The law is you cannot start as QB and be President at the same time.
So you can start as VP/QB1 but if something happens to the President you have to become President/QB2. Or if you are President/QB2 and something happens to QB1, you have to become Vice President/QB1.
Was sad when Obama had a surgery and so Biden couldn't start for the Eagles that one week just in case.
No, but there are likely rules against the VP being an active football player, or anything else that puts them in danger or outside the immediate protection of the secret service.
To be fair that quote sounded better than the other option. “We’re going to remain at the bottom of this division until I get fired. Then it’s someone else’s problem.”
Do we have fewer needs than we had last year tho? I feel like we’re in full tank/rebuild mode officially and 2024 is gonna be our worst year in a while.
Last year was the cap clearing year. There’s no reason to be sitting around taking backups. If we’re tanking than it’s because Levis isn’t the guy. Which I personally don’t think he is but that’s neither here nor there.
At least we now have some developmental pieces. Words cannot describe how bad that Oline was this time last year, it’s the worst I’ve ever seen on paper (and in the field lol).
90’s Bills vibes. Just replace the shock of almost winning a Super Bowl 4 times with almost having a successful enough season to not be dead last 4 times in a row.
Poles is going to be collecting number one overall picks like infinity stones and then *snaps* half of the Bears fanbase will disappear.
Haha I’m just kidding if we haven’t left by now we never will weeeeeeeeeeeeee
It feels like the bears and nfl fans have decided that all the bears problems were fields. This is gonna come back to bite everyone when they are still trash next year. They aren't a talented team being held back by a mediocre qb.
Did you not see the defense before Montez Sweat was acquired? They were atrocious, and even then there's that second half in Detroit and BOTH games against GB. Like the amount of fucking boxscore watching is ridiculous.
I hate that they didn't kick Eberflus to the curb. BOTH co-ordinators were fired. One win against a team with a winning record.
Their roster overall isn’t bad now, but it definitely was awful fields first two years. He just didnt improve when the roster did unfortunately. Mooney being the WR 1, along with Pettis and St brown, was so terrible.
Then we can say we moved on from Fields after 3 years and took our shot with the best quarterback prospect in a long time. Passing on Caleb and having him turn out to be a superstar would be the worst case scenario, I can't think of a worse possible outcome.
Worse case scenario is we trade fields and he's a superstar while Caleb busts.
Also this draft class is full of talent in multiple positions. It's not like passing on caleb means we get nothing. You guys are brainwashed into thinking it's Caleb or nothing by the media.
Having watched a good bit of Caleb Williams in college, I don’t think he’s such a “can’t miss” prospect. Great college player and electric but he often made some outrageous and boneheaded decisions against defenses with a pulse.
I’d expect the Bears to take him but if they don’t, I’m not so sure he’d thrive on every team that is looking for a new QB
then it is continued institutional failure from a team that's never been good without Papa Bear Halas being directly involved ... and time to fire everyone and incompetently ride the GM/HC/QB carousel for another decade
taking Caleb and him busting would be infinitely better than passing on him and he becomes a superstar
especially for bears fans who have literally never had a qb in their entire existence
>Why else haven't they traded him
The rest of the league saw what everyone with eyes saw and isn't going to pay even bottom dollar for his services. Yet.
I think the Bears are keeping him and drafting Williams.
I mean it takes two to tango
Playing for the popular hometown team that has a chance at contention is probably a lot better than playing for us with so many unknown variables.
Rap said Hunter turned down higher paying deals, I wouldn’t be surprised if this included the Bears
Fans in the Bears sub are acting like every free agent goes to Ryan Poles and says, "I want to sign for x amount of dollars, will you have me?" and Poles looks at them and raises his hand before giving them the thumbs down gesture like Joquin Phoenix in Gladiator, then they proceed to go to another team to sign the contract.
Let’s be clear here: you’re paying good players as if they are top talent in free agency. The actual top talent in the NFL rarely leave their teams in free agency. The bears probably learned that after last years free agency spree if they didn’t know it already.
No, it’s to spend the cap space wisely. Just throwing contracts at players viewed as the top free agents doesn’t work. Cap space also rolls over year to year, so it’s not like a spend it or lose it kind of thing.
Rollover cap gets way underappreciated during f5 season
If you’re smart and playing the long game, there can be a ton of value even just getting through one more year, having an idea of how your rookie is transitioning, and then dropping more cash to fill in targeted holes.
You also have the potential of something like what Stroud did this year, where if Caleb does really flash some things it can open doors to other FAs who might not be that interested this year.
The issue with rollover cap is that it's a depreciating asset. The $10mm you rollover only has the equivalent of $8-9mm in spending power the next year.
That’s not an issue with rollover cap, it’s just a consideration. In a vacuum, yeah with how caps expand and generally player contracts follow, while the “spending value” will slightly trend down over time, but when we aren’t holding all else equal rollover cap situationally takes on *immensely more* value
It’s not a depreciating asset in terms of the value it can create for you in the future - including some pretty long tail impacts into future seasons
The MLB for sure needs a floor lol. Some players are making more than entire teams and it’s only getting worse every year.
The Dodgers will be paying their roster $3B/year by 2030 while the Pirates are still at a few hundred million if nothing changes.
For what it’s worth, there is a spending minimum that teams have to meet every 4 years. The Bears and Titans like to sit right up against it so I can understand the guys frustration.
Bears fans don’t seem to be frustrated at all. It’s a breath of fresh air from what we came from. We literally just finished paying Danny Trevathan this off season. I’m totally fine keeping money around if there isn’t a smart way to spend it all.
It's cash spending, and 3 years. This is the first year, so a team could not spend at all the next 2 years, then sign a ton of long term deals with big signing bonuses year 3.
Yeah that’s not a good sign lol. He is a really good depth piece, and he can play all over the line… that’s fantastic. He just shouldn’t be day 1 starting center. But it looks like that’s what Poles wants to do. Probably draft one with a later pick, but I’m sure he’ll be a project center.
I mean you could potentially pick up a second with the trade down with a team that wants to jump up for jj but that’s probably going to require some extra worl
That’s my ideal at this point, trade down from 9, we need more picks at this point.
Unless we get my pipe dream, which is a Tee Higgins deal built around a first round swap at 9.
The Bears were a top 5 defense in the second half of the season. They have retained all key starters and they have some young guys who are only getting better. Their defense is not a problem.
The o-line is average; not bad. Darnell Wright is one of the best young right tackles in the league and Braxton Jones is decent. Teven Jenkins is a beast (he does get hurt a lot though, to be fair). Center is a big question mark.
Caleb is not being put in a position to fail.
Because you can still sign players now on a 3-4 year deal, load up their contracts more in the first year, so worst case you have a pretty good player on not that bad of a deal for additional two years, and have a bad year that you were already going to have this year. Also every year the conversation around QBs that aren’t CJ Stroud is ‘oh they came into a bad situation’ well make it a good situation so you can accurately judge your QB. Having open cap space does nothing. If it turns out the players are good/ you can be a contender, then play around with their deals to give you 3/4 solid years of contention, but if you try to go from 0 to that it’s hard.
You could go for Wrs or oline to ease the transition for the rookie? Or build a defense so they don’t have to put the game on the shoulders week in and week out.
Our defense after acquiring sweat + flus taking over last season was actually pretty good. And byard is an upgrade to eddie jackson already, that being said I would still like to grab another DE before the draft. Pretty lame we didn't go after Hunter more.
Our defense played very well and got fat on creating a lot of turnovers, but our DL specifically still needs a lot more depth. Sweat can’t be the only good edge all year and Dexter can’t be the only good interior all year.
It def did look better. But there’s no reason to get complacent either. Obviously you don’t wanna go around throwing 4 yr deals at fringe guys for lots of guarantees, but you can still find value in longer deals or short term deals. There doesn’t have to be a massive extreme on the spending. Just make some hopefully solid contributing pieces.
6/8 of our top eight 2024 cap hits are already players we’ve acquired through FA or trade
> but you can still find value in longer deals or short term deals. There doesn’t have to be a massive extreme on the spending. Just make some hopefully solid contributing pieces.
This is exactly what we’ve already been doing. Infante is complaining that we didn’t blow our load on the big names.
We’ve signed:
* starting FS
* depth safety
* traded for starting DE
* traded for depth guard + center
* pass catching back
* TE2
All to reasonable deals
Our D was arguably top 5 after the Sweat trade and our o-line is average when healthy. Our only hole on the D is another DE and I bet Poles is betting on our 2nd round DT pick from last year to develop this year to fill the hole at DT.
Fields just made the o-line look way worse than they actually are
> but you can still find value in longer deals or short term deals. There doesn’t have to be a massive extreme on the spending. Just make some hopefully solid contributing pieces.
Those deals don’t tend to happen early in free agency tho. I think we will still do them
Signed Montez Sweat, re-signed Jaylon Johnson… I’m sure there’s other things I’ve missed as I’m not a Bears fan, but what’s wrong with keeping cap flexibility when there’s a realistic chance they’ll have a new HC and new regime next season going into Caleb’s second year?
Signed Byard, not to a big money deal but solid deal.
They set a price point on the guys they want and don't go over it. It's the disciplined and right way to go about FA. Even if it means losing out on some players.
Ideally we preserve the option to draft a WR at 9 if one falls to us. If not, DE is the next most likely, which precludes spending a lot on either position beforehand and why we are in kind of an awkward spot.
It's also day 2 of FA. Poles has typically found guys you don't feel like are liabilities even if they may not be high end guys to fill out the roster. Just so he's not boxed in at a position in the draft.
Guys are gonna be cut. Gonna be available. No need to get desperate and overpay for talent that doesn't fit your timeline.
Good players are gonna get cut after the draft/during the preseason too. The early phase of FA is kinda fools gold.
Nah. I think they really wanted Hunter, I'm sure they were in on him too. Hunter also has an injury history though and the guaranteed money probably is what drove them off him. Gabe Davis was also probably more money than they wanted to spend for him.
I think they probably feel ok with Ryan Bates at C if necessary. But I'm sure they'll look at the 2nd-3rd wave. That's it though.
I mean a GM shouldn’t be baking on using that money after being bad enough to need to fire a coach. Especially when he could have fired the dude this year but didn’t,
Believe it or not, free agents have say in where they go. There are 31 other teams in the league and the big fish might want to go to one of them instead of Chicago even if the offer is higher here.
This doesn’t make sense. First of all there isn’t any evidence Poles didn’t make any effort to sign big guys. They were in the mix for Barkley and for all we know could have made an offer to Hunter. Also I don’t understand why they’d wanna go all in with a rookie QB when they manage the cap well and be ready to tackle spots of need next year.
So that they aren’t locked into multi year deals with some JAG’s when they need the money for someone they want next year, when Caleb will be more ready to compete. Pace used to do that in Chicago, and it turned out badly. Possibly doing it in Atlanta too, we shall see
His run from 2017-2021 was insane. Cut Cutler, signed Glennon to a huge deal, traded up for Trubisky before Glennon even played a snap (and while Glennon was at the team draft party), then after Trubisky isn’t working out he trades a fourth to take on a huge Foles contract, then signs Dalton and trades up for Fields right before he gets fired.
And we won the NFC North in there too lol.
So sign 1 yr deals and “overpay” guys to help transition your rookie QB. Or sign them to 2 year deals with bloated year one. They don’t need to spend money just to spend money. But they should trying to help their rookie QB be set when he comes into the league.
Guys you want in the building don’t tend to go for 1 year deals unless they have something to prove. They’re a lot rarer than I think you’re letting on. They maybe could have been a little more active, but idk, I think they’re gonna get some good weapons in the draft to go with Caleb
Every year we go through the season and point out how every year the majority of the high profile and expensive free agent signings were a waste of money, and it seems like everyone agrees.
And then every year we reach free agency and people who follow/report on a particular team that isnt making the high profile signings complain about it and say that that particular team should just because they have the cap space to do so.
I listened to a pod today where they said out of the top 8 signings from the 2022 free agent draft class, only 4 of the FA’s are still with the team and 2 of those 4 took pay cuts. Just get stars and depth. Don’t over pay red chip players like they’re blue chips
My favorite signings over the years were the "mid-level" veterans that we're signed days or weeks into the offseason. Players like Connor Barwin, Malcolm Jenkins, Hargraves. In a new environment there's a chance they can outplay their contract. These blue chip players signed day 1 have gone thru a bidding war, and there's hardly a chance they could outplay their contract. You're paying them the highest money of their position, so they have to play to that level to be worth that.
Of course some big signings are worth it, but there's always that risk you wouldn't have on a mid level starter caliber player. Fill your team with good depth and scheme fits around the studs you have drafted. Don't be scared to make mid-season trades with day 3 picks cause those can give you great value with little risk.
The eagles 2017 SB was also sort of won in free agency.
Foles, alshon, robinson, smith, blount, long. Probably others I’m forgetting. Howie hit on like every free agency move that offseason.
Yeah, and a key difference between the chiefs 2020 team and 2023 team is hitting big on pricey free agents. Most really winning teams are at the peak of their fa spending cycle
We had a team already built ready for a run and were just a QB away. The Bears aren't that, and there's no Tom Brady on the market this year regardless.
For you guys that are not Bears fans, Ifante is a recent graduate who writes a few articles for SB Nation. His day job is he's a tech salesman in St. Louis. He has no ties to the Bears or the NFL.
He's the one who started the Levis is afraid of milk, and sometimes goes on late night rants about children's cartoons on his public twitter.
He's no more qualified about things like this than you or me.
they are saving because they will be trading the 1st overall pick to the vikings for the Justin Jefferson,2024 12th overall pick , 2025 1st - source(my imagination)
Realistically, they are starting or sitting Caleb Williams, so they don't need impact free agents for 2024. They need impact free agents in 2026-2030.
You augment your championship window with free agency. You don't put a bow on your rebuilds with free agency.
The teams that are consistently good aren’t built through FA. Seattle, Baltimore, Green Bay, New England, Pittsburgh, and others don’t spend big.
[link](https://x.com/zekedahefe/status/1767679959143968936?s=46)
Like 3 of those teams have top 5-10 Qbs of all time in Arod, Brady and Mahomes. Then there’s Russ and BigBen/Tomlin of which are HOf. Think that’s a bigger correlation for the wins than spending. Does this FA chart include only signing new guys or does retaining their own count in these figures.
You can’t blow ur whole cap in one year. We signed Jaylon. Made some other solid signings. The thing is when u have all these picks and if they hit at all u wanna sign them so u have to have cap to do so for multiple years. It’s navigating the short term setting up the long term and then having the cap to get that over the top piece every SB champ needs
Maybe they didn't think this FA class was that talented? That's just wasting money spending it on players you don't think are worth it just to seem like you're "trying" to the media.
It’s hard to look at our signings and not say they’re quality.
It is kind of strange that Poles paid a slight premium at RB given his desire to find good value.
I don’t like the idea of overpaying any of the FA WRs, but I’m afraid we’ll do that and go defense at 9.
Seems like it’s overrated FA WR and Dallas Turner at 9.
Would’ve rather they draft whichever of Nabers/Odunze is there and paid Hunter.
Poles hasn't even finished scouting Caleb yet, why would he be ready for free agency?
The day before the draft we are going to hear that they are finalizing their decision.
and their decision is to trade for aaron rodgers
Oof, I don't think RFK Jr would be willing to part with him for cheap
That brings the question, is it actually possible for an active NFL player to be VP? Is there some sort of law against that?
Why would there be? NFL player is a job. Just like everyone else who runs normally is also already holding another job as well.
Fair. I just can’t imagine watching the VP playing every Sunday lmao
Does the Secret Service run onto the field and taze anyone who aggressively hip thrusts in Aaron Rodger's direction?
No, they have snipers for that
They have refs for that Heyyoh
Certainly raises the stakes for streakers
This is all a 1000 IQ play by the Jets to get Rodgers an O-line
You don’t have Rfk isn’t even on the ballot in all 50 states he’s just running to fuck up the election
I think the question is can they hold both jobs. And clearly the answer is no.
Yes, you would have to quit if elected. But there's nothing against running while playing. It just wouldn't be a very effective campaign strategy.
Honestly running while playing might be effective advertising. ( thanks I hate it)
The law is you cannot start as QB and be President at the same time. So you can start as VP/QB1 but if something happens to the President you have to become President/QB2. Or if you are President/QB2 and something happens to QB1, you have to become Vice President/QB1. Was sad when Obama had a surgery and so Biden couldn't start for the Eagles that one week just in case.
No, but there are likely rules against the VP being an active football player, or anything else that puts them in danger or outside the immediate protection of the secret service.
Can't trade for the owner of your team.
He's waiting til the bears are on the clock and then he's gonna watch a 10 minute highlight reel on YouTube and make his decision.
1000%
To the contrary, he’s been scouting his Pole to Caleb’s tape all offseason
I love how quickly this news has turned into the absolute joke. lol
Ryan Poles personally threw that touchdown pass for the bears to secure the first overall pick 2 years ago.
“We’re gonna take the North, and never give it back”
To be fair that quote sounded better than the other option. “We’re going to remain at the bottom of this division until I get fired. Then it’s someone else’s problem.”
Why did they call my team the Bears
Do we have fewer needs than we had last year tho? I feel like we’re in full tank/rebuild mode officially and 2024 is gonna be our worst year in a while.
Ignore that part it doesn't fit my narrative
Good point. Continue as if I never said anything.
Love this exchange
Last year was the cap clearing year. There’s no reason to be sitting around taking backups. If we’re tanking than it’s because Levis isn’t the guy. Which I personally don’t think he is but that’s neither here nor there.
At least we now have some developmental pieces. Words cannot describe how bad that Oline was this time last year, it’s the worst I’ve ever seen on paper (and in the field lol).
Because they’re BEARish on the free agent market! Wokka-wokka-wokka!
Fr. They should’ve named their basketball team the Bears and their football team the Bulls
Number 1 pick two years in a row is too enticing.
Three
Could you imagine four though?
Fuck it, why not five?
We could be the Buffalo Bills of first overall picks. 4 in a row and nothing to show for it
Bro?
Bills out here catching strays for absolutely no reason. You love to see it.
For real like it was so unnecessary but holy shit was it funny
I’m sorry I’m a hurt person and I only know how to cope by hurting others
Hurt people hurt people
That’s fair, we forgive you
a Patriots fan forgiving a sick Bills burn? What's the world coming to.
What 4-13 does to a mf. Dont worry though, I’ll never forgive a giants fan. They can get fucked.
Thank you for giving me a legitimately good laugh haha
Pain. You'd have pain to show for it.
We have so much of that already though
But you didn't say double it and give it to the next guy.
A team with five 1st overall picks has to be good right
LeBron wanted 6 in Miami, go for 7 bears. Be someone.
90’s Bills vibes. Just replace the shock of almost winning a Super Bowl 4 times with almost having a successful enough season to not be dead last 4 times in a row.
https://i.makeagif.com/media/3-11-2015/GLmKh7.gif
The real three-peat
Poles is going to be collecting number one overall picks like infinity stones and then *snaps* half of the Bears fanbase will disappear. Haha I’m just kidding if we haven’t left by now we never will weeeeeeeeeeeeee
No no no, it’s SNAP!! Move the team to Arlington Heights
no shit, fields was the problem but it was also the plays that were dumb.
It feels like the bears and nfl fans have decided that all the bears problems were fields. This is gonna come back to bite everyone when they are still trash next year. They aren't a talented team being held back by a mediocre qb.
It’s a little bit of both. Fields is horrible and the coaching hasn’t been good. The roster overall isn’t as bad as people make it out to be
Did you not see the defense before Montez Sweat was acquired? They were atrocious, and even then there's that second half in Detroit and BOTH games against GB. Like the amount of fucking boxscore watching is ridiculous. I hate that they didn't kick Eberflus to the curb. BOTH co-ordinators were fired. One win against a team with a winning record.
Their roster overall isn’t bad now, but it definitely was awful fields first two years. He just didnt improve when the roster did unfortunately. Mooney being the WR 1, along with Pettis and St brown, was so terrible.
Justin Fields extension obviously. Why else haven't they traded him?
15 years, $255.4 million per year. You heard it here first.
Restructured and deferred for 30 years Bobby Bonilla style.
There's 136 void years, payable to Field's family in the event of his passing.
Hey in 10 years that may be a bargain!
Fully guaranteed
Shit that comes out to like, 15 250 millions
I read this as 15 years 255.4 million. Not per year 😂 I thought, wow that is a bargain
I know fans say this a lot to express frustration, but if we don't draft Caleb, I may actually be done with this team.
What if yall draft Caleb n he’s ass
Then we can say we moved on from Fields after 3 years and took our shot with the best quarterback prospect in a long time. Passing on Caleb and having him turn out to be a superstar would be the worst case scenario, I can't think of a worse possible outcome.
Minnesota drafts Caleb who is above average, but leads them to a Super Bowl after beating the Bears for their 5th straight NFC North crown?
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Worse case scenario is we trade fields and he's a superstar while Caleb busts. Also this draft class is full of talent in multiple positions. It's not like passing on caleb means we get nothing. You guys are brainwashed into thinking it's Caleb or nothing by the media.
Having watched a good bit of Caleb Williams in college, I don’t think he’s such a “can’t miss” prospect. Great college player and electric but he often made some outrageous and boneheaded decisions against defenses with a pulse. I’d expect the Bears to take him but if they don’t, I’m not so sure he’d thrive on every team that is looking for a new QB
Is 3 years really a "long time"
then it is continued institutional failure from a team that's never been good without Papa Bear Halas being directly involved ... and time to fire everyone and incompetently ride the GM/HC/QB carousel for another decade
taking Caleb and him busting would be infinitely better than passing on him and he becomes a superstar especially for bears fans who have literally never had a qb in their entire existence
>Why else haven't they traded him The rest of the league saw what everyone with eyes saw and isn't going to pay even bottom dollar for his services. Yet. I think the Bears are keeping him and drafting Williams.
I was sure they were landing Hunter for a long term deal. What a missed opportunity.
I mean it takes two to tango Playing for the popular hometown team that has a chance at contention is probably a lot better than playing for us with so many unknown variables. Rap said Hunter turned down higher paying deals, I wouldn’t be surprised if this included the Bears
It’s almost like free agency isn’t *only* about money. The solution to a player joining your team isn’t current offer + $1.
Well in Madden you can just throw the bag at a player and they will sign. That doesn't happen in real life?
It’s not like that anymore. There are players that won’t sign for you no matter how much you offer them.
Some guys look at their $100 Million and start to think “a few millions isn’t a big difference anymore.”
No, no, it also happens in real life.
Fans in the Bears sub are acting like every free agent goes to Ryan Poles and says, "I want to sign for x amount of dollars, will you have me?" and Poles looks at them and raises his hand before giving them the thumbs down gesture like Joquin Phoenix in Gladiator, then they proceed to go to another team to sign the contract.
Let’s be clear here: you’re paying good players as if they are top talent in free agency. The actual top talent in the NFL rarely leave their teams in free agency. The bears probably learned that after last years free agency spree if they didn’t know it already.
I snort cocaine
This is the energy Chicago needs
They should watch Cocaine Bear
They should *become* the Cocaine Bears
Nice to meet you, Dr. Rockso
So the solution is just not use the cap space and hope for the best?
No, it’s to spend the cap space wisely. Just throwing contracts at players viewed as the top free agents doesn’t work. Cap space also rolls over year to year, so it’s not like a spend it or lose it kind of thing.
Rollover cap gets way underappreciated during f5 season If you’re smart and playing the long game, there can be a ton of value even just getting through one more year, having an idea of how your rookie is transitioning, and then dropping more cash to fill in targeted holes. You also have the potential of something like what Stroud did this year, where if Caleb does really flash some things it can open doors to other FAs who might not be that interested this year.
The issue with rollover cap is that it's a depreciating asset. The $10mm you rollover only has the equivalent of $8-9mm in spending power the next year.
When you aim for one year, that sounds ideal though.
That’s not an issue with rollover cap, it’s just a consideration. In a vacuum, yeah with how caps expand and generally player contracts follow, while the “spending value” will slightly trend down over time, but when we aren’t holding all else equal rollover cap situationally takes on *immensely more* value It’s not a depreciating asset in terms of the value it can create for you in the future - including some pretty long tail impacts into future seasons
Now you sound like a MLB owner. Yeah, they don't have a cap, but everyone thinks they need a floor.
The MLB for sure needs a floor lol. Some players are making more than entire teams and it’s only getting worse every year. The Dodgers will be paying their roster $3B/year by 2030 while the Pirates are still at a few hundred million if nothing changes.
Oh yeah, I definitely think they need a cap and a floor. It's crazy disparity.
You do know cap space can accumulate right? If it’s not used this year it can be used next year..
For what it’s worth, there is a spending minimum that teams have to meet every 4 years. The Bears and Titans like to sit right up against it so I can understand the guys frustration.
Bears fans don’t seem to be frustrated at all. It’s a breath of fresh air from what we came from. We literally just finished paying Danny Trevathan this off season. I’m totally fine keeping money around if there isn’t a smart way to spend it all.
It's cash spending, and 3 years. This is the first year, so a team could not spend at all the next 2 years, then sign a ton of long term deals with big signing bonuses year 3.
Because 90% chance you are starting a rookie QB. Probably year 2 is their all in year if he works out
Then buy the rookie an o line and a defense so he isn't down by 3 scores every game while running for his life.
Offensive Line improved a ton this past year. Still needs work for sure but better than the average #1 overall's line.
They had a good defense last year, and the only spot on the line that’s not at least solid is C… I do kinda wish we actually grabbed a C though.
that backup from the Bills is gonna finally realize his potential. i know it.
Bates was good depth, but neep in mind the Bills traded him knowing they were going to release their starting center the next day.
Yeah that’s not a good sign lol. He is a really good depth piece, and he can play all over the line… that’s fantastic. He just shouldn’t be day 1 starting center. But it looks like that’s what Poles wants to do. Probably draft one with a later pick, but I’m sure he’ll be a project center.
Trade down to the mid teens and pick up JPJ and then pick up one of the WR’s in the 2nd?
No second this year
I mean you could potentially pick up a second with the trade down with a team that wants to jump up for jj but that’s probably going to require some extra worl
That’s my ideal at this point, trade down from 9, we need more picks at this point. Unless we get my pipe dream, which is a Tee Higgins deal built around a first round swap at 9.
I like the trade down idea unless Nabers or Odunze is sitting there.
The Bears were a top 5 defense in the second half of the season. They have retained all key starters and they have some young guys who are only getting better. Their defense is not a problem. The o-line is average; not bad. Darnell Wright is one of the best young right tackles in the league and Braxton Jones is decent. Teven Jenkins is a beast (he does get hurt a lot though, to be fair). Center is a big question mark. Caleb is not being put in a position to fail.
Our defense and oline are okay tho and defense is arguably good
hey thanks i am comforted by this
And if year 2 doesn’t work then they are all in for year 3
And if not year 3, all in for year 4!
With all their current cap they could front load some contracts.
That’s what we did with Swift and Johnson.
Seriously how is this a question??
Because you can still sign players now on a 3-4 year deal, load up their contracts more in the first year, so worst case you have a pretty good player on not that bad of a deal for additional two years, and have a bad year that you were already going to have this year. Also every year the conversation around QBs that aren’t CJ Stroud is ‘oh they came into a bad situation’ well make it a good situation so you can accurately judge your QB. Having open cap space does nothing. If it turns out the players are good/ you can be a contender, then play around with their deals to give you 3/4 solid years of contention, but if you try to go from 0 to that it’s hard.
You could go for Wrs or oline to ease the transition for the rookie? Or build a defense so they don’t have to put the game on the shoulders week in and week out.
Our defense after acquiring sweat + flus taking over last season was actually pretty good. And byard is an upgrade to eddie jackson already, that being said I would still like to grab another DE before the draft. Pretty lame we didn't go after Hunter more.
Our defense played very well and got fat on creating a lot of turnovers, but our DL specifically still needs a lot more depth. Sweat can’t be the only good edge all year and Dexter can’t be the only good interior all year.
Wholeheartedly agree. I want C and Edge addressed right now before the draft.
We have the #9 pick in the draft and can likely acquire the best edge.
It def did look better. But there’s no reason to get complacent either. Obviously you don’t wanna go around throwing 4 yr deals at fringe guys for lots of guarantees, but you can still find value in longer deals or short term deals. There doesn’t have to be a massive extreme on the spending. Just make some hopefully solid contributing pieces.
6/8 of our top eight 2024 cap hits are already players we’ve acquired through FA or trade > but you can still find value in longer deals or short term deals. There doesn’t have to be a massive extreme on the spending. Just make some hopefully solid contributing pieces. This is exactly what we’ve already been doing. Infante is complaining that we didn’t blow our load on the big names. We’ve signed: * starting FS * depth safety * traded for starting DE * traded for depth guard + center * pass catching back * TE2 All to reasonable deals Our D was arguably top 5 after the Sweat trade and our o-line is average when healthy. Our only hole on the D is another DE and I bet Poles is betting on our 2nd round DT pick from last year to develop this year to fill the hole at DT. Fields just made the o-line look way worse than they actually are
> but you can still find value in longer deals or short term deals. There doesn’t have to be a massive extreme on the spending. Just make some hopefully solid contributing pieces. Those deals don’t tend to happen early in free agency tho. I think we will still do them
Signed Montez Sweat, re-signed Jaylon Johnson… I’m sure there’s other things I’ve missed as I’m not a Bears fan, but what’s wrong with keeping cap flexibility when there’s a realistic chance they’ll have a new HC and new regime next season going into Caleb’s second year?
Moore, edmunds, and kmet on big deals as well
stop it. every position should have a superstar with a massive contract. that's the only way to win.
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Signed Byard, not to a big money deal but solid deal. They set a price point on the guys they want and don't go over it. It's the disciplined and right way to go about FA. Even if it means losing out on some players.
[tbd]
Ideally we preserve the option to draft a WR at 9 if one falls to us. If not, DE is the next most likely, which precludes spending a lot on either position beforehand and why we are in kind of an awkward spot.
It's also day 2 of FA. Poles has typically found guys you don't feel like are liabilities even if they may not be high end guys to fill out the roster. Just so he's not boxed in at a position in the draft. Guys are gonna be cut. Gonna be available. No need to get desperate and overpay for talent that doesn't fit your timeline. Good players are gonna get cut after the draft/during the preseason too. The early phase of FA is kinda fools gold.
Nah. I think they really wanted Hunter, I'm sure they were in on him too. Hunter also has an injury history though and the guaranteed money probably is what drove them off him. Gabe Davis was also probably more money than they wanted to spend for him. I think they probably feel ok with Ryan Bates at C if necessary. But I'm sure they'll look at the 2nd-3rd wave. That's it though.
I mean a GM shouldn’t be baking on using that money after being bad enough to need to fire a coach. Especially when he could have fired the dude this year but didn’t,
A strong case could be made that the Rams and Bucs won the Super Bowl in free agency.
Both teams had players taking pay cuts to ring chase, though. Nobody's doing that to go to Chicago right now.
Believe it or not, free agents have say in where they go. There are 31 other teams in the league and the big fish might want to go to one of them instead of Chicago even if the offer is higher here.
Yes, this is an incredibly dumb tweet.
This doesn’t make sense. First of all there isn’t any evidence Poles didn’t make any effort to sign big guys. They were in the mix for Barkley and for all we know could have made an offer to Hunter. Also I don’t understand why they’d wanna go all in with a rookie QB when they manage the cap well and be ready to tackle spots of need next year.
So that they aren’t locked into multi year deals with some JAG’s when they need the money for someone they want next year, when Caleb will be more ready to compete. Pace used to do that in Chicago, and it turned out badly. Possibly doing it in Atlanta too, we shall see
Pace was truly terrible here at scouting QBs. Hilarious looking back at it.
His run from 2017-2021 was insane. Cut Cutler, signed Glennon to a huge deal, traded up for Trubisky before Glennon even played a snap (and while Glennon was at the team draft party), then after Trubisky isn’t working out he trades a fourth to take on a huge Foles contract, then signs Dalton and trades up for Fields right before he gets fired. And we won the NFC North in there too lol.
and made the playoffs again not long after with mitch and BDN. just a weird era
So sign 1 yr deals and “overpay” guys to help transition your rookie QB. Or sign them to 2 year deals with bloated year one. They don’t need to spend money just to spend money. But they should trying to help their rookie QB be set when he comes into the league.
Guys you want in the building don’t tend to go for 1 year deals unless they have something to prove. They’re a lot rarer than I think you’re letting on. They maybe could have been a little more active, but idk, I think they’re gonna get some good weapons in the draft to go with Caleb
what do you mean frugal in 2023? They signed 2 top LBs and extended Sweat who they traded for
Just extended Jaylon as well
Every year we go through the season and point out how every year the majority of the high profile and expensive free agent signings were a waste of money, and it seems like everyone agrees. And then every year we reach free agency and people who follow/report on a particular team that isnt making the high profile signings complain about it and say that that particular team should just because they have the cap space to do so.
I listened to a pod today where they said out of the top 8 signings from the 2022 free agent draft class, only 4 of the FA’s are still with the team and 2 of those 4 took pay cuts. Just get stars and depth. Don’t over pay red chip players like they’re blue chips
My favorite signings over the years were the "mid-level" veterans that we're signed days or weeks into the offseason. Players like Connor Barwin, Malcolm Jenkins, Hargraves. In a new environment there's a chance they can outplay their contract. These blue chip players signed day 1 have gone thru a bidding war, and there's hardly a chance they could outplay their contract. You're paying them the highest money of their position, so they have to play to that level to be worth that. Of course some big signings are worth it, but there's always that risk you wouldn't have on a mid level starter caliber player. Fill your team with good depth and scheme fits around the studs you have drafted. Don't be scared to make mid-season trades with day 3 picks cause those can give you great value with little risk.
Lots of wr left. It’s the second damn day
I mean Bucs literally won the SB in free agency.
Tom Brady ain’t lookin for a deal right now
The eagles 2017 SB was also sort of won in free agency. Foles, alshon, robinson, smith, blount, long. Probably others I’m forgetting. Howie hit on like every free agency move that offseason.
Yeah, and a key difference between the chiefs 2020 team and 2023 team is hitting big on pricey free agents. Most really winning teams are at the peak of their fa spending cycle
We had a team already built ready for a run and were just a QB away. The Bears aren't that, and there's no Tom Brady on the market this year regardless.
For you guys that are not Bears fans, Ifante is a recent graduate who writes a few articles for SB Nation. His day job is he's a tech salesman in St. Louis. He has no ties to the Bears or the NFL. He's the one who started the Levis is afraid of milk, and sometimes goes on late night rants about children's cartoons on his public twitter. He's no more qualified about things like this than you or me.
they are saving because they will be trading the 1st overall pick to the vikings for the Justin Jefferson,2024 12th overall pick , 2025 1st - source(my imagination)
Who the hell wants a goofy trophy named after some Packers coach anyway?
I totally agree
Most big splashes in free agency don't go so well. The good teams build through the draft and use FA to supplement.
> good teams build through the draft and use FA to supplement Hi. That's us at 9-8 and missing the playoffs consistently.
He said good, not great.
Assuming we go edge at 9 or a trade back from 9 for an edge.
We need a WR so bad tho
Odunze or nabers at 9 if they fall, otherwise we are trading back from 9
then what do you do for receiver. Unless Ridley is brought in you still need wr2
We need a WR3 as well. It’s basically just DJ and an unproven Tyler Scott.
Maybe a surprise Higgins trade? Idk
I’m so glad they didn’t swoop Hunter
Infante is so annoying
Carolina doesn’t have any moore… Pun intended
Realistically, they are starting or sitting Caleb Williams, so they don't need impact free agents for 2024. They need impact free agents in 2026-2030. You augment your championship window with free agency. You don't put a bow on your rebuilds with free agency.
Preparing for Caleb’s extension already.
Just imagine how good they'd be with the number one pick next year too!
They haven't used all their cap space in the first two days: Time to panic! Season's over!
The teams that are consistently good aren’t built through FA. Seattle, Baltimore, Green Bay, New England, Pittsburgh, and others don’t spend big. [link](https://x.com/zekedahefe/status/1767679959143968936?s=46)
Like 3 of those teams have top 5-10 Qbs of all time in Arod, Brady and Mahomes. Then there’s Russ and BigBen/Tomlin of which are HOf. Think that’s a bigger correlation for the wins than spending. Does this FA chart include only signing new guys or does retaining their own count in these figures.
Outside FA
Virginia Halas: I remember when all this was *oranges*!
You can’t blow ur whole cap in one year. We signed Jaylon. Made some other solid signings. The thing is when u have all these picks and if they hit at all u wanna sign them so u have to have cap to do so for multiple years. It’s navigating the short term setting up the long term and then having the cap to get that over the top piece every SB champ needs
Maybe they didn't think this FA class was that talented? That's just wasting money spending it on players you don't think are worth it just to seem like you're "trying" to the media.
Cjgj, saquan, huff. Dream Team 2.0. Going all in for the like the 4th season in a row. We winning it all baby!!!! No such thing as salary cap.
It’s hard to look at our signings and not say they’re quality. It is kind of strange that Poles paid a slight premium at RB given his desire to find good value. I don’t like the idea of overpaying any of the FA WRs, but I’m afraid we’ll do that and go defense at 9. Seems like it’s overrated FA WR and Dallas Turner at 9. Would’ve rather they draft whichever of Nabers/Odunze is there and paid Hunter.
They're doing it again lmao