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My hope and theory
You are right, its more complex than getting one good draft pick. They need to add to the roster with cheap rookie contracts from players than contribute. A move up would have cost them two draft picks ( Elliott and Muhammad) in this case. Those are both potential starters if not next year , the next. I think every draftee plus 3 or 4 UDFA stick and are on the 53 man next year. These last two drafts are very important to sustain winning once Caleb gets 55 mil a year. We have 22 players on the roster from last year. Many are secondary(not guaranteed a spot) but could be future backups. As much as we have concerns about our pass rush, we will be getting injured players back that will contribute and an offense that will take the next step with Caleb and BJ. If we are in the top 3 offenses in the league , we only need a average D to compete. The strong Ds are in the AFC, Denver, Houston and NE. Seattle is the best but otherwise who else scares you? Every year is different but the best teams with defense are Seahawks-NE-Eagles-and Vikings if you consider them a threat.
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Round 2, Pick 57, Logan Jones, C
The second round was the spot they still had the chance to grab a few edge players. When the run started at 35 they would had to move up 15 spots that would have cost them their 89 and something else. There was Zion Young, Derrick Moore and then later Jacas. Someone asked Poles and he said Zion Young was to expensive to move up. I think they thought they could still take Jacas when NF moved of which was to late to do anything. Took Jones, someone they valued and get two picks out of the 60 trade, Sam Roush and Zavion Thomas. They looked to take volume players to the edge. Some fans are complaining that they traded for Bradbury and then took Jones. They didnt know they could get Jones so they doubled down. In a few years we will see a pro bowl Center and a high powered offense that includes Roush and Thomas. I understand their choices.
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Draft Summary
I dont mind an older center prospect because of the value he gives to Caleb. With the NIL money, we are going to continue to see older players drafted. He has 4 years of starting experience and was there for 2 years with Linderbaum. Jones was a DT and Tyler recommended Logan to the coach.
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2nd wave of Free Agency starts today
I think they could add an edge rusher but not one that has a big cap charge. 6-8 mil? Who could they get for that on a one year deal?
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Draft Summary
Poles mentioned trading up in the second for a DE and mentioned Zion Young that was going to cost to much . I think targeting specific edge rushers that fit what you want to do is difficult so they stick to their board and grab someone that can help in another area. I think they would have drafted Jacas but NE moved up. They read the board right because he would have been there. They didnt get him and took Jones which I think would have been the pick at 60. People complain to move up at any cost to get a need but then you dont fill other needs. Players like Howell, Thomas and Josephs didnt fit which thy wanted. Fans and pundits say draft anyways. Every pick had its purpose. The biggest complaint was taking Roush and Zavion Thomas. Those were BJ wants. I think maybe with other teams they might have been a luxury pick but with BJ they are weapons . I trust BJ. This is just another opinion but he overwhelming liked the draft.
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Draft Summary
Another point that BJ brought up on a press conference was that the new coaches needed to acclimate themselves to what BJ and DA wanted to do. That in the second year they will be able to execute the offense and defense better. Not any different from a player learning the system. Here is a podcast, I watch a lot of them , that explains the consensus and team boards. If you dont want to watch the whole podcast, the post by Bucky Brooks is at 5:00 minutes. He makes some good points.
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UDFAs 2026
From everything I have looked at, it appears to me Squirrel White, Jayden Loving and Caden Bennett have a chance to make the 53 man roster. Several others could land on the practice squad. This is area that Poles has had some success.
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Draft Summary
Here is the players they brought in for the defense this offseason. At DT: Gallimore/FA-Street/FA-Lynch/FA-Van Der Berg/draft/ Loving/UDFA At DE: O At LB: Bush/FA-Elliott/draft-Sanborn/FA-D Jackson/FA At CB: Mahammad/draft-Jalyon Jones/FA-KC Eziomume/UDFA At S: Bryant/FA-Cam Lewis/FA-Hicks/FA-Theineman/draft-Skyler Thomas/UDFA The DE didnt get any bodies. I expect them to bring in a FA. If Booker played the full season(8 games) he could have reached 10 sacks. He had 4.5 sacks but had two taken away for roughing penalties. I think 9 more games could have gotten him 3.5 sacks. Dayo was injured and expect him to contribute . He is the perfect fit for DAs defense. We still need to see production but they wont be cutting him. Turner was hurt and has an upside. They will expect him to take a step. He has a non stop motor, nasty attitude and traits. Not any different than what they might expect from a rookie. Street has played DE besides DT. If I remember correctly our defense played well against the Rams in the last game. With all the new bodies and players coming back they will get better. Throw in they now have scheme fit players at every spot for DA. That should improve the over all defense.
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My way to early 2027 mock
I have no idea if any of these players are any good but It appears you are addressing the same areas we needed in our 2027. That's the thing that is up in the air, where our needs will develop.
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Pick 89, Zavion Thomas, WR, LSU
I just listened to a scout with OurLads scouting website talk about Squirrel White and said he will be a huge surprise to the fanbase. Like AZ said, he has speed that isnt reflected in his listed 20s time.
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Ozzy Trapilo Progressing Ahead of Schedule?
Recover has a lot to do with will and determination. He appears to have all of those intangibles. Adrian Peterson tore his ACL and MCL in a knee on Dec 24 and came back the next year to rush for 2097 yards and played in the first game. Medicine these days are more advanced than 2012. Everything does not follow the 12 month recover plan.
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My hope and theory
I see what you saw but the bears arent ignoring him by there draft dictated. Poles has hits and misses but as long as he is on the roster , Im all in on having hope. Also DA was in on drafting Turner and bringing in Dayo, they are both scheme fits for what he wants. I heard Wannsted on the radio this morning and he said that this defense will be better overall because they brought in more players overall. More speed in all spots on the defense.
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This is Ben Johnson’s team
Agree with that, they can be both and not just one or the other. It worked out last year when we lead that same category.
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UDFAs 2026
Like you said, he looks like Billings that can move. One year in the pros as they build his body , he could become a rotational starter. The 3 DTs they brought in Gallimore-Street-Lynch, depending on how they play will determine what rookies make the 53. Every where James Lynch has been praised. He was never a big snap guy so he doesnt have big stats but his last year in college he had 41 Ts-14.5 TFL-13.5 Ss- 5 PDs-3 FFs. Those are insane numbers for a DT. I dont know if he wasnt in the right scheme but he may surprise fans. When Billings came here, he was a low grade signing but produced for two years and fell off last year.
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Kmet and Jackson Contract Restructure
The eventual trading or cutting of Kmet will come next yr . Some people complain about the Roush pick but he is his replacement. They will restructure a few more players to get with what money they need to get by.