2023-24 NFL Season Thread

[bmags]

I have no idea what they should do anymore…which is awesome. Yesterday was just incredible. 
 

The hard part with Fields to figure out is he’s still so explosive. He does push it downfield, or try to, he does have huge game changing runs. Usually when QBs are inconsistent they also are just boring.

And so yesterday you see that and it’s hard not to think about just adding these big weapons.

And yet it still hangs over how when the big plays are taken away…can he execute enough?

I don’t really know, but it does feel painful to think about trading this guy away.

I have been thinking about one combo that keeps fields but hedges…that would be JJ McCarthy. He seems like a good candidate to sit and develop, and wouldn’t be drafted high enough to be such a distraction.

I also wonder if we could get Fields to sign a Jordan Love type deal in that scenario.

[Flash Tizzle]

Also, I should add that the option of trading down, collecting draft capital, having MHJ as our first pick, is not a bad option. The team will likely improve upon their record and make the playoffs. Which then is supplemented with the draft picks in the following years. I just personally believe more in finding the right QB and building around him, than creating the team and inserting in the replacement

[Flash Tizzle]

8 minutes ago, bmags said:

I have no idea what they should do anymore…which is awesome. Yesterday was just incredible. 
 

The hard part with Fields to figure out is he’s still so explosive. He does push it downfield, or try to, he does have huge game changing runs. Usually when QBs are inconsistent they also are just boring.

And so yesterday you see that and it’s hard not to think about just adding these big weapons.

And yet it still hangs over how when the big plays are taken away…can he execute enough?

I don’t really know, but it does feel painful to think about trading this guy away.

I have been thinking about one combo that keeps fields but hedges…that would be JJ McCarthy. He seems like a good candidate to sit and develop, and wouldn’t be drafted high enough to be such a distraction.

I also wonder if we could get Fields to sign a Jordan Love type deal in that scenario.

It’s definitely a tough decision. To even be in this position, where we have the number one pick (plus DJ Moore, plus 25’ 2nd rounder) with a team just outside of playoff contention, says a lot about how this trade has worked out in our favor. Poles deserves credit there. 

Edited January 1 by Flash Tizzle

[Balta1701]

14 minutes ago, Flash Tizzle said:

Also, I should add that the option of trading down, collecting draft capital, having MHJ as our first pick, is not a bad option. The team will likely improve upon their record and make the playoffs. Which then is supplemented with the draft picks in the following years. I just personally believe more in finding the right QB and building around him, than creating the team and inserting in the replacement

Part of why this is even a point of discussion is how the draft has worked out around the #1 pick.

you’ve got a clear and deserving non QB who some people would say should go number 1 even if a team has no QB. The kid could be that good.

You’ve got 2 clear top QBs.

You’ve got the #2 and #3 drafting teams needing QBs, as well as other teams like the Raiders. 

If they want to guarantee they get a QB, the number 3 team has to move up, and they can’t let the Raiders jump past them. If the number 2 team wants their pick of the QBs, they have to move up to do so.

If you want to trade down and take the WR, the draft has worked out perfectly to do so. You’re even set up to trade down twice if you’re that nuts.

[Kyyle23]

2 hours ago, Flash Tizzle said:

My problem with that scenario is, entering next year there’s no telling which talent will be available, or where they draft, to find a QB replacement. There are several legitimate QB prospects coming out of this draft. And with their position at number one, they have enough time and resources to make the right choice. You cannot just pass on Stroud and Williams/Maye/Daniels in consecutive years, and survive as GM. Unless Fields outperforms them all. Which would be the only reason for not drafting them, right? That your people believed he was better?

Again, I said I don’t believe that Fields is the guy.  However if they decide to throw the chips where they may fall with Fields then they absolutely have to get MHJ.  I know it’s a crapshoot which QBs are available but it seems like every season there is one looking for a soft landing spot with a team ready to go.  It’s not my ideal scenario

[Balta1701]

30 minutes ago, Kyyle23 said:

Again, I said I don’t believe that Fields is the guy.  However if they decide to throw the chips where they may fall with Fields then they absolutely have to get MHJ.  I know it’s a crapshoot which QBs are available but it seems like every season there is one looking for a soft landing spot with a team ready to go.  It’s not my ideal scenario

IMO - if they decide to go with MHJ they also need to come out of this with a couple of extra picks again.

E.G 

 

[Kyyle23]

lol could you imagine if that 2025 first matured like the Panthers did this year ?

[Flash Tizzle]

Wash and NE could always call our bluff. We only have two teams to trade with at the current standings, since Arizona would likely pick MHJ. It would depend how much Washington wants to jump NE. We couldnt risk trading beyond the #4 pick if MHJ is our focus

Edited January 1 by Flash Tizzle

[Balta1701]

48 minutes ago, Kyyle23 said:

lol could you imagine if that 2025 first matured like the Panthers did this year ?

Right now I’m picturing Ryan Poles in 2028 with 9 first round picks.

[Balta1701]

7 minutes ago, Flash Tizzle said:

Wash and NE could always call our bluff. We only have two teams to trade with at the current standings, since Arizona would likely pick MHJ. It would depend how much Washington wants to jump NE. We couldnt risk trading beyond the #4 pick if MHJ is our focus

If this doesn’t work and they won’t deal, fine. Take the QB and see who will trade for Fields. Washington will need a QB.

[Quin]

1 hour ago, Flash Tizzle said:

Wash and NE could always call our bluff. We only have two teams to trade with at the current standings, since Arizona would likely pick MHJ. It would depend how much Washington wants to jump NE. We couldnt risk trading beyond the #4 pick if MHJ is our focus

They could, but as far as those two teams know, the Bears can always

1) Trade to another team (Raiders, Giants, etc.) for a higher price and take Nabers. It's not MHJ, but he provides some cover for a bluff.

2) Keep the pick and take Williams/Maye for themselves and trade Fields to a team like Atlanta.

[Balta1701]

19 minutes ago, Quin said:

They could, but as far as those two teams know, the Bears can always

1) Trade to another team (Raiders, Giants, etc.) for a higher price and take Nabers. It's not MHJ, but he provides some cover for a bluff.

2) Keep the pick and take Williams/Maye for themselves and trade Fields to a team like Atlanta.

And the threat to do so isn’t unreasonable at all. Those teams have to know the Bears will be sizing up Fields vs. Williams and Maye also. If Poles were to decide to go with Williams I certainly wouldn’t call it a mistake on paper, so if Washington wants one of these two QBs they can’t low-ball any offer to the Bears.

[bmags]

3 hours ago, Kyyle23 said:

Again, I said I don’t believe that Fields is the guy.  However if they decide to throw the chips where they may fall with Fields then they absolutely have to get MHJ.  I know it’s a crapshoot which QBs are available but it seems like every season there is one looking for a soft landing spot with a team ready to go.  It’s not my ideal scenario

I’m not so Harrison Jr or bust. Malik Nabers is also incredible. I’m less of an Odunze fan, but all three make up an awesome top of the class. If we do get second rounders, Ladd McConkey would be the exact type guy we are missing to round out the offense.

[Balta1701]

34 minutes ago, bmags said:

I’m not so Harrison Jr or bust. Malik Nabers is also incredible. I’m less of an Odunze fan, but all three make up an awesome top of the class. If we do get second rounders, Ladd McConkey would be the exact type guy we are missing to round out the offense.

I’m not sure I’d want to pass on both Williams and Harrison, but if the Raiders wanted to come In with an offer like the Panthers did last year, 3 firsts or two firsts, a second, and a player I’d need, I’m listening intently.

[chw42]

11 minutes ago, Balta1701 said:

I’m not sure I’d want to pass on both Williams and Harrison, but if the Raiders wanted to come In with an offer like the Panthers did last year, 3 firsts or two firsts, a second, and a player I’d need, I’m listening intently.

The only guy the Bears should be interested in from the Raiders is Crosby. 

If you can get Crosby, 2 firsts, and a 2nd from the Raiders, you might have to think hard about it. 

[Tony]

Here is the other thing. We’ve seen 3 years of Fields, and at this point the momentum certainly seems like it’s going toward Fields coming back. You would think the decision is made. 
 

However, human emotion is real and there is a momentum to things. This shouldn’t be the case, but the Packer game is going to mean way more than it should.

Say the Bears lose 35-0, Fields throws 3 picks and is like 12-32 passing. The entire discussion will flip on its head, and I think it could impact the decision Poles makes 

[Balta1701]

11 minutes ago, chw42 said:

The only guy the Bears should be interested in from the Raiders is Crosby. 

If you can get Crosby, 2 firsts, and a 2nd from the Raiders, you might have to think hard about it. 

Exactly who I was thinking about. Would the Raiders do that? I dunno, they have a lot to figure out otherwise, but if they’re going to bring in a new coach and commit to a couple more down years to develop a QB, it makes some sense.

Giving the city a star qb also seems to make some sense as well. Especially the QB from USC.

[Balta1701]

4 minutes ago, Tony said:

Here is the other thing. We’ve seen 3 years of Fields, and at this point the momentum certainly seems like it’s going toward Fields coming back. You would think the decision is made. 
 

However, human emotion is real and there is a momentum to things. This shouldn’t be the case, but the Packer game is going to mean way more than it should.

Say the Bears lose 35-0, Fields throws 3 picks and is like 12-32 passing. The entire discussion will flip on its head, and I think it could impact the decision Poles makes 

He’s in that iffy range right now where one elite or one really bad game now also will really affect how his end of year stats look, and that’s a fair way to evaluate him too.

[bmags]

I do wonder if last years trade being as big a disaster as it is will temper the enthusiasm for big trade ups.

It didn’t work for San Fran. It didn’t work for Carolina. 
 

I think a smaller trade up from Wash/NE is more likely.

[Tony]

24 minutes ago, bmags said:

I do wonder if last years trade being as big a disaster as it is will temper the enthusiasm for big trade ups.

It didn’t work for San Fran. It didn’t work for Carolina. 
 

I think a smaller trade up from Wash/NE is more likely.

Possibly, but if Carolina took Stroud instead of Young, which wasn’t out of the question, you aren’t saying this. The point is if a FO feels like there is a QB that is absolutely can’t miss, they’ll do what they need to do to get them. If the Pats think Caleb Williams is generational, they aren’t going to let an extra 2nd rounder get in the way of that (within reason)

[The Beast]

8 hours ago, bmags said:

I have no idea what they should do anymore…which is awesome. Yesterday was just incredible. 
 

The hard part with Fields to figure out is he’s still so explosive. He does push it downfield, or try to, he does have huge game changing runs. Usually when QBs are inconsistent they also are just boring.

And so yesterday you see that and it’s hard not to think about just adding these big weapons.

And yet it still hangs over how when the big plays are taken away…can he execute enough?

I don’t really know, but it does feel painful to think about trading this guy away.

I have been thinking about one combo that keeps fields but hedges…that would be JJ McCarthy. He seems like a good candidate to sit and develop, and wouldn’t be drafted high enough to be such a distraction.

I also wonder if we could get Fields to sign a Jordan Love type deal in that scenario.

 

1 hour ago, Tony said:

Here is the other thing. We’ve seen 3 years of Fields, and at this point the momentum certainly seems like it’s going toward Fields coming back. You would think the decision is made. 
 

However, human emotion is real and there is a momentum to things. This shouldn’t be the case, but the Packer game is going to mean way more than it should.

Say the Bears lose 35-0, Fields throws 3 picks and is like 12-32 passing. The entire discussion will flip on its head, and I think it could impact the decision Poles makes 

I have been thinking about how awesome the performance was yesterday and yet how the narrative will shift if the Bears lose next week and Fields either has a bad or ineffective game. I suppose the fan base has made up their minds on Fields and to an extent, the Chicago media (Mark Grote and Brad Biggs thinks he will be competing with Caleb Williams or gone in 2024). To me, it is becoming more likely Fields is back next year with Eberflus and possibly Getsy returning, but also with some competition at quarterback. 

[caulfield12]

Where would Harbaugh go now...assuming the Bears are off the clock on coaching staff changes?

[Chisoxfn]

8 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

Where would Harbaugh go now...assuming the Bears are off the clock on coaching staff changes?

If I am the Bears and I can get Harbaugh you do it. Need Warren and poles to do like a top secret quiet push and if not there than move on. Same if Beli or Payton was interested. I hesitate with Beli but screw it he is going to go somewhere with a huge chip on his shoulder.

[fathom]

35 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

Where would Harbaugh go now...assuming the Bears are off the clock on coaching staff changes?

Chargers

[Chisoxfn]

2 hours ago, fathom said:

Chargers

Not happening. Chargers have cheap owners and lousy owners. Not saying Mccaskeys are great but compared to chargers ownership they are Robert Kraft.