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we should be glad - he's helping pump up the value of our #1 pick in trade. And for all we know he's doing that as a favor to someone or as revenge against someone else. Who knows? I doubt it's just idiocy - it's probably a planted "leak" - it's that time of year.

exactly. this isnt all Justin - its the whole team, and they were right too. Yet another piece of evidence that Fields is poised to make that next step this year. Now it is fair to say that it isnt real until we see it on the field, but this is the time of year for projections, and all projections are on the come. You cant wait until you KNOW who a player is at QB or they are no longer available. That's why we took Trubisky after only a few games. The difference is int he people making the projections. Trubisky was a bad choice, and Fields is a good one. Or so I believe right now. 2023 will show it.

Im not even sure Justin really thinks he is the best WR option vs the NFL options - but he is his boy from college so hes giving him some love in the press. Justin literally said he wanted him as the first round pick. At #1 or #4 that is insane, so i think Fields is just giving his guy some love.

he was called slow in decision making, but he didnt throw interceptions. so youre right, he might just not trust the WRs.

at this point, any players we have (other than about 5 names) are just potential Free Agents we could sign like all the rest of them. Almost no one is safe on this roster, and that is a good thing.

Plus while the numbers do look good, they dont say anything about his other characteristics, like his speed, his leadership etc. And the arrow is still pointing up for Fields. Justin is worth a LOT more than these laughable trade scenarios. I agree there ARE trade scenarios that might shake Justin loose from the Bears - but theyd have to be blockbuster cant-say-no type of deals. Anything that's even close to fair wont work because of the heat Poles would take for doing it. But yeah, to be silly, if someone offered TWO 2023 first rounders, a 2024 first and a 2025 first, we would probably take that pretty easily. Herschel Walker was a great back, but the 90s Cowboys will tell you that any player can only be worth so much before you gotta look at the price seriously. Now do i expect any team to offer 4 firsts? Nope. So Justin will stay a Bear for 2023. But listening to these offers, and letting the rumors go, surely doesn't hurt the trade value of our #1 pick. So let the rumors fly! Maybe someone will be dumb enough to offer the four 1st rounders. or three of them for pick #1

Eberflus doesnt mind starting rookies and Mauch is a tough SOB. If he can move people in camp, he will start. I mean, if we draft him LOL I really like the guy.

this is exactly it. its a process. they need to make their lists and rankings, both in the draft and in free agency as well as trade options. and then wait until the machine starts churning and make moves when opportunities present. Free Agency is gonna change our needs a lot too of course, like you said. But they can chew gum and walk at the same time, so they will sign second tier guys too right away is the opportunity is there at the right price. usually, for second tier they wait for the value to fall tho, so youre right too.

dont forget DE! Thats a top need.

I suspect that the Colts know we have that option, and want to be able to choose which QB they take, so they will have to offer us enough that: (their offer for pick #1) is greater than (their offer for pick #2 + what the Texans would pay to move to #1)

This would be a home run. You add a blue chip and a solid player to the DL, you add Schnitz and Mauch to the O Line and you get a first and a third next year that alone makes it a great draft, but you sneak in a serious TE and then add all those other players to find a couple more gems. Really couldnt ask for a better outcome. I am cynical about whether players will be available at those spots, but if we did this, I'd be ecstatic. I'd probably prefer Anderson over Carter if it fell that way.

its gonna be fun to watch - we just gotta keep him healthy.

I agree that Fields looks more like Hester out there, than any of these mobile QBs - I just worry about injury running him too much? If Fields can become a better passer (with more protection and open WRs!) then he will only tap into that talent a bit when picking up 3rd downs etc, and then you can unleash him in important playoff and Super Bowl games - he will be VERY hard to stop. The future is blue and orange!

perfect. this is about what id expect we might actually do, and you get a high first rounder for next year which is the best kind of insurance on the unknowns going into 2023. (EDIT - I mean about the trades, i didnt really look at the actual pick)

and if the line gives him an extra half. second of protection, thats an extra half a second the WRs have to get open.

especially considering we will probably not have a blue chip stud at WR1 in 2023, you gotta beef up that line. And the front seven rebuild under Eberflus should be very interesting too.

I agree with both. I can see us keeping EJax this year because we have too many holes to fill, and he was playing Ok this year, but in the long run I totally agree, and if anyone wants to offer a trade for him for something Id seriously think about taking it.

yes. TOTAL GM malpractice. And I blame the owners too. Imagine telling Pace and Nagy these two things for multiple years: 1) your job is on the line and you need to win now 2) its OK to trade future picks and make short term decisions over long term ones. what do you THINK would happen? In ANY business?

I dunno what percentage of teams play a 3-4, but since the average LB group is $25M, it looks like edge rushers are with the DL?

sure, but if you're playing amateur GM like I am, it gives you a starting point for what you might be able to reasonably afford in each group.

Cody Mauch is awesome. I know he's probably meant to be a viking with that hair lol, but he is a nasty MF with a huge motor and desire. He and Jenkins could be a lot to handle if they grow together. Even if they dont end up playing right next to each other, two nasty players like that would really create an identity.

sure, if he doesnt believe in a big money players' talent there's no reason to sign them. But if there was a hypothetical $19M DE out there who was worth it, he'd try to sign them I think. It all goes back to player evaluation. I cant wait to see what our scouts, coaches and GM think about each of these interesting riddles. This is really the best offseason ever. So much fun!

well we spent a lot on Mack, Hicks and Quinn... so I think all teams are committed to spending good $ on the Defensive Line. But if you mean this year, yes. THe biggest reason we lost so many games this year is that there was no $ on the DL. For sure.

and none of them is a complete player. Brady cant run, etc. Plus those are one in a million chances. But my point remains - after the first 15 picks, different teams will value players differently depending on how they fit their schemes, so there is lots of good talent for us available in later rounds, and not all teams will be wanting those players (some will) I wasnt saying no one is available later, more like saying that not all the teams will be looking to take the same guys so they WILL be there for us.

For fun, I looked to see what the league average is for spending on each position group. This is the 2022 NFL average cap allotment: OL. $42.4 Million QB. $21.3 Million RB. $9.6 Million TE. $10.2 Million WR. $29.3 Million DL. $36.6 Million LB. $25.5 Million DB. $35.2 Million ST. $4.9 Million You can see a few things right away. 1) $50 Million/year QBs really cost your team in other areas 2) QBs on their Rookie deals give you space to beef up the Defense 3) we have a rookie deal QB and two rookie deal defensive backs, so we can afford a more than the average on the D Line 4) RBs are just not a position to spend big on, ditto LBs Obviously there are true stud players who can take over a game from any position, like Troy Polomalu, or Ray Lewis or Barry Sanders, and you might pay them a lot more than their position. But all things being equal, which they pretty much are when you have a wide open salary cap like we do, that money is gonna go to the DL and the OL. So I think they sign two big free agents on the DL AND draft DL high as well. This is also why I expect at least 3 new starters on the OL next year.