One Reason Why I Don't Want Bears Trading a Second Round Pick For a Trade Deadline Player in 2024

[JoJoBoxer]

Besides the obvious need to give a just-brought-in player a new, expensive contract (Sweat in 2023 is a perfect example), the 2025 NFL draft seems to be falling into the Bears lap as for positions of need. Like I said before, they need to save their bullets for the draft.

Taking a too early 2025 NFL mock draft from ESPN (2025 Mock Draft), they projected 13 of the 32 1st round players as either Edge or DT (positions of need).

In 2024, the Bears used a 2nd rounder to get Sweat because Poles probably knew that the defensive line players were lacking (Latu first taken at 15) and no one was at the caliber of Sweat in the draft. They then took Odunze from one of the top position groups in the draft.

Well, two of the Bears biggest needs are Edge and DT, two strengths of the 2025 draft.

With their 1st rounder and 2 2nd rounders, they can target a top of the draft defensive lineman or can use their two 2s to move back into the 1st round and come away with two defensive linemen.

Sometimes, you have to draft positions of need instead of paying premium for them, especially in a draft that should be stacked with players that fit your need.

 

[bufordht]

Besides the obvious need to give a just-brought-in player a new, expensive contract (Sweat in 2023 is a perfect example), the 2025 NFL draft seems to be falling into the Bears lap as for positions of need. Like I said before, they need to save their bullets for the draft.

Taking a too early 2025 NFL mock draft from ESPN (2025 Mock Draft), they projected 13 of the 32 1st round players as either Edge or DT (positions of need).

In 2024, the Bears used a 2nd rounder to get Sweat because Poles probably knew that the defensive line players were lacking (Latu first taken at 15) and no one was at the caliber of Sweat in the draft. They then took Odunze from one of the top position groups in the draft.

Well, two of the Bears biggest needs are Edge and DT, two strengths of the 2025 draft.

With their 1st rounder and 2 2nd rounders, they can target a top of the draft defensive lineman or can use their two 2s to move back into the 1st round and come away with two defensive linemen.

Sometimes, you have to draft positions of need instead of paying premium for them, especially in a draft that should be stacked with players that fit your need.

Fair points, but getting another player like Sweat at 3 tech would be huge for the DL. They would still have a 1st and 2nd to pair with him. They have cap space and the DL is a great place to spend.

I think both sides of the argument have merit.

 

[Myk]

Short of obvious GOATs I say you should always draft position of need. It's not until you have no needs that you draft for imaginary BPAs with no regard to need.
And part of contract management is not jumping on a big contract out of need when it will keep you from getting higher talent cheaper for longer term. Our scouts should already have an idea of who they want in '25. If it is a good pass rush draft year tying ourselves to a Mack type contract would be a complete failure especially since the GM is who untied us from one.

It's one season with a rookie QB and a rookie WR. We're not in do or die now mode on defense.
That is me saying I'll probably be OK with the 1st being spent on DE in '25. I can't imagine what unknown offensive position worth a 1st would be answered in '24.

As far as a 2nd on DT I don't see that need or value. Could be there because of GOAT potential but it's too early to call that.
If that was a value position for the round we're already set with Dexter and Pickens and they should be elevating those around them.

 

[freddylamar]

You do whatever is needed to put this team into the playoffs, it’s that simple. No one would complain if we took a .500 team to the playoffs by trading a pick. The goal should always be the post season. It’s that simple. Playoffs or bust, **** next season.

 

[Chicagofam]

Jonathan Allen sounds good to me

 

[ILoveDick]

"Draft picks are overrated." - Ryan Pace

(And Meatballs who continued to defend two 1sts for Justin Fields.)

 

[SlickWilly]

"Draft picks are overrated." - Ryan Pace

(And Meatballs who continued to defend two 1sts for Justin Fields.)

Shut up ********.

 

[BaBaBlacksheep]

Fair points, but getting another player like Sweat at 3 tech would be huge for the DL. They would still have a 1st and 2nd to pair with him. They have cap space and the DL is a great place to spend.

I think both sides of the argument have merit.

They really don’t have much. CW and Odunze aren’t signed yet.

 

[Noonthirtyjoe]

A proven vet costs more then a unproven rookie. Think we could have gotten a Sweat in the second? Chances are very low. I'm fine with trading draft stock for proven players. But I don't want 30+ year old players. We need guys that can be here 5 years.

 

[sphinxnole]

A proven vet costs more then a unproven rookie. Think we could have gotten a Sweat in the second? Chances are very low. I'm fine with trading draft stock for proven players. But I don't want 30+ year old players. We need guys that can be here 5 years.

 

[Nelly]

A proven vet costs more then a unproven rookie. Think we could have gotten a Sweat in the second? Chances are very low. I'm fine with trading draft stock for proven players. But I don't want 30+ year old players. We need guys that can be here 5 years.

Sweat was only dealt cause the Commanders didn't want to put a whole mountain of money into the d-line after signing Payne and Allen to long-term deals. We were able to pull it off because we had the need and the money. That money is gone now unless you're going to run up a giant credit card debt and then take the bath later. Poles needs to be judicious now with guys like Jenkins and DJ Moore coming up on extensions and Brisker/Gordon not terribly far away either.

If we spend our first on a d-end and we hit on him, that's 5 years of cost control for a high-impact player at a high-impact position. This is why draft picks are so valuable. No one you could possibly trade for using anything less than a couple 1st rounders is going to match that production at that price.

 

[knoxville7]

JAMES PEARCE JR

 

[Nelly]

JAMES PEARCE JR

I hope we're not nearly bad enough to be in position to take him with our pick. Just a quick search for 2025 mock draft and I can't find one where he's not listed as a top 10 guy.

 

[Nelly]

If you're an NFL GM, you need to take a long view on the team, which Poles seems to have. You don't want to go trading picks away especially at this point because you've now got some franchise cornerstones in place making the big bucks. You can't just keep signing or trading high picks for other guys who figure to be $30 mil per year guys. Those picks only become more crucial the better you get. So as far as how we're looking right now for what we need to spend our picks on:

QB: Set for the next 15 years hopefully but at least the next 3 before needing to think about replacing Caleb (if he falls on his face).
RB: Set for next year with Swift and Roshon. Could maybe add a late round guy if there's value.
WR: I'm anticipating Keenan Allen being gone but we're set at top 2 with Moore/Odunze. Might want to add in behind them with a 3rd rounder or later though.
TE: Set for the next two years with Kmet/Everett.
T: Set for now with Brax/Wright/Amegadije but you can never have enough guys in the pipe at tackle.
G: We'll see how Jenkins does and if he gets re-signed. Otherwise I don't see any way Davis is here in 2025 unless he plays at an all-pro level. Otherwise you've got just a bunch of guys. A higher pick is in the cards here.
C: Shelton is a one year guy. Maybe Bates here? Otherwise, nothing. For 2025 I don't see how you don't spend one of those 2nds on Guard or Center.
DE: Want a book-end for Sweat so this is the most likely 1st round target barring Austin Booker coming in from the jump and looking like a stud.
DT: A lot depends on Dexter and Pickens. I'm not holding out hope for Pickens being anything but a rotation guy. With some luck, Dexter becomes good/great but we could still use another guy for the rotation here so a 2nd rounder could still be worth it.
LB: Set for the near future but TJ Edwards will have only one more year and will be 29 after this coming season. Might be worth a later pick to find an heir apparent.
CB: One of the best position groups right now with Jaylon locked in and Tyrique, Kyler and Smith. Nothing needed here.
S: Brisker seems to pick up lots of little injuries and Byard is a stop-gap. Another pick spent here wouldn't be a bad idea.

For 2025, I think if you keep the 1st and 2 2nds, all of those are going into the trenches. An impact DE with the 1st and 2 interior offensive lineman would be quite worth it. From there you're grabbing value and filling the pipeline with young talent. You need to have guys to groom to eventually take over for the guys in front of them who prove they're worth big deals that we can't afford at every spot. For example, you hope Braxton Jones turns into one of the better tackles in the league and earns himself $20+ million, then be in position to let him walk because you've got Amegadjie waiting in the wings and snagging a 3rd round comp pick in the process to help keep the process going.

 

[JoJoBoxer]

Fair points, but getting another player like Sweat at 3 tech would be huge for the DL. They would still have a 1st and 2nd to pair with him. They have cap space and the DL is a great place to spend.

I think both sides of the argument have merit.

That heavy spending has to stop soon or it is going to bite the Bears in the ass.

Poles has gotten the Bears to a point where he needs to start counting on the draft to fill spots and to, hopefully, get the next stars. Playing the Rams game, except with 2nd rounders, not 1st rounders, is a good idea when you are holding onto the last vestiges of a Super Bowl run, not when you are at the point when you are going to take your first step in the direction of the Super Bowl.

 

[knoxville7]

I hope we're not nearly bad enough to be in position to take him with our pick. Just a quick search for 2025 mock draft and I can't find one where he's not listed as a top 10 guy.

correct, but thats when we package our first rounder and the two 2nd rounders(if it takes both) we have to move up to take him

 

[JoJoBoxer]

Jonathan Allen sounds good to me

Just as he sounds good to Washington.

I don't believe they are going to further deplete their defensive line.

 

[JoJoBoxer]

JAMES PEARCE JR

I wonder if Poles would be willing to put a lot of draft stock together to move up for a chance at him.

One thing I can say is that he will have a better chance at him if he has two 2nd rounders (plus the 1st) than with just one.

 

[bufordht]

They really don’t have much. CW and Odunze aren’t signed yet.

Without looking into it a ton, I think they should have 45M or so next year with 49 or so players under contract. Cutting Davis gets them like 9.5 more. So there's definitely room for a big signing.

I'm not sure if there is really a lot of benefit in spending a pick on a trade though. It's always for a guy who needs a new contract. If you just wait till the off-season you could sign him in free agency. I know you have to bid against other teams then, but it's not like if you trade a second for him he is going to take a big discount or something. He's only going to sign for what he thinks he can get in free agency anyway. If he signs with the Bears after a trade, he obviously likes the team and would have been willing to sign with them in free agency. You have to love what Sweat came in and did, but could they have signed him in FA? With the second round pick they spent they could have taken Newton/Fiske/JPJ or traded back. Was that worth having a head start on signing Sweat? It's debatable.

 

[knoxville7]

I wonder if Poles would be willing to put a lot of draft stock together to move up for a chance at him.

One thing I can say is that he will have a better chance at him if he has two 2nd rounders (plus the 1st) than with just one.

ill be honest, i dont know much about the other pass rushers that are going to be in the 2025 draft, but i do know Pearce is considered the top pass rusher prospect coming out by most people.

He would absolutely beast opposite of sweat and his rookie contract would be ending around the same time as sweats contract, so you could move on from sweat at that point and extend Pearce.

seems the timeline is pretty perfect and the talent is immense and at the position of our greatest need. I would happily part with our first and two 2nds for him