**OFFICAIL** Bears 2024 Regular Season News & Schleisse - FTO Preferred - No ALTS! Derailing Is Discouraged!

[dabears70]

I agree. I like Key as a player but would prefer a bit lower of a deal. My assumption is that even though it’s a 4 year deal, there would be some type of out before then as most deals are structured that way. In a vacuum though, I like the addition.

Not understanding this new found love many on CCS have with A.Key. He's been a bust so far in his career compared to where he was drafted. He had a decent year with San Fran in 2021 with 6.5 sacks but that has a lot to do with the crazy talent that defense has especially on that DL and was alright for Jax last year with 4.5 sacks but he isn't playing like a starter and definitely not someone i'm giving a 4 year contract to. I'd do 2 with the guaranteed money all gone after year 1.

 

[remydat]

Disagree on Taylor, I think that is going to be more than he gets in the free market but the Bears can afford to overbid. Get the guy who you know will start and draft a depth player, or a tackle who can also compete with Jones for LT (who someone who will be both!)

Just think that three of our OL positions need FA help in the short term and draft help for depth in that time and to possible start in the near future. RT is a glaring hole and while I personally favor some of the tackles in this draft, Taylor seems to be the kind of FA signing that would solve this issue for the entirety of that proposed contract.

Taylor has been the worst run blocker at T in the entire NFL the past 2 years. He basically kills your run game.

If they are going to sign a RT, Taylor is basically perfect for what the Bears should want. First of all, he's 25 and will be until late into the 2023 season. Secondly, he's a true RT who has only played RT and is a better pass blocker than a run blocker. The Bears need pass protection first and foremost, and I believe a move to outside zone would help his run blocking.

Also of note, he has never missed a game in his 4-year career. In fact, he has only missed 26 total snaps, all of which came this year! Most of those missed snaps came in Weeks 16 & 17 in blowout wins where Jags rested their starters late since those games didn't really matter in the playoff race.

A RT who is the worst run blocker in the NFL is not perfect for the Bears. Yes we want a good pass blocker but the RT typically has to be a good run blocker particularly in an outside zone scheme.

 

[dabears70]

I mean, I kind of agree. Between Jenkins, Jones, and Patrick/Whitehair, the Bears could be decent at 3-4 spots on the OL if healthy. They could build depth on day 2 of the draft and mid-tier FAs like Dillard and Wylie. Wouldn't be ideal, but it may be enough.

The issue is that what playmakers are they going to get? We've talked about the WR FA class being very weak. A 2nd TE isn't really a big thing as a receiver in this offense. And it sounds like the top FA RBs are going to get franchise tagged (Barkley, Jacobs, Pollard). So where are these playmakers coming from? Can't force a team to trade a player, but I think that's something the Bears would explore for sure.

Plus, the thing is....the Bears have the money and assets (assuming they trade the 1st pick) to do both. Doesn't have to be an either/or situation between weapons and OL, assuming there are viable weapons even available.

Yeah i don't, the OL needs at the very least 2 new starters and would be nice to have guys that are good at pass and run blocking instead of just one. You agree that Fields gets rid of the ball quickly as well?

 

[Enasic]

Not understanding this new found love many on CCS have with A.Key. He's been a bust so far in his career compared to where he was drafted. He had a decent year with San Fran in 2021 with 6.5 sacks but that has a lot to do with the crazy talent that defense has especially on that DL and was alright for Jax last year with 4.5 sacks but he isn't playing like a starter and definitely not someone i'm giving a 4 year contract to. I'd do 2 with the guaranteed money all gone after year 1.

81 overall PFF grade
75 grade against the run
Key’s 14.6% pressure percentage over the past two seasons ties for 17th among edge defenders. He can also line up all over and is still young/ascending

 

[rawdawg]

Yeah i don't, the OL needs at the very least 2 new starters and would be nice to have guys that are good at pass and run blocking instead of just one. You agree that Fields gets rid of the ball quickly as well?

I was just saying, I kind of agree with his premise. If the Bears had the choice of ONLY a top OL or a top WR, I would probably take the WR and throw a bunch of bodies at the OL and see who pans out. But like I said, that scenario doesn't really exist because there are no WRs available at this point and they aren't in an either/or situation, they can and should add both OL and WR talent (if available).

I don't agree that Fields gets rid of the ball quickly. He has the ability to do that at times, and I imagine he would get rid of it quicker had he had a WR that separated quickly, but he clearly doesn't get rid of the ball quick enough right now.

 

[dabears70]

Titans just cut Robert Woods. Dude was a great slot WR for his years with the Rams.

 

[knoxville7]

Taylor Lewan got cut by the titans

Worth looking into a short prove it deal coming off an injury plagued last season at 31 years old?

 

[dabears70]

81 overall PFF grade
75 grade against the run
Key’s 14.6% pressure percentage over the past two seasons ties for 17th among edge defenders. He can also line up all over and is still young/ascending

Yeah he played like a good backup in his two years with good DL's. I'll stick with the 2 year deal at most with the guaranteed money gone after 1.

 

[pdxbearsfan]

I could be reading this wrong, but they are not listing his total TD’s as a pro. They are highlighting his performance vs 2022 playoff teams specifically. So, it was showing he was very efficient passing and then the total TD is he was a playmaker vs playoff teams. He put up points on them.

Yes, the bigger the game the better he played.

 

[pdxbearsfan]

I'm not really a fan of the idea of loading up on a big quantity of good-not-great free agent veterans with limited upside from other teams. Especially ones that play non-premium positions and absolutely not with multi-year guaranteed commitments.

That guy's idea shackles the Bears to players you will be waiting to cut as cap casualties as soon as this time next year. Solves nothing long term and adds no elite talent while doing nothing to address the real issues at wide receiver, tight end, edge rusher, left tackle and quarterback (aka all the positions that matter). If that's the Bears plan on spending their cap then they might as well have extended Roquan Smith.

100% agree.

 

[dabears70]

Chicago Bears Mock Draft: Surprise team trades for number 1 pick

In our latest 2023 mock draft for the Chicago Bears, a surprise team, rumored to be interested in the number one pick, makes their move.

email.fansided.com

 

[rawdawg]

Taylor Lewan got cut by the titans

Worth looking into a short prove it deal coming off an injury plagued last season at 31 years old?

Tough call. He's still a stud when healthy, but he has played 20 and missed 30 games in the last 3 years. I'd probably stay away because the Bears need to find a long-term solution and he's not likely to be a potential swing OT. He might be a guy you add if he's still around in summer like Riley Reiff/Jason Peters.

 

[pdxbearsfan]

Taylor Lewan got cut by the titans

Worth looking into a short prove it deal coming off an injury plagued last season at 31 years old?

I've read he is in pretty bad shape physically, who knows.

 

[dabears70]

Surveillance video of alleged Alvin Kamara nightclub beating surfaces

Alvin Kamara and three others were indicted by a grand jury over an alleged beating in a Vegas nightclub in Feb. 2022. Surveillance video has now surfaced.

email.fansided.com

 

[knoxville7]

Tough call. He's still a stud when healthy, but he has played 20 and missed 30 games in the last 3 years. I'd probably stay away because the Bears need to find a long-term solution and he's not likely to be a potential swing OT. He might be a guy you add if he's still around in summer like Riley Reiff/Jason Peters.

He certainly won’t be available at that stage like those guys were. He’s like 7 years younger. Though perhaps still damaged goods. Obviously, it’s all pending physicals passing and what not.

I just figure he might be open to a 1 year deal to show he’s healthy again, even if it’s like 10 mil for the year to get him. Could be worth it as insurance for Jones/or moving Jones to RT or letting Lewan play RT

I've read he is in pretty bad shape physically, who knows.

And if that’s the case, it’s certainly a move along situation.

 

[rawdawg]

I'm not really a fan of the idea of loading up on a big quantity of good-not-great free agent veterans with limited upside from other teams. Especially ones that play non-premium positions and absolutely not with multi-year guaranteed commitments.

That guy's idea shackles the Bears to players you will be waiting to cut as cap casualties as soon as this time next year. Solves nothing long term and adds no elite talent while doing nothing to address the real issues at wide receiver, tight end, edge rusher, left tackle and quarterback (aka all the positions that matter). If that's the Bears plan on spending their cap then they might as well have extended Roquan Smith.

I get what you're saying, but great FAs don't really exist. Daron Payne is about to be franchised, several other players will be as well, and guys like Conklin and Elgton Jenkins were re-signed. When you sign anyone, odds are they are going to be "good-not-great". Just the nature of free agency.

I think Jawaan Taylor and Dre'Mont Jones are the type of guys you want to spend on. Young, good, durable, and just hitting their primes. I'd give those dudes 4 year deals for big money all day. The rest, I would agree. Though, I don't see TE, LT and QB as issues and they aren't places the Bears are going to add anyone super significant.

 

[rawdawg]

He certainly won’t be available at that stage like those guys were. He’s like 7 years younger. Though perhaps still damaged goods. Obviously, it’s all pending physicals passing and what not.

I just figure he might be open to a 1 year deal to show he’s healthy again, even if it’s like 10 mil for the year to get him. Could be worth it as insurance for Jones/or moving Jones to RT or letting Lewan play RT

Yeah, you're right about him not being around in July. And yeah, it's worth considering, but definitely would not be my top choice.

 

[Dejo]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1628403648538476544

 

[Dejo]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1628384908358844416

 

[Dejo]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1628446900167798784