Full Rebuild Mock Offseason - All Vets Must Go
First I used dennehy’s mock as a base so go check that out. Left some of his commentary unchanged as didn't feel like rewriting it if it was still applicable.
Pre-Combine Mock Offseason
The premise here is that this is a full rebuild with 2023 to be the first year to really compete. I am not saying the Bears should do a full rebuild or that they 100% could make the trades below for the picks I suggest but just thought I would see how this team could be constructed if I did strip it all down. Bears start with roughly $40 million dollars and 30 players under contract. I've left out 13 guys with futures contracts who will likely be on the practice squad, bring the cap space up to $40.
Cuts:
Trevathan ($3.3mil cleared post June 1): he hasn't been the same since pre-pandemic and his cap hit, at $11m is just too large. An easy cut IMO
-Whitehair ($8.1 m cleared, post-June 1 cut): Thought about waiting until next year to cut him or trading him but in the end felt a June 1 cut was better to create cap space for this year.
-Attachou ($2.3m cleared): Easy call for #4 DE who is more of an OLB, and with Edwards able to take snaps at DE in this defense.
Total $13.7m cleared. Bears now have 27 players signed and $53.7 mil in cap space.
Trades:
Mack (6.2 m cleared): Premise here is full rebuild so moving on for Mack. I thought about the Chargers and the Eagles as good fits as both need outside pass rush and both are likely close to contending in their eyes. Ended up going with the Eagles given they have 3 first rounds and so can get an elite pass rusher with their 3rd first rounder ie pick 19 and still have 2 first rounders to address other needs. Their cap situation is a little tighter and they may end up trading for a vet QB so if that happens then Chargers and pick 17 would be a back up. Either way think both would consider if if they feel Mack catapults them to playoff contention.
-Quinn ($4.4 m cleared): Another team that needs proven pass rush and has the picks to spare are the Jets who have 2 first rounders and 2 second rounds. So figured we trade Quinn for the 1st second rounder ie pick 35.
-Goldman ($6.7m cleared): Really not the best fit in a Cover 2 but may still have some value at a reasonable price. Jags have 4 sixth rounders and could use an experienced NT in a 3-4 as Caldwell will be running a Todd Bowles D. They also have a ton of cap space. So we give them Goldman for pick 178
Foles - (8m cleared) - Pederson is back with Jags and getting a backup QB that knows the system in Foles may have value. Willing to eat some salary here if we have to but I am trading him to Jags for one of their 7th rounds ie 232.
Monty (2.7m cleared) - This one may upset some people but he is a FA in 2023 and we are not trying to compete in 2022 so I would trade him to the Texans or Dolphins for a 3rd rounder. Lovie has stated he wants to run the ball but currently the Texans RBs suck. Dolphins could use a workhorse back to help Tua. I figure 80 may be too high for the Texans test so settle for Dolphins pick at 101.
Total $28m cleared. Bears now have 22 players signed and $81.7 mil in cap space.
Resignings:
The new regime is not the old regime, and none of the multiyear contract free agents are resigned. Resign
Daniels (50m/5y, 20m gtd, 6 against the cap),
Grant (3)
James (1.5)
Scales (1.5),
Bush (1)
Horstad (1.5)
Burns (1)
DHC (1)
Bars, Mustipher, Simmons (2.5 total for the three restricted/ERFA players),
Punter (1)
Total $21m spent and 34 players under contract 60.7m in cap space.
Players signed who count against the Bears comp picks:
Terron Armstead LT ($100m/5y/$50m gtd) 15 against the cap. This is the one real splurge for the Bears. A fast and athletic WR who can stretch the defense, he fits in well with Fields. Chark sees this as an opportunity to draw many targets and a contract that allows him to stay in line for a real payday at a young age if he does well.
Christian Kirk WR ($27m/3y/$15gtd) 6 against the cap. Underrated guy that has speed to get deep but a bit more size than Mooney.
Bradley Bozeman C ($32m/4y/$18gtd) 5 against the cap. Obviously the Bears need a center. And as luck would have it this is a great crop of FA centers. Bozeman is a fringe top 10 center in the league and comes at a decent price.
Larry Ogunjobi 3tech ($15m/3y/$8gtd) 3 against the cap. Ogunjobi is one gap player who has had a solid career penetrating and causing havoc in offensive backfields for Cleveland and Cincinnati. He got injured late in the season, and BJ Hill emerged as a very good 3T for Cincinnati. As both are free agents the Bengals stick with Hill and Ogunjobi does at a slight discount because of the injury.
Anthony Walker MIKE ($11m/3y/$6gtd) 2.5 against the cap. To me this one is a no-brainer, he flourished under Eberflus and Williams in Indy and will not break the bank. Three down MIKE and Roq slides in at WILL. A very good duo.
Desmond King S/Nickel ($12m/3y/$6.5gtd) 2.5 against the cap. This guy seems to always get lost in the shuffle. He was severely underdrafted out of Iowa and has never gotten a real contract in the NFL despite versatility and consistent steady play. He slides right in at S with the ability to cover in the slot.
Total Spent: $34mil. Bears have 40 players signed and 26.7mil in cap space left
Players who don't count against comp picks:
Lucas Patrick G ($5.5m/2y/$3gtd) 2.5 against the cap. Comes with Getsy after plugging in the last two years at G for the Packers. Solid player.
One year deals:
Mike Hughes CB ($2.5). Poles identifies a nice value signing here. Hughes quietly played well for KC in the slot. He looks to Chicago to bolster his value by getting more snaps and maybe getting some reps at outside corner.
Tyrod Taylor QB ($3m). Need a backup given the trade of Foles and so we get a guy that has a similar skill set and can be a mentor for Fields.
Zaire Franklin SAM/ST ($1.25). Franklin follows Eberflus from Indy a guy who can play the SAM in 4-3 and will be a core special teams player.
George Odum S ($1.25). Same as above, but as a safety.
Total spent: $10.5mil. Bears have 45 players under contract and 16.2 million in cap space.
