DABEARSDABOMB

I would expect Bears would franchise him one more year and thus will have leverage to flip him for a 2nd rounder (worse case). I will say, my best case scenario was the Redskins or Dolphins, who both have great defenses, decide they need an upgrade at QB and Dalton plays himself into the point where you could get a pretty good pick for Andy. Its unfortunate Dalton went down cause he was looking really sharp yesterday and would have helped justify that business case. Than just move Foles in as the #2. I used to think Foles was the guy they would deal....but now I'm thinking Dalton could be the best case guy you eventually flip once you decide it is Fields turn. Note: I was thinking this before Dalton got hurt and before Heinecke had a really good game. On the flip side, Tua is banged up.

I said in the off-season, I would have started to blow things up and move anyone on the wrong side of 26 or so for picks. Eddie Jackson has no value at this point so he's a moot point, but i still think they totally whiffed on Fuller and could have gotten something if they hadn't put themselves in a corner. Hicks, similar, the Bears boxed themselves in and had no escape. I'm not saying they would have gotten a lot...but they would have got something. I also was on record of saying now was the time to deal Mack. THey need to shift and put investments in the offense/Fields and that starts by shifting where we spend the money and accumulating picks to retool both sides of the ball. Robinson is a really interesting guy to watch. If team is out of contention and far enough out...do the Bears move him for say a 2nd round pick? Could they get a 2nd round pick? I don't know...the 2nd round pick will likely not be as good as Arob, but you free up future cap space and probably can move him and Mack if you do this deal (since Arob would be cap savings that would allow you to absorb a Khalil Mack move).

I think the Bears are happy with the DB 2 and are looking for a nickel back. Callahan is solid in that role and I would be perfectly fine getting him -> but I'm not giving up anything more than a swap of picks (meaning we just flip picks and get Bryce).

Arob will never be that wide open. His seperation statistically are below average across the league. He relies on his fantastic technique to put up the numbers he does. He really is an outlier in the sense that physically he shouldn't be this good...but his pure fundamentals are just stellar and help him be better than his physical gifts say he should be. Mooney on the other hand - clearly has elite separation skills and seems to have solid hands, that said, he's a bit smaller than you would prefer but he is a legit #2 and could clearly breakout. I just don't think Byrd/Goodwin are anything to write home about. In New England someone had to catch something on that turd WR corps. It was literally like the worst in the league. It is kind of like on a horrific NBA team someone still has to score...doesn't make em any good. The comparison to Miller/Wims/Ridley doesn't mean much to me cause those 3 sucked too....with only one of them having some form of talent. That said - Byrd can fly and has put up good seperation...so he could be an under the radar type player. I don't recall him at all in any of the preseason games, but maybe I missed it and he didn't play?

Byrd and Goodwin are not very good - so I think there are quite a few teams who have better top 4's. Outside of when Bears had Alshon, Bmarsh and Marty B - almost every other time Bears fans dramatically overmake their offense skill position players. I would say the same right now. Goodwin is a nice 4th wideout - nothing more and Byrd is young and I will at least say last season was somewhat promising in New England - but Pats just spend how much money on skill position players and they let Byrd walk......hmmm...doesn't make me think he is that good. I like Mooney a lot - but I'm not ready to proclaim him a stud - but I do think he has the ability to be one.

He couldn't get open, couldn't make enough plays, and got called for too many penalties.

As long as it isn't long term, it sucks, but its football and we move on and hopefully get a shot to see what he can do at some point this year and he can build in and still become the player they think they are in the long run.

Really glad BOrom is back. I hope they found something in him.

If he holds out - I still franchise him - trade him for a pick - than redeploy the funds on another wideout/other team needs. I kind of think as Adam broke it down and you mentioned - the Bears are just more comfortable going year to year with him at this point vs. locking him up long-term. They prefer the flexibility. If we were talking about a franchise QB - I would disagree with that approach - but for a skill position player, especially one with more modest speed (who statistically from a pure seperation perspective ranked below average across the league over past 2 years - meaning - QB's have to thread the needle to hit him - to his credit though - he makes a ton of catches other wideouts don't in traffic) - I just don't love the bet long-term. It is hard for me to say the above - because I like Arob the player and person a lot. He's a total professional who does the little things and gets the most out of himself and is a well above average player. And - maybe he actually ages like a fine one - because he relies less on pure athleticism and more on skill/craft (which ages better). But I don't see WR prices steeply increasing over the next year - especially not after this past offseason where wideouts were getting much smaller contracts than expected.

I really think Robinson is a very good, not star receiver, who wants to be paid like a star. I like and respect his game - but don't think he was worth a multi year deal that got him his 20M/yr target. If in a year they don't like the FA market - go ahead and sign him again to franchise him vs. tying up the LT cap too significantly. I believe Bears were around 16M/yr vs. Robinson wanting $20M/yr. Robinson has mediocre seperation and while his fundamentals are super strong - I just don't think the Bears value him at that high of a price tag. Heck - look at what happened on the FA WR market this offseason.

Now is the time to get some of these vets anyway. Post June 1 - no FA signing will count against comp picks, etc. Plus we should see some more cap casualties emerge as well. I expect an olinemen and a DB and wouldn't be surprised to see them try to grab another LB / Dlineman as well. Try to build out some more depth - even if it is just training camp depth.

This stinks - only blessing is it sounds like it was as good of a break as it could be and he should be back by camp. I don't know what recovery looks like, but hopefully he can still keep his cardio and speed in check, even if he won't be able to obviously do much weight training (at least upper body). He seems like a fired up kid and would love another steal at wideout in the late rounds (like the Bears got with Mooney).

I have no idea how they came up with this stat - but I don't believe it one bit. There are stats and there are stats and in general I'm a pretty pro stat guy but I watched every game and practically every snap of the season and the one constant was that Quinn did absolutely BUTKUS. I should point out - I could say the same for most of the dline. Certainly hope some slight changes in scheme from our new DC helps unlock a more consistent pass rush, cause without that - this defense with the young secondary will have issues. If they can disrupt the pass more consistently while getting back the run stuff that is Goldman - I could see the defense looking pretty good again, even with the young secondary...beyond that, would probably help get Eddie Jackson back to his prime too.

Lets not forget that Trubisky's first ever preseason game he came in and completed like 12 straight passes and looked absolutely phenomenal. I like Fields more than Trubisky as a prospect, but just want to remind people, outside of irritation on trading up to get him, he was highly touted etc. The noticeable difference I have is Mitch was more Glennon is the guy etc. Mitch was good guy, good teammate, hard worker, etc....Fields is all of those things plus he has more of that "it" factor and obviously more experience having that pressure on him (pretty much his whole career). He exudes that - I want to be the best and that, combined with his experience and better athleticism (Trubs was a good athlete - but Fields is even better) - is why I am so fired up about this kid.

Excellent piece.

I read where there is a theory - he did it because he was so focused on big plays and the offense osu ran was one where the plays took a long time to develop. I also read a theory was part of it too was maybe something in his head - where he was worried of getting to pigeon holes as a running qb that he wanted to show how he could always go downfield. Loved fact that he is supposedly highly intellectual and can pick up a playbook easy (if that pre draft study is accurate. Stark contrast from Mitch who didn’t know what a hard count was entering the league. There were also some scouts who said there are a lot of examples on film of him showing real good progressions too.

Exactly - while he got burned in coverage last year - the leadership and other abilities (good in run, etc) and to your point, bounce back is possible on the pass side too (I don't expect him to be good - but even just some improvement would be huge). Feels like too much to get rid of him now - and to your point - for what benefit?

If Danny T didn't have all that dead money tied with cutting him - I would agree. But at this point - I think the net savings just isn't worth getting rid of a solid 1st/2nd down LB. That said - he fell off a cliff last year. I'm hoping somehow we see a bit more speed - but you usually don't get faster when you get older. Miller - I don't see them just cutting him. If they can get a conditional pick - sure, but at this point, maybe see how he does with the new QB's.

I am assuming they may still look at a veteran to join them, they have just decided that they will no longer continue to run Leno out there. I kind of commend them on this as they are focused on fixing the parts that they aren't happy with. I will still say - Leno was an excellent pick - getting what they got out of a 7th rounder is a huge win.

Dalton is also far more solid than Foles / Glennon - so barring injury - I expect him to get some runway. If Fields is good enough - than so be it, but I fully expect Nagy to start things slow with him. I also assume Pace/Nagy are sticking around beyond this year and at this point - I am okay with that unless Fields looks like a dumpster fire (please please don't let that happen). I am at the point where I say - Nagy, while he has his warts, has made playoffs 2 out of his first 3 seasons. He has done it without a QB that he technically drafted. In KC he was a key part in Mahome's development - so at this point - I'm willing to see if he can find another gem in Fields and help develop said gem. Lets roll. Man - has training camp started yet?

Unless you intend to sign someone this year - I don't think the have a massive sense of urgency. I do think you are right on Robinson - but if they want to go another route - they can always franchise him one more time and try to trade him again. In general - Bears cap situation is dicey this year (but they can do everything they need to this year without having an issue) - starting next year it gets a ton better. Quinn - Gone - $16M Dalton/Foles - Both gone - clears up a ton of money. Although one could always stay on as a backup - $20M Graham - Clears up money - 7/8M Arob - you extend him or trade him and find another wideout; Either way - you clear cap space - Probalby free up 4M or so if you extend Hicks - I honestly don't know what to do with Hicks - you can't give him too much money - old lineman don't hold up that well - depends Mack - maybe you trade him...either way...start to get to a spot where you have more flexibility with him - depends Leno - Can create cap space pretty easy - lets assume you cut - 7M+ Before factoring in Mack/Hicks - I think that puts you at about $50M in cap savings (vs. this year) Oh - and than add in an expanding cap - they could be $60m+ Under the cap That is a lot fo money working in the bears favor - with the one big move needed being Roquan I think. I have a feeling Bears will go from one of the most poorly cap situated teams to one of the best cap situated teams in a matter of a year. That should give the team some room to address DB and/or address the line / find potentially other weapons via FA.

This is the best first round draft pick the bears have made in my lifetime (at initial reaction). My bears memories start around 1990 - for context. Fields may bust - but this is the player with the most pure upside of any players bears have taken since than in my opinion. What the rest of the league was thinking ignoring the 2 years plus of tape and his pure physical talent - I literally have no idea. No knock on Lance (who has similar upside IMO) and Wilson (elite arm talent but we will see how he does against better talent) but even than...Falcons and Panthers and Broncos with their mediocre qbs passing on this kid - they will regret it. Fields is going to do it - I just know it. And you might say - didn’t I supper Mitch - sure I did. He had talent and I was all over bears drafting a qb when they did in that draft. I said they had to - I would have been fine with Mitch, Deshaun or Mahomes. But fields is a more explosive athlete and he has been highly touted his whole life. #2 prospect coming out of high school - handles the massive pressure at osu and crushed it in those 2 years at starter.

Seperate topic -if fisher looks healthy - bears could make some moves in June and sign him to be LT and swap out Leno. They will also have a ton of cap space if they want to pivot and add a lineman next year too.

Don’t forget they get James Daniels back. He is super young and was their best guard before going down. I feel pretty good with Daniels and Whitehair plus they have some depth and I do buy Mistipher. In fact - I think there are quite a few low draft/undeafted guys who have been good centers over past decade. Love the move to get Jenkins. He probably isn’t an lt - but he is nasty and I think has a chance to be a good one. Just love this draft - Fields has a ton of upside. One reporter talked to half of the leagues scouts and of the half talked two - half of them had Fields supposedly ahead of Lawrence. I heard he was #2 on most teams draft boards (QB) yet he was the 4th qb taken. This guy has played at the highest level, under pressure and always delivered. He is also an absolute STELLAR athlete. I believe he is now 3rd fastest qb in league and he is tall and has a big and accurate arm. We will see if he can speed up his decision making - but this dude is a stud athlete - way better than Mitch as a prospect, IMO.

Is this the draft that goes down in history where the Bears/Packers luck flipped. Bears draft franchise QB - Packers trade HOF QB elsewhere? I saw a report where Schlerth (Broncos/ESPN Guy) indicated he was hearing Broncos making very aggressive push and deal was close. I am sure Packers will get a haul - but man - Bears are due for some good QB luck...right.