1 hour ago, Stinger226 said:

I agree he probably won't be here after next year but he had production every place he played until he came here. So by your logic, we should be in the SB after we cut Swift. Got it 

no need to be snarky - I literally said "LOL Im kidding"

On 2/28/2025 at 4:22 AM, BearFan PHX said:

no need to be snarky - I literally said "LOL Im kidding"

The team met with Cam Skattebo/ RB from AZ. His tape looks good. Any ASU guys have any opinions?

13 hours ago, Stinger226 said:

The team met with Cam Skattebo/ RB from AZ. His tape looks good. Any ASU guys have any opinions?

He'd mix in well with Swift as a 1-2 combo.  He's got very good contact balance, power, and enough lateral agility to make a cut and get to open space.   He has enough speed to get you some good chunk plays too.  

2 hours ago, AZ54 said:

He'd mix in well with Swift as a 1-2 combo.  He's got very good contact balance, power, and enough lateral agility to make a cut and get to open space.   He has enough speed to get you some good chunk plays too.  

I think players like this ( not top rated) will be more likely drafted, 3 rd round and beyond, and could be big contributors this year.

Jeanty would be a great addition but would have to take him at 10 if we got that chance. 

Swift has 2 more years at 17 mil for both. Johnson has 2 more years left.

I think they will fit Johnson's offense. We will draft a RB but I don't think until 72 or pick 145. This draft is deep and we can get a power back at one of those picks. Skattebo, Mullings, Martinez, and Ollie Gordon are all power backs and can be gotten 3 rd and beyond.

22 minutes ago, Stinger226 said:

Jeanty would be a great addition but would have to take him at 10 if we got that chance. 

Swift has 2 more years at 17 mil for both. Johnson has 2 more years left.

I think they will fit Johnson's offense. We will draft a RB but I don't think until 72 or pick 145. This draft is deep and we can get a power back at one of those picks. Skattebo, Mullings, Martinez, and Ollie Gordon are all power backs and can be gotten 3 rd and beyond.

I dont think they are going to let short term dollars affect their long term plans. I think when you bring in a new staff, you take some losses in order to accommodate the new way of doing things. Like when we switched from a 4-3 to a 3-4 and back etc.

Now Im not saying we will be drafting Jeanty, thats many leaps from what Im saying, but if Johnson says he needs him, and Poles thinks he can make it happen, then Swift's money isn't going to be the reason why it doesnt happen.

53 minutes ago, BearFan PHX said:

I dont think they are going to let short term dollars affect their long term plans. I think when you bring in a new staff, you take some losses in order to accommodate the new way of doing things. Like when we switched from a 4-3 to a 3-4 and back etc.

Now Im not saying we will be drafting Jeanty, thats many leaps from what Im saying, but if Johnson says he needs him, and Poles thinks he can make it happen, then Swift's money isn't going to be the reason why it doesnt happen.

The Bears were almost 80 mil under the cap a week ago. The two G's we traded for cost us nothing in 2026 unless we resign them.  The cap is projected to go up another 20 million in 2026 and that will put the Bears around 80-90 million under the cap without figuring Gordon or Brisker.  The Bears cannot be cheap anymore.  I'd prefer a LT or DE with the first Rd pick, but if Jentry is a once a decade RB, I can live with it regardless of what is tied to Swift. 

42 minutes ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

The Bears were almost 80 mil under the cap a week ago. The two G's we traded for cost us nothing in 2026 unless we resign them.  The cap is projected to go up another 20 million in 2026 and that will put the Bears around 80-90 million under the cap without figuring Gordon or Brisker.  The Bears cannot be cheap anymore.  I'd prefer a LT or DE with the first Rd pick, but if Jentry is a once a decade RB, I can live with it regardless of what is tied to Swift. 

I really need to watch more film so I can argue about how we need him or should avoid him, or should take someone else!

1 hour ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

The Bears were almost 80 mil under the cap a week ago. The two G's we traded for cost us nothing in 2026 unless we resign them.  The cap is projected to go up another 20 million in 2026 and that will put the Bears around 80-90 million under the cap without figuring Gordon or Brisker.  The Bears cannot be cheap anymore.  I'd prefer a LT or DE with the first Rd pick, but if Jentry is a once a decade RB, I can live with it regardless of what is tied to Swift. 

It's hard to build your DL and OL when your first pick is a RB. A mid round pick will get us a potential lead back without grabbing Jeanty. It's different if we have no one but Swift is not garbage. I just don't think they get a RB at 10 . 

1 hour ago, Stinger226 said:

It's hard to build your DL and OL when your first pick is a RB. A mid round pick will get us a potential lead back without grabbing Jeanty. It's different if we have no one but Swift is not garbage. I just don't think they get a RB at 10 . 

It depends on how Johnson and the scouts value him. Swift is not good enough, but maybe an edge rusher or OT is though.

2 hours ago, BearFan PHX said:

It depends on how Johnson and the scouts value him. Swift is not good enough, but maybe an edge rusher or OT is though.

I think that depends on how Johnson views Swift, his actions will dictate how he feels, no one knows yet. 

6 hours ago, Stinger226 said:

It's hard to build your DL and OL when your first pick is a RB. A mid round pick will get us a potential lead back without grabbing Jeanty. It's different if we have no one but Swift is not garbage. I just don't think they get a RB at 10 . 

I understand and preach building the trenches.  This is more the case if they sign Dalman for Center and sign a DE like Josh Sweat or Kahlil Mack.  The would still have 2nd round picks to get developmental prospects for the trenches.

16 minutes ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

I understand and preach building the trenches.  This is more the case if they sign Dalman for Center and sign a DE like Josh Sweat or Kahlil Mack.  The would still have 2nd round picks to get developmental prospects for the trenches.

I think they grab one of the Colts/Eagles young linemen or one of Bosa/Mack. If they can’t sign Dalman, I could see them trading for a strong center.
 

Than we see a number of picks in the trenches too. 

5 hours ago, BearFan PHX said:

It depends on how Johnson and the scouts value him. Swift is not good enough, but maybe an edge rusher or OT is though.

In their evaluation, they will factor that picks ten through fifty are similar.(This year)  If Jeanty is an outlier and we trade can't trade back, he may be the guy.

42 minutes ago, Mongo3451 said:

In their evaluation, they will factor that picks ten through fifty are similar.(This year)  If Jeanty is an outlier and we trade can't trade back, he may be the guy.

Exactly.  The DLine and Oline is pretty deep and a guy we can take at 10 could be graded similiar at 39.  Jentry might be too good to pass.  I tought investing in a stud RB is a year early for the Bears, but I didn't see a Thuney or Jackson being added to the interior.  FA starts next week and we might be happy with the O/D lines and can take a game changer.

3 hours ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

Exactly.  The DLine and Oline is pretty deep and a guy we can take at 10 could be graded similiar at 39.  Jentry might be too good to pass.  I tought investing in a stud RB is a year early for the Bears, but I didn't see a Thuney or Jackson being added to the interior.  FA starts next week and we might be happy with the O/D lines and can take a game changer.

He’s going to need to show legit 4.3 speed to really stand out in this RB class.  I don’t think he’s got it. I expect his time to be close to Hampton which I think was 4.45.  If I’m wrong the hype machine will be off the rails before the draft.   If he is that fast I also won’t mind drafting him.  That kind of speed with his vision and contact balance is lethal to a defense.  Especially in the 2nd half.  
 

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/ashton-jeanty/32004a45-4142-7291-3a65-da29eaedce27

And after all this, he may not even be there at #10...

Picking a RB at 10 is a hard call, trading up for one from 10 borders on the ridiculous.

But here we are. Things are so different now with ben Johnson, I truly dont know what to think.

23 minutes ago, AZ54 said:

He’s going to need to show legit 4.3 speed to really stand out in this RB class.  I don’t think he’s got it. I expect his time to be close to Hampton which I think was 4.45.  If I’m wrong the hype machine will be off the rails before the draft.   If he is that fast I also won’t mind drafting him.  That kind of speed with his vision and contact balance is lethal to a defense.  Especially in the 2nd half.  
 

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/ashton-jeanty/32004a45-4142-7291-3a65-da29eaedce27

I don't think he'll get under 4.4 either.  But, if you take a ten or fifteen yard split, he's as fast as anyone I've seen.  If Ben Johnson wants to run a lot of play action, Jeanty would be a dream.  

Does anyone know if he can catch or pass protect?

I think if they can make a strong signing at Dline in free agency, which I think they are going to do, than I really see them taking a OT prospect at 10 and if they need to move up for Campbell to do it I could see them doing it.  If it isn't OT, I think it will be dline.  I also think if they go OT, we see RB and Dline with the 2 2nd rounders (and if they need to move around in 2nd round to get to right spot value wise they do so).  That 3rd rounder I could see being anywhere - potentially a safety or a guard/TE.  

40 minutes ago, DABEARSDABOMB said:

I think if they can make a strong signing at Dline in free agency, which I think they are going to do, than I really see them taking a OT prospect at 10 and if they need to move up for Campbell to do it I could see them doing it.  If it isn't OT, I think it will be dline.  I also think if they go OT, we see RB and Dline with the 2 2nd rounders (and if they need to move around in 2nd round to get to right spot value wise they do so).  That 3rd rounder I could see being anywhere - potentially a safety or a guard/TE.  

Agreed on the trenches.  I'm thinking EDGE at 10.

19 minutes ago, Mongo3451 said:

Agreed on the trenches.  I'm thinking EDGE at 10.

I think edge is a legit option too - I think LT or DE without a doubt.  But I really see a scenario where they add Dalman at C and draft an LT - basically 4 / 5th's of the oline is brand new.  Keep Braxton as a swing tackle/depth move, give Kiran time to earn a spot too (or swing inside eventually) - but totally changes the line. Young tackles on the edges, quality vets inside - really good balance on the oline and you have depth too.  And it gets to the point Johnson and Poles made around totally remaking things.  I really love that combination and if I were going to lean going heavy on oline vs. dline - right now I'd rather go extra heavy on oline to put the nucleus in place for Caleb more so and than use my next 2 picks to double down on the line (plus another free agent signing).  

5 minutes ago, DABEARSDABOMB said:

I think edge is a legit option too - I think LT or DE without a doubt.  But I really see a scenario where they add Dalman at C and draft an LT - basically 4 / 5th's of the oline is brand new.  Keep Braxton as a swing tackle/depth move, give Kiran time to earn a spot too (or swing inside eventually) - but totally changes the line. Young tackles on the edges, quality vets inside - really good balance on the oline and you have depth too.  And it gets to the point Johnson and Poles made around totally remaking things.  I really love that combination and if I were going to lean going heavy on oline vs. dline - right now I'd rather go extra heavy on oline to put the nucleus in place for Caleb more so and than use my next 2 picks to double down on the line (plus another free agent signing).  

That or if I'm high on Simmons - I draft my favorite dlinemen at 10 (or slightly lower) and than use my 2nd rounder and a 2nd next year to jump back into the top 20 or so and tackle a LT.  Basically lock in 5th year option and 1st round with my DE and LT this year.  It does make me a bit light in next year's draft as I'd be giving up a future 2nd too. At that point - the 2nd I keep, I'm moving down in the draft to a bit more to accumulate back some draft capital.  

Heard a podcast with Matt Bowen who I like and he said that Thuney will raise the play of the whole line. He's a team leader and will command accountability. I think we bring a LT in but not at 10. We're putting our free agent assets in the OL so I think we improve the DL with 2 of our top picks . Now if they add a couple free agents on the DL, that changes the draft to best player available.

1 hour ago, Stinger226 said:

Heard a podcast with Matt Bowen who I like and he said that Thuney will raise the play of the whole line. He's a team leader and will command accountability. I think we bring a LT in but not at 10. We're putting our free agent assets in the OL so I think we improve the DL with 2 of our top picks . Now if they add a couple free agents on the DL, that changes the draft to best player available.

I watched that pod this evening too. He mentioned Thuney playing RG bc he is so versatile and leaving Jackson at LG.  We will see.  

I think the Bears add to the Dline in FA also at DE and DT, along w Center.  The draft might have 5 top tier players and then it is good thru round 2.  I'd draft at least 1 oline and dline with the first 4 picks.  Then it could be safety, rb, or double dip on the lines. 

Im not sure who goes to RG. I can see it a bunch of different ways.

Good news is it's not like OT, moving sides isnt as big a deal at all.

On one hand, you put the 4 time superbowl winner wherever he is best, and hes been a LG the whole time.

Another way to look at it is how tough the running game would be with him next to Wright on the right side. I was hoping Davis would play up to his tape and we'd have an easy 4 yards whenever we wanted it on the right side, but then Davis turned out to be a turd.

So it could go either way. If I had to guess, Id say Jackson goes to RG, but I wouldnt want to bet heavily on it.