The Terminator Mock Off Season

[Aesopian]

Free Agency

Bears sign ILB Tremaine Edmunds to 4 years 58 million

The Bills picked up the fifth-year option on Edmunds' contract last year and he's scheduled to be a free agent in 2023. Edmunds hasn't caused that many turnovers or made many splashy plays but he's an above average MLB that will make your team better. He can make a great duo with the next great white LB Jack Sanborn.

Bears sign C Ethan Pocic to 4 years 28 million

The Illinois native will be 28 years old next season but is coming off his best year yet as a center. He has had a tremendous 83.0 PFF grade until his knee injury forced him to move to IR for four weeks. Bears need to move on from Sam Mustipher this season and get Fields some chemistry with a good center.




Bears sign DT Da'Ron Payne to 5 years 70 million

Good chance he hits free agency since the Commanders already have a DT Allen on a monster contract. An explosive 3-technique defensive tackle who can generate pressure along the interior is precisely what Matt Eberflus loves.



Draft

1 [2] DE Will Anderson Jr [Alabama] 6'4 245lbs

He is as close to a can’t-miss prospect as you will find and would instantly transform the Bears defense and give them a young superstar to build upon.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1596655243789742080

Round 2: OT Cody Mauch [North Dakota] 6'6 302lbs

It seems like a yearly occurrence where a player from NDSU bursts onto the NFL Draft scene (Trey Lance 2021 Draft, Christian Watson 2022 Draft) now Cody Mauch. He's probably the biggest project at tackle that needs to work on his technique at the next level but he is a good athlete and size won't be a problem for him.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1601375695326052352

Round 3: WR Jonathan Mingo [Ole Miss] 6'1 200lbs

Bears added Chase Claypool after trading a second round pick for him but the Bears still need to bulk up the receiving room in 2023. In 10 games, he has caught 37 passes for 723 yards and five touchdowns. He averages a team-best 19.54 yards per reception.

4th Round – Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee​

4th Round (via PHI) – Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State
5th Round – Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA
5th Round (via BAL) – Zacch Pickens, DT, South Carolina
6th Round – Zion Tupuola-Fetui, EDGE, Washington7th Round (comp) – Mikel Jones, LB, Syracuse

 

[msadows]

Isn't Edmunds a 3-4 ILB?

Do we really want to fit a square peg into a round hole again?

 

[napo55]

A couple of points.

Tremaine Edmunds was drafted in the same class with Roquan Smith. Smith is clearly a better player. This is not the way to improve the team.

No WRs in free agency and none drafted until the 3rd round-- and not one of the best available in the draft. Seems like you are failing to address a glaring deficiency
Otherwise, OK.

 

[mattb78]

I don't know how the Bears feel about the OL right now. We have a ton of young players to mix and match.

 

[Shepard]

I'd be excited if this were our off-season.

If we're at 2, I'm hoping we can move it for more picks- but its impossible to be mad at Will Anderson. I also think Pocic gets more than this, but who knows.

Nice work.

 

[gallagher]

I just do not see Payne signing 5 years at 70. That is less than Chris Jones signed for a couple years ago, for one more year. He hasnt produced like Jones did going into his contract year, but you arent paying for past production.

We will have to pay him like he is near top of the market or you wont have a serious offer.

 

[Shepard]

I just do not see Payne signing 5 years at 70. That is less than Chris Jones signed for a couple years ago, for one more year. He hasnt produced like Jones did going into his contract year, but you arent paying for past production.

We will have to pay him like he is near top of the market or you wont have a serious offer.

I agree with you, but his market value at spotrac has him in this area:

Daron Payne | NFL Contracts & Salaries | Spotrac.com

Daron Payne contract and salary cap details, full contract breakdowns, salaries, signing bonus, roster bonus, dead money, and valuations.

www.spotrac.com

If he was okay with this he would've re-signed with Commanders already. I think he'll seek what Buckner got, 4/84 and 44gtd...which the Bears should totally give him if thats what it takes.

 

[bears5150]

Edmunds a 3-4 ILB and Anderson is a 3-4 edge. Somebody tell this clown we are a 4-3 Defense.

 

[Discus fish salesman]

I agree with you, but his market value at spotrac has him in this area:

Daron Payne | NFL Contracts & Salaries | Spotrac.com

Daron Payne contract and salary cap details, full contract breakdowns, salaries, signing bonus, roster bonus, dead money, and valuations.

www.spotrac.com

If he was okay with this he would've re-signed with Commanders already. I think he'll seek what Buckner got, 4/84 and 44gtd...which the Bears should totally give him if thats what it takes.

I'd been pretty certain Washington wouldn't re-sign him because they need to be able to extend sweat and young, but they could always franchise Payne to keep that line in tact one more year before deciding who to extend

 

[baselman1974]

I'd been pretty certain Washington wouldn't re-sign him because they need to be able to extend sweat and young, but they could always franchise Payne to keep that line in tact one more year before deciding who to extend

Why? Salary cap space is important especially I feel they would go after Jimmy G. to upgrade their QB position

 

[rawdawg]

Edmunds a 3-4 ILB and Anderson is a 3-4 edge. Somebody tell this clown we are a 4-3 Defense.

Such an archaic way of thinking. First of all, teams are in nickel almost 3/4 of the time. So, everyone's basically 4-2-5 defense. Edge is edge. Off ball LB is off ball. A guy won't fail because he's playing over the C now instead of over the LG. I guy won't fail because he can't figure out how to rush the passer with his hand in the dirt vs standing up.

We just went thru this with Robert Quinn. You know the solution if Anderson wants 2pt stand instead of 3pt to rush the passer? You let him play in a 2pt stance. Just like Quinn had his hand in the dirt every play in a 3/4 alignment.

 

[rawdawg]

I'd been pretty certain Washington wouldn't re-sign him because they need to be able to extend sweat and young, but they could always franchise Payne to keep that line in tact one more year before deciding who to extend

Yeah, they have said he is their priority. But they are already paying Jon Allen a cap hit of 21.5M, Sweat 11.5, and Young 10.9M next year. Chase has a 5th year option in 2024 that will be like 16.8Mil. That's when big money would kick in if they re-sign Payne as well. So, you'd potentially be looking at 50-60Mil toward the cap on the DL in 2023; and 55-60Mil more in 2024, while facing the same issue with Sweat being a FA after 2023 and then Young being a FA after 2024. If they keep signing guys, that's a 85-90Mil cap him on the DL for several years.

Oh and Payne will get more than Allen got. Allen's AAV is 18Mil. He should be in DeForest Buckner/Chris Jones territory in the 20Mil range

 

[Discus fish salesman]

Yeah, they have said he is their priority. But they are already paying Jon Allen a cap hit of 21.5M, Sweat 11.5, and Young 10.9M next year. Chase has a 5th year option in 2024 that will be like 16.8Mil. That's when big money would kick in if they re-sign Payne as well. So, you'd potentially be looking at 50-60Mil toward the cap on the DL in 2023; and 55-60Mil more in 2024, while facing the same issue with Sweat being a FA after 2023 and then Young being a FA after 2024. If they keep signing guys, that's a 85-90Mil cap him on the DL for several years.

Oh and Payne will get more than Allen got. Allen's AAV is 18Mil. He should be in DeForest Buckner/Chris Jones territory in the 20Mil range

Washington wasn't aggressive in re-signing him before this year and drafted a guy to replace him. I think they are probably second guessing themselves after his production this year. He was already a great player, but now has become a great pass rusher from DT as well.

 

[BaBaBlacksheep]

Such an archaic way of thinking. First of all, teams are in nickel almost 3/4 of the time. So, everyone's basically 4-2-5 defense. Edge is edge. Off ball LB is off ball. A guy won't fail because he's playing over the C now instead of over the LG. I guy won't fail because he can't figure out how to rush the passer with his hand in the dirt vs standing up.

We just went thru this with Robert Quinn. You know the solution if Anderson wants 2pt stand instead of 3pt to rush the passer? You let him play in a 2pt stance. Just like Quinn had his hand in the dirt every play in a 3/4 alignment.

Yeah not buying that. Flus is a Marinelli guy who is a Lovie guy: these guys don’t think that way.

 

[Shepard]

Why? Salary cap space is important especially I feel they would go after Jimmy G. to upgrade their QB position

Yeah they're not tagging him.

 

[Enasic]

Yeah not buying that. Flus is a Marinelli guy who is a Lovie guy: these guys don’t think that way.

Then he’s not the guy. If you can’t incorporate a guy like Anderson in your scheme and make it work, you’re Nagy level bad and shouldn’t be in charge

 

[gallagher]

I agree with you, but his market value at spotrac has him in this area:

Daron Payne | NFL Contracts & Salaries | Spotrac.com

Daron Payne contract and salary cap details, full contract breakdowns, salaries, signing bonus, roster bonus, dead money, and valuations.

www.spotrac.com

If he was okay with this he would've re-signed with Commanders already. I think he'll seek what Buckner got, 4/84 and 44gtd...which the Bears should totally give him if thats what it takes.

Completely with you, but given his age, he will be looking to get paid based on the idea that he will keep getting better and live up to a bigger contract.

Thing is, I completely agree that he should get paid like that, because you have to expect him to keep playing at a high level through a four year contract. I would expect that his highest alternative offer will resemble Buckner (with one season of inflation), and the Bears will top it by 2M per year and more guaranteed money on the front end.

Thank goodness Fields is looking like he is on a good trajectory. If this team gave him no hope for playoff success, you have to expect ay premier FA to sign anywhere else for less than we offer.

 

[Discus fish salesman]

Yeah they're not tagging him.

I could be wrong, but I think the tag would be less than what he'll get per year on an extension.

edit: projected at 18.3 mill. So almost certainly lower than the annual cost of his next contract, although depending on structure, the first year could end up less than that amount

 

[Aesopian]

Edmunds a 3-4 ILB and Anderson is a 3-4 edge. Somebody tell this clown we are a 4-3 Defense.

Nobody is a pure 3-4 or 4-3 anymore. If that's the case how did Roquan Smith play well in both systems. Common sense isn't common anymore.

 

[Aesopian]

A couple of points.

Tremaine Edmunds was drafted in the same class with Roquan Smith. Smith is clearly a better player. This is not the way to improve the team.

No WRs in free agency and none drafted until the 3rd round-- and not one of the best available in the draft. Seems like you are failing to address a glaring deficiency
Otherwise, OK.

Smith is better but he didn't want to be a Bear and wanted an insane contract extension.

We traded a second round for Claypool let's see how he pans out before we call him a bust.