Chicago Bears address

[RDU Irish]

I've been saying Odunze is my #1 WR want.

Penix will be a star in the NFL...

Penix throwing to Odunze, Moore and Allen all day (with Kmet and Everett too). They could still trade down from #1 and make this happen. Unfortunately it will be Caleb Williams and they will think they solved WR well enough with Allen in the fold when they have a long term pro bowl option staring them in the face. There is a long ways to go from #9 overall to their next pick at #75, I think they will be tempted to go defense at #9 thinking they have invested enough in offense with FA and CW.

Why even deal Fields for just a 6th round pick? Two years of a cheap backup QB is worth more than that. Fields may not be the answer but that doesn't mean he is useless. I know everyone will say ego and locker room and whatnot but they are supposed to be pros. Outside the ego issues, I would much rather have Fields at #2 than Tyson f-ing Bagent. Unifying the locker room behind one guy - I get it. Doesn't mean I have to like it.

I expect CW will be good not great. Bears won't bolster the WR corp like they should and CW will be seen regressing in year 3/4 as Moore/Allen contracts run out. Probably overpay for Allen's twilight years. Of the #1 QBs coming out the last few years CW is at the bottom of the list. Then there is the battered fan element of not trusting the Bears to develop a QB - I would have loved to see Fields come in with this much offensive support. Even Mitchell Tribiscuit would have a shot at looking good with this crew.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Fields is due to make his base salary plus a roster bonus in 2024. That's over $3M. Then comes his option after 2024. From a cap and financial standpoint, even with the space they have, you don't do this if you're the Bears purely from a numbers standpoint.

On top of that, I still don't understand how anyone can suggest the team would be in any kind of harmony if Fields were kept on the team to be QB2 to Caleb Williams or anyone else for that matter. You can't do it. There is no universe where that works and that team doesn't fracture. So from the intangible and emotional point of view, you can't realistically do that either.

NFL teams knew the Bears had the number one overall pick and even with that leverage they have against the Bears, one thought well enough to take Fields as their back up and gave up what the market was willing to bear in order to get him. I like Fields a lot and I do think circumstances were against him on multiple fronts, but he didn't improve enough to make anyone in the NFL suggest that the number one overall pick could be used in any shape or form to build around him. Everyone that was in the QB market, including the STEELERS THEMSELVES, went with another guy first.

I think Fields will get an opportunity in Pittsburgh and he's got a much better organization watching over him for at least a year. You could do a hell of a lot worse than landing in the QB room where Mike Tomlin is down the hall. If anything, Fields already has done worse. It really is now up to him to put himself together as an NFL starter.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Penix will be a star in the NFL...

He's going to have to land in a very good situation where he can fix himself. Forget his medicals and durability concerns with the injuries. His footwork and windup are all over the place. Penix has a big release that is going to have a negative impact on his accuracy in the pros. UW had very good WR around him. A few guys with a big release have been able to make it work, but they are exceptions and not the rule. Penix should be able to get opportunities, but right now not many scouts are predicting star status for him. His character is not in question, his medical history and fundamentals are.

We can absolutely question Caleb Williams' maturity in addition to his own mechanics that need fixing, but from a football standpoint, there is equal if not MORE risk in trading down to draft a 24 year old with an injury history who lacks mobility because of that and has moderate to serious mechanical flaws that need adjusted before he can be put into an NFL QB1 situation.

Whataboutism: Caleb Williams vs Notre Dame.....and Michael Penix vs Michigan.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

 

[Crazy Balki]

Most importantly, it was two different general managers. The guy who drafted him got fired. The GM brought in his own head coach, now he's going for his own quarterback. It's going to be all his work now.

Yep. It's a raw deal for Fields, but it is what it is.

The "disservice" is the Bears stupidly giving Pace and Nagy an extra year they didn't deserve. Pace was glued by the hip to the Trubisky pick. The second that fell through, that should've been it for him and for Nagy. It's sheer incompetence to give him another chance to draft a QB.

But even more so is that unless things drastically changed in '21, which the odds of that happening were microscopic, then you'll have no choice but to fire them and then you're stuck with a QB who has to endure a rebuild, and has to learn a new offense entirely. They had the chance to wipe the board completely clean. Lucky for them, it may not bite them in the ass, as they were gifted back-to-back #1 picks.

 

[RDU Irish]

Fields is due to make his base salary plus a roster bonus in 2024. That's over $3M. Then comes his option after 2024. From a cap and financial standpoint, even with the space they have, you don't do this if you're the Bears purely from a numbers standpoint.

On top of that, I still don't understand how anyone can suggest the team would be in any kind of harmony if Fields were kept on the team to be QB2 to Caleb Williams or anyone else for that matter. You can't do it. There is no universe where that works and that team doesn't fracture. So from the intangible and emotional point of view, you can't realistically do that either.

NFL teams knew the Bears had the number one overall pick and even with that leverage they have against the Bears, one thought well enough to take Fields as their back up and gave up what the market was willing to bear in order to get him. I like Fields a lot and I do think circumstances were against him on multiple fronts, but he didn't improve enough to make anyone in the NFL suggest that the number one overall pick could be used in any shape or form to build around him. Everyone that was in the QB market, including the STEELERS THEMSELVES, went with another guy first.

I think Fields will get an opportunity in Pittsburgh and he's got a much better organization watching over him for at least a year. You could do a hell of a lot worse than landing in the QB room where Mike Tomlin is down the hall. If anything, Fields already has done worse. It really is now up to him to put himself together as an NFL starter.

Yes going cheap on QB is the way. Total of 5 years experience and a dozen games played between the three in the room. What could possibly go wrong? Fourth lowest salary spending in the league with over $60M of space and they need to save a couple of bucks on the QB room.

Locker room/ego issues are why Fields had to go. I get it but I don't like it. Absent egos - Fields starting the season with Williams taking over when ready is a much better path to success and horribly inexpensive. He is also a better backup QB than Bagent or Rypien. Maybe Caleb requires the shittiest backups imaginable so he doesn't spiral into depression as bad as the last time he chipped one of his painted nails. It doesn't take a shrink to understand lots of people just hate that douche which unfairly colors the argument. It is irrational but I would rather be sitting at #3 and take whoever comes my way between Williams/Maye and Daniels (mainly b/c I know Williams wouldn't be there).

 

[RDU Irish]

Yep. It's a raw deal for Fields, but it is what it is.

The "disservice" is the Bears stupidly giving Pace and Nagy an extra year they didn't deserve. Pace was glued by the hip to the Trubisky pick. The second that fell through, that should've been it for him and for Nagy. It's sheer incompetence to give him another chance to draft a QB.

But even more so is that unless things drastically changed in '21, which the odds of that happening were microscopic, then you'll have no choice but to fire them and then you're stuck with a QB who has to endure a rebuild, and has to learn a new offense entirely. They had the chance to wipe the board completely clean. Lucky for them, it may not bite them in the ass, as they were gifted back-to-back #1 picks.

I think it is a great situation for Fields. Wilson just shat the bed on a massive contract in Denver and has big question marks around him. Dude is circling the drain starting at 35 years old. Very high probability Fields gets to step in this season before even factoring injury probability. Exact opposite situation if he was kept around to incubate Williams for a few months. This is a great chance to audition for his next contract.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Yes going cheap on QB is the way. Total of 5 years experience and a dozen games played between the three in the room. What could possibly go wrong? Fourth lowest salary spending in the league with over $60M of space and they need to save a couple of bucks on the QB room.

Locker room/ego issues are why Fields had to go. I get it but I don't like it. Absent egos - Fields starting the season with Williams taking over when ready is a much better path to success and horribly inexpensive. He is also a better backup QB than Bagent or Rypien. Maybe Caleb requires the shittiest backups imaginable so he doesn't spiral into depression as bad as the last time he chipped one of his painted nails. It doesn't take a shrink to understand lots of people just hate that douche which unfairly colors the argument. It is irrational but I would rather be sitting at #3 and take whoever comes my way between Williams/Maye and Daniels (mainly b/c I know Williams wouldn't be there).

There is no universe where Poles drafts a QB this year and keeps Fields on the roster. Hence why Fields is in Pittsburgh.

It's the NFL. People get chewed up and spit out all of the time, as we are all well aware.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Moving Fields was just as much for him as it was for the Bears. He now has an opportunity to simply outlast Russell Wilson whose shtick is likely not to be tolerated by Mike Tomlin all that much.

 

[MKEagle]

Moving Fields was just as much for him as it was for the Bears. He now has an opportunity to simply outlast Russell Wilson whose shtick is likely not to be tolerated by Mike Tomlin all that much.

100%. He needs a fresh start.

There was also a report the Bears had better offers but dealt with Steelers because that was Fields preference

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

And Mike Tomlin has wanted a mobile quarterback forever since they ran out of duct tape and weed to hold Big Ben together at the end of his career.

 

[Irish4life]

Penix will be a star in the NFL...

I love Michael Penix Jr, but he ain't Caleb Williams.

 

[Blazers46]

Penix will be a star in the NFL...

Not for the Bears

 

[FU BK]

Chad Powers or bust.....he'd eat caleb williams for breakfast. Fast chad

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

CW and the Bears brass were at dinner last night.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

'Energetic, charismatic': Why Caleb Williams checks the 'person' boxes for the Bears

Everything a quarterback does and doesn’t do is important to a team's evaluation of him.

theathletic.com

 

[MKEagle]

Bears are taking CW at #1 based on all of the reports and their interactions during USC's pro day. Washington would have to offer the farm and then some to make the Bears even listen at this point.

 

[NDFAN2008]

Bears are taking CW at #1 based on all of the reports and their interactions during USC's pro day. Washington would have to offer the farm and then some to make the Bears even listen at this point.

Agree, interested to see what they do with the 9th pick. Do you package the 9th and 1 of your first next year and get Harrison? Do you take the best available WR? or do you just get Dallas Turner?

 

[MKEagle]

The two things that I find interesting based on some of the reporting out of the Bears beat:

1. The Bears have been thoroughly investigating CW for close to 6 months now. Almost like they've been trying to find something to support the notion that CW is lazy, egotistical, emotional, etc... and they seemingly haven't budged on trading out of 1.

2. There continues to be talk about taking a tackle at 9 and play the best 5 which I assume means they kick Braxton inside. Obviously this all comes down to how their board is set up. Even if the top 3 WRs are gone they still have plenty of avenues.

 

[RDU Irish]

I am conflicted in that #9 pick. Take best available in that area of the draft is often a windfall since most teams in the top 10 are drafting on need. On the other hand they have like 70 picks between than #9 and their next pick - you can probably drop down to later in the first round plus a second round pick where you can get a monster interior OL plus another shot at a great player. Probably depends on how their draft board compares late 1st through mid 2nd round talent with their top six non-QB talents and if they like how they stand at tackle.

I am worried they think they are done at WR.

 

[zelezo vlk]

If the top 3 receivers are gone I'd be very open to trading down provided the offers aren't extreme lowballs (moving down 5 spots for a 3rd or less). As RDU mentioned gotta keep upgrading talent especially at pass catcher but don't reach for a guy at 9; BPA or trade down. Now that the roster has only 1 real hole at DE2, the key is to just continue to upgrade the talent wherever you can with the draft picks.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

If Alt or Fashanu are still on the board at #9, I would be very happy with an OT.

Otherwise, I agree that any one of the top 3 WRs would be a good idea (really it's Nabers or Odunze; Harrison wont' be available there).

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I am conflicted in that #9 pick. Take best available in that area of the draft is often a windfall since most teams in the top 10 are drafting on need. On the other hand they have like 70 picks between than #9 and their next pick - you can probably drop down to later in the first round plus a second round pick where you can get a monster interior OL plus another shot at a great player. Probably depends on how their draft board compares late 1st through mid 2nd round talent with their top six non-QB talents and if they like how they stand at tackle.

I am worried they think they are done at WR.

If Alt or Fashanu are still on the board at #9, I would be very happy with an OT.

Otherwise, I agree that any one of the top 3 WRs would be a good idea (really it's Nabers or Odunze; Harrison wont' be available there).

They have 1, 9, 75 and 122 remaining.

Needs are QB, WR, Edge, IOL, OT and DL. This is not a good draft for edge rushers. Best you're going to get is Verse or Turner.

If any of those three WR are there at 9, I feel you have to take whoever it is. Oduzne's stock has gone up so fast I'm wondering if it will be Nabers. If all three are gone by 9, they might be compelled to take Turner or Verse. DJ Moore turns 27 and Keenan Allen turns 32 in April. The third roster guy right now is Tyler Scott.

If they can't get one of those three WR at 9, maybe a good value pick falls at 75 like Walker from UNC, McMillan from UW or Burton from Alabama. I think they need to draft a WR regardless. It may as well be at 9 if one of those three are there.

 

[MKEagle]

Been reading that this draft in particular is top-heavy with little value after the 3rd round due to NIL and COVID years. If they trade back they better be loading up on Day 2 picks.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Agree, interested to see what they do with the 9th pick. Do you package the 9th and 1 of your first next year and get Harrison? Do you take the best available WR? or do you just get Dallas Turner?

I don't think they trade up. I think they go with BPA and it wouldn't surprise me to see them prioritize edge rusher or OL over WR.

 

[NDFAN420]

I don't think they trade up. I think they go with BPA and it wouldn't surprise me to see them prioritize edge rusher or OL over WR.

I'd do Alt, Odunze, Nabors at #9 otherwise trade down and take some combo of DE, WR, OT.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

 

[BobbyMac]

I’m going to a Bears draft party. My first official Bears function since Trestman’s first season.

Didn’t think this would happen under Halas ownership. Hopefully they don’t drive me off again… meaning they sell soon.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Having 2 top 10 picks is amazing. Here's to hoping someone drops to 9 to be a building block with Caleb for years.

 

[MKEagle]

NFL reportedly announcing their potential punishment for Atlanta on the Kirk Cousins tampering situation before the draft...

Bears move from 9 to 8? Nightmare scenario is they swap picks with Atlanta and Minnesota. Would drastically reduce trade down value.