Rumour: Patrick Willis being shopped.

[EL ROCKSTEADY]

I don't know how credible Charlie Campbell from Walter football.com is but he posted in his Senior Bowl rumour mill that he might be available...

http://walterfootball.com/seniorbowl2015rumors3.php

no, dont do it

 

[Shepard]

We may need 7 new starters on defense. Seriously...we might.

Dealing a draft pick to bring in Willis only makes it more difficult to find that many new starters.

 

[Pegger]

This actually reminds me of the trade that brought DeMeco Ryans to the Eagles. He no longer had a spot with the Texans, was expensive and ultimately the team took (I think ) a 5th round pick to move his salary.

If these rumors are true then it might be worth a look. You'd give up a late round pick for a probowl caliber leader on defense. His cap number is huge the next two years (~$8.3M in 2015 and ~$9.6M in 2016), but with none of that money guaranteed I'm thinking with him being 30 next year and coming off an injury he'd take a deal that pays him $6-7M per season if it has a nice signing bonus that allows him to essentially lock in that last NFL payday.

As an Eagle fan I see DeMeco being a year older and already costing $6.9M in the last year of his contract with no cap penalty for cutting him. Willis could be an upgrade for a small amount more.

 

[Shepard]

This actually reminds me of the trade that brought DeMeco Ryans to the Eagles. He no longer had a spot with the Texans, was expensive and ultimately the team took (I think ) a 5th round pick to move his salary.

If these rumors are true then it might be worth a look. You'd give up a late round pick for a probowl caliber leader on defense. His cap number is huge the next two years (~$8.3M in 2015 and ~$9.6M in 2016), but with none of that money guaranteed I'm thinking with him being 30 next year and coming off an injury he'd take a deal that pays him $6-7M per season if it has a nice signing bonus that allows him to essentially lock in that last NFL payday.

As an Eagle fan I see DeMeco being a year older and already costing $6.9M in the last year of his contract with no cap penalty for cutting him. Willis could be an upgrade for a small amount more.

The Bears can sign two FAs for that cap number that fit their scheme while using the draft pick they would've sent to SF for Willis. While the Bears re-tool their roster- it has to be quantity over quality moving forward.

 

[AnDelusionalDog]

Wow willis would be amazing... although depending on the pick and how the bears feel about their current state as far as do they think they can win in a year or two or are we truly in rebuilding mode it could either be an amazing pick up or a horrible one... Interesting we have Fangio though... see how this unravels.

 

[Midway Fields]

I love me some Patrick Willis, wanted him when he came out but that cap number is too high for the Bears.

I really want the Bears to sign Sean Weatherspoon in FA.

 

[knoxville7]

if he were to end up being cut by the niners for cap reasons and then we can get him at a much much more reasonable price then sure. otherwise no thanks on 30 year old linebackers who have been injured lately and cost a ton of $$. id rather we find and draft the next willis(or anything close to it)

 

[modo]

he waould have to renegotiate his contract to be traded, or they will just cut him.

 

[JoSeCuERvO]

We need the YUTE, not more old FA please

 

[WindyCity]

he waould have to renegotiate his contract to be traded, or they will just cut him.

This is true.

Most bay area media guys are talking about Willis like he is a forgone conclusion after Borland studded out.

Willis would be a great signing.

-Position of Need
-Leader
-Knows the System
-Already got his huge pay day

 

[Pegger]

The Bears can sign two FAs for that cap number that fit their scheme while using the draft pick they would've sent to SF for Willis. While the Bears re-tool their roster- it has to be quantity over quality moving forward.

Leadership is underrated because it can't be measured. Many times lesser players looked and played better becasue they were next to guys like Brian Urlacher, Kueckly, etc... I'm thinking Willis would be one of those guys that immediately help the DL & LBs line up correctly while making others look better. Remember Bowman wasn't a first round talent, but learned a lot from playing next to one. IMO bringing Willlis in and taking a 3rd rounder to learn from him helps the team now and down the road.

 

[JoSeCuERvO]

This team really needs to start hitting on their picks and enjoying them becoming great instead of taking all these guys that were great everywhere else and when they get here they are a shell.

 

[Pegger]

I really want the Bears to sign Sean Weatherspoon in FA.

Meh. Middle LB is one of those positions that are somewhat responsible for how their teammates perform in terms of assignments and pre-snap reads. I have a tough time giving Weatherspoon a bye knowning how bad that team is defensively and how even they don't regard him as needed to fix the problems they have.

 

[Pegger]

This team really needs to start hitting on their picks and enjoying them becoming great instead of taking all these guys that were great everywhere else and when they get here they are a shell.

Just to pick on this for a bit. I think teams should fill their needs in free agency and then build depth and develope through the draft. Its' very en vogue to look at Seattle, so let's just do that. Along with hitting on some picks they also brought in Avirl and Bennett via free agency. Lynch, who's part of their identiy was brought in via trade. No doubt they have had some massive draft hits, but I don't see many that were walk on starters expected to fix a weakness (main exception would be Earl Thomas).

 

[knoxville7]

Just to pick on this for a bit. I think teams should fill their needs in free agency and then build depth and develope through the draft. Its' very en vogue to look at Seattle, so let's just do that. Along with hitting on some picks they also brought in Avirl and Bennett via free agency. Lynch, who's part of their identiy was brought in via trade. No doubt they have had some massive draft hits, but I don't see many that were walk on starters expected to fix a weakness (main exception would be Earl Thomas).

this is true. i think what they were trying to say is they just don't want the bears to go crazy and blow their wad in free agency

 

[Pegger]

How much of the $19 million would the Bears take on (I'm pretty cap illiterate)? Willis would be awesome for the right price. We need some leadership on this defense and even though he may be declining I love what he'd bring on the intangibles side. Plus, his familiarity with Fangio.

If any of his signing bonus is remaining that would be for the 49ers to eat. The only guaranteed portions remaining are some small roster bonuses (I think it's $250K and $750K in 2015 and 2016), which don't get paid if he's not on the team.

Essentially there's no guaranteed money left on his contract, but they have a high annual salary number. Typically the player is willing to negotiate because they know they will never see the last few years of that deal under it's current terms.

 

[JoSeCuERvO]

Just to pick on this for a bit. I think teams should fill their needs in free agency and then build depth and develope through the draft. Its' very en vogue to look at Seattle, so let's just do that. Along with hitting on some picks they also brought in Avirl and Bennett via free agency. Lynch, who's part of their identiy was brought in via trade. No doubt they have had some massive draft hits, but I don't see many that were walk on starters expected to fix a weakness (main exception would be Earl Thomas).

The biggest difference with those guys that they acquired is, they were all brought in young, avril 27, Bennett 28 Lynch 26. If we are going to go out in FA and get guys that can be with the team for years to come im all for it but to go out and get a 30 year old injured player, i would rather not.

 

[Pegger]

this is true. i think what they were trying to say is they just don't want the bears to go crazy and blow their wad in free agency

That makes complete sense. Personally I've always thought a team should do this every offseason:

1 - Extend current players that have earned it.
2 - Pickup FAs that fill holes in the roster. These can be expensive, but can also be value guys. It will depend on how great the need and quality of player available.
3 - Draft BPA according to your draft board, which might be a little partial to certain positions.

 

[Pegger]

The biggest difference with those guys that they acquired is, they were all brought in young, avril 27, Bennett 28 Lynch 26. If we are going to go out in FA and get guys that can be with the team for years to come im all for it but to go out and get a 30 year old injured player, i would rather not.

Okay, then let's look at this past offseason where Seattle let 29 year old Red Bryant walk and signed 34 year old DT Kevin Williams.

I do agree with you that draft picks are important. I've said many times a team cannot afford it's star players without having some rookie contracts to offset the larger ones. IMO when you make those FA moves they have to be value focused unless you see a franchise type guy available. Looking at the above move they would have kept Bryant, but the price was too high and they opted to spend less on the older player. Those are the smart FA type signings that help.

This trade is interesting. Is Willis stil playing at a probowl level? If you medical staff completely checks his toe, then he's a guy that made every probowl until this past year where he missed 10 games. I completely know he's almost at the twilight of his career, but for a team that lacks leaders on that side of the ball the reward outweighs the risk. Add in that he'll be another coach on the field for what Vic is trying to do and there are intangibles that really make the move worth while.

 

[knoxville7]

Okay, then let's look at this past offseason where Seattle let 29 year old Red Bryant walk and signed 34 year old DT Kevin Williams.

I do agree with you that draft picks are important. I've said many times a team cannot afford it's star players without having some rookie contracts to offset the larger ones. IMO when you make those FA moves they have to be value focused unless you see a franchise type guy available. Looking at the above move they would have kept Bryant, but the price was too high and they opted to spend less on the older player. Those are the smart FA type signings that help.

This trade is interesting. Is Willis stil playing at a probowl level? If you medical staff completely checks his toe, then he's a guy that made every probowl until this past year where he missed 10 games. I completely know he's almost at the twilight of his career, but for a team that lacks leaders on that side of the ball the reward outweighs the risk. Add in that he'll be another coach on the field for what Vic is trying to do and there are intangibles that really make the move worth while.

if the money is right then yeah it makes sense for the bears