AZ54

Packers lost Bulaga. He's been fighting through injuries in recent years so on the downside of his career but he's been really good for them for years and they don't have a replacement on the roster. I know they'll find someone else who can hold just as well the question is will they be flagged for it.

Doubtful. He knows he has to fill out a roster and they won't all be Pro Bowl players. He just signed a $15mil backup for his starting QB. He cut Floyd immediately after signing Quinn. I"m pretty sure he'd make other cuts if it were feasible (i.e. Leno) but we still have to field a team. He built a top 5 defense and they might have been back in the top 5 last year without the injuries to key players. Even with that our defense was 4th in points given up last year and 8th best in yards given up/game. Quinn makes the pass D much better. Now about that offense and the running game. Lots of coaches lost their jobs and were replaced with proven experienced coaches who hopefully can get a running game going to mitigate the risks at QB. If Trubisky regains his form from the just the 2nd half of 2018 season we'll be ok. That wasn't great but we won with it and nearly won a playoff game. In 2019 Trubisky played as if he was still suffering from the two concussions on that FG kick.

I think it was predicted but Jacksonville had to eat a big cap hit and that wasn't entirely clear they would do that. Plus there was a ton of smoke on the Derek Carr or Andy Dalton to Chicago deal that stayed above the fold (for those old enough to have actually read a newspaper). I think if Carr was available he'd be here and Trubisky would be gone. With that off the table it meant we figure out best deal for Dalton or Foles. Anyone asking for Cam only remembers him when he won the MVP and not the broken down version who couldn't throw. Anytime you have no option but to make a QB change his throwing motion after shoulder surgery it's not a good sign. How many of us can change a lifetime sports habit?

They have $39mil in cap space why let go of a backup who can get 7 sacks? Is there something that isn't public knowledge yet? He seems like a good guy and they once though enough of him to give him a mid-level contract extension. https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2020/03/17/detroit-lions-reportedly-parting-ways-devon-kennard/5068700002/

Get a veteran SS in there to compliment Ejack and those ILBs and we're in a very good spot even with Tolliver at CB. We have enough to do that. Would you add a year to Akiem Hicks contract and throw a guarantee at him of $15mil? I would and I'm pretty we sure can find a way to drop his cap hit off the $11.8mil this year by at least 3 or more. Extend Cordarelle Patterson for a year or two? Likewise with ARob. Cut Braunecker, Shaheen frees up $2mil and of course that money gets spent on low level replacements but it's a chance on someone else who can be more productive, someone who could hardly be less productive. Trade Cohen for a 4th Rd pick? None of it is big $$ but can give us enough to sign a FA SS and RG for depth and to challenge Bars for the position. One of the 2nd Rd picks is a trade back for sure and with 3 picks in Rd 2/3 and 5 picks on day 3. Day 2 we can grab an OT, WR to replace Cohen, and CB. Day 3 gets us a RB, TE, Edge, IOL, and Safety help. I'm wondering if there is more confidence in the young TEs Horsted and Holtz than we know. Not high expectations but enough to jettison a player like Braunecker, and possibly Burton.

...and all they got for it was to give up one future Hall of Fame player on the Dline and a bunch of chatter about how badly they needed to trade JimmyG to the Patriots and sign Brady. FWIW they got the Superbowl on the strength of that defense and a running game.

Read an article that made a good point. There is potential for much of the offseason training (minicamps/OTAs) to get canceled this year. Having a QB walk in the door who already knows the system is a big plus.

I'm ok with Foles as the backup. He's ideal in a way considering he knows the scheme and has had some success in it and he will not be a distraction in the locker room. He's just enough to push Trubisky to get better and just enough to jump in and keep the offense serviceable should he fail. Really hate losing the 4th Rd pick and not happy about spending $15mil. There is a rumor the Bears are restructuring some contracts to make cap space. First up would seem to be ARob.

The wildcard in the QB shuffle is now the New England Patriots. All we know is that Belichick had a plan if he lost Brady. I saw one article speculate that Dalton could be their target.

OT seems likely with one of the 2nd Rd picks but I wouldn't discount a BPA choice if someone falls at CB or OLB. I still like Zach Baun and don't mind adding another pass rusher/ILB. We can't go into the season with just Quinn and Mack. Same thing goes for adding a really good talent at CB. We just have to wait and see how the draft falls. With so much WR depth there could be a run on OTs which might leave a really good prospect at another position we need.

Definite good sign we're sniffing around the SS market.

Me too.

I agree with you assessment of both Winston and Cam. I don't see either helping us and I'm still waiting on Andy Dalton to show up with some significant cap space discount.

Hmm...scanning the FA news I see Bulaga has left the Packers and is now a Charger. Must have been an interesting day for Mr. Rodgers.

So much for the backup plan. https://bearswire.usatoday.com/2020/03/17/washington-redskins-to-sign-former-chicago-bears-linebacker-kevin-pierre-louis/

I think it makes us more desperate for a TE.

Go full Titan and build Oline and running game and hope Trubisky can just become a game manager who hits the occasional big play. That apparently is worth $119mil.

Give him a running game too. I really want another good RB to share the load with DM. We can also still afford a good SS FA and really build this D into something special. Use the draft to fix offense Oline, WR, TE, RB and one CB.

Agreed. I really like this move. We signed him at a lower AAV than I thought it was going to be. I wonder if Quinn took a bit less to be part of this Dline? Really curious to hear him at the press conference.

I was laughing too. Then we signed Jimmy Graham.

I said earlier I thought Pace would let the music (money) stop and see which QB was still standing.

If the first sentence is true then the second leads to what? Problem is who are we going to pay less money, or even the same, and get better production?

No white Nick and now no black Nick. That was fast. I liked him but the reality is try hard guys like him are easy to find and he really struggled with increased snaps. At times he was getting moved 5 yards off the LOS. Don't need that for $5mil/yr.

Do we still have Jimmy Graham on the roster? I need to know when to stop drinking.