Chisoxfn

I like this list. They have safety covered now - I expect dline will be their splash signing and I think they will go big here. I expect a vet wr and do think they may buy a rb like Jacobs or Saquon (st deal) and than could see them going after a te and maybe another olineman.

It also gives Bears more clarity heading into FA which is a positive.

Given the franchise tag and what is out there and the expanding cap - this feels like a very fair deal on both sides. Hopefully he stays healthy and the improved on ball production (ie turnovers) continues.

Me too - it looks really cool and unique.

Austin Ekeler is who intrigues me. Had a down year but the year before had 107 receptions. 27 so aging as a running back but I’d pay him for one or two years. Talk about safety blanket for a young qb.

This stinks - wishing him a speedy recovery.

In the game of misinformation - I think the Steelers touting Rudolph and Pickett is just that, posturing. I presume the Cousin(s) Atlanta stuff is 2 fold - it helps Atlanta gain some leverage on the Bears, but if you are Cousin(s) it also is a win for you cause it gives you more leverage in your negotiations with Minnesota.

I think best case scenario is Cousin(s) stays in Minnesota. If that happens - than I still see Steelers and Falcons as 2 teams who will be interested. I think the Steelers talk of sticking with their current QB's is just that, talk. That would be a disasterous move (another year of status quo with Kenny Pickets and Mason Rudolph - no chance). And the good thing is Bo Nix looked bad at the combine - so I think the list of teams who are going to gamble on a QB to be their immediate starter in the draft end after Penix and when you compare Fields and Penix I see why teams would prefer Penix (cost controlled - but nowhere near the physical talent) and why teams would prefer Fields (far more elite talent / view that the Bears didn't put him in right system). I still think a 2 team battle with Falcons & Steelers for Justin is the best possible outcome for Bears. I think the floor is they get a 3rd rounder this year and another pick next year. I think the upside is they get a 2nd this year and another pick (either later round in '24 or another pick in '25).

If 4 QB's go and Top 3 wideouts and Alt are gone (which is definitely a good possibility) - than Bears basically can take whomever their first Defensive player on the board, one of the other OT's, or Brockers....or they trade back 5-7 picks, pick up a 2nd rounder and go from there. The key is - they need someone who is willing to move up for it to work - in particular - it would have to be a team who was higher on one of the defensive players at that point (this is assuming 4 QBs are gone - if McCarthy was still there - than that is a real option for a trade down as well). If Bears couldn't move down - Turner would be a great get. My ideal scenario is Alt is there - Bears get a 2nd for Fields and actually double down on wideout in 2nd and 3rd round before going BPA rest of the way. In FA spend some cap space on defensive side of the ball and oline.

A legend. Rip and nothing but thoughts and prayers to his family.

I would go Turner or trade down.

Yes please to Caleb and one of these wideouts at 9. Take another wideout in 3rd or 4th given the depth in this class.

I think I am leaning to drafting Turner at 9 , signing Mike Evans, and drafting another wideout in 3rd round. Use pick you get for Fields on oline and another pick on safety. I would be open to signing one of the running backs to a deal to help Caleb. Barkley or Ekler (banged up but so good as a receiver). I presume they can get Evans for big money but without a ton of years.

I agree with this - I am just stating what I would posture to keep leverage or have my own leverage. But I am Caleb or bust unless Bears have a grade similar on 2 qbs.

I agree and I expect they either get a 2nd and 3rd this year (or 2nd and future pick). Or they get like a 3rd this year and 2nd next year or something. While the reports around a 1 were fun as a fan it isn’t happening unless you get two teams in quite the bidding war.

Just keep him than. Fields is a good human and than deal him when a team loses its qb during the season.

I think this is other teams trying to push back on Bears. End of the day sometime around the new league year is going to make a move - worse case a week after free agency. Qb musical chairs will leave a couple teams looking. Caleb had a pretty good week at combine so far.

They need an owner to rebrand them - kind of like the Clippers under Balmer. Not saying Clippers have won a championship and they will never be the Lakers - but they are building their own stadium, creating their own buzz, and definitely have a much bigger presence than before - but more than that - Sox fans - we don't care whether we are the most popular team in Chicago - we care about being the better team - I do think a new stadium and than the new owner (which I just presume is coming with it) will align that way.

I'm assuming that is what he is working on and than they have to develop a plan for how they will install and teach the playbook. I think something probably goes in advance of the initial mini camps but that is probably when all the heavy work and instructs start and than continue to get pushed during the course of the offseason.

Think of it this way - if he gets traded - coaches typically can't work with players for a while (i'm sure they get playbooks). For teams with new head coaches, they can start working with their players officially on April 1st (for teams without I think it isn't until May 1st when they can). So in Bears case - the coaches can't work in an official capacity with the players until May 1st. My guess is no player has gotten the playbook yet (although I am sure there is some gray in terms of what teams can and can't do). A reporter like Biggs should write about that just to talk about it.

I always think with someone like Thompson, if his stuff is there, they have been trying and trying to have him be a starter, but at some point, they can always just make him a 1-2 inning guy. Does he profile as someone who when you shorten him becomes more elite or no? Horn doesn't have that - he's been a reliever forever, but I hope he has some swing and miss stuff where there is a reason he's a late bloomer.

If they are good at offense, than I'm okay at offense. LOL.

If they are good at offense, than I'm okay at offense. LOL.

I also think everyone has been pretty measured because they recognize that Fields has physical tools, that very few QB's have and he can throw the ball downfield with accuracy (+ strong intangibles)....he just can't read. I think it is true that the Bears put limited talent and a pourous oline around him. One could even say despite some upgrades made last season (acquiring Moore, signing Davis - but he was out most of the season and adding Wright is huge (but he's still a rookie at RT), they still had significant issues protecting him given how bad the interior line play is (when the center is being blown up - being able to be comfortable in the pocket is a real hard thing so can you really blame him for bailing). So I get why people look at it and say - if you can get "Da Haul" and move from 1 to 2 and than to 4 or 8 or whatever and line up a ton of 2nd round picks, future 1st rounders, plus maybe get a Bijan Robinson or something as a player (who is on a rookie deal), than it gets difficult.

I absolutely am in the opposite camp as you. I love every single thing about his column most weeks. Just find it so enjoyable and if something isn't interesting I skip pass, but just a lot of interesting nuggets. I am as pro QB as possible - but his proposal for the Bears is very reasonable. Those are not like overly favorable offers skewed heavy to the Bears, if anything I think Bears could potentially get a bit more out of Atlanta in that scenario. And I'll be clear - if Poles did that, I would have zero issue with those moves, even if I don't think Field(s) is the guy, I think the Bears would continue to be in such a strong position.