So, what do you draft?

[cubzzzfanincali]

assuming Peppers gets cut, we really only have one meaningful lock of a full-time DL to make the 53 man on the roster, and that's Paea. Shea sounds like he's going to be a part timer. Washington, Ozugwu, Lane, Bass, and Robertson are all marginal bubble players that may or may not make the cut.

So figure you'd like to have 8 or 9 D linemen on roster. Let's assume Shea counts as #9, so let's count to 8. If Peppers gets cut, and you have Paea, and let's say 2 of those bubble guys make the roster, that's 3 guys.

We would then need 5 more guys. I sort of think that 3 DL is a tad high in the draft, I was thinking 2, but who knows maybe they will take 3. I'd guess that means you can expect at least 2 more D Linemen signed in free agency even before we hit the draft, and possibly another guy after the draft. You know they want to be in camp with some competition, too.

 

[NCChiFan]

I know, the Lane guy they signed is camp fodder guy, good size but 5 seasons 3 sacks.. um.. seriously? Special teamer? I just see more D line draft picks out of necessity. Seriously, the Bears are moving Shea to LB, so that really only leaves back up Bass if they cut Peppers to play DE? We need 3-4 DE's, and 2 need to be starting quality. I just don't get it.


I think it will force the Bears to take Ealy in the draft in the first, and go DT's at least 2 more times... if they sign a F/A DE and not let Peppers walk. If they let Peppers walk, they will have to pick 2 DE's in the draft and still sign a couple more, plus the DT's...


This won't be a good D next year, with no D line movement. Collins maybe comes back healthy and resigns? Ratliff, but I think he's looking for money, he played well at the end of the season. I think Melton will want big money too, not Franchise money, but a lot more than minimum.


I'm rambling, but I really thought the Bears would move away from Peppers, but I don't see how now.

 

[cubzzzfanincali]

there's still some time on Peppers. For one thing, one option they have always had is waiting to cut him until June 1 (which would split his cap charge over two seasons). This isn't the best strategy for the team (cap doesn't clear until later...however if they want they can renegotiate Marshall THEN with the Peppers money savings), plus it is kind of lame to Julius (hey the guy has been awesome for us no reason to treat him like dirt), but it is an option.

 

[cubzzzfanincali]

in fact now that I think of it, it's not out of the question that the Lane signing was purely done to put a small amount of pressure on the Peppers camp to accept some price. I mean, maybe I'm nuts, and as power moves go it would be pretty weak, but it isn't totally out of the question.

 

[leomaz]

Shea will never be the player Lovie and Emery envisioned him to be.......when do you cut loose and get a player that can play? Use him to get another late rd draft pick

 

[55briggs]

of course i want us to be good but number 1 we need to draft and sign FAs so we can beat Green bay. i cant think of anything more important right now.

 

[55briggs]

Shea will never be the player Lovie and Emery envisioned him to be.......when do you cut loose and get a player that can play? Use him to get another late rd draft pick

forget shea and Hardin lets move forward and be glad we dont have to pay carrimi or shae now.

 

[NCChiFan]

Leo, relax, shea is cheap, under rook contract and isn't going anywhere this year. So, lets see how he does at his other college position in the NFL... You never know. I actually have more hope for him at LB than I did at DE.


The more I think about it, the more I'm thinking the Bears are drafting Kony Ealy with their first pick, if they don't move back.

 

[NCChiFan]

With Emery saying today, he would like to see Henry Melton back, my guess is we move away from drafting a DT early and move a head with drafting either a DE, S or CB.

 

[anotheridiot]

in fact now that I think of it, it's not out of the question that the Lane signing was purely done to put a small amount of pressure on the Peppers camp to accept some price. I mean, maybe I'm nuts, and as power moves go it would be pretty weak, but it isn't totally out of the question.

Agreed, you cant play hardball with peppers when he is the only defensive end on the roster.

And yes, peppers has been good for our team, and he has been paid very well for being good. Its time to give back more than he has deferred over the past two seasons. I just dont like where peppers has gone as a player after two restructures last year. You do it again you are most probably asking for even less output.

 

[wood20ks]

Who the hell knows who we are gonna draft......The free agency is up next.

it would be more fun to talk about that.

 

[NCChiFan]

Who the hell knows who we are gonna draft......The free agency is up next.

it would be more fun to talk about that.

Yup, and right on que, Seattle came out today with the, we are not going to franchise Bennett, hmmmm.

 

[richig07]

Yup, and right on que, Seattle came out today with the, we are not going to franchise Bennett, hmmmm.

Emery has been aggressive and made big splashes in each off-season so far as a GM. The Marshall trade heading into 2012, and then signing Martellus and Bushrod within minutes of free agency starting heading into this past season. I definitely wouldn't rule it out of the question. We would need to clear up some cap room though.

 

[cubzzzfanincali]

I'm not of the opinion that Bennett is worth the money he is going to get. Super Bowl free agents almost always get overpaid.

If the Bears sign a DE, I'd love it if they could somehow sign either Arthur Jones (if going to a 3-4) or Tyson Jackson (3-4) or Willie Young (4-3). To me those seem like better quality/$ guys. If they go after DTs, I'm rooting for either of the Miami boys or Sims, who is a good run stopper.

 

[63bears40]

I'm not of the opinion that Bennett is worth the money he is going to get. Super Bowl free agents almost always get overpaid.

If the Bears sign a DE, I'd love it if they could somehow sign either Arthur Jones (if going to a 3-4) or Tyson Jackson (3-4) or Willie Young (4-3). To me those seem like better quality/$ guys. If they go after DTs, I'm rooting for either of the Miami boys or Sims, who is a good run stopper.

I'd rather see Johnson from Cincy, playing opposite Wooton. You'll have to cut Pep. But you'd have 2 young good DEs. And 2 play makers. Johnson may be the only DE worth his asking price.

 

[cubzzzfanincali]

I don't know how the bears get to signing Johnson. He's going to get more than $10 million per year. Great DE but teams with way more cap room will be the ones signing him.

 

[leomaz]

grwat or overrated ?

I don't know how the bears get to signing Johnson. He's going to get more than $10 million per year. Great DE but teams with way more cap room will be the ones signing him.

He had 3.5 sacks and had problems with double teams after Smith went down.......he is going to get more than 10 mil is an understatement to say the least. He made 11+ last season.

 

[63bears40]

He had 3.5 sacks and had problems with double teams after Smith went down.......he is going to get more than 10 mil is an understatement to say the least. He made 11+ last season.

Say you resign Ratliff & Wooton. Draft Jerningan (spelling?) . Johnson would be a God send. JMO.

 

[63bears40]

I don't know how the bears get to signing Johnson. He's going to get more than $10 million per year. Great DE but teams with way more cap room will be the ones signing him.

Cutting Pep after June 1, would open 10 mil of cap space.
He's (Johnson) probably gone by then. Hope Phil talked to his agent at the combine.

 

[wood20ks]

Yup, and right on que, Seattle came out today with the, we are not going to franchise Bennett, hmmmm.

Now this would be good............to hell with the draft talk yet.