Free Agency

[Stinger226]

Here is our top free agents, who should we bring back?

WR Kennan Allen DE Darrell Taylor OL Coleman Shelton OL Teven Jenkins RB Travis Homer TE Mercedes Lewis OL Matt Pryor DE Jacob Martin

I think Shelton played well enough to bring back as a backup, Jenkins on a team friendly deal and Jacob Martin is a cheap backup that has shown some since coming off injury. He was making the vet roster salary. 

My biggest wish is bringing in Trey Smith.   Poles was there when they drafted him. With the growth of Wright and stick Smith next to him we have a power spot on the OL. 

[jason]

None. Easy.

[Mongo3451]

Taylor, Shelton and Jenkins.  The first two should sign deals that make them easy to cut or trade.  Jenkins would be smart to sign an incentive laden deal based on availability.

[BearFan PHX]

8 hours ago, Mongo3451 said:

Taylor, Shelton and Jenkins.  The first two should sign deals that make them easy to cut or trade.  Jenkins would be smart to sign an incentive laden deal based on availability.

that makes money sense, but it also gives some false sense of security that weve filled a hole? If you want him as a backup, thats cool, but if youre kind of penciling him in as a half starter, witht he idea that it wont cost us if hes injured again, then i wonder if you havent failed to bring someone in as a starter in his place?

[Mongo3451]

1 hour ago, BearFan PHX said:

that makes money sense, but it also gives some false sense of security that weve filled a hole? If you want him as a backup, thats cool, but if youre kind of penciling him in as a half starter, witht he idea that it wont cost us if hes injured again, then i wonder if you havent failed to bring someone in as a starter in his place?

Of course.  If you plan on Jenkins playing seventeen games, that is a pipe dream.  We definitely need someone with pedigree ready to take his position.  Emphasis on pedigree...

[ASHKUM BEAR]

20 hours ago, Mongo3451 said:

Of course.  If you plan on Jenkins playing seventeen games, that is a pipe dream.  We definitely need someone with pedigree ready to take his position.  Emphasis on pedigree...

Yes, Jenkins missed time, but so has most of the other starters on the line.  We do not have anyone to replace him with, unless we think Bates.  Our pipe dream is to sign Trey Smith....  I think until the Bears can build a line and have quality depth, you cannot lose him unless he gets over paid. 

[BearFan PHX]

13 hours ago, Mongo3451 said:

Of course.  If you plan on Jenkins playing seventeen games, that is a pipe dream.  We definitely need someone with pedigree ready to take his position.  Emphasis on pedigree...

for sure, and if you have a LG that is starter quality, then you dont pay Jenkins except as depth. Thats why I say Jenkins should be a backup. Someone else will pay him start money though, and it shouldnt be us.

So I agree that a half price Jenkins is a bargain in the abstract, in practice I think you either think of him as a starter, which is a mistake, or you pay him like a backup, which Im fine with, as long as you have a different starter at LG?

If the bargain Jenkins seduces us into not having a pedigreed starter at LG, or at least a high pick rookie, then I think its a mistake and you end up with a hole at LG for half the season.

[Mongo3451]

3 hours ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

Yes, Jenkins missed time, but so has most of the other starters on the line.  We want to lose him with what to replace him with, Bates? Our pipe dream, Trey Smith.  I think until the Bears can build a line and have quality depth, you cannot lose him unless he gets over paid. 

Not sure you've read the entire thread.  I want Jenkins, but also want to draft someone good enough to take his job...

[Mongo3451]

3 hours ago, BearFan PHX said:

for sure, and if you have a LG that is starter quality, then you dont pay Jenkins except as depth. Thats why I say Jenkins should be a backup. Someone else will pay him start money though, and it shouldnt be us.

So I agree that a half price Jenkins is a bargain in the abstract, in practice I think you either think of him as a starter, which is a mistake, or you pay him like a backup, which Im fine with, as long as you have a different starter at LG?

If the bargain Jenkins seduces us into not having a pedigreed starter at LG, or at least a high pick rookie, then I think its a mistake and you end up with a hole at LG for half the season.

I absolutely want Jenkins to be signed as a starter.  He's our highest graded OL.  Gotta have pedigree drafted to push him and be ready.  That's how we get the depth we crave.

[ASHKUM BEAR]

4 hours ago, Mongo3451 said:

Not sure you've read the entire thread.  I want Jenkins, but also want to draft someone good enough to take his job...

It was more in response to Phoenix, but I responded under your post and  I understood your thinking.    I had to correct my post too, as it made little sense since I rushed to hit send before I returned to work lol. 

I hate losing blue chip players without an answer.  Teven does not deserve a long term top contract, but if he can be kept with a 2 year deal, then do it.  No rookie will beat him, so he will be a starter.  Where Poles screwed up, he should have drafted his replacement 2 years ago. 

[Mongo3451]

22 minutes ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

Where Poles screwed up, he should have drafted his replacement 2 years ago. 

At minimum, last year...

[BearFan PHX]

5 hours ago, Mongo3451 said:

I absolutely want Jenkins to be signed as a starter.  He's our highest graded OL.  Gotta have pedigree drafted to push him and be ready.  That's how we get the depth we crave.

well if we have a high draft pick at LG, and the idea is for him to push Jenkins and take his job, that's totally cool. The only problem is then you have to pay Jenkins, because Im pretty sure someone will. And I dont want to pay Jenkins if Im hoping he will be depth by week 5?

I dont question Jenkins ability when hes on the field. It's his availability that I worry about of course.

[BearFan PHX]

45 minutes ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

It was more in response to Phoenix, but I responded under your post and  I understood your thinking.    I had to correct my post too, as it made little sense since I rushed to hit send before I returned to work lol. 

I hate losing blue chip players without an answer.  Teven does not deserve a long term top contract, but if he can be kept with a 2 year deal, then do it.  No rookie will beat him, so he will be a starter.  Where Poles screwed up, he should have drafted his replacement 2 years ago. 

 

26 minutes ago, Mongo3451 said:

At minimum, last year...

yes to both.

[Mongo3451]

23 minutes ago, BearFan PHX said:

I dont question Jenkins ability when hes on the field. It's his availability that I worry about of course.

Same.  The thing is, we have the money and we definitely can afford to overspend to ensure it gets better.

[BearFan PHX]

19 minutes ago, Mongo3451 said:

Same.  The thing is, we have the money and we definitely can afford to overspend to ensure it gets better.

we have so many holes that salary cap space is gonna get eaten up pretty fast - I see some thoughts we might sign Chase Young for example.

And we need 4 players on the OL (in my opinion) or at least 3?

[Mongo3451]

31 minutes ago, BearFan PHX said:

And we need 4 players on the OL (in my opinion) or at least 3?

And you are willing to sacrifice the best we have over a few games a year.  I don't get it...

[BearFan PHX]

1 hour ago, Mongo3451 said:

And you are willing to sacrifice the best we have over a few games a year.  I don't get it...

it's because i worry that it will be more than a few games, and whoever we have to fill in, being not starter caliber, will get Caleb killed.

We totally agree that Jenkins is a good player when he's healthy. The question is what do you really have when he isn't playing, and what future cohesion can you really create? And what players do you pass over because you have Jenkins penciled in there?

It's not a big disagreement, more one of strategy than analysis of how he is as a player. I think we agree on that. I just think we are better off getting a replacement for him that we can count on, and moving forward.

Like I said, if you can get a rookie behind him that's an eventual starter level talent, then I am a lot less nervous about it. But I would be OK playing rookies if they are good enough too. They'll make mistakes, but they'll learn too. Like Wright his first year.

Also, if we get a better OL coach, that will hopefully make all of this look better no matter who is in there (within reason of course!)

[AZ54]

On 1/1/2025 at 12:09 PM, Mongo3451 said:

Taylor, Shelton and Jenkins.  The first two should sign deals that make them easy to cut or trade.  Jenkins would be smart to sign an incentive laden deal based on availability.

I'm with you.   Shelton has met expectations as our C and can be our starter next year.  Jenkins has done enough to stay if the contract is middle of the road... a 2 yr deal seems reasonable for both sides.  Draft two Oline players early to add competition and sign one more in FA to be a starter at RG.   Then get an OC who can make our QB throw the ball on time.  

[Mongo3451]

4 hours ago, AZ54 said:

I'm with you.   Shelton has met expectations as our C and can be our starter next year.  Jenkins has done enough to stay if the contract is middle of the road... a 2 yr deal seems reasonable for both sides.  Draft two Oline players early to add competition and sign one more in FA to be a starter at RG.   Then get an OC who can make our QB throw the ball on time.  

Yup.  There was a time we should have been 5-2 that caused an overreacting mindset.  This is an old argument, but continuity, with execution, is the single most important aspect of any OL.  It's realistic to think we keep five of our current guys, with adding two via draft and one via FA.  With our cap space, I would absolutely sign the best guard available, while drafting the best LOT we can.  Top need OL.

[ASHKUM BEAR]

19 hours ago, Mongo3451 said:

Yup.  There was a time we should have been 5-2 that caused an overreacting mindset.  This is an old argument, but continuity, with execution, is the single most important aspect of any OL.  It's realistic to think we keep five of our current guys, with adding two via draft and one via FA.  With our cap space, I would absolutely sign the best guard available, while drafting the best LOT we can.  Top need OL.

Yes! With 4 picks in the top 70, we should be able to get a LOT, DE, DT, and G that are better or as good  as anything we currently have. I know there are other positiin needs, but you do not win games until you can protect your QB and crush the opposing QB.  This has slipped the Bears minds for 40 years.  Keenan Allen said he is either staying here or going to L.A.  If he can do a one year extension, I am fine screaming at him for drops another year.  I want Caleb to build on what he has and keeping his core weapons another year will help.   They need to add a RB, WR, and TE to compliment, but the key is better protection and coaching.

[DABEARSDABOMB]

So I overheard a conversation yesterday with someone with connections to Keenan Allen. He’s gone - going back to Rams or Chargers. Loves Caleb - hated being away from west coast. 

[Stinger226]

On 1/3/2025 at 10:20 AM, Mongo3451 said:

Same.  The thing is, we have the money and we definitely can afford to overspend to ensure it gets better.

On 1/3/2025 at 5:00 AM, Mongo3451 said:

I absolutely want Jenkins to be signed as a starter.  He's our highest graded OL.  Gotta have pedigree drafted to push him and be ready.  That's how we get the depth we crave.

That's the only way we can play it. Easy to say don't sign him but untill you replace with a high level rookie to eventually take his place,you make the OL worse. Another option is draft the LT of the future and move Kiran to LG in place of Jenkins and still draft a rookie. The Idea of 3 rookies starting may take time to learn the game and not be good.

They need to sign a Trey Smith type and then figure what positions to draft. I don't see anyone giving Jenkins a big contact with his injury history but won't be here if you try to give 4-5 mil. I would say a per game incentive with a base 3 yr 18 mil to balloon to 36 if he plays 85% of snaps. 

[Stinger226]

7 hours ago, DABEARSDABOMB said:

So I overheard a conversation yesterday with someone with connections to Keenan Allen. He’s gone - going back to Rams or Chargers. Loves Caleb - hated being away from west coast. 

I think they won't pay him the money he wants, with Rome and Kmet needing more targets that works out better . They will also draft a WR or bring in a Time Patrick type to be the 3rd WR.