Chisoxfn

It’s not like Bears are a Super Bowl team next year so in some ways patience is fine. Making a bad deal and blowing 25M in long term cap space can be a disaster. I do think Hunter should have been a no brainer - short term cap space usage for an elite player - even if he is a bit old. I wonder if they will be interested in Bosa or Mack if they get cut? Or heck maybe some creative trade of Fields to Chargers as a back up and somehow make a cap friendly play for Bosa and Mike Williams (I think Bears get a benefit if you trade for them).

Ok - I'm going to throw out my hypothetical go big or go home off-season. I have no idea if any of this even work's cap wise, but I should be clear - this is all around knowing we are going to have a QB on the cheap - so why not splurge in a few areas, knowing we have our full draft capital in future years (+ Panthers 2nd rounder and I'm ignoring Field(s) at this point - so his compensation is gravy). Draft Caleb Sign Hunter for $25-$30M AAV (but keep years manageable so you have flexibility on the back-end) Trade back from #9 to #18 + get Tee Higgins - Sign Higgins to a $25M per year AAV deal Trade back again from 18 to say 25 - draft best center/oline/dline at this point (but pick up a late 2nd / early 3rd rounder - I presume 3rd for moving back). Or if you like a dlinemen here - take one - maybe take a swing at the UCLA guy and accept the injury risk 3rd Round - Take Best Available Wideout or best available interior linemen (strong draft at both spots hence priortizing here) 3rd Round - Take best available of the other spot BPA rest of the way Probably stupid - but Dline is upgraded, we have offensive upgrades, plus are making investments in the oline. I also believe if you are going to spend big - spend in on really good players who are either very elite (see Hunter) or still in or buying into their prime (Higgins).

Bears sign Everett (TE from Chargers) to a 2yr 12M deal. He's been a pretty consistent 40-50 (400-500 yard) TE during his career. Fingers crossed - durability has been good - he's 29 though so aging in NFL terms. Pretty solid depth signing though.

Lets get Jones added and get this deal done.

Mooney signs 3yr 39M deal with the Falcons. Bears have a TON of needs in wide receiver room. I also think this is a reflection of what the league thinks of Field(s). I think they are saying - Mooney was open - the QB wasn't using him and finding him. Again - kind of like league is saying Getsy wasn't that bad since he got another gig.

I don't think so - but I suppose anything is possible. I would think if Bears were not really listening on Field(s) - there would have ended up being more reports leaking from other teams speculating whether Bears weren't as interested in Caleb as possible.

Me too

That is a lot of money Giants are paying - combined with the pick.

In fairness - I have no idea if he was ever worth a 2nd or not. But when I see Wentz traded multiple times and Sam D'Arnold for something, it makes me assume Field(s) has to be worth that. Cause the raw physical skills are tremendous and he's a good hard working individual. But I also get it - teams don't just hand over draft capital. Maybe after Day 1 of the draft there is a team who misses out and decides to pay up for him - maybe its a 3rd this year and like a conditional pick next year - I don't know. I still hold out hope for if it is a 3rd they are getting one more pick. If it was a 2nd - I would have always been thrilled with that. On inverse side - Burns just got a massive deal. I like the Sweat move more than what Giants did. But I am curious to see where Bears go next or what they do. Maybe Poles is just going to go after guys that don't hit on first couple days (which isn't necessarily a bad plan - albeit I really like Hunter and feel he is the right type of player to "splurge" on. Wouldn't be shocked if they just go Armstead on a ST deal though.

I agree with you. Bears are in a good spot either way, with or without the 2nd rounder. And I don't know that the Bears were so delusional that they assumed they could get a 2nd - assuming a 3rd seemed reasonable though, so that I would buy into. Bears can always move down from 9 to a bit later and get a different tier of wideout plus a 2nd if they want. They also have a ton of cap space - so deploy that if they need to but do it smartly to where it doesn't create long-term pain. They do absolutely need to add a few wideouts and maybe even a TE - so that they can draft talent elsewhere but mitigate holes. I am curious to see what they do at wideout - really just one of the major wideouts has signed which is kind of surprising to me, but maybe not. What if the Bengals offered Higgins and their FRP to move up to 9 to get a Higgins replacement (or oline help for Burrows)? Bears would have to pay Higgins a ton - but it gives bears a wideout while still having a FRP to address defense or the oline (or if Brockers is there to spend it on that). Not saying I love this idea but its an option given the cap space.

Says Bears haven't even put Field(s) on the market as they are still evaluating Caleb. I think it is BS, but supposedly Rap said it in which case there must be some merit.

I agree - I always said the best thing he could do actually for his trade value would be to basically have his agent work with other clubs and agree to a 2 yr extension - call it for 20M per year - so he is getting some big guaranteed money (sets him up for life) while also almost ensuring he gets a real shot to start. If he doesn't do well - he at least got generational money and if he does do well - the deal is short-term enough a team would rip it up and extend him to big money 1-2 years down the road (and if they didn't - he is set to make a killing). He could always agree to some stipulation as part of the option of the deal that you can't franchise him or something. But if I were Field(s) that is what I would do? Know I will be somewhere for at least 2 years to get a true 2nd chance, otherwise you could end up like Mitch (not a bad gig by all means).

Who knows - maybe they really want to wait for the medical? But that would be pretty dumb in my mind. But it's going to make talk radio tough all the way up until the draft or at least up until USC pro day.

At this point - let him leave in free agency and turn it into a 3rd round comp pick 2 years from now.

Its not a bad idea.

I think there was a market - Field(s) probably asked for too much - stuff started falling a different direction and teams decided to wait. I do think there is a potential that when the momentum was moving - Poles got a bit greedy and now in hindsight he might be regretting that choice. Maybe he thought, maybe I can get a FRP or 2 2nd rounders, instead of just being happy with an initial 2nd.

Not me and when you see people like Baker and Cousin(s) getting what they get - its just another reason why I wouldn't. I think you can win in the NFL paying HUGE money to a QB - but if you do it - they have to be a top 5 QB. Otherwise I think you are making a massive mistake.

Fine - Fields for Mack LOL.

I figure it just means the Vikings add a bit of a premium - but I'm in the camp of - I don't love it - but I don't have an issue. I'll take max value for Field(s) wherever it comes from.

I'm seeing like an out of left field signing - something like Calvin Ridley or Noah Fant. Even though I'm wishing for Hunter.

It might be Fields is traded after Day 1 of the draft - once teams have figured out what they got in Round 1 at QB and than we see him moved.

Cousins to Falcons - 4yr deal. So Vikings & Raiders are most likely options. Broncos, Pats, Seahawks, Giants, and Titans are maybe some random wildcards.

Didn't see that coming.

If Bears had 7 or 8 picks - I maybe would care more. But Swift was a 2nd round pick and Bears are basically buying that for 8M per year for next 2 years (3rd year you can walk away from basically). The Bears absolutely have luxury of doing that vs. using a 4th rounder or something on a RB this year (they don't have the luxury of doing that). And I like Swift at 8M vs. paying some mediocre guy 2-3M per as a FA. I also like having a legit pass catcher at RB. But damn did Wilkins get paid - 27.5M per year AAV.

Wow - Wilkins got paid. I really wonder what Raider(s) do at QB. Maybe him and Getsy end up reuniting for the right price - if they are going to spend all that money on Wilkins they need to do something at QB. I am curious if Bears will break the bank on Hunter - he's going to get paid big time. But you kind of have to pay up if you want to get a difference maker like that in FA.