Next up is the East-West Shrine and Senior Bowls. Just over 6 weeks until Free Agency opens and under 3 months until the draft.

January 27th - East-West Shrine Bowl
January 31st - Senior Bowl
February 17th-March 3rd - Franchise Tag Window
February 23rd-March 2nd - NFL Combine
March 9th-11th - Legal Tampering Period
March 11th - Free Agency Officially Opens
April 20th - Clubs with returning head coaches can begin offseason workout programs
April 23rd-25th - NFL Draft
May 1st - Designate 5th-year options from 2023 Draft (Wright)
May 1st or 8th - Rookie Minicamp

Adam, thank you once again for all the stuff you post. I learn more from you and the stuff you share than most other place combined.

Theres a lot of crap on this board, but your contributions make it so valuable.

Thank you!

Do we have to wait until the free agency period or can we resign our own free agents anytime?

5 hours ago, BearFan PHX said:

Adam, thank you once again for all the stuff you post. I learn more from you and the stuff you share than most other place combined.

Theres a lot of crap on this board, but your contributions make it so valuable.

Thank you!

No problemo, I will try to do some deep dives going into next season. 

3 hours ago, Stinger226 said:

Do we have to wait until the free agency period or can we resign our own free agents anytime?

Teams have exclusive rights until the start of the new league year. So basically the Bears would have exclusive rights to their FAs thru March 10th, then the legal tampering period opens, so it becomes fair game.

So the first thing they do will be restructure contracts to have money to make moves, starting with their own FAs.

That's not that far away.

15 hours ago, Stinger226 said:

So the first thing they do will be restructure contracts to have money to make moves, starting with their own FAs.

That's not that far away.

Yep, you would figure they would want to have some idea on how much money they really have available vs projected. 

15 minutes ago, adam said:

Yep, you would figure they would want to have some idea on how much money they really have available vs projected. 

I think a lot of that might rely on trades too. ANd since we cant know that yet, they probably are running with multiple scenarios for each of those outcomes.

50 minutes ago, BearFan PHX said:

I think a lot of that might rely on trades too. ANd since we cant know that yet, they probably are running with multiple scenarios for each of those outcomes.

Even if they trade a player, it's not enough money. So you have to get what you can done to see what you have. Trades won't happen untill the new league starts. If they know Edmunds isn't coming back because of releasing them, they can count that money.

Adam can they release Edmunds now if they want ?

54 minutes ago, Stinger226 said:

Even if they trade a player, it's not enough money. So you have to get what you can done to see what you have. Trades won't happen untill the new league starts. If they know Edmunds isn't coming back because of releasing them, they can count that money.

Adam can they release Edmunds now if they want ?

They can release Edmunds now, but the Bears won't gain anything. Might as well hold onto him until March. 

2 hours ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

They can release Edmunds now, but the Bears won't gain anything. Might as well hold onto him until March. 

if two teams want him, they can bid for a trade like a 5th rounder or something. I think teams will be interested, but I also think they will wait until we cut him and not worry about trading unless someone wants to be sure they get him I guess

3 hours ago, BearFan PHX said:

if two teams want him, they can bid for a trade like a 5th rounder or something. I think teams will be interested, but I also think they will wait until we cut him and not worry about trading unless someone wants to be sure they get him I guess

Didn't think of that but on  a one  year deal, a contender may need an above average player. 5 th round is a viable pick to develop for future years. Lots of what if still to be figured out by the bear's. Hell, they could restructure and keep him one more year too.

With legal tampering window opening a week from tomorrow, you would think the team would want some clarity on who they can afford before that window.

So ultimately, by the end of the week, whatever trades, extensions, restructures they plan on doing should be complete. 

It is like planning for what you are going to do in poker before you are dealt your hand, there are too many scenarios to plan for, you only have a rough idea what you will do. So you would think they would want to know as early in the process as they can to give them more time to plan in reality and not in what-ifs.

2 hours ago, adam said:

With legal tampering window opening a week from tomorrow, you would think the team would want some clarity on who they can afford before that window.

So ultimately, by the end of the week, whatever trades, extensions, restructures they plan on doing should be complete. 

It is like planning for what you are going to do in poker before you are dealt your hand, there are too many scenarios to plan for, you only have a rough idea what you will do. So you would think they would want to know as early in the process as they can to give them more time to plan in reality and not in what-ifs.

Yes and that will include all the other teams who are interested in trading for our players like Bagent, Moore.  

2 hours ago, adam said:

With legal tampering window opening a week from tomorrow, you would think the team would want some clarity on who they can afford before that window.

So ultimately, by the end of the week, whatever trades, extensions, restructures they plan on doing should be complete. 

It is like planning for what you are going to do in poker before you are dealt your hand, there are too many scenarios to plan for, you only have a rough idea what you will do. So you would think they would want to know as early in the process as they can to give them more time to plan in reality and not in what-ifs.

Should be an exciting week. Read this morning there might be 4 teams interested in Tremaine Edmunds, so to get a pick even if in 2027 would be something.  As much as I hate to lose DJ, he is our biggest chip to have a seat at the table and play the game (FA). 

The Bears need cap space to sign a LB like Demarco Jackson at 2yr 11/12 mil to replace Edmunds.  Kevin Byard, who's leadership goes a long ways will cost around 8 mil a year. Thats about 13-15 mil they need to create just to replace two positions that would be smart to bring back short term while the Bears draft long term solutions. I can also see them trade for a 1T to replace Billings since the FA cupboard is bare. 

Send DJ to Pittsburgh for Keenu Benton DT and DE Nick Heiberg whose contracts expire after this year. Steelers have 39 mil in cap space and pairing DJ with Metcalf would give them a scary dual. If it takes throwing in Gervin Dexter, id still consider. Benton at 1T and Heiberg as rotational edge would fill 2 needs.

5 hours ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

Should be an exciting week. Read this morning there might be 4 teams interested in Tremaine Edmunds, so to get a pick even if in 2027 would be something.  As much as I hate to lose DJ, he is our biggest chip to have a seat at the table and play the game (FA). 

The Bears need cap space to sign a LB like Demarco Jackson at 2yr 11/12 mil to replace Edmunds.  Kevin Byard, who's leadership goes a long ways will cost around 8 mil a year. Thats about 13-15 mil they need to create just to replace two positions that would be smart to bring back short term while the Bears draft long term solutions. I can also see them trade for a 1T to replace Billings since the FA cupboard is bare. 

Send DJ to Pittsburgh for Keenu Benton DT and DE Nick Heiberg whose contracts expire after this year. Steelers have 39 mil in cap space and pairing DJ with Metcalf would give them a scary dual. If it takes throwing in Gervin Dexter, id still consider. Benton at 1T and Heiberg as rotational edge would fill 2 needs.

If they can get ANYTHING for Edmunds, it would be amazing. 

It will be interesting to see what they do with Moore, or who he goes to. LVR's best WR was Tre Tucker last year after trading Meyers at the deadline. Moore would be a big upgrade and fit well with a rookie QB, assuming they go with Mendoza. 

It feels like there will be at least 5 new starters on defense this year. That unit really needs to be revamped. 

8 hours ago, adam said:

If they can get ANYTHING for Edmunds, it would be amazing. 

I think we might be surprised with multiple teams interested. It wont be a 1st or anything like that, but we might do better than expected.

8 hours ago, adam said:

It will be interesting to see what they do with Moore, or who he goes to. LVR's best WR was Tre Tucker last year after trading Meyers at the deadline. Moore would be a big upgrade and fit well with a rookie QB, assuming they go with Mendoza. 

It feels like there will be at least 5 new starters on defense this year. That unit really needs to be revamped. 

I agree with all of this. Cant wait to see how it happens.

7 hours ago, BearFan PHX said:

I think we might be surprised with multiple teams interested. It wont be a 1st or anything like that, but we might do better than expected.

If they get a 5th or something like that, I will be extremely happy. 

2 hours ago, adam said:

If they get a 5th or something like that, I will be extremely happy. 

sure, but Im wondering if we might even do better?!

3 hours ago, BearFan PHX said:

sure, but Im wondering if we might even do better?!

I could only find 3 trades that involved ILBs since Roquan was traded. This is who was traded and what they went for:

Ernest Jones - 5th
Kenneth Murray - 6th
Isiah Simmons - 7th

Interestingly enough, Jones was also traded in season that year for a 4th.

Seeing that there hasn't been an off ball LB traded for more than a 5th, and considering Edmunds's salary, and lack of personal accolades (Pro Bowl, All-Pro), I don't think he would go for more than a 5th unless the Bears threw in a 7th or another player.
 

I think it will depend on Edmunds contract demands.  Is he wants big money terms will back off.  If he’s taking second tier money we might get a 4th.  

4 hours ago, adam said:

I could only find 3 trades that involved ILBs since Roquan was traded. This is who was traded and what they went for:

Ernest Jones - 5th
Kenneth Murray - 6th
Isiah Simmons - 7th

Interestingly enough, Jones was also traded in season that year for a 4th.

Seeing that there hasn't been an off ball LB traded for more than a 5th, and considering Edmunds's salary, and lack of personal accolades (Pro Bowl, All-Pro), I don't think he would go for more than a 5th unless the Bears threw in a 7th or another player.
 

You ARE the stat man. LOL I gotta admit that's a very well reasoned and researched argument. I was making a gut call based on his age, his measurables, and assuming he will agree to a lower extension. But I did no research on comparables. So i feel the market for him heating up a bit, but my guess as to what that means in terms of rounds was just out of the air. If had known what you put here, I'd still feel his market heating up, but Id have had a better understanding of what that meant in terms of actual draft value.

Thanks for this, you've convinced me!

17 hours ago, adam said:

I could only find 3 trades that involved ILBs since Roquan was traded. This is who was traded and what they went for:

Ernest Jones - 5th
Kenneth Murray - 6th
Isiah Simmons - 7th

Interestingly enough, Jones was also traded in season that year for a 4th.

Seeing that there hasn't been an off ball LB traded for more than a 5th, and considering Edmunds's salary, and lack of personal accolades (Pro Bowl, All-Pro), I don't think he would go for more than a 5th unless the Bears threw in a 7th or another player.
 

He's better than those LBers but the best would be a 4 th if a couple of teams might fight over him.

3 hours ago, Stinger226 said:

He's better than those LBers but the best would be a 4 th if a couple of teams might fight over him.

I seen something on X this morning that the Bears have turned down 5ths and want a 4th.