If you could only choose one in free agency?

[Xplosive]

Let's say the Bears don't want to grab multiple $20 mil per year players in free agency, and decided to only grab one of these... Who would you take?


For me the answer is Ronnie Staley. He's 31yo and should still have plenty left in the tank for a $80M contract.

He is absolutely an upgrade from Charles Len... excuse me Braxton Jones. He played every game last season after some unhealthy years. It's harder to find a left tackle than a guard and this guy has done it a long time at a high level.

I would follow up with drafting another left tackle in the first round (KBJ/Allen etc) and starting them at LG beside him this season and grooming them as his eventual replacement as well as injury protection.

Finally if I can cheat and pick my second option it would be to also grab Khalil Mack at about $18M for two years and convince him that this time the offense will be good enough to win and try to make a superbowl with a team he knows.

How about you???

 

[TheEarlofRobin]

Trey Smith...that would be like a steal if Smith is available and the Bears land him. I don't understand why anyone would want Allen back, but I know I am in the minority on that.

 

[dennehy]

Trey Smith.

 

[msadows]

lol wut kinda list is this, 30+ guys vs a pro bowl guard whos only 25

The choice is pretty clear

 

[Zvbxrpl]

The answer to this hypothetical is Trey Smith, but KC isn’t dumb enough to let him sniff FA.

 

[msadows]

Also, for anyone who wants Ronnie Stanley(Or to move away from Braxton)

Ronnie allowed about 1 pressure per 30.3 snaps, whereas braxton allowed 1 pressure per 27.6 snaps.

Its really not much of an improvement, and you have to factor in how much lamar helps that OL


The very very easy choice is the 25 year old pb guard.

 

[cwcwcwcw1]

Staley did play all 17 games last year and 98% of snaps. However, from 2020-2023 he missed to many games. I'm not trusting "the contract year."

Also I'm not so sure that he is better than Braxton going forward. Perhaps a slight upgrade?

Most importantly the Bears have ZERO IOL under contract on the roster. I'm ignoring Bates.

 

[pseudonym]

Trey and it's not close.

 

[Anytime23]

Reddick. Sweat needs someone else to get pressure and I’d like to see Caleb die on the playing field.

 

[msadows]

Staley did play all 17 games last year and 98% of snaps. However, from 2020-2023 he missed to many games. I'm not trusting "the contract year."

Also I'm not so sure that he is better than Braxton going forward. Perhaps a slight upgrade?

Most importantly the Bears have ZERO IOL under contract on the roster. I'm ignoring Bates.

I notice bears fans dont really pay attention to other teams OL's. They think braxton is a swing tackle when he clearly isnt.

I'm okay drafting a top tackle at #10 and maybe flipping him to guard if braxton is healthy. Top guards make 20m+ now so drafting a guard at 10 isnt as dumb any longer.

Bates probably gets cut, guy saves 4m and has an arthritic shoulder.

 

[MikeDitkaPolishSausage]

Easy answer is Smith. An elite G helps out the rest of your line.

 

[TheEarlofRobin]

I notice bears fans dont really pay attention to other teams OL's. They think braxton is a swing tackle when he clearly isnt.

I noticed other teams' OLs letting their offense average more than 4.5 YPP. The Bears finished last in the NFL despite having talent at the skill positions. I wouldn't want Staley, but unless Jones makes big strides in 2025, there is no way the Bears can win the Super Bowl with him as a starting LT.

 

[pseudonym]

Stupid question—does it matter if the elite guard is LG or RG? Does this align with whether the QB is lefty/righty? Or do we run scheme left and right? Have no idea. I know LT is more valuable than RT since they protect the QB blindside (as most are righty).

 

[msadows]

I noticed other teams' OLs letting their offense average more than 4.5 YPP. The Bears finished last in the NFL despite having talent at the skill positions. I wouldn't want Staley, but unless Jones makes big strides in 2025, there is no way the Bears can win the Super Bowl with him as a starting LT.

interior pressure does that

Chiefs are somehow winning superbowls with a tackle worse than braxton in Jawaan Taylor and starting no namers most of the season at left tackle much worse than braxton

 

[TheEarlofRobin]

interior pressure does that

Chiefs are somehow winning superbowls with a tackle worse than braxton in Jawaan Taylor

Taylor is a RT

 

[msadows]

Taylor is a RT

and their left tackles all year were shit and how many games did t hey win?

Again, braxton doesnt give up a ton of pressure. Its just CCS who doesnt watch the rest of the nfl who thinks he's bad. He's an average tackle who you can upgrade over, but there are plenty of teams worse off at left tackle than the bears.

 

[ThatGuyRyan]

Stanley or Smith

 

[TheEarlofRobin]

and their left tackles all year were shit and how many games did t hey win?

Again, braxton doesnt give up a ton of pressure. Its just CCS who doesnt watch the rest of the nfl who thinks he's bad. He's an average tackle who you can upgrade over, but there are plenty of teams worse off at left tackle than the bears.

Point taken. But the Bears don't have Patrick Mahomes at QB, so comparing the Bears OL to KC's OL probably isn't the best. I just think Jones needs to be better if the Bears are going to have a good OL in general, instead of a bad-to-average OL.

 

[dabears70]

and their left tackles all year were shit and how many games did t hey win?

Again, braxton doesnt give up a ton of pressure. Its just CCS who doesnt watch the rest of the nfl who thinks he's bad. He's an average tackle who you can upgrade over, but there are plenty of teams worse off at left tackle than the bears.

Actually Thuney played LT really well for them to finish the year but what would any of us know who don't pay attention to other teams' OL's.

 

[cwcwcwcw1]

Perhaps I'm missing something. But given the choices above and the fact that we currently have a starting OL of.

LT Jones
LG EMPTY
C EMPTY
RG EMPTY
RT Wright

Since I do not have faith in the run/pass blocking ability of the mighty EMPTY triplets, I think it would be best to sign Trey Smith.