Alaskan Grizzly

Interesting and good find. Never would have considered Hostetler until now.

My first blush on this reminds me of the time Victor Cruz signing with the Bears and never playing...until I looked at his stats. Last year Allen: (13 games) 150 targets 108 REC for 1,243 yds (11.5 avg) and 7TDs Last year Moore: (17 games) 136 targets 96 REC for 1,364 yds (14.2 avg) and 8 TDs Allen made the Pro Bowl....Moore did not.

If this was in fact Wonnum you were talking about, I read his deal with Carolina was 2 years for $14.5 million. Allegedly he never made it out of the Panther's facility to negotiate with Chicago. Still, that price isn't horrible. https://www.bleachernation.com/bears/2024/03/14/dj-wonnum-bears-car/

I was thinking the same thing and if you are looking for how a coach says he's non-committal to who his starting QB will be, new Seahawks HC Mike McDonald is that. When asked about Smith being the starter next year he said: "The first thing I want everybody to know is that as an organization we're always looking, we're always trying to figure out what's best for the team all the time." If Waldron needs a guy to demonstrate the system as a veteran Smith would be the right guy to do it and Justin would have nearly an optimal opportunity as a starter with both Smith and Drew Lock gone. However, when I read the below article it mentions some contract language that could be tricky (and messy) for Seattle (second article below). https://fox59.com/sports/sports-illustrated/a217c297/new-seahawks-coach-makes-eye-opening-statement-about-geno-smiths-job-security/ https://www.si.com/nfl/2024/02/15/seattle-seahawks-geno-smith-fully-guaranteed-contract-2024

I’m curious if it’ll be DJ Wonnum? He’s set to visit today after meeting with the Panthers yesterday . To me he’s what Sweat was to Chase Young in Washington. In this case Danielle Hunter got most of the hype in Minny. Wonnum is just closing out his rookie contract and had 8 sacks last season while doing it (he’s young and peaking). https://www.nbcsportschicago.com/nfl/chicago-bears/vikings-pass-rusher-to-visit-bears-in-free-agency-this-week-per-report/546467/?amp=1

X2 I’m not as sure about that. Social media (if it’s any guage) still tracks polling at about 50/50. And the Fields detractors who started by saying he’d surely get the Bears maybe a 1st or 2nd pick in exchange AND that he would be traded by now have changed their tune to ‘noone in the league wants him’.

To Stinger…AI is going to be the death of all of us… To Mongo…what are you up to? I’ll bite… Jaylon Johnson, Jaquan Brisker, Jaxson Smith-Njigba, Chris Olave, Merrill Hoge, Swifty… all the fans at the Atlanta game…(the list goes on)…

I agree back. Really like your suggestion and 'yes' it makes too much sense, especially if you see how well Belichick and the Pats were successful for so long in doing it. While on the subject of "generational QBs" and the talk of the odds for #1 QBs winning a Super Bowl, I stumbled across an interesting stat/article regarding the success rate of Heisman Trophy winners in the NFL. The article below I think is a bit older so I'm not sure how accurate it has been since Cam Newton was in the Super Bowl but anyways....in the history of 58 Super Bowls, only 18 players who have won the Heisman have made it to the Super Bowl. Of those 18 players, 7 were QBs; Cam Newton (2016), Matt Leinart (2009), Chris Weinke (2004), Jim Plunkett (1981 and 1984), Roger Staubach (1971, '72, '78 and '79), John Huarte (1969) and Paul Hornung (1967). Of those 7 only three actually played/started in a Super Bowl (Newton, Plunkett and Staubach). So by that rationale, Williams and now Daniels have a little less luster for me. https://www.nfl.com/photos/heisman-winners-and-the-super-bowl-0ap3000000631665

I will co-sign on all of this...mostly. The one part that I'm not as sure of IF Justin were to stay and IF he were to FALL ON HIS SWORD and fail while doing so, someone out there will think they can use him in some capacity (as a backup). Whether it be Sean Payton as a backup to whomever they draft and deploy him as a Taysom Hill type player (like when in NO) or Jim Harbaugh using him like his brother's QB in Baltimore, some coach will think they can salvage him. Heck Buffalo liked Trubisky so much they brought him back for a second tour. Meanwhile your idea has a lot of good stuff in it for sure. One of which is the locker room. I have a strong suspicion a fair number of the players are in Justin's corner. If he were to return as you suggested and not be able to beat out whatever QB they draft, most everyone would realize it and be better with the move. Whereas if they wholesale release/trade Justin to another team and IF whomever they draft fails instead, not only would you have a mutiny you'd have a whole new reset soon thereafter (2025?) and back to square one we go.

Funny you bring up Chargers players potentially on the chopping block. Allegedly so too are Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa (below). I was checking the status of Leonard Floyd and AJ Espensa given their familiarity with DC coach Armstrong, but Floyd signed with SF and Espensa re-signed with Buff. (I tried what you suggested adam with Twitter and it didn’t work). https://twitter.com/jasrifootball/status/1767946220733894998?s=46&t=KrpJmhSTc4DI1sACtjisOQ

Saw the numbers on his deal, (allegedly) he was offered 3 years $39 million from both Chicago and Jax. For perspective, recently departed Darnell Mooney was offered 3 years $30 million from Chicago. But instead took 3 years $39 million to join Atlanta.

Yeah its funny, while visiting the islands the last week and a half, my daughter and her friend heard that Biles was also on the islands (they didn't know which one) but were insistent on finding her. I told them (at the time) that she was married to a Packers fan, so I was less inclined to help. If only it had been a week later....we might've had tried to get a selfie. For me and them. LOL.

FWIW my wife and younger daughter will have more reason to watch Bears football now. Maybe we'll have our own version of Swifty football?

Dang for a special teamer backup, he's a good depth player. Had 84 tackles for GB last year and 125 the year before with Houston To compare; Brisker had 105 and 104 the last two seasons and Byard 75 and 47

Now that Hunter is out of the picture (signed with Houston), how about DJ Wonnum who also played along the Vikings Defensive Front? He finished out his rookie contract (4th year) with Minnesota last year and racked up 8 sacks while doing so. He's scheduled to visit with Chicago on Thursday (after visiting Carolina on Wednesday). https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/bears_also_hosting_de_dj_wonnum_for_visit/s1_17039_40098621

I have questions. When you say "top 2 QB" do you mean before or after they are drafted? Nick Foles (a third round selection) did it against Brady in 2018. Yes I know I'm being a contrarian (again) but I'm genuinely interested in how you came about this.

This is a good place as any "OPEN THREAD" to share this interesting nugget of information. Saw it this morning flash on the screen (NFL Network?) while they were updating the current FA movement. Seems crazy to think that newly acquired Jones has very similar stats to current 'Franchise QB' (and former overall #1 pick) Trevor Lawrence in Jacksonville. I guess Lawrence has Jones soundly beat when it comes to rushing...but that's not what we want a QB to do...right?

Wasn’t he on the team last year and more on a ‘test drive’ basis? Think he scored a TD in one of the games late in the season. In looking at him he’s listed as a WR not TE. ??‍♂️

Unless you’re John Lynch and you make up for it by going to the SB with ‘Mr Irrelevant.’

Any word on Waldron being there? If not probably a moot point.

Oh I was thinking more like at #2, or #3 when they trade #1. ??

Yeah I actually just read an article explaining a bit more about the complexity of Higgins' situation and right away realized 'never mind'. They said Cincy had a nearly identical situation come up with former Safety Jessie Bates a few years ago and even though Bates wanted out he was tagged and ended up playing for the Bengals for another year. The article also mentioned that Bates and Higgins both have the same agent.

Tee Higgins? I know he's a bit more complicated but he wants out of Cincy and would be (IMHO) a decent #2.

MHJ or Odunze in the draft?

Maybe not Brockers but another potentially productive TE vs one who only blocks. From what I've read Waldron's style offense deploys a lot of 2 and 3 TE sets. In fact I wouldn't be surprised to see Blasingame gone (if he isn't already) as Waldron will line up TEs in the FB role from time to time. Anyhow, having Everett on the team will help with the familiarity and Kmet with his potential production ability. He still would need another TE that is capable of blocking and receiving. Could they choose to keep Lewis around? My guess is no and might want to draft a younger version of him.