DABEARSDABOMB

If we were going to bring in a veteran back, it should be Forte and no one else.

Completely agree. To me it makes QB more of a priority and it also means I'm moving young / houston if I can to free up the spaces to give younger players opportunities (might even make me more willing to go another year with Shea since he is still pretty young and Fangio still likes him; a lot of reports lately that he was pretty damn injured the 2nd half of the season and that significantly impacted his play). Fangio raves about him and his (Fangio) track record is pretty good.

If we are a year or two away, Young and Houston don't really do us much good. It sounds like Bears are thinking hard about cutting Houston and trading Young. I think we could probably get something for Young (4th - 6th round pick, most likely 5th) and in Houston's case given his contract, not sure if we could actually generate a pick for him or not (we can pretty much cut him with no strings attached). So if we don't buy on them longer term, than maybe we keep one for depth, but it seems like Shea would be that guy before Young / Houston and to be frank, if Fangio likes Shea that much, I'd rather give him the 1.5 or 2M per year to see if you get some upside in him than use time on guys who won't be around when we are finally there (not to mention who we might be able to use to get us extra picks). The nice thing about all those extra picks, is if you get them, you can legitimately dangle them to move around in the draft and ensure you get the targets you want.

Yep - He doubled in at RB. In fact, I heard one person say if he was a full time RB, he'd have been a 1st round pick (highlighting his overall athleticism). I really like him. Whenever I've heard him interviewed, he just sounds like a guy who gets it and will kick ass (and he was really good on the field and has a lot of upside as he's still raw but seems coachable).

Seahawks might be interested as well (I'm sure he'd love to be reuinted with his brother) and supposedly Seahawks might cut Jimmy Graham.

That said, Bears were interested in him last year and prior to signing with the Texans, he was with Fox in Denver and was a pretty solid safety. 26 years old, so still plenty young. http://www.nfl.com/player/rahimmoore/2495503/profile

Somewhere Russel Wilson was ignored, but maybe you were more focused on 1st round picks?

It could also be the owner buying time from a media perception (downplay while you have the fresh regime to buy time in case they can't do it as quickly as they hope)? I just feel with modern medicine these days, Smith can rebound and it would be great to add two dynamic players like Smith and Myles Jack or someone else to this LB corp long-term.

McCaskey was on radio (today I think) and indicated based upon his discussions with Pace and Fox that they are still a ways away and this will be an extended process to rebuild the franchise from where it was and was going to take multiple more years. With that in mind, I think it makes it even more likely that you can't write-off the QB position for the Bears. It also points out why the Bears should be targeting as many potential playmakers as they could possibly find and when it comes to FA be picky that whomever you sign, either let it be a guy who is undervalued who you think has more upside than indicated or be someone young enough that fits into your longer term plans. I also think it makes me more willing to move down / accumulate picks, etc. Additionally, if Bears brass truly thinks they are at least a year away from realistically competing for the playoffs, etc, than I think it makes me more willing to take risks on someone like Jaylon Smith (if he truly is there in the 3rd or if you are able to move down lower in the 2nd to get him).

It sounds like none of us should have high expectations in terms of pick (which is why I wouldn't trade him). I'd want a 4th rounder at a minimum or a 5th plus a future 5th.

People are extremely, extremely high on Wentz. I've heard a lot of people just rave about his all around skills. There obviously is the risk / unknown from the small school perspective. I am a believer, if when you pick, there is a QB on the board who you believe will be a perennial all pro type player, than you pick him, the hell with your needs. QB, more than any other position in the league, is what will ultimately allow you to win championships and have extended runs of dominance. Sure, the Broncos won this year with defense and you could say the Seahawks have as well (albeit, Russell is not a bum...yes Manning was a bum by and large for the Broncos this year). Those situation where you have a Dilfer or way past his prime Manning win are few and far between the top notch / all pro type QB's. Basically put, I would never not pass up on an all pro QB (I suppose if I had just taken Andrew Luck the year before, sure, I would, but in general, if the Bears think Wentz is that guy, I'd be pissed if they went any direction but Wentz).

I agree with the posts. I wouldn't pay Mack 8M a year. I'm not sold on Grassu as a lot depends on whether he truly can add the strength. I hate assuming that he'll just add the strength. I do think if he does, he can turn into a pretty good center and I agree he wasn't at all prepared this past year (which is odd for a 3rd round pick).

Arguably the best center in the league and I'd also argue, it is a position of need (depending on how sold you are on Grassu). I also wonder if Grassu could profile at guard at all? http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/14884993...opting-contract

One thing to point out, our RB coach is the guy who gets a ton of credit from Elliot for (was OSU's RB coach). Elliot supposedly loves him, so you never know.

I will continue to say, if Wentz is there @ 11 and Pace is as high on him as some insiders have reported, I'm not doing anything but selecting Wentz. I happen to be of the opinion if one of the top QB's is there when we pick, if Pace is high on said player, we will be selecting a QB and I fully expect us to pick a QB within the first 4 rounds. All this said, except for in rare situations, I am always a proponent of a trade down in the 1st round (presuming you get fair value for the trade down). Just like I am fully in favor of moving Alshon (if he didn't want to be here) for 2 1st's or even a 1st and a future 2nd.

I don't think that is a bad thing. I think they need to be calculated in FA. Target one guy they find to be a big time impact player who can help fill a major hole. Berry clearly could have been that guy, but so could Trevathan. Outside of that, I think we look for guys we think we can plug in to be solid players and / or see some upside in. I think we should focus on resigning Long and ensuring we have cap space a year from now when we are ideally closer (that isn't to say we shouldn't go for it now), just that we need to be careful. I see too many franchises that have 6 or 7 wins spend a bunch in free agency thinking it will be a cure and instead of helping it actually puts them in a worse position as they overpaid, jacked up there cap, and clearly didn't have the right talent evaluation.

I'm okay with it. I think we are a ways away from being a good / contending team so I think it would be foolish to blow all of our money prematurely this off-season. I think we need to be focused on finding quality starters and via the draft target impact playmakers. From there, once we are at the right spot, than I think you use FA to help "push" you over the top. I think anything we do now would be a complete an utter waste of resources and have more downside risk than upside risk (if we just went all out on one player). The exception would have been Von Miller. I do note think Trevathan at 7 or 8M is what I call absurd money and I'd see that type of FA being the highest end the team goes (outside of resigning Jeffrey and potentially Long).

He was officially tagged. Reports are it was the non-exclusive tag, meaning he is free to negotiate with other teams and sign deal. If he signs, Bears have opportunity to match contract or let him walk for 2 1st round picks.

A day away from having to tag him. This should put a lot of momentum on two sides to close a deal. Hopefully Bears & AJ can agree long-term in next 24 hours.

Only shot at him was if we did a Jeffrey for Wilkerson switch and than signed him to a long term deal (with Jets signing Jeffrey and reuniting him with BMarsh).

I didn't watch the combine, but the guys recapping the day all said they expected Hackenberg to impress and move up the boards, but instead it was just more of the same from him and that his release, etc, were poor. Guy everyone raved about was Wentz (like utterly raved about). Compared Paxton Lynch to Flacco. People did say very nice thing about Devonte Adams. The Kirk Cousins comp that was handed out (guy that can sit on the bench and become that guy) was Kevin Hogan. Note: These were obesrvations from Daniel Jeremiah and Rece Davis.

Leming, Wiederer, Hoge, others all saying expectation is that a deal will be reached. Aaron Leming ‏@AaronLemingNFL 1h1 hour ago If I had to guess, I'm going to say that #Bears don't need to use the tag on WR Alshon Jeffery. Things moving positively, fast. 9 retweets 11 likes Dan Wiederer ‏@danwiederer 53m53 minutes ago At this point, Jeffery almost certainly will remain a Bear in 2016. And likely beyond. Next big news really will be #s on new contract. Adam Hoge ‏@AdamHoge 1h1 hour ago #Bears & Jeffery’s camp are still negotiating. And yes, they will tag him if a deal isn’t done. In other words, nothing has changed. 6 retweets 6 likes

Also, Hoge is reporting Jeffrey was not tagged yet.

Rumors Jeffrey and Bears extremely close on long-term deal.

When it came to Miller and Shea, it was not that they are actively negotiating with them, but rather they'd sign them if they could get them at the right price. With Shea it sounded more positive, with Miller, there was even reference to him wanting to get his first payday / leveraging the opportunity. I think if they brought Shea in, it would be a depth move, maybe he starts, maybe he doesn't, but it wouldn't be for big bucks.