First look at the Bears offseason (mock free agents and full draft)

[Lake Shore Drive]

Montgomery went to the Lions. Damn.

Lions are going to be one damn tough team this year. They're my early pick to win the Norris.

 

[wood20ks]

Just read Bears will sign Seattle RB Homer.

Was just gonna report that.....

Yep,we lose Montgomary for a Homer.......

 

[nebearsfan70]

Was just gonna report that.....

Yep,we lose Montgomary for a Homer.......

Not sure about Homer. I watch a lot if Seattle games, and Homer is injured often.

 

[wood20ks]

Lions are going to be one damn tough team this year. They're my early pick to win the Norris.

Yes sir......buddy of mine was saying that last Saturday.....i told him with Hutcheinson and their 1st round pick take a top dlineman,that defense is gonna destroy.
He took them furher as in SB.........not sure about that,but if the Bears dont take it,Im all for Detroit winning it all.......

 

[wood20ks]

Not sure about Homer. I watch a lot if Seattle games, and Homer is injured often.

Ya,hes not much of a signing......3rd option rb at best.....

 

[richig07]

Lions are going to be one damn tough team this year. They're my early pick to win the Norris.

I'll believe it when I see it. They are more likely to pull some typical Lions shit than they are to win the division, IMO.

 

[richig07]

Montgomery went to the Lions. Damn.

I know we all "like" Monty and his hard running style, but let's stop this, finally.

He rushed for under 900 yards in 3 of his 4 seasons with us, averaged 3.9 YPC during that time, and was consistently in the bottom of the league in important categories like "explosive plays" and "yards after contact".

He's a good short yardage back and reliable blocker/receiver. He's a rotational guy. A good fit in a committee. Nothing more, nothing less. A lot of those to go around. Let's not forget the mileage that piles up quickly on a back with his style.

I don't think Montgomery amounts to much, at all, that we will miss while in Detroit.

I think half of this forum is faster than Monty in the open field. Herbert is already a better runner (although not possessing game breaking speed either) and if he takes a step forward in the passing game. He's an upgrade. I also assume we're bringing in a FA to compete or selecting a RB in the first 3-4 rounds.

 

[Jiddy]

I know we all "like" Monty and his hard running style, but let's stop this, finally.

He rushed for under 900 yards in 3 of his 4 seasons with us, averaged 3.9 YPC during that time, and was consistently in the bottom of the league in important categories like "explosive plays" and "yards after contact".

He's a good short yardage back and reliable blocker/receiver. He's a rotational guy. A good fit in a committee. Nothing more, nothing less. A lot of those to go around. Let's not forget the mileage that piles up quickly on a back with his style.

I don't think Montgomery amounts to much, at all, that we will miss while in Detroit.

I think half of this forum is faster than Monty in the open field. Herbert is already a better runner (although not possessing game breaking speed either) and if he takes a step forward in the passing game. He's an upgrade. I also assume we're bringing in a FA to compete or selecting a RB in the first 3-4 rounds.

Montgomery is replaceable but I don't think Herbert is a better back than him. We have downgraded if it's a straight swap and don't find another RB. Not a substantial drop so the cost savings is a reasonable approach. Hope would be that we find a RB in the draft.

Lions are going to be good. They are loaded with talent. If Rodgers goes to the Jets I'm fairly certain they'll have double digit wins.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

Not sure about Homer. I watch a lot if Seattle games, and Homer is injured often.

Ya,hes not much of a signing......3rd option rb at best.....

The Bears RBs as of today: Herbert, Homer and Ebner

That looks like it should be the name of a law firm in farm country.

 

[averagejoe]

but I don't think Herbert is a better back

If you like stats... of the RB with at least 100 touches, Herbert ranked #1 in yards-per-carry with 5.7

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

If you like stats... of the RB with at least 100 touches, Herbert ranked #1 in yards-per-carry with 5.7

I thought all along Herbert was and still is the better running back between the two, but Monty has a better all around game, especially in the blocking dept. I'm mildly surprised that Poles couldn't re-sign him, knowing that the Lions got him for just $6mil a year. I kept thinking the sticking point was that he wanted 10+ a year. Obviously not.

 

[averagejoe]

I thought all along Herbert was and still is the better running back between the two, but Monty has a better all around game, especially in the blocking dept. I'm mildly surprised that Poles couldn't re-sign him, knowing that the Lions got him for just $6mil a year. I kept thinking the sticking point was that he wanted 10+ a year. Obviously not.

Just my opinion, but i think some GM's are realizing RB, while important, is not a top tier importance of team needs. Especially with a QB like Fields who can get you first downs with his legs.

 

[Jiddy]

If you like stats... of the RB with at least 100 touches, Herbert ranked #1 in yards-per-carry with 5.7

I want to believe, but I've never really been wowed with Herbert. I think Monty is going to tear sh*t up behind Detroit's O-line and make us look pretty bad for letting him go. So here's hoping Herbert does as well.

 

[wood20ks]

Just dont bring in Elliot.....please dont bring him here......

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

Day two of the free agency period is over and nothing at all in terms of any developments on the FA front. It's quite possible that Poles goes into a holding pattern from this point forward, perhaps all the way thru the draft. If I had to pass out grades, which of course is silly because these would only be paper grades at best, but in recognizing this I'd nonetheless give out:

The trade. In moving from #1 to #9, Poles managed to extract from the Panthers:
This year's #61
1st round in '24
2nd round in '25
True #1 starter in WR DJ Moore
It would probably be more fitting that I place the Moore acquisition under free agency, being he's an established NFL player under contract for three more years. And not to mention that it did reduce our cap space by 20some million. Totally worth it tho.
Grade: A

Free agency:
During the first two days of free agency, Poles has signed:
MLB TJ Sanders
MLB Tremaine Edmunds
G Nate Davis
DE DeMarcus Walker
RB Travis Homer
Grade: C+
In fairness, we don't know what's gone on behind the scenes during this period. Poles may have tried to sign more players than he was able to for all we know. While we no doubt super built up the LB unit - we might now arguably be a top 5 in the league, two critical needs at OT and DT were not addressed at all, and to me these superseded the LB spots in terms of importance. Yes, we did shore up the OL a touch and some are saying Walker could be the sleeper signing of this group. And suddenly we have a very decent WR unit. But we also lost our starting RB.

Bottom line is as of today the Bears are without a doubt an improved team. But a playoff caliber team? Who knows, but my gut tells me no, not yet. We're still missing much needed talent in the two most important units, the DL & OL, with the latter being the one that protects JF. Hello??? Yet there should be more opportunities to help fill these needs, either in more free agency signings (as in post June 1st) and the draft.

 

[Beengay fudgepackers]

We still don’t have a DLine or an OT. A lot of people seem to think Poles already found a LTnin the draft and maybe he can do it again. We also need defensive line players like crazy.

We’re getting to know Poles a lot in this off-season. I still don’t know quite what I’m seeing yet though. He seems frugal. He doesn’t seem panicked at all. We had a chance this free agency to go into the draft without a big time need. Now, when we make trades or are about to pick, other teams have a good idea of who we will take. Taking a dlinemen? You might need to jump the bears. It is a picky criticism this far, but we need to keep it in mind as we move forward. Hopefully, he doesn’t reach for some players in hopes they might fill a hole.

I hope striking out on big time FAs is a sign of his long game and being frugal. A couple million here and there doesn’t seem like much, but it can mean a big difference when you actually need a top flight player at a position of weakness when you’re a contender. He’s done fantastic so far, imho.

 

[wood20ks]

Two grades I given by The Score Tuesday was Edmunds A++ and Edwards an A....have not heard on Davis or Wallker......

I wouldnt pyt too much stock into Homer as he wont see the field much......

I also thought we would have signed a top olineman or dlineman,but Brown is still out there and SOMEONE is gonna pick him up.......still hopeful on that one.

 

[wood20ks]

Well scratch that Orlando Brown.......he is now a Bengall.

Ugh

 

[Jiddy]

Well scratch that Orlando Brown.......he is now a Bengall.

Ugh

We were never signing Brown. We want a RT. We're leaving Jones at LT. Now we'll be looking at RT in draft most likely, as well as d-line. I mean, we have 10 picks...We'll hit on a few of them and fill some of the spots. Law of averages. Then we just work from there next offseason with 2 first round picks.

 

[BsGenius]

Well scratch that Orlando Brown.......he is now a Bengall.

Ugh

Uggh. Well that's a kick in the nuts.