'TD'

I'm not trying to crap on your dream, I just don't see the value in a TE so early. Assuming Forte is on the field, you wouldn't see a second TE in situations with 3 or more WR's on the field. If a fullback is being used, a second TE would only be on the field with 1 WR. There's just such a limited use for 2 TE's, unless Trestman specifically tooled his offense for that. I can't see him doing that just so he can draft a second TE. Considering Tresman's use of RB's in the past and ERod's ability to catch, I could see him being used much more this year catching out of the backfield. I also don't see the return in value in drafting a WR that early. Jeffery and Marshall are likely cemented as starters for a few years, unless you are giving up on Jeffery. I'd like to see a speed WR drafted in maybe the 4th or 5th. As the line stands, a speed WR will not have the time to get open often. An OL pick early will help buy the time.

Well Tresmen was successful with a very old Jerry Rice that he used to coach, maybe he would give Owens a shot to do the same.

I started to go through each player given in the first round and list players we drafted, what I thought of the pick, how they turned out, and who we could have got. Then I just started noticing how bad the Bears drafts were the last 10 years. I came to the board in 2005, so I am a couple years behind you. So instead, I will just list who I think was the one biggest contributor/best pick from each draft. 2003: Lance Briggs/Charles Tillman: I don't want to pick just one, but Briggs would take it. 2004: Tommie Harris: He didn't last long, but when he was great for a time. Berrian could be in consideration but he failed elsewhere. 2005: Kyle Orton: Benson and Harris had decent careers elsewhere, but for the limited time all were here, Orton contributed the most. 2006: Devon Hester" While I think Manning has went on to become the best player from the Bears draft, he did it elsewhere. Hester gains this spot for previous years as a KR and not for his failed experiment at WR. 2007 Corey Graham: I know I just went special teams twice in a row here. Graham was tied for 2nd in the league in special teams tackles during his time with the Bears. I know people will say Greg Olsen, but he never stood out at the position he was drafted to be, like Graham did while earning a probowl nod. 2008: Matt Forte Coming in a close second is Kellen Davis, no wait Chris Williams. This was yet another bad draft year for the Bears, Earle Bennett comes in a distance second to Forte who is far and away the best pick. 2009: Henry Melton If Knox had never been hurt, he may have given Melton a run for his money. Lance Louis also did pretty well considering he was a 7th round compensatory pick. 2010: Major Wright Wooton has shown some promise, but it's pretty sad when the 2nd best player to an average safety drafted is J.Webb. 2011: Chris Conte Same as before, different names. A defensive lineman, Paea may have promise, but the 2nd best player to an average safety is another OL G. Carimi 2012: Alshon Jeffery Jeffery was hurt, so I'm giving him the benifit of the doubt here. McClellan is basically tied in my opinion, but I see a lower floor potential with Jeffry than McClellan. It's really too soon to tell There's some hard drafts looking back at them, maybe we are right to argue about the picks so often.

I got my information from the fact they had very little money to work with this year. That they couldn't offer Urlacher a better contract. There may be 40 million open at the end of the year, but look at who all they have to sign. Cutler, Tillman, Gould, Garza, Melton, Jennings, Hester, Wright, Wooton, Webb and so on. Cutler, Jennings, Tillman, and Melton will take up around 30-40 mill a year average themselves. I'm sure they will back load it some, but that just hurts the future.

I'm optimistic simply because the team has started making the right kind of moves. It's yet to be seen if those moves will pay off. The only productive addition last year was Brandon Marshall. This year is a year of change. A long standing team philosophy of defense first has been tossed a side. Trestman brings in a very brilliant offensive mind. He's had success on many levels, and hopefully that success can continue on with the Chicago Bears. It won't be easy. Jerry Angelo left behind a team in very bad shape. It seems weird to say that about a team that is constantly 8-8 or better. The stars on the team are old. Sadly, there isn't quality players being groomed to take over their positions. Their age not only means diminishing returns on their play, but also they eat up a larger amount of the cap. Where there are aging stars on the team, there is no depth. In places like the OL that needs starters, there is nothing but depth. Bushrod is a starter no doubt, but that came at a large price. The team has taken on many large contracts in the last few years. Sadly, once Forte was signed and Melton was tagged, the team doesn't have any star players out playing their rookie contracts. Jerry Angelo brought in players with a high price tag like Peppers and Cutler, and now Emery has made his 2 high priced additions in Marshall and Bushrod. Between these additions and aging players, the Bears are in the worst place cap-wise that I can remember. This puts Emery in a very hard position. He's signing players with potential but they are what they are. They are bottom dollar cast offs from other teams. Hopefully they turn out, but if they do the Bears may be financially unable to resign them to new contracts. The looming contracts for Cutler and Melton will not help this in the future. QBs are being paid more and more every year. Flacco just set a new standard for non Elite QBs to be paid. This makes this years draft even that more important. The only way for Emery to succeed will be to draft well. Not just for the influx of talent, but also for financial savings of having starters on their rookie contract. That makes this years draft very important to the future of this team. I will give Emery time before I am overly critical of him. He inherited a team that was old, that needed starters at almost ever offensive position, and youth on defense. One that had a coach that was not in his future plans, and needing to change the culture and philosophy of a team that had little change in leadership in the last ten years. He's going to have to find ways to get money to spend, while not hindering the cap space in the future. It's a heavy load, and a tough road ahead for Mr. Emery. Hopefully his drafting knowledge and Trestman's offensive knowledge will not only meet but exceed the vision Emery has for this team. I for one am enjoying the ride so far. I can't wait to see this team once it has fully developed with the talent needed to fulfill their visions.

Not bad, but i would like to see a QB in the 4-6 picks.

Yea, got me to. I was mad for the split second it took me to click and read april fools lol.

I really don't want to see a LB in the first, so hopefully this makes that less likely. The D was really good with Urlacher back there last year. People say Urlacher was broken down, so the need for a first round LB in the position isn't there. Hopefully now that pick can be used for OL, or they can trade back and get 2 OL. That's where the big gaping holes were on the team last year.

The defense was good when he played last year, one of the bests I've seen. I don't see the old broken down player most seem to think he is. I understand the money issue, but I also think Urlacher is more than worth the 3 million or whatever to keep him, more than Hester will be worth to just be a returner or even more than Melton is worth the franchise tag. I don't know how to take Emery just yet. He goes and makes a big trade for Marshall last season, then ignores the OL and has a forgettable draft class. This year he makes a big OL and TE signing, then lets his linebackers go, even though Urlacher could be had at a steal money-wise. I really want to like the guy, but I'm starting to feel I'm not going to when all things are said and done.

They went from one WR that can't stay on the field to another. I'd be more scared of Harvin, but Jennings can be solid when healthy. Good thing Ponder sucks.

Bushrod was just on the score, Bennett will be on after the commercial break

Bennett was hillarious to me. You can tell he takes a lot of pride in his work tho, especially his blocking and wants to be a top receiving TE. Bushrod did more to convince me that me may not be that good of a TE in one interview than anything I have read about him tho. He didn't seem confident at all, personally pointing out struggles he has every year. I think he will be fine with Kromer, but if Kromer wasn't here I'd be doubting him now. This is my favorite free agent signing year for the Bears in a long time.

I would only keep 3. 1) Collins - to see what he has and will be cheap. 2) Bell - preforms well. Probably better than most UDFA's that could be brought in or vet minimum RB's and I don't want to see a pick spent on the position. 3) Urlacher or Roach - If Roach has all the interest from other teams, he can go there. If he wants to come back for under 2 mil a year, then I'd welcome him back. If Urlacher can come back considerably cheap, he'd be worth it just for the locker room presence with the transition to a new coaching staff. In which case, I'd let roach go. People that I'd consider keeping if there was more money to go around... Hayden - He's 29 years old and the Bears need to bring in some younger CB's. Hopefully they can find a prospect in the 4th or 5th that can play nickel. Israel Idonije - Solid performer, but not worth having to clear up more money to sign. He's 32 and some younger players could be found through the draft or UDFA Lance Louis - Fairly unimpressive to me most of the year and hurt. I'm wanting to see an influx of new faces on the line, at least one vet G, a G and C in the draft, and some UDFA's. Jonathan Scott - Once again, unimpressive to me. I'd rather look other places for the price. He and Louis just become odd men out in what in what I'd like to see happen with the team. If the extra money was there I would let both compete for a roster spot tho. Urlacher or Roach - Whichever on i did not keep earlier for money reasons

True, he could have got the league minimum 715k, with a 11.5 year signing bonus and the hit would be right around there. then the other 6 million guaranteed elsewhere. He'd still be walking out with 12+ million in his pocket this year, not too bad.

Five-year contract worth $35.9 million ($17.7 million guaranteed) I don't know how they got that down to 3 million this year considering the guaranteed money, but if they did kudos to them. I just want a jersey that says Bushrod on the back lol. I like the signing just because of Kromer. He knows what he's getting, so I'm not going to say they should have went for a different LT. Makes me feel better for them spending on Bennett, knowing that LT is locked up for a while. Much better start to free agency than I expected.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2013/...nts-tight-ends/ He was the top free agent on PFF. Emery must really like that site. Not sure how I feel about the signing until I see what he got paid and what they do on the line. I love it as long as they fix the line. EDIT: I meant top TE FA not top free agent

Sign Long. Trade Melton for a second to use to draft a G, using the money to sign Loadholt. Sign Moore. Draft a Center in the 4th. Then i wake up and remember last year. After the Marshall trade there wasn't much money left and they didn't make any major signings and stuck to the cap they had. So I'm keeping my expectations low, but can't help but be excited to see what happens. So my actual prediction would be a low tier guard and tackle. Securing the Bears current players and maybe a WR and midgrade TE.

I'd just draft someone in the 4th or 5th. All indications are pointing to the Bears improving the line. This allows for Cutler to be less likely to be hurt, and a chance to get someone to groom as a possible replacement if needed. Kyle Orton 2.0 but with an actually QB guru as head coach.

Freeing up money really doesn't need taken care of today, but would be nice to have ahead of time. I love the Long and Keller signings. Signing Long would let the Bears draft a top G prospect at 20 instead of a second tier T. Keller fills the need with out over spending. I want to see someone around his level signed. Signing Cook would just be overkill and prevents addressing more serious needs.

I would. I'm not big on the TE need. Looking at Trestman's years as an OC, I don't think that the production from the position warrants big money or high draft pick. The Bears just need to find their next Desmond Clark. Someone that is good but not great, then spend their money and picks on the OL.

There's one thing the numbers don't show that I don't think has been brought up yet. If it has, my bad. Webb had these stats in a very dumbed down and limited Bears offense, maximized to get rid of the ball quick. Think of every play there was 2 TE's, RB's staying back to block and so on. How many times could the Bears take 7 step drops or even 5? To be a 30th ranked T or whatever, and do it in a system that is so limited and optimized just to make it easier for you, then being in the middle is bad. The Saints on the other hand, from what I could see, could do whatever they wanted passing. Granted I don't watch them as much, but the Bears were still limited and Webb was bad.

In the perfect situation, I would have liked to seen the Bears made the move for Smith. I think he would have fit in Trestman's offense a lot better. Smith fits in the category of QB's that Trestman has succeeded with. Young, Gannon, and Cavillo are all smart, accurate QB's. They weren't gunslinger's that depended on their arms. During the season announcers always talked about how Cutler throws to who he can see. He doesn't do timing routes. I'm not sure Tresman's offense and Cutler's style would mesh well. I'm not saying it can't work, just that neither Trestman offensive mind nor Cutler will be put in optimal positions to succeed. Smith would have been ideal if the Bears weren't already saddled with Cutler and had the pics to spare.

The problem there is I remember that he was vocal about wanting tall WR's and he got 2. He wanted his buddy as QB coach, he got it. He wanted Martz gone, he got it. The team has been very accommodating to him. Maybe he should have been more vocal about the OL, he may have gotten it.

I'm not sold on Cutler and even less so that he will fit in with Trestman. I definitely want to see a prospect drafted around the 4th, but I also have no problem with Campbell as a back up talent wise.

The reason I figured it was an issue between him and Cutler was because he said last couple years. Marshall and Jeffery just came this year. Not that it really matters either way, I may just be reading too much into it.