DABEARSDABOMB

Very athletic. I'd say the Bears are far more likely to target end. It is supposed to be a really deep draft at the defensive tackle position though and the Bears opened up a spot when they cut Adams. However, I'd be quite surprised if they targeted a DT with one of our 1st 3 picks. If we were running the old school Jauron system (w/Greg Blache), this guy would have been a perfect fit, but it looks like he is more of a 3-4 nose tackle than a typical 4-3 dt.

Which is why I think it could be possible the Bears move down (if the top wideouts are gone and the next set is a bit lower).

To be fair, while the Bears oline was never great, most statistics had it being better than horrible and improving. I believe a few key statistics had them in the top 15-20 range prior to Cutler going down (+ the combination of Williams/Carimi). Again, this isn't an indicationg the oline was playing great, rather, that it had showed some serious progress under Tice (especially when compared to the overall talent level). But I can definitely agree with the above thoughts and if that is how the Bears feel (and they think Williams can play tackle), than I could see the team spending money at guard. $45M is a ton to spend on a guard though.

I think if the Bears go with a guard, it is because I am wrong (and Jason is right) and the Bears still think that Williams can play tackle (or at least RT), with Carimi playing the other spot. If the Bears think that is the case, than Grubbs makes sense. Either way he immediately becomes the Bears best lineman, the hard part is that guard is just not near the position of need compared with tackle, however, again, if the Bears really think Williams can play tackle, than that is another story. I personally think the Bears don't think he can, however, I could be wrong. I just think if they did, he would have played there as opposed to Webb (unless Tice just felt that Williams was more versatile and while he was the better tackle, the combination of Webb and Williams on the line at the same time was better; vs. anyone else the Bears would have put out at guard to start the year).

They still have Toeania and Okoye too and it sounds like Emery has been talking with Okoye's agent. I expect the Bears to sign Okoye. With those 4, I don't know if the Bears will add anyone via FA. Supposedly they have a guy on there practice squad they like a decent amount, so he can slide in as the 5th tackle.

Randle is one of the many guys that looks like he has some upside. I'd have no problem moving down a bit and nabbing a wideout with 2 of our top 3 picks (plus signing one). Yes, the Bears need that much help at wideout. Put a DE in the other spot and sign a FA guard and corner. Maybe even a safety too (or a LT).

I realize Williams did get that much time as a starting LT with the Bears, but if Tice thought he was better than Webb, don't you think he would have started him there? Or do you think Tice thought that Williams was the best LT, but that he was also the best guard option and when you factored all things in, he was better with Williams at guard and Webb at tackle cause he didn't think he had any competent guards? I'm just asking cause I'm pretty sure if Tice thought Williams was better than Webb, we would have seen him there. And I already know what you think of Webb at LT, so what does that say about what Tice thinks of Williams as a LT. Williams was a pretty good guard though (showed nice potential and was a good run blocker).

Probably won't get paid near as much as Nicks either. I'd be fine with Grubbs, a CB, and a B wideout (if they can't get an A wideout). Than focus on WR and DE in the draft.

McNutt had a 4.47 and was 6'2 (almost 6'3). I know a lot of people are high on him and I'd still really like him. I'd be fine drafting a wideout in the 2nd and 3rd (if we didn't take one in the 1st). That is how big of a need I feel wideout is for the Bears. Especially given the fact that it appears less likely that they will be able to find a wideout via FA. I'd sign a second tier wideout, draft 2 wideouts, and spend big on a DE (and possibly a CB). Or go oline and CB and draft a DE in the 1st round.

Update: Cap savings is actually 1.15M. Adams had a couple good years for the Bears. Seems like a good guy. I'm sure he'll stick on as a backup somewhere.

I'd be okay with him. Is he an RFA (or UFA)? I think I like Garcon a lot more. Robinson came out of nowhere after being a bit of a bust, but seems like he could be a good risk/reward guy. The big thing is, if you get guys like the above, you need to target a wideout early in the draft. Out of curiosity, anyone know what the Bears would get if they moved from 19 to say 26 or 28. Not sure if any team is interested in moving up (or even a team with an early 2nd rounder), but it could make sense (if you need a wideout and the top 2 are gone, you should still be okay with the 2nd round pick) and I assume the Bears would be able to get something pretty good to move down that much.

This frees up about $2M in cap space. This puts the Bears close to $30M under the cap (based upon Biggs analysis).

At this point, he is a borderline 1st rounder. Apparently a tremendous run blocker too and supposed to be a great kid. His major flaw is he just hasn't run a lot of pro-routes so he's unpolished. Showed above average hands during the combine. Mayock was talking about how he is going to have to go back and do more homework on this kid because he outperformed everyone (or almost everyone). Kid put on a show. Of course, he could be the next Haward Bay.

Stephen Hill, Georgia Tech. Lot of people like his upside and Cutler is the type of QB that can make his wideouts better. I think it is easier to strike gold on project wideouts when you have an above average QB (and Cutler is that). Prior to the combine, he was a 3rd round pick and we probably could grab him with one of our 3rd's no problem. Now, maybe not, but still, he's incredibly intriguing. He has a tremendous size/speed combination. Below are his measureable's from the combine. 6'4" 215; 4.30 40 His major flaw is he played in an option offense with crap QB play so he had very little utilization and is clearly very raw. Just 29 receptions last year with an YPC of something like 28.

I am now expecting the Bears to sign Royal + another FA (one of the B FA wideouts; maybe Reggie Wayne or Garcon) and draft a Wideout early. If Floyd is off the board and they don't like what is out there, I wouldn't be surprised if they move down and take Jeffrey (later on, or someone like Hill from Georgia Tech) plus a DE. A lot of talk that the Bears really really like the Illinois Defensive End.

This is not good news. Bowe is tagged; Johnson expected to resign. Desean Jackson tagged (although could be had via trade). Vincent Jackson still in negotiations with the Chargers. Saints have more cap space than expected (related to Colston). And Floyd puts up a strong 40 time (which makes it more likely that he comes off the board before 19). Will they have to look at Mike Wallace (and the loss of a 1st rounder). If so, could the Bears cut a deal to trade down (get another pick) and than sign Wallace (haha). Stevie Johnson - WR - Bills Free agent Stevie Johnson hopes to have long-term negotiations with the Bills wrapped up "within a week or so." "I don’t want to leave," he said Saturday. "I want to finish what we started. Hopefully things come together and we connect on this contract. It’s just about where I began in the NFL. I want to end there." Johnson's agent will meet with the Bills for the second straight day Saturday. An agreement is likely close.

Brad Biggs ‏ @BradBiggs Biggest thing I've taken away from combine to this point is #Bears are being comprehensive in preparation for coming weeks/months.

Bears visit with Illini DE Mercilus INDIANAPOLIS – Coach Lovie Smith provided indications that a pass-rushing defensive end will be an offseason priority this offseason and the Bears looked in that very direction this weekend, meeting with Illinois defensive end Whitney Mercilus during the NFL Scouting Combine. “Some of the teams that I’ve talked with – Bears, Chargers – showed interest, also the Bills,” Mercilus said. “They showed interest – a lot of interest – and those are just to name a few. It sounds good, definitely, and I can’t wait to see what unfolds and to continue on throughout the process and until draft day, see where I land at.” Pro Football Weekly projects the 6-foot-3, 26-pound junior as a first or second rounder, based primarily on his 16 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss last season, his first as an every game starter. Mercilus said that the NFL committee created for providing some guidance for underclassmen considering the NFL projected him as a third-round pick. http://www.csnchicago.com/blog/bears-talk/...mp;feedID=10330

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bears/post...ears-april-camp CHICAGO -- Chicago Bears right tackle Gabe Carimi said his surgically-repaired right knee is now pain free, and he’s aiming to participate in the team’s first offseason camp in April. “That’s what we’re looking for,” Carimi said Saturday night at a charity event for the Jewish National Fund. “We’re making good progress. Getting me out there as soon as possible is a major thing.” Carimi, the Bears' first-round pick in 2011, injured his right knee in the second game of the season. He tried to rehab the knee without surgery. But after a setback, he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee in early November and went on injured reserve list. He had a second surgery in late December to repair connective tissue around his patella and medial collateral ligament.

They are 4th round picks though. Melton looks like he can be an above average DT in this league. If you get that out of a 4th round pick, you hit the jackpot. In terms of Wooten, he might get cut. Clearly injuries got him, but I haven't exactly since the Bears invest a top pick in a dlineman since Tommie (and prior to that Michael Haynes, who was drafted based upon Jauron's system, IIRC). Heck, as a franchise, the Bears haven't had many draft picks in the past few years that were in meaningful spots (e.g,. 1st/2nd round + early 3rd round). This year they will actually be in a decent position and it will be interesting to see what happens.

And Michael Floyd ran a sub 4.5 40, which means he might not be there at 19. Floyd is a beast and given what is going on, I won't be surprised if the Bears target wideout in Rd 1 and than sign one of the B FA Wideouts (and maybe bring back Roy).

Absolutely. I'm all over Martin if he's there. I'd even trade a few spots to get him. Rarely are you going to find a franchise left tackle outside of the top 20 picks or so in the draft.

I think the issue was that the 16-20M figure inintially thrown out around the media wasn't correct either. Now it turns out we are looking more at 28M or so and that figure includes a couple guys that the Bears could cut. Which basically puts the 46M figure as off (and the $20M figure off) by almost the same amount (since the $46M figure I believe was assuming the Bears would cut a couple of guys). That said, as the person who posted the $46M cap number from another site, at the time, it was by far the most complete source on what the cap was vs. anywhere. Additionally, the media (on other teams) has had some significant misses. For example, in the past week the Saints cap space has jumped by about $10M. Basically put, the media doesn't have as much great info as some of you think when it comes to understanding the cap and all of the space and franchises aren't necessarily going to flat out say what type of space they have (and the Bears have been completely silent since Emery took over). The only way you get there is by analyzing what was reported and what is available and having an understanding of the cap and everything. I'm not going to spend the time to do it but I'm glad someone on that site did and they have done so for years and been very accurate, much as LT (on this very site) is one of the best and knowledgeable posters when it comes to knowing the Bears cap.

I'm assuming that is where the London bridge is?

Chiefs have a ton of money to spend though.