Big Picture Defensive Discussion

[JoJoBoxer]

Agreed. The only way to get cheaper is to draft guys.

Which is why we need to generate more picks. We need to spam the defense with picks.

I might go OL with a 2nd or 3rd and just defense the rest of the way.

We can hope that Snowden or some other UDFA shows something.

 

[WindyCity]

Mario Edwards is the guy to keep an eye on. He was very good last year, and very good with the Raiders. He produces again this year, I would extend him 2-3 years. He isn’t Hicks, but he is a solid DE.

I could see him being the cheaper replacement for Hicks once they pay Nichols.

3 years 12 million will be a nice price if he plays well.

 

[knoxville7]

The line of scrimmage is where the game is won/lost. Keep drafting guys on the lines and good things will tend to follow

 

[Discus fish salesman]

The line of scrimmage is where the game is won/lost. Keep drafting guys on the lines and good things will tend to follow

Agreed. San Francisco showed that two years ago when they almost won a SB with garapollo because they were dominant along both lines

 

[MikeDitkaPolishSausage]

Agreed. San Francisco showed that two years ago when they almost won a SB with garapollo because they were dominant along both lines

They were dominant in the trenches but Garoppolo was pretty bad that game. Kinda showed that no matter how good you are in the trenches, a good QB is more important.

 

[Discus fish salesman]

They were dominant in the trenches but Garoppolo was pretty bad that game. Kinda showed that no matter how good you are in the trenches, a good QB is more important.

Right. If they had even a decent qb they win that game easy. They nearly won by dominating the line of scrimmage. Now that we have a qb our focus should be the lines

 

[WindyCity]

Right. If they had even a decent qb they win that game easy. They nearly won by dominating the line of scrimmage. Now that we have a qb our focus should be the lines

I agree, specifically on the OL.

Our secondary concerns me. I would love an influx of young talent there.

I actually think our DL is good and deep even if Goldman flakes out on us. The question will becomes if Edwards can replace Hicks next year. Can Edwards repeat what he did last season?

 

[Enasic]

I agree, specifically on the OL.

Our secondary concerns me. I would love an influx of young talent there.

I actually think our DL is good and deep even if Goldman flakes out on us. The question will becomes if Edwards can replace Hicks next year. Can Edwards repeat what he did last season?

When the bears move on from hicks they need to replace him with someone better than edwards. Especially if Goldman duds out.

 

[ThatGuyRyan]

blackson, Goldman , Hicks would have been a lot of beef up front

Let’s hope they get lucky with Tonga and Pennell.

 

[vabearsfan15]

Pace is better at drafting defensive players. He should spend the money in free agency on offense and let Pace fill the holes on defense through the draft.


I think the turnover will happen naturally. This is likely Trevathan's last year. Who knows about Goldman. Hicks and Quinn will likely be gone or on much cheaper restructured contract next year.

From there we need to replace those guys with offensive talent to surround Justin with. Give him every opportunity to succeed. Take care of the QB and you will get a decade to rebuild the defense. And unlike the Packers, Pace can draft that side of the ball

 

[Black Rainbow]

How much did Fangio factor in on "Pace drafting defense well." ?

Seems kinda odd that a GM only drafts one side of the ball well...and that side just happened to have a great coach.

 

[The Big Grabowski]

Needs on defense start at ILB and SS but I don't think they're as glaring as I step back and look at the roster. CB may trump those positions depending on how young guys develop. In any case, we need to continue to build depth there and EDGE regardless. Pace needs to commit himself to pick at premium positions until we're stacking strength on strength.

If we can re-sign ARob, we're looking decent on O. Just need to let guys develop and fill as needed. We'll obviously need another TE in the near future and continue to upgrade at OL. But overall if this draft pans out, we'll be in a much healthier position to draft for the future.

 

[WindyCity]

How much did Fangio factor in on "Pace drafting defense well." ?

Seems kinda odd that a GM only drafts one side of the ball well...and that side just happened to have a great coach.

I think obviously Fangio has a positive impact on the drafting and developing of defensive players.

I just think most GMs have areas where they are stronger. Whether they played that position or side of the ball, or coached it, or came up scouting those guys.

Pace has been much better, especially on day 3, of defensive scouting.

 

[WindyCity]

Needs on defense start at ILB and SS but I don't think they're as glaring as I step back and look at the roster. CB may trump those positions depending on how young guys develop. In any case, we need to continue to build depth there and EDGE regardless. Pace needs to commit himself to pick at premium positions until we're stacking strength on strength.

If we can re-sign ARob, we're looking decent on O. Just need to let guys develop and fill as needed. We'll obviously need another TE in the near future and continue to upgrade at OL. But overall if this draft pans out, we'll be in a much healthier position to draft for the future.

Fields and Jenkins working out would give us cheap deals at 2 of the top 4 most expensive positions on cheap rookie deals.

Would be a massive cap win.

 

[EDPeezy]

I think they’ve spent so badly on the defensive side of the ball and ignored it during the draft that even when they get out of the bad contracts they’re going to have to use up big chunks of their resources to get it back to respectable.

I sort of hate that prospect, but it seems inevitable. With today’s league I’d like them to be able to spurge some on offense. I don’t think they’ll be able to though. Even now. They may not have a suitable replacement for Fuller. That’s kind of a big deal and good corners usually aren’t just sitting around. They’ll need a pass rusher in the next few years. They’ll probably need a safety. Yeah, they could develop a guy or two. Or maybe not. And they end up not having a replacement for the big money guys like Mack, Jackson, etc. They’ll either have to pay somebody in FA or use whatever top picks they have on those positions.

 

[WindyCity]

I think they’ve spent so badly on the defensive side of the ball and ignored it during the draft that even when they get out of the bad contracts they’re going to have to use up big chunks of their resources to get it back to respectable.

I sort of hate that prospect, but it seems inevitable. With today’s league I’d like them to be able to spurge some on offense. I don’t think they’ll be able to though. Even now. They may not have a suitable replacement for Fuller. That’s kind of a big deal and good corners usually aren’t just sitting around. They’ll need a pass rusher in the next few years. They’ll probably need a safety. Yeah, they could develop a guy or two. Or maybe not. And they end up not having a replacement for the big money guys like Mack, Jackson, etc. They’ll either have to pay somebody in FA or use whatever top picks they have on those positions.

I think they have massively over invested on defense. Some of it is bad, Quinn and Trevathan, I think most of it has been fine, but as you said it doesn’t change how unbalanced the books are.

But, gun to me head, I would rather have Pace rebuilding a defense on the cheap than trying to do it on offense. He hasn’t shown the same ability to do that on offense.

 

[rawdawg]

In general, you actually want to draft defense and go FA on offense. Defense is a young man's game. Defense doesn't age well except for the very elite, near HOF level players. Offense tends to age better with OL and QBs especially being able to play well into their mid-to-late 30s and sometimes you get a Tom Brady who's elite at 40+.

The Bears have drafted offensive heavy as of late out of necessity. They've had most of their starters on defense for multiple years. But going forward, they'll hopefully be drafting more defense.

QB- hopefully won't have to draft one for more than a backup for the next 10 years.
RB- won't have to draft one early at least for 2 years, and hopefully never in the top 2 rounds
WR- probably have to add 1 with or without Robinson next year w/ losing all but Mooney and Dazz. Probably either the 2nd or 3rd round pick in 2022. If ARob re-signs, then this position should be set for a while after that
TE- probably have to add 1 next year, doesn't have to be a high pick though w/ Kmet the primary guy
OL- could always use an early pick here. But 3 projected starters are signed beyond 2021. Borom could be 4th starter. I'd spend 6-10M AAV on the last starter. If not re-signing Daniels, then should be big players on the FA market

OLB- Quinn gone after 2021 season w/ cut. Gipson and Attaochu under contract, but could use a top pick here with Mack now 30. Between OLB and CB for one of the first 2 picks next year.
DL- gotta re-sign Nichols. Lose Hicks, need for a pick depends on Goldman. Edwards and Blackson still under contract. Even if no Goldman, probably a Day 3 pick in 2022 at best. 2023 the need will be there though.
ILB- Gotta sign Roquan long-term, but will need to replace Trevathan very soon. Probably can go Day 3 pick in the next couple years. Maybe Day 2 pick in 2023 if a true stud is there.
CB- If OLB is not a top 2 pick next year (2nd or 3rd) then CB better be. I'd look to add a 1st round talent here possibly as soon as 2023, but definitely by 2024 even if Vildor and Graham are solid.
S- Bears have gotten by going cheap at SS w/ Jackson. I'd use that philosophy as long as I could. Cheap could mean another $1M FA, but at some point they need to spend a mid-round pick to find the next Amos and/or Jackson. Seems like a lot of S talent is available Round 4 recently.

 

[WestCoastBearsFan]

2022 NFL Team Salary Cap Tracker

A real-time look at the 2022 salary cap totals for each NFL team, including estimated cap space.

www.spotrac.com

37 mil with 42 players signed. Add about one mil each to fill out the roster, now your at 26 mil. Sign AR now your at about 16 mil, give or take depending on how the contract is spread out. Things aren't desperate, but Bears aren't making any "big moves" in FA. Not without kicking a few more cans down the road, or cutting someone that then would need to be replaced as well.

I mean yes, you could cut or trade Mack/Quinn/Jackson, but then your creating a hole that needs to be filled, which would gobble up much of the Cap savings you benefitted.

Mack and Quinn are already getting up there at some point. you can either try and replace them with the financial flexibility of a rookie QB deal or you can do when you have to pay your QB, smart money is with trying to replace one if not both of them now.

 

[WindyCity]

In general, you actually want to draft defense and go FA on offense. Defense is a young man's game. Defense doesn't age well except for the very elite, near HOF level players. Offense tends to age better with OL and QBs especially being able to play well into their mid-to-late 30s and sometimes you get a Tom Brady who's elite at 40+.

The Bears have drafted offensive heavy as of late out of necessity. They've had most of their starters on defense for multiple years. But going forward, they'll hopefully be drafting more defense.

QB- hopefully won't have to draft one for more than a backup for the next 10 years.
RB- won't have to draft one early at least for 2 years, and hopefully never in the top 2 rounds
WR- probably have to add 1 with or without Robinson next year w/ losing all but Mooney and Dazz. Probably either the 2nd or 3rd round pick in 2022. If ARob re-signs, then this position should be set for a while after that
TE- probably have to add 1 next year, doesn't have to be a high pick though w/ Kmet the primary guy
OL- could always use an early pick here. But 3 projected starters are signed beyond 2021. Borom could be 4th starter. I'd spend 6-10M AAV on the last starter. If not re-signing Daniels, then should be big players on the FA market

OLB- Quinn gone after 2021 season w/ cut. Gipson and Attaochu under contract, but could use a top pick here with Mack now 30. Between OLB and CB for one of the first 2 picks next year.
DL- gotta re-sign Nichols. Lose Hicks, need for a pick depends on Goldman. Edwards and Blackson still under contract. Even if no Goldman, probably a Day 3 pick in 2022 at best. 2023 the need will be there though.
ILB- Gotta sign Roquan long-term, but will need to replace Trevathan very soon. Probably can go Day 3 pick in the next couple years. Maybe Day 2 pick in 2023 if a true stud is there.
CB- If OLB is not a top 2 pick next year (2nd or 3rd) then CB better be. I'd look to add a 1st round talent here possibly as soon as 2023, but definitely by 2024 even if Vildor and Graham are solid.
S- Bears have gotten by going cheap at SS w/ Jackson. I'd use that philosophy as long as I could. Cheap could mean another $1M FA, but at some point they need to spend a mid-round pick to find the next Amos and/or Jackson. Seems like a lot of S talent is available Round 4 recently.

This is a good point about age and how defense seems to fall off faster.

I think the Bears have 2 offseasons to influx talent onto defense. At that point Hicks, Quinn, Trevathan, Gipson, maybe even Mack will be moving on.

 

[nc0gnet0]

This is a good point about age and how defense seems to fall off faster.

I think the Bears have 2 offseasons to influx talent onto defense. At that point Hicks, Quinn, Trevathan, Gipson, maybe even Mack will be moving on.

Realistically, Hicks, Quin and Trevathon are all gone next year. Mack will be gone in 2023. Good chance AR is gone next year as well. If you want to keep Hicks on the roster in 2021, you have to account for his 12 million cap hit, which is not figured into the link I posted.