AZ54

One thing we never see is cash flow. Cutting a useless player like Dayo has cap implications of course but perhaps it frees up cash that can be put toward another player's bonus/salary this season and that's a win IMO. While I might be totally off my rocker on thinking that, I feel like that is a factor for organizations at times in terms of how free agency gets approached. That said I do not want to spend big on an aging player like Hendrickson. While I'd love having a DE that can fly around the edge, that is not Hendrickson by the way, interior pass rush is just much more effective. I also feel that Sweat and Booker are both good enough at compressing the pocket and then getting off blocks to catch a QB when he has to get away from inside pressure. The piece I don't know is what they think of Shemar Turner. He fits in that same category of a DE who can compress the pocket a bit and then get off the block to make a play...but he's not going to run around anyone. 4th on my depth chart: Joe Tryon-Shoyinka gave us some decent plays as well and he'd be worth bringing back as a depth piece IMO. With that, my focus this offseason will be figuring out how to stop the run up the middle and how to get pressure up the middle. If there is to be a good FA addition I'd prefer it be a DT. DTs are usually cheaper than edge players. Then I'm drafting 2 DTs early. Any of the top 5 DTs in the draft helps us...period. Just take one. I'd love a trade back to the end of the 1st Rd and find a way to get 4 top 100 picks. One of the top 5 DTs is likely to be on the board late 1st so unless we fall in love with one of them just take the one that remains on the board. Then we've got 3 more top 100 picks to get S, LB, and another DT. There are a couple DTs I like that are more pass rushers than run defenders that I think can be had around 100-115: Gracen Halton, Zane Durant, or Skyler Gill-Howard. That again is where Shemar Turner fits in because if the coaches want him in that 3-tech role vs. DE then we have to switch up the plan and go DT/DE. That might have to be in the 2nd Rd or at the farthest back a 3rd Rd pick to get a contributor in the rotation. Either way, I prefer Rd 1 go to DT.

Since we’re talking Bears vs Packers I’ll toss in this nugget as well with Caleb ranked in the top ten. Jordan Love ranked lower. I don’t necessarily agree with all this but it might be better worded as ranking last years QB performances. Nobody on the planet is taking Drake Maye 4 ahead of Mahomes 13. https://www.nfl.com/news/ranking-all-63-starting-quarterbacks-from-the-2025-nfl-season

I’m sure the Packers can make up for it with their first round pick this year. https://www.windycitygridiron.com/chicago-bears-analysis/111019/the-chicago-bears-had-the-best-2025-rookie-class-while-the-packers-had-the-worst

I Think at best I’d give him a 2 year extension. One I could get out of in the last year if I want to.

Swift was very good in pass pro last year. Bears fans don’t see it on a stat sheet so assume a rookie will just come in and do the same. Even Monangai struggled at times but I expect he’ll be better this year. I don’t expect Ben, who loves explosive plays, to put his QBs protection at risk.

Calling that music is being generous. Calling that singing is being even more generous except for the non-bunny artists who can actually sing. I agree on the stage and thematic scenes being very well done. Nobody really knows what he was saying/singing and I am surrounded by native Spanish language people at home and work.

https://www.nfl.com/news/bears-ol-joe-thuney-first-ever-nfl-protector-of-the-year-award

My biggest takeaway from this game is that we drafted the right QB. That includes all I've seen throughout the playoffs.

I was told my pre-draft analysis of his ability to play LT was wrong....I was very happy he was off the board so early.

At this time of year for me the mocks are for learning about the prospects. Of course as we (and teams) learn more about them they will move up or down. Every time I do a mock I try to go find info and highlights of the prospects available on at that pick.

Your first guesses are good ones.

That's gotta be worth at least one 3rd Rd pick.

From the breakdowns I watched his issue is not strength it’s technique. He has quick feet but he’s not good at keeping them on the ground. You can find still photos of him blocking where he literally has both feet up in the air at the same time Yes that means he often hops or takes little jumps left or right when he gets caught out of position. If he works on that this off-season he could be good. I don’t think he has the arm length to be great. Of course that also might be why he feels he’s losing the edge and tries to move fast to get back in front.

Yes fix the middle of the defense at all three levels

The best thing in all this saga is that we don’t have to do anything with DJ. I believe all options are on the table. Despite the occasional miscues our WR corps is still better with DJ. Can he become a means but which we can make the team overall better? Maybe but Poles can evaluate the options without desperation.