DABEARSDABOMB

This - they need to draft one and sign a stop gap. Can’t plug a rookie in out of the gate unless they earn it cause center does have some bigger nuances around getting into protections, etc.

A couple data points: 1) Eberflus saying good things about Fields - doesn't mean he's overly loyal. I think everyone recognizes Field(s) work ethic, character, leadership and physical gifts are off the charts. He checks almost every single box - it is why the decision is so hard. He also I think is striking the right balance - if he went in and ripped Fields, what kind of a message does that send. Both in terms of - that will get its way back in Field(s) and does nothing good. Beyond that - Flus saying good things about Field(s) prevents anything he says from tainting trade value or giving a tell. I also think there is just a purity of - having strong character and being kind - can actually be a good thing in the long run and how Flus & Poles handle stuff like this - some could say too nice - but on flipside, as long as you are steady in your actual decision-making and clear in communication, I think NFL players will respect that. 2) Absolutely having a chance for people to know they are going to have an opportunity to work with either Fields or a potential #1 pick is going to drive value vs. an org who has David Carr or whatever there. Not knocking Carr, quite frankly he is 2x the QB production wise that Field(s) has ever been - but Carr is what he is at this point - a middle of the road vet. That isn't going to be that thrilling for an OC vs. a team with a #1 & #9 pick and tons of cap space.

To me on the trade market - I don't think Chargers or Bills are flipping Allen or Herbert anytime soon. Dolphins I suppose could with Tua (cause he's about to get paid). The other intriguing team is Cowboys with Dak. Dak is also more nearing end of his deal so I presume would be easier to flip. The downfall is - the amount of capital Dallas has to move up to #1 seems insane / unattainable. Meaning - I think the #1 pick is more valuable than Dak - but what if Dallas wanted to make a move for a new QB - they offer Dak, 1st rounder & 2nd rounder this year, plus next year(s) 1st. Bears than acquire Dak and extend him to a team friendly deal (Dak would have to be on board). Dak isn't top 3 good - but he's squarely in the 5-7 good and he's a real good leader and great dude. Bears know they have certainty a QB - they still have more picks - but now there only top pick this year is that #9 pick (I don't know - maybe Dallas has more draft capital than I know I haven't looked). But could Dallas do it - maybe Dak just quietly says I want out - I'm over the drama.

I am sure I don’t fully understand the offset but if we could get Wilson 3 years at 500k for him to stick to to Denver and Bears can just build a monster team - well I would be all over it too.

Your wild card strategy….Bears sign Russel Wilson, trade the first for a fortune and trade Justin. Why you ask? Because Wilson post cut has offset language in his contract so Bears could pay him league minimum for a couple years and just built a monster around him. Note: I am not really proposing the above - but I guarantee there is an analytics model somewhere that says that would be a brilliant idea.

I was about to post something similar - I think good thing is - Waldron knows a lot of people and has been engaged in this more advanced QB work for a bit / been on the leading edge (whether that makes him great, who knows). I also think you can't read into this hiring as any indication on what and where the front office is leaning in regards to QB - which quite frankly is the right answer, given they are months away from the draft at this point.

That Atlanta trade isn't enough for me to move off #1 to be honest. Atlanta has a pretty solid all around team - they are going to hire a big time coach. They are going to be a middle of the pack team - so I'm trading #1 for basically a #8 this year adn probably a 10-20 pick next year, plus some 2nd rounders. That puts me in a spot where I'm probably taking the 2nd of any position off the board (excluding QB where best case its the 3rd QB - clearly in this scenario though with them keeping Fields you aren't picking QB here either). You may actually have none of the wideouts on the board at this point and one of Brockers or Alt. If I'm dealing with Atlanta - I need another 1st & 2nd rounder or at a minimum another 1st rounder & Bijan (or Drake).

I think this is a really solid hire. I'm not saying he's the greatest OC in the world - but he's experience and has a solid track-record. He worked with a HOF HC in Carroll and obviously Pete had his views but Shane ran the show from play calling on down and so we are getting a seasoned individual who knows what to do. I love with Pix quoted in terms of him trying to speed up decision/making & process time and clearly Geno Smith made huge leaps forward from his Jets days (how much of that is due to Waldron vs. his staff vs. Geno's hard work - who knows - but on paper its a positive). I also don't think he's the next Sean McVay or Shanny or Reid - but I think that is okay. Having a really solid and stable guy who knows what he is doing is great - whether it is looking to get more out of Justin or looking to build a solid structure for development around a rookie QB. I'm also presuming we will see Greg Olsen emerge as the QB coach - again, I didn't like Olsen as an OC - but what I love about Olsen is him and Waldron worked together - they have a built in trust, so I suspect that means the risk that you have too many voices gets reduced (that isn't to say you don't want different perspectives - you do - but you want them grounded in similar principles otherwise you kind of get to information overload which I think negatively impacted Bryce Young with what Panthers did this year but also back to Eagles with Carson Wentz). Bottom Line: They are hiring a respectable, proven OC, who is also young and should have credibility to go get quality offensive assistants too.

He is about to be a 2 time mvp and has his team in playoffs perennially. 2nd playoff win and such a wide gap between Fields and him. Stroud is 1 year in the league and has more wins than Fields does in 3 years in regular season and already has a playoff win and was a total stud in the win or go home game 17 game. What am I reading from everyone ripping Stroud. He is one of 3 rookie qbs in NFL history I believe to win a playoff game and he was a huge part for that win. They lost to the hottest team in football in Baltimore.

If Fields was putting up Allen numbers and putting his team in the back and carrying them to wins, I could give two rips about not making on time this and that. But watch Allen - he has some warts but they are like on his toes and everywhere else he’s beautiful as a qb. Dude makes plays all over the field and throws guys open when he is. But I will say - I think on the field, Caleb is a one in 5 to 7 year qb prospect. As a leader - no idea. I don’t think his issue is Jalen Carter / George Pickens but as a qb he may have a my shit don’t stink attitude that rubs people hard. Kind of like Rodgers later in his career.

That is like Big Ben. But Big Ben is an all time goat. Josh Allen needs the rings but the dude is an absolute monster. Has some Favre in him but he is no doubt top 3 qb in this league and if it weren’t for Mahomes taking him out 3 straight years, he would have a ring (and it isn’t like he played bad in those games).

Also just hit me - Kliff coached Mahomes in college and I recall Patrick was very high on Kingsbury helping him become the qb he is. I think Kliff is moving way up my list. At least I think Kliff/Patrick worked together.

I am kind of excited by the OC process so far. Really Olsen and Roman (if you draft a new qb) are the only two candidates I don’t want as OC. But I am good with Olsen / Roman as qb coach and run game coordinator. I ripped Kingsbury as HC forever but the concept and idea of him as an OC is really growing on me. And if nothing else / they should get some good intel on Caleb, but more importantly he has done a lot of innovative things on offense, has tons of experience calling plays, has had at least some success creating successful nfl offenses (yes he also was HC for some epic Eagle like end of season collapses). He also just spent a year with an offensive guru in Lincoln Riley.

They are all better than Getsy.

I heard that there may be an attempt to go Waldron (OC), Olson (QB Coach), and Roman (Running Game Coordinator). So that would be interesting. I'm pretty comfortable with Waldron/Olson in that set-up given that they have worked together in Seattle and both are respected. Roman is intriguing - if his ego would allow it - cause he is excellent at developing running games and that would give you a great mind (as long as it doesn't create too many voices). Thomas Brown is intriguing - despite Panthers challenges - he gets RAVE reviews from top offensive minds around the league. Same with Kubiak.

Sure he could improve. Anything is possible but the stats say he wasn’t even top 15 this year - reality was he produced in bottom 1/3rd of the league as a qb. Could he improve to 10-15 sure…get into top 10, I wouldn’t bet it but I’m not saying impossible…but 3 years is a ton of data and there isn’t a long track record of someone performing like he has ever becoming anything worth handing a 40M plus per year contract to. Only reason I even say it is possible is because he is such a great leader but man he is just so freaking bad at reading nfl defenses.

I don’t think a rookie will be better than Fields, but I think by year two they will be better than what Justin has produced the last 3 years (at least if they are solid - no guarantee but Fields is mediocre, I’m not sticking with mediocre at this position).

You know what - if Justin fields had a year where he did what Stroud, Herbert or Hurts did at their peak and than they looked like Fields, maybe I would have a different take, but all of them are light years better than Justin in real on field production. Justin wins or ties Herbert if it came to pure physical tools - but on field no comparison between Fields and everyone else you list.

We are in same boat. Fields is just a guy. So my worry is they waste two more years, make a wild card or two and than are at a cross roads / pay Justin 40M plus per year or find a new qb at that point but when you are now looking you have a wild card pick and basically no way to go get a real upgrade without mortgaging the future and setting franchise back (or you pay Fields and a mediocre qb at 40M…well look no further than the NY football Giants).

I only think that if they go with Roman - as I really think he's a fit for Field(s). But in general - I agree with you. The Bears will be done with their OC search long before they have finished up their analysis of all the draft prospects. So with that in mind - I don't think the OC will have much say in what the Bears are going to do in terms of staying or moving on from Fields.

He hasn't said any of that. Some random twitter person said it. The person who said it just made it up. This is a kid who played at OU and USC. Those are two programs where you are under intense scrutiny. No where has anything ever came out that said anything other than he works his tail off and is a solid lockeroom guy. But some random on twitter who paid 8 bucks for a verification who has a history of making up everything (its a parody account) says something and now it is all out there. Bears need to do their diligence everywhere on him, period.

Was just coming on to post the same. Roman has to be a if we stick with Fields candidate. I don’t think I want him if they draft a new qb but if they stuck with Fields he would be my #1 choice.

I am so excited. Have the Bears ever selected a qb at #1 overall? And to have a prospect like Caleb there. Not saying I guarantee success but I am so excited about the possibility. Having the 9th pick overall as well and cap space plus a qb who they can trade for value. Only thing limiting my excitement is fact we don’t know who the oc is. It still baffles me when you have #1 pick that they don’t fully restart with an offensive minded HC. With that said, there are some solid and experienced oc candidates available.

Him and Mahomes only two players in FCS history with 10 games with at least 5tds.

Large survey out there of nfl scouts and front office people - pretty much unanimous he is the #1 pick. Bears either trade or will take him. Very clear where he fits.