What say you?

I'm going to go OT - I think they move up a few spots and grab the Utah prospect. If not OT, I think it will be a DB and think it would be the Tulane safety or a trade down and they grab the IU DB.

Great deal for Giants. Wow - that is quite the premium. Bengals messed up so bad - lost Hendrickson when they could have got multiple picks a year ago and now give up a pick that early. And they have wideouts and Joe B paid. Absolute buffoons.

I absolutely would give up one of our 2nd rounders straight up for him. Preferably the Bills pick - basically think of it as DJ for Dexter.

2 hours ago, Pixote said:

If I'm not mistaken, Schoen, the NYG GM, is the brilliant mind who allowed Barkley to leave and sign with the Eagles.

I wouldn't be surprised to see him screw this up. Lawrence is traded for a 2nd or 3rd round pick.

Does Poles make the trade? I doubt it. The Bears' future cap health would be at risk.

The Bears cap situation is pretty solid - it’s tight this year but than the albatross players on dline open up (Ayo and Jarrett). They have a lot of flexibility coming there plus still have a ton of flexibility for guys under contract too.

Again if Lawrence issues were an injury and just bad luck and they don’t any long term concerns and view him as a guy who will be an all pro…my offer probably wouldn’t be realistic. That said - Lawrence most of his career would be a massive upgrade.

Another scenario I would consider is both 2nd rounders and Dexter for Lawrence and their 2nd rounder.

2 hours ago, BearFan PHX said:

He's a hell of a player, and the trade scenario that DABEARS suggested would be a steal for us. I suspect they'd want more. But it's clever to regain that 37th pick.

The concern I have is salary cap. He wants a lot of money. he's already set to make $27M and $29M for the next two years, and he's holding out, so he's gonna want a lot.

Today, Will Anderson Jr signed an extension with the Falcons for $150M over three years WITH a no trade clause.

In light of that, I dunno if I can see paying Lawrence $40M+ a year. I'm not an expert on him, so maybe he is worth it. Anyone want to argue that he is? I'm all ears.

I can't imagine him getting that - feels like he wants more guaranteed money but he's at a fair going rate. I am pleasantly optimistic if his pressure rate remained high. For some reason I thought I had read that it was also down in '25. Again - I'm not giving up a 1st. I thought about one of our 2nd rounders - but didn't love that either given the cost and fact they were coming off bad year (and less leverage). But I do think if you could get him for a move back (25 for 37) and than a sweetner (pick next year) or a 3rd this year (and we pick up there 4th rounder) that lets them jump up and get 5th year option in round 1 and get another pick earlier in the draft.

I don't know what drove Lawrence to have a down year last year - but if the front office thought it was an anamoly and they thought he could still be the player he was most of his career - I would be open to a deal but very particular. Basically Lawrence and 25 to move back to 37. So Giants get to jump back up into the 1st round and Bears move back 12 picks. If we needed to give like a future 5th fine.

League doesn’t want to admit that they messed up. Sucks but it is what it is.

Smith is someone the Bears liked so hopefully he is feeling good and healthy and ready to compete. I could see 2 of first 3 or 4 picks being dbs (safety and CB).

2 hours ago, dawhizz said:

I feel like moving to 43 is a little too far but I would like something like that Jets deal.

I agree - in the move to 43 - are we just giving up 25? If so I can kind of see it but would expect bears may want to move back closer to 30/35 which is okay.

5 minutes ago, adam said:

From the league meetings, it sounds like Trapilo will be out for the entire season.

They should try and get him some practice reps towards end of the year but plan on it being a full redshirt season. The reps at the end are just to help push him as he heads into the offseason and to help Bears get a perspective of where he is so they can make plans a year from now.

3 hours ago, Pixote said:

Love it! Especially the dark theme. As you said, slick.

I missed the downtime. Just returned from 2 months of hospitals and rehab after falling and sustaining multiple fractures of my pelvis. I have quite a ways to go. Painful sitting for long stretches. So I will be in and out until I gain more strength.

Thanks, DBDB, for the amazing update.

Really sorry to hear that - glad you are at least out of the hospital and on the mend! Sending you nothing but positive thoughts on your recovery!!!

Quality depth signing and solid special teams. Agree with a few of you - think this means it isn’t a likely target first few rounds unless they really love someone who falls to them.

5 minutes ago, AZ54 said:

Still waiting on Cam Jordan to see where he chooses to go. At this point having cleaned out his locker in NO he’s clearly just waiting on more money. That’s also what he said the other day…paraphrasing: gotta get the right value. FA players in this time frame might have to wait for the draft before teams know who they drafted and what roster holes they need to fill. So far i’ve seen nothing more than speculation the Bears are one of the teams he’s talking with.

Biggs had a report I think it was today - seemed to indicate don't expect any movement no these DL guys for a while. Maybe after the draft there will be some urgency - team doesn't get someone they like or address things as expected, but right now - it seems evident - Bears want Shemar plus another draft pick or two along with the continued development of Booker - as the strategy for enhancing the line.

Adding one of these vets - takes away reps from one of those young players - with minimal upside. For example, Cam, Bosa, Espenosa - none of them are strong players at this point in their career. So you kind of know what your upside is there vs. giving reps to a next generation who could be material upgrades.

16 minutes ago, Mongo3451 said:

Placing height and weight on football analysis sucks. A 250lb DE is just as capable of collapsing a pocket as a 280lb DE. It's all about strength and speed and instinct. The same goes for DL and the inverse. It's all about individual talent. Otherwise, the likes of Dwight Freeney and Aaron Donald don't make it. It also tells me me a 6'5 guys like Richard Seymour, Chris Jones or Deforest Buckner can't make it on the inside. It's all BS. Talent is talent...

I’m in this camp. I don’t think DA wouldn’t find use for Chris Jones or Deforest but you make do. I get it you need 3-4 or you have certain styles but in the interior talent wins. I do understand if you run 4-3 your run D might get punished if you have light ends (ie certain 3-4 ends aren’t going to work as 4-3 ends)

2 minutes ago, AZ54 said:

I think he's a good player but he’s not worth 25 overall. I’d be happier with Thieneman who at least has Pro Bowl type talent. Jacas will just be a good DE and before that I prefer to add a good DT where our need is greater.

I saw someone throw out a what-if scenario if a top WR falls to us. A top CB? In those cases I’m thinking trade down because someone will want to trade up. However a top CB might be tempting.

I think a CB falling that Bears like is a real probability and I easily could see them selecting said player. It is a big need given Stevenson was in doghouse for a while and the 3 best DBs on team all missed substantial time (JJ, Kyler and Smith).

I also think I wouldn’t be shocked if Bears went WR earlier than we think. If a player Ben likes is there I could easily see them go back to that well (ala Luther) with one of the 2nd rounders. I don’t think they would do it at 25 and as you mentioned in that scenario I think trade down offers would be good.

Re: safety the Toledo safety would pair nice with Bryant too. Physical. Penn States safety would be great in 2nd round. Really wish we had that extra 3rd!

20 minutes ago, BearFan PHX said:

All true. But Jacas will be there at 25, and I think he's worth it the way Loveland was worth his pick. under the radar for sure, and talking heads will laugh, but I think hes the right one.

He reminds me a bit of Alex Brown - good solid player, but I fear doesn’t have the high end tools to be an impact player. With one of our 2nd rounders, heck yeah, but at 25 I think I’d rather go with one of the 3T options, trade back (maybe to get your guy Jacas but at a better spot) or grab a DB/Safety where I think we can get an impact player if they do it right.

Unrelated but Cam Jordan is a free agent. Definitely think real chance they sign him at some point to 1 year deal.

14 minutes ago, BearFan PHX said:

Thieneman is an excellent player. A true stud.

Unless there is some free agent addition on the DL, I suspect we will draft Illinois DE Gabe Jacas. I know people will say it's too high etc, but this is what i see, at least now here on March 16th.

We might also trade the pick down, or trade for an Edge like Cam Jordan.

I think there are some excellent safety prospects here - goal at 25 has to be find a blue chipper and when you look at his irony of draft it feels like your best path to find one in this range is at one of those less sexy positions like safety or interior line or even LB (DB). Premium positions like LT, DE and QB tend to get overreached in this window.

This safety crop has a few guys that look like they can be legit all pros - that said - if I go there I’d probably try to move back (presuming I had a few of them similarly graded). You also have a shot at a guy in this range who fell for whatever reason.

One scenario I wouldn’t bet against is Poles moving up - package one2nd rounder with this pick and they could certainly jump up if they saw a premium end or LT prospect dropping. This scenario would have been more likely had they got the comp picks.

Hopefully they can hit a couple more legit pieces this draft and as a few of you have said we see more development out of the existing core and get some flashes of those that haven’t yet shined (Shemar / Frazier / Hyppo)…but reality is I think Shemar is only one with some hope of that group.

8 hours ago, Lucky Luciano said:

question: the thread Free Agency News is only a half page wide with some other stuff on the other half. this seems like the only one to do this. is there a way to make the replies full page wide?

i liked the old layout better too as some have said. too much text under each thread topic and small text headline. that said thanks for getting this back on.

I think you'll see that change is now in - no longer see desktop splitting - but confirm on your end.

1 hour ago, BearFan PHX said:

I come here on a laptop, but if it's better for phones, then good!

Thanks very much for keeping the site alive.

All that said - I’ll see what alternate themes exist once I start to learn the back end better.

2 hours ago, BearFan PHX said:

Thank you for everything youre doing for the site.

I prefer the old look, if that's possible?

Unfortunately this is the new style the software company went with. There are different color options available on the bottom, but this version was designed from bottom up to optimize mobile interfaces and usage and increase speed.

Still getting used to it but I like the cleaner navigation from my phone. Haven’t yet tried the iPad / Laptop.

Also it has a brand new dark mode that was redesigned all the way around.

Just now, Mongo3451 said:

Sewell and Hyppollite suck. The linebackers are super talented this year. I'd lay money we draft one.

I agree. Sewell stinks - maybe special teams at best. Hyppo couldn’t even get on the field. I know he had some injuries but if he doesn’t flash this offseason I think he’s at risk of getting cut.

Edward’s is solid but that injury will further slow him down and speed was never his strength - feels like a spot they add a player in the draft.

Test

Upgrade is complete. Let me know if anyone runs into any issues. New software seems pretty slick!