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.  

44 minutes ago, Bears4Ever_34 said:

I really hope the Bears didn't clear up over 30 million in cap space to not make some sort of splash signing/trade. They just lost 3 quality starters this week. If they lose out on Lindenbaum or Crosby, it's going to put immense pressure on Ryan Poles to nail the draft again to replace a lot of these guys. They still need 2 safeties on top of a C, LT, and pass rusher—and now WR3. 

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. 

7 minutes ago, BearFan PHX said:

Also, we have now opened:

Dalman $10M (or maybe $14M)
DJ Moore $16.5
Edmunds $15M

$41.5M (or $45.5M) on the cap, and just getting started. We do have money to go after a premiere pass rusher and of course you all know I would LOVE to have Linderbaum too. Especially if Thuney's years are numbered, like 2 left.

Still to come:

Edge, DT (x2?), LT, LB, S, CB, WR

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

12 minutes ago, BearFan PHX said:

Edmunds just got cut. I guess there were no trade partners, too bad. It was only a 5th, but it would have been nice...

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.  

3 minutes ago, Stinger226 said:

If we could exchange JJ contract for Crosby that would be amazing. Then resign Wright. 

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.  

13 minutes ago, Stinger226 said:

No one is trading for an injuried player. No one even knows if he will be ready for training camp and Jarrett earns to much to be a consideration. 

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).  

35 minutes ago, BearFan PHX said:

Good point about Brown. i thought he was gonna go and then Moore was gonna go right after, but I guess Buffalo wanted Moore more, or didnt want to wait for Brown and possibly miss both?

Crosby is gonna be expensive in trade and cap. I've been wondering if we wouldn't go with Hendrickson, or someone else, maybe a DT. I generally feel the same way you do about being careful with picks and cap room. But seeing how aggressive Johnson and poles were on the offensive side of the ball last year, and seeing as how we know Caleb is the guy. Maybe we will go all in, make a run, and get our cap locked in to a roster full of talent that we hope to ride for several years.

It's risky of course. You look at Dayo, Jarrett etc - you don't want to go all in and end up married to guys who underperform their deals. But I wouldnt be surprised if we were aggressive around Crosby and Linderbaum. And then wed need some mid tier LT, and DT, maybe a safety before the draft. Do all that you've got a hell of a team, but you're married to them all for several years, so you have to be sure theyre gonna be studs for you.

With all the talk from Crosby maybe he really does want to come here and get a ring.

One thing's for sure, with Caleb and Johnson we are becoming an attractive place for high end free agents to want to go.

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.  

15 minutes ago, BearFan2000 said:

Sad to see Moore go, but I think this works out well for all parties involved.  Bills get a solid WR to go with Josh Allen,  DJ gets a fresh start on an established playoff team.  Bears get good compensation and some cap room.  I don't see a loser in this trade.   

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.  

3 hours ago, BearFan PHX said:

what the actual hell. this certainly changes our offseason plans.

I'm no expert, but it looks like we will have significant salary cap dead space as a result. We may only gain $500k in cap space, and have to replace him as well.

I presume retirement has to impact the cap in a different manner so they get flexibility cap wise - but creates a very different wrinkle.  

1 hour ago, Stinger226 said:

We need help on the DL, so why would they trade Dexter? You aren't getting anything valuable for him plus any DT you would bring in would cost more. He's not a star player but he's not a bad player. If we had a younger player to replace him , I would understand but we don't plus he's durable. I don't remember him missing any games. 

 

Because you think he's just a guy and you are trying to build a better team; so get picks and go younger and trust DA to get things right over time.  Or trade him for a player who is a better scheme fit.  

2 minutes ago, DABEARSDABOMB said:

He's not a difference maker and he's a year from getting paid. I'm okay trading him now - or you play the comp game.  We won't get a ton -but if you can for example trade our 4th and get an earlier 4th plus a 6th or something - you do it.  I'll feel better about Poles if I see him make these type(s) of moves with guys he brought in - shows me he is thinking forward and not lost on the current prize vs. the long term goal.  

Now he also has to execute and hit on picks (knowing some are going to fail - but overall hit rate has to be good).  Get a lot of picks - have a solid hit rate - good things happen, rinse and repeat in terms of how you keep difference makers vs. who you let go/allow to move on (usually preference is a year early vs. a year late).  

Those 4th/5th/6th picks can also be valuable chips to trade / acquire good players with needs to (see Jackson / Thuney).  

30 minutes ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

Rumor has it Gervin Dexter is on the trade market. 

He's not a difference maker and he's a year from getting paid. I'm okay trading him now - or you play the comp game.  We won't get a ton -but if you can for example trade our 4th and get an earlier 4th plus a 6th or something - you do it.  I'll feel better about Poles if I see him make these type(s) of moves with guys he brought in - shows me he is thinking forward and not lost on the current prize vs. the long term goal.  

Now he also has to execute and hit on picks (knowing some are going to fail - but overall hit rate has to be good).  Get a lot of picks - have a solid hit rate - good things happen, rinse and repeat in terms of how you keep difference makers vs. who you let go/allow to move on (usually preference is a year early vs. a year late).  

Bears are allowing him to seek a trade. Would be nice if they could flip him for a 6th rounder...or even kind of a - we trade our 5th for a higher 5th type of a deal.  

9 hours ago, adam said:

I think it is wild seeing Malik Willis as the #1 Free Agent on many lists. His agent is a masterclass. The guy has one start with over 210 yards passing. How is he any different than a guy like Tyler Huntley? Hell, I would take Mitch over Willis any day. Which leads me to this, why would teams be interested in Bagent but not someone like Trubisky? That confuses me. It is not like Trubisky would cost an arm and a leg to get.

Bagent hasn't shown he ISNT he guy where as Mitch has clearly gotten the chances and shown he isn't a full time starter.  I don't think anyone would view Bagent as worthy of a 2nd round pick - unless it was a conditional type of pick.  

Sounds like Illinois is in the process of finalizing an agreement for Arlington heights site.  So I expect we'll see shovels in the ground sooner than we think at the Bears preferred site.  

I think the problem is I can’t see someone offering a 2nd..if they did he is gone. A 3rd is probably what it would take but Bears may prefer to wait a year in that case. If it happens I think a 3rd with a conditional pick in the following year - if he hits it big maybe it escalates to a 2nd and if it doesn’t hit goes as low as an additional 5th or 6th. 

Biggs mentioned today combine would be where the Bears would maybe ask about the picks. Biggs is super connected and he didn’t want to get Bears fans hopes up but figured fact he said it meant he heard they were at least going to try. Would be big to get those picks. 

Very boring game. 

1 hour ago, Alaskan Grizzly said:

I have a feeling he’s a Ben Johnson coat tailer.  Something tells me he’ll be unemployed by the end of next season.  
 

This post brought to you courtesy of Pendleton Whiskey. 

Sean Payton raved about him too. He’s a really bright mind…might be a year or two too early but he’s worked a few years with two of the better offensive minds in this league.