Signing Options for Free Agent DE/Edge and Salary Cap (Poll)

[MikeDitkaPolishSausage]

You have to want to see it.

I follow sports so I am a weak man.

 

[4THQUARTERCLUTCHLER]

How much of that 500k do we even have left to spend

 

[Rise]

Has Piles drafted a single edge rusher in 4 years? I don’t want these old bums just draft the position please.

 

[dennehy]

Has Piles drafted a single edge rusher in 4 years? I don’t want these old bums just draft the position please.

Robinson, Booker. I think that's it, although Turner will probably get snaps there too. Dennis Allen seems really value versatility, but I am still worried that they lack a guy who can win quickly off the edge.

Poles has been pretty neglectful of the second most important position in football.

 

[msadows]

Robinson, Booker. I think that's it, although Turner will probably get snaps there too. Dennis Allen seems really value versatility, but I am still worried that they lack a guy who can win quickly off the edge.

Poles has been pretty neglectful of the second most important position in football.

Yea I still feel like Turner may have been drafted to play DE as well, if not full time. They have a lot more of a logjam at DT right now, particularly if Dayo is also taking snaps there.

Cam Jordan was 6'4 287 so its not like DA hasnt had a similar size DE in his system. Right now their DE rotation is booker playing a lot and he was not very great last year. His pressure rate was terrible and he was one of the worst edges in the league against the run. I like the upside but I'm not sure he ever develops into a guy.

 

[Washington]

Poles has been pretty neglectful of the second most important position in football.

LT? I know you mean DE but I personally consider LT to be of greater importance but that is just an opinion. I do agree that Poles has really neglected the position. DE was well represented in this draft and he walked away with none.

 

[bears51/40]

Nobody is high on Bears current DE pass rush lineup for 2025. Last year's sack totals were:
Sweat 5, Odeyingbo 3, Booker 1.5. Yikes! The PFF grades matched.

Though salary cap remains a mysterious thing, according to spotrac, after accounting for draftees (Top 51 Rule -$1.56mil), Bears have aprx $9.94 mil.

Most potent remaining FA help would be: (PFF: passrush grade)
Za’Darius Smith - 9 sacks, 76.5 PFF, 17 QB hits, 6 TFL, 32 yrs old, 17 Games
Von Miller - 6 sacks, 83 PFF, 3 QB Hits, 6 TFL, 36 yrs old, 13 Games.
Matthew Judon - 5.5 sacks, 53.9 PFF, 3 QB Hits, 6 TFL, 32 yrs old, 17 Games

At their ages, they may sign for 1 yr contracts, especially Miller. Smith might demand more years, and in the area of $8-12 mil/year. Miller and Judon are more likely in Bears price range of $6-10 mil.

Bears current DL that could take DE snaps include: Sweat, Odeyingbo, Booker, Williams, Turner, Robinson, Dexter, Hardy, UDFA Xavier Carlton. (Odeyingbo had 8 sacks in 2023.)

With Billings, Dexter, Garett, Turner, Williams, Pickens at DT, Bears could give Turner DE snaps (who played DE 2023, 6 sacks). Chris Williams played 75 DE snaps last year, 3 sacks total DT/DE.

Bears must consider injury to Sweat or Odeyingbo, you're looking at starting Booker, Robinson, Williams or Turner. They also need to keep their DE starters fresh to be potent.

Are Bears safe with Booker, Turner as direct backup/rotational DEs? Or should Bears make feeler-offers to Smith, Miller and Judon? Or do both?

Don't sign anyone right now, wait till the next wave of cuts.

 

[Sculpt]

There's more injury concern for old players so how are these guys better options?

Why pour money and playtime into old players as opposed to giving developmental snaps to young players?

Why not simply trust that Dennis Allen knows what type of players he needs and finding young players that fit his scheme and let him work his magic?

Name Bias is real. Worrying that 2024 performance will translate to 2025 in a new scheme with new coaching is a mistake.

Passrush is one of those positions where a fresh player is a potent player. They can still give Booker plenty of snaps in rotation. At some point they'll have to decide if Booker & Turner can get an edge sack or not. The main object of the game is to win, not develop players like a school.

Smith or Miller may be a "better option" on a play if they can actually get a sack where Booker cannot.

Older players may have a higher chance of injury, but one of the two reasons for grabbing one is to give Sweat a breather while still getting a sack or hurry. I think one of the reasons Sweat had a rather effectual season was he was gassed. Billings may have gotten injured from overuse as well. So, a Smith/Miller would be getting limited snaps to ward off injury for all of them.

I'm sure Dennis Allen is assessing the Bears current roster and telling Poles if he thinks the passrush needs a temporary shot in the arm for 2025.

 

[Sculpt]

Don't sign anyone right now, wait till the next wave of cuts.

Which wave of cuts are you referring to? I think Cap cuts have pretty much already happened, like to Za’Darius Smith. If you're talking about camp cuts, if they weren't good enough to make a team, I don't see how they're likely to be better passrushes than Smith and Miller.

 

[Sculpt]

Has Piles drafted a single edge rusher in 4 years? I don’t want these old bums just draft the position please.

Too late. The draft is done.

They'll be able to assess the 2025 versions of Booker, Turner, Robinson, etc, and draft 2026 accordingly.

Smith and Miller outplayed Sweat and Dayo last year, so who are the bums?