm to sign FAs, hes always left ways out. Stein is one if not the best in the business.

Hence he went 4th. I agree, Cooper would be a awesome but his talent dictated he went before our selection. We have to live with more growing pains....but a higher ceiling.

Not saying we don't need an upgrade at OT, but teams do not let quality O lineman go. I really don't think we find one in fa. Just curious, are we changing to a Zone blocking scheme? And if so, how do pro scouts evaluate our current roster. I think we have some guys that fit well in Grasu, Long, Leno, Ola, and by the sounds of athletic ability OT Fabuluje. This type of line is typically smaller but more athletic. If we stay big and go power, we also have those guys. Groy, Ducasse, Slaussen, Long. Etc Bushrod and Slaussen I am unsure of, they may be capable of ZBS.

Some players I never thought would go undrafted, especially players that were a Bears need that I checked out of and on in mocks. Anthony Harris S Cody Prewitt S Durrell Eskridge S Kurtis Drummond S Reece Dismukes C BJ Finney C

I wouldn't waste a 1st on him. You are talking about a RT/G NFL player. If we need a RT, I would place a 3rd RD pick on him at the most.

This D will take a couple of years to shape before I think they are considered good/great. We are counting on alot of unknowns. I think we also see a big turnover after the season with alot of money let go (Allen, Jennings etc) which will be put back into the offense with Jeffery and possibly Long ext. I almost forsee another heavy offensive draft next season if we go QB and OT which would be 1st/2nd rd picks. What we hope happens is some of the younger D guys Emery drafted take Fangios coaching better and actually perform. Regardless, just by getting rid of Tucker they should improve 10 spots higher as a d unit.

BC the center we signed was a backup most of last year and went in after injury. He did well, but is 32 and one a one year deal. Eventually you have to draft one to be your starter for years. The Bears can groom him a year if need to be. He needs to add some muscle, but has time to get it done. I thought it was a good pick to fill a need. He may be a starter this season if he gets to were he needs to be.

Seems like the local media don't like it too much. Saying we drafted to fix last years draft bc we too a DT, RB, S, and OT in the same slots as last year. I like the prospects and regardless of who we took last year we need the depth at those positions this year and especially for next year.

Then again, we signed 7 defensive FAs with maybe 5 starters. Drafted another starter in Goldman.

For once I agree. He is not big. Ran the fastest 40 time at combine for RBs. Hope he is the next Leveon Bell.

The drop of in money is not much from round 3 to round 4, the guy is getting terrible advice leaking this info. He might be B hurt that he didn't go round 1, but he was not a guaranteed 1st rd pick to begin with. Stop counting your chickens$ before the eggs hatch.

Heading up to draft town now. Excited to feel the atmosphere on a beautiful afternoon. My favorites: TJ Clemmings OT James Sample S Josh Shaw DB Le'al Collins if he cooperates? Ben Heeney LB

The part about this year is the Bears decided to tear down from the top and start over. We are lucky there are not more holes. Now it's about rebuilding for a couple years. Many guys do not fit and they are stuck with some guys. Next year they can dump alot of salary.

Still have a high 4th rounder for RT. One thing is the team has many unknowns on the line. Mills, Ola, Leno, Groy, Ducasse etc.

They reached some, but I think they went more with need here. Lots of oline going early. Some guys I figured that would 5th rd picks. Like the player though.

Biggs on twitter...

Tj Clemming? They interviewed him ?