DABEARSDABOMB

Some names we haven’t talked about, but that are younger: Jaelyn Phillips - 26 - First healthy year in a bit but with a regular offseason could see this guy ascending. Former first rounder who crushed it before being slowed by injuries. Still has some prime years left. Kenneth Walker / Etienne - If poles wants to go younger either of these guys fit the bill. Given Month deal, you should be able to move Swifty. Etienne isn’t much younger. Bryan Cook / Koby Bryant - Top safetys on market entering is his prime. Joseph Ossai - sack numbers not there but ascending. Quite a few pressures.

I wonder is they surprise us and sign a DB and than go dline in draft. I’m totally on board giving Hendrickson big money for 2 years presuming he gets a clean bill of health. Dude gets to the qb.

Phew - quite happy not to have seen the Bears next to that trade.

I actually think the trade for Bradbury tells me they are being mindful what they spent on center - which to me tells me they are potentially looking at making a double digit per year signing somewhere (or acquiring a double digit contract).

I figure they made the move to put Thuney at LT in the NFC Championship game. It tells me they probably don't have a ton of confidence in the in-house solutions (including Braxton). With Decker out there and Trent Williams potentially there - certainly see a scenario where front office and coaching staff said - lets go upgrade the LT position, knowing any of those moves are short-term measures but elevate the room while buying time to evaluate Trapillo in the long run. I also wonder how Benedet would fit at a guard position over time - he looked very athletic and was great in run-blocking.

Very fair - I do think this offensive coaching staff gets a bit of the benefit after last season. Heck - out of the gate people didn't like the Jonah move - but it looked good in hindsight (or at least after the 1st year). Maybe this is a better scheme fit plus helps allow Poles to attack some other fronts.

I also missed that it was a pick next year. Feels we can't look at this in a vaccuum and got to see how the broader off-season plays out. Might just help them know they have one part situated (or at least an option) that then enables them to be more comfortable with some other moves. Even if that is - this allows them to basically assess Newman as the center while knowing they have a potential fall back plan. Knowing that may mean they go aggressive at an LT or Hendrickson or something else.

I don't really get why they are giving up a 5th round pick here? He's a former first round pick (I believe), but other than that I don't know much about him. How are you rated 30th on PFF but give up 0 and 0. If he actually is a top 12 center than I stand correct and am fine with it, but in general, these doesn't seem like the type of player we should be giving up a 5th round pick for.

I think I'm getting my arms around going big on a center. Ensure our interior and oline has a few difference maker(s). Right now this would mean we had 3 - Thuney, Wright, and Lindy. 1-2 years from now - it would shift to 2 as Thuney will age (could even be this year). If you get Lindy, than I personally would also say go for Decker on a 1yr bridge deal - but with us upgrading the interior (Lindy > Dalman), I would be perfectly fine if instead we opted for a competition from who we have as well. Draft D all the way - unless you have a high grade on an LT option. Find a few starters on D as part of the 2nd wave of free agency. This could include bringing back 1 of Byard/Brisker. Assess FA running back / ability to get younger + pick up draft asset (ie if you think you can get 2 years younger and spend similar to Swift money on a FA - get them and flip Swift for a low round pick) Note: The above helps strengthen foundations across the team while enabling a ton of flexibility the following year - where the Bears would have ample cap space (more benefit from Moore trade, plus Ayo/Jarrett flexibility). Probably looking at moving JJ (hopefully after he's rebuilt his value) at that time too - as the team can be a bit more aggressive given more cap space + assets (and hopefully another good draft building / creating a stronger ascending foundation).

In my mind - the goal is to win superbowls. I'm not saying to wait - I'm saying focus on building foundational blocks today vs. pretending we are near final state and should give up 2 high draft picks plus major cap space on a strong player who is about to be on the back-end of their career. I just don't like the strategy - at all. The Bears aren't in a spot where they need to go "all-in". They are a year ahead of where they thought they would be with Ben - but they still have a lot of foundational work that needs to be done - don't loose focus of that for the wrong reasons. If Crosby was 25 or 26, I would have a different answer for this. If they could get Crosby for #25 or a 2nd rounder - same thing, zero problem there - cause I can see how you can make everything fit into a broader picture.

Technically - Crosby was hurt. I'm not saying he gets shut down - but I don't know that I go as far as to say that they win the game with Crosby and I don't think they win the super bowl either. I don't think Crosby puts us over the top. Quite frankly the Bears aren't yet 1 player away. They need to see more growth on offense and they have a lot of work to do on the defensive side of the ball.

Courtney Cronin reported that she expects the Bears will receive the comp picks. We'll find out later on today I think - but I'll take that at least as a positive sign...hoping that means she had heard from someone at Halas Hall who maybe had gotten some initial intelligence from the league.

It may not be sexy - but - if they nail the draft I think that is a big win and it is important. I also think we have to recognize the goal is to build a long-term winner. Getting Crosby and using a bunch of assets helps the team in the short - but I don't know that it puts them over the top and in 2 years+ I think it actually puts them behind the 8 ball. It goes back to - they need to take a balanced approach to team building. I think they need to identify and find young ascending talent, especially on the defensive front. But they also have to identify some more young and ascending talent on the oline. The cap situation is very different now - which is great - gives them flexibility - but quite frankly - they swung big on Jarrett and Ayo - and we aren't getting that value either - but thankfully they can walk away from that in a year. The piece that excites me - if the team uses this year to add more young talent - than you look at where they are a year from now - they have a ton of cap flexibility (this moves didn't just clear cap space now - they create even more flexibility a year from now - ie Moore saved $16M this year but I believe $25M next year). We can get too worked up on the quick fixes - and I'm okay if they supplement that with a targeted add or 2 - but I'm also okay if the primary focus is on multiplying draft picks and focusing on wave 2 of free agency (and even monitoring the trade front). Feels like with where the franchise is - jumping out of the gate (unless they have deemed Lindy or Tray or a safety) must haves - that at some point there will be less money and some quality guys out there and you can be more cap prudent getting those players (knowing the goal has to still be finding impact players via the draft). Note: I support going all in for the Ravens center - purely because when Thuney starts to degrade maybe you have the young C, Wright as your higher paid guys whlie you have some other younger talent hopefully ascending around the line. But again - that requires investment's in the trenches.

Hoping tomorrow bears get some good news. Comp picks get announced.

They were over the cap before though - anyone know what our actual capacity is now?

Even a 7th or a pick swap would have been nice. Maybe it got to the point where once it is that low there is kind of a bias not to do it and lock a player who has been a good / solid performer into a destination vs. the trade.

It would be a good deal - but I wouldn't resign Wright. Wright had a lot of TOs but he wasn't very good. Bears would need to find a good DB - but there are some solid FA options out there and this is a good draft to get them. I do think JJ could probably still fetch a 2RP if you traded him - so I don't think I would trade Crosby for 3 2nd rounders. If Crosby was 26 - I'd be dealing 2 FRP's I just don't love swinging that big on a 29 year old and our window isn't closed. Use your picks - draft well - be smart in FA and we will see sustained success.

My point was - if the price really is steep - would the Raiders take on the salary for one year to ensure they got a FRP and a 2RP (or what you are hearing as a rumor that some teams have offered 2 FRP's). I just don't like trading future FRP's since you never know what could happen - meaning the risk of the pick being top 10 is too great (knowing injuries etc can happen).

If the Bears got Crosby and were able to include Dayo in it - the ability to really spend money opens up a bit.

My prediction though (and not what I want): Bears trade Edmunds, 1st rounder, and a 2nd rounder for Crosby and a 4th rounder.

Rumors that some teams are offering 2 FRP's for Crosby. I really really hope that isn't the Bears. I would prefer not to do it for 1 FRP, let alone 2. I think I could get my arms around a FRP and JJ or a FRP and a 2RP next year deal...even though it isn't what I would do. If they did give 2FRP - we better be dumping some bad contracts at the same time (ie Dayo gets sent over with it).

Never missed a game - avg 1K+ over 3 years - fantastic teammate. Played key role helping us get to where we are and wish him all the best. You were fun to watch over those 3 season's DJ and appreciate what you did as a Bear and for the city of Chicago.

I'm locking this - please put each other / keep each other on ignore. We have real Bears news going on to discuss - and while I get you both have your differences - lets not have it muddle up from the major stuff at work. Got a feeling we have a few more moves that will happen in advance of free agency as Poles gets himself ready for free agency and the draft.

This is a good deal for Bills - closer to an early 3rd rounder (since its a later 2nd rounder). Like it from both teams perspective. Allen is in his prime and he needs a guy that is just a really good receiver. DJ Moore is that and he's still durable and when you add him to the Bills the offense just got a heck of a lot better. Joe Brady coached him with Panthers too. Very happy DJ ended up in a good situation and it was also right time for Bears to make the move. Win / Win in my book. Now lets get a 5th or 6th for Edmunds and quite frankly I'd be interested if we could flip something for Swift. Seeing what Monty got, I would be very open to flipping Swift and than replacing him with one of the free agent backs who is younger. Call it a pure asset play.

This is a good move. I'll miss DJ Moore but I like this move.