DJ Chark

[BearFan PHX]

So I guess DJ Chark visited the Bears, and there is some interest in signing him.

Chark is over 30, and he has had great seasons and not so great ones. One big advantage is that he has played in Ben Johnson's system before.

I dont expect anything fast or soon, but it makes me wonder if DJ Moore might be in trouble int he next couple of years.

It's interesting that the three players who mouthed off this year have all been addressed with depth.

Cole Kmet and then Coltson Loveland

DJ Moore and then Luther Burden, and possible Chark as a stop gap measure while Burden (who is a lot like Moore) comes up to speed

Jaylon Johnson sitting out right now while our depth at CB gets snaps

Im not saying all these guys are going to be gone in two years, but we are smart to be ready for that. At the very least we are buidling depth behind these guys in case we need to move them for contract reasons etc.

[Mongo3451]

Run your mouth when you've done something is kind of an unwritten rule when it comes to respect.  This team has done nothing to talk about.  If it is about culture change, I'm in.  Hopefully, it's just depth.

[BearFan PHX]

41 minutes ago, Mongo3451 said:

Run your mouth when you've done something is kind of an unwritten rule when it comes to respect.  This team has done nothing to talk about.  If it is about culture change, I'm in.  Hopefully, it's just depth.

Yeah, I dont think its a done deal, or anything like that. but it might be creating depth and in case they run their mouths again? Like insurance?

Or it might just be insurance against players who will want big contracts next year.

Moore is 28, and you can see Burden taking over his role in the next year or two. Chark would help teach Burden Johnson's system.

JJ is going to want big money the year after this one.

It's smart.

[Stinger226]

51 minutes ago, BearFan PHX said:

So I guess DJ Chark visited the Bears, and there is some interest in signing him.

Chark is over 30, and he has had great seasons and not so great ones. One big advantage is that he has played in Ben Johnson's system before.

I dont expect anything fast or soon, but it makes me wonder if DJ Moore might be in trouble int he next couple of years.

It's interesting that the three players who mouthed off this year have all been addressed with depth.

Cole Kmet and then Coltson Loveland

DJ Moore and then Luther Burden, and possible Chark as a stop gap measure while Burden (who is a lot like Moore) comes up to speed

Jaylon Johnson sitting out right now while our depth at CB gets snaps

Im not saying all these guys are going to be gone in two years, but we are smart to be ready for that. At the very least we are buidling depth behind these guys in case we need to move them for contract reasons etc.

To be honest. they did not base their draft on question marks about successful players already on the team. DJ had some bumps in the road but was still the leading weapon on the team. The JJ situation is just now happening, wasnt before the draft. Kmet had an off year because of a dysfuncial offense and just didnt get snaps.

I think they brought DJ in because he is a big  WR ,. Rome and Miles Boykin are the only large WRs on the team. DJ is 6'3' 200 lbs and has 4.34 speed at 28 years old. 

I would say Boykin has been disappointing and could take his roster spot. 

[BearFan PHX]

27 minutes ago, Stinger226 said:

To be honest. they did not base their draft on question marks about successful players already on the team. DJ had some bumps in the road but was still the leading weapon on the team. The JJ situation is just now happening, wasnt before the draft. Kmet had an off year because of a dysfuncial offense and just didnt get snaps.

I think they brought DJ in because he is a big  WR ,. Rome and Miles Boykin are the only large WRs on the team. DJ is 6'3' 200 lbs and has 4.34 speed at 28 years old. 

I would say Boykin has been disappointing and could take his roster spot. 

I think Chark would be WR5 on this team. But he knows the system, and can help tutor Burden - i think that's his main role.

Burden is a lot like DJ Moore, who is getting older. From a 2 year perspective, Burden is likely Moore's replacement.

If at some point a killer trade comes along that makes it hard to say no, and it involves trading Moore away, and Burden isnt quite ready, then Chark is an option for WR2.

Obviously Chark wont be an option in 2 years, so his value, if we even sign him, would be to teach Burden, and to be a short term replacement if someone goes down with an injury, or if a trade comes along.

I think DJ Moore will not get another contract on this team, and that means he is trade bait in the final year of his deal. In fact, his deal is structured so that we can trade him ANY year, and while it costs us $4M against the cap that year, it clears up $20M this year, or $25M next year.

I think the writing is on the wall for Moore for next year. As soon as Burden is ready, Moore is trade bait. And if the right offer comes along, Chark lets you take it with less risk.

One really good thing you can say about Poles is that he has us in a position now where we are mostly drafting for future need, rather than to fill immediate holes. pass rushing DE notwithstanding. That's next years #1 pick or free agent acquisition.

[Stinger226]

I found this hard to believe but DJ Moore is 5 months younger than DJ Chark. Another  thing to think about, both entered the NFL in the 2018 draft. Moore was pick 24 and Chark pick  51.

Hard to imagine both these players are still fairly young. 

 

[BearFan PHX]

1 hour ago, Stinger226 said:

I found this hard to believe but DJ Moore is 5 months younger than DJ Chark. Another  thing to think about, both entered the NFL in the 2018 draft. Moore was pick 24 and Chark pick  51.

Hard to imagine both these players are still fairly young. 

 

I thought Chark was older. Interesting. Anyway, in a couple of years they will be over 30. If Burden develops like he is expected to, then he plays the same position and style as Moore. So when I talk about trading DJ Moore, I mean, next year or the year after, Moore will still have a lot in the tank, which is why someone would trade for him.

But it doesnt make sense to leave $30M in cap space on your roster if you have a young stud who can be used the same way.

This is forward thinking. Ultimately everyone on the team will be replaced, and then everyone on of those people will be replaced etc etc - its the nature of the NFL.

You cant afford a team full of second and third contract guys, you always have to be replacing them with younger guys on rookie deals. Especially when your QB gets past their rookie deal.

So its interesting to see Burden, Loveland and young CBs right now. Braxton Jones wont get to his second deal here for instance.

None of this is happening right away, but you can see Poles settling in to a longer term plan, and making moves a year away now.

Our biggest needs right now are:

LT someone has to really step up and TAKE the job. Hope Trapilo is that guy, if Amagadje beats him, then so much the better.
HB we still dont have a real stud, but i expect Roschon Johnson to be better this year in the Powerback role of HB2 like Montgomery was.
EDGE we need more in pass rush, this may be our biggest weakness.

And Poles is already fixing coming needs at WR and CB so players will be in rhythm when they step up to start.
All this assuming Odunze takes a step forward this year, which I expect he will.