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- Dec 12, 2011
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Release/Not Re-signed
TE Martellus Bennett [5.1 million]
OT Jermon Bushrod [4.3 million]
OG Vlad Ducasse
OG Patrick Omaneh
CB Alan Ball
CB Sherick McManis
LB Shea McClellin
WR Josh Bellamy
Re-Signed
WR Alshon Jeffery 5 years 65 million/32 guaranteed
-The Bears need him, the offense just sucks without him and while I wish he was healthier the Bears cannot afford to let any talent walk out the door right now. Jeffery will be tagged and a long term deal worked out before free agency.
TE Zach Miller 3 years 10.5 million/5 guaranteed
-With Bennett gone the Bears need to keep some options open at TE and Miller can play. His age and health limit the length of the deal, but he should be back in a prominent role on offense.
CB Tracy Porter 3 years 9 million/3 guaranteed
-He is being counted on to stay healthy and be a starting CB, the low guarantees protect against health and allow the Bears to move on to a replacement when that player is developed and ready.
DE Jarvis Jenkins 3 years 7 million/2 guaranteed
-Good rotational guy who played way too many snaps this season. He gets to move into the primary backup role and play sub package snaps.
OLB Sam Acho 2 years 4 million/2 guaranteed
-Great team guy, who can cover and play the run and with the re-emergence of Young and Houston he does not have to start and play pass rush downs. He is also a core special teams player and a guy who can captain those units. You will notice special teams got better when he played less defensive snaps.
DE Mitch Unrien 2 years 2 million/500k guaranteed
-The staff loves him and he grinds.
C Will Montgomery 1 year 1.5 million/500k guaranteed
-The Bears need a veteran option in case Grasu struggles. Montgomery gives them a guy who looked good before breaking his leg and is experienced at coming off the bench.
WR Deonte Thompson 1 year 650k
-Should have every opportunity to be the long term KR/PR and a speed option in the offensive sub packages.
Free Agents
LB Danny Trevathan [Denver] 5 years 35 million/17.5 guaranteed
The Bears desperatly need an ILB that can come in and stabilize the position. They need someone who can cover and with the athletic ability to make a couple of plays. Trevathan has the athletic ability and the instincts to make the plays the Bears didn't make last season. Trevathan is good in coverage, which should help to stop the biggest area of weakness for the Bears as they were abused by backs and TEs in the passing game. Trevathan gives the Bears a legitimate ILB and allows them to work and develop the other spot where they have some interesting young options and can add a draft pick.
NT Damon Harrison [NY Jets] 4 years 20 million/8 guaranteed
The Bears should pursue Malik Jackson, but landing him and Trevathan could be tricky. My fall back is Harrison. Harrison is an elite run defender, in fact he is the highest ranked NT in the NFL at stopping the run. This does 2 things for the Bears that I think are very important. 1. The Bears sucked against the run, and if you cannot stop the run in the NFL you are sunk. Just watch how Denver's DL stops the run and then the rest of the defense just tees off on the QB. Harrison can almost single handily make a team 1 dimensional. 2. It allows the Bears to move Goldman to DE and to save him for pass rush situations. Goldman is the Bears best interior pass rusher and I do not need him worn out and tired from absorbing run down double teams over and over again.
CB Sean Smith[Kansas City] 3 years 24 million/14 guaranteed
Tracy Porter and Kyle Fuller were a very nice and mediocre story in 2015, but neither is going to consistently shut down an elite WR and Porter cannot be trusted to stay healthy. Smith will come at less of an investment than guys like Jenkins and Johnson, and he provides a similar press man skill set. Smith at 6'3" 215lbs is a huge long CB that can match up with the bigger WRs and bully speed guys.
OG Alex Boone [San Francisco] 3 years 21 million/12 guaranteed
Boone is an upper echelon RG with the versatility to play OT if needed. Boone can step in at RG an immediately give the Bears a huge upgrade over what they had last season. At 6'8" 310lbs. Boone has the size and length to be difference maker in the run game and in the pass game.
TE Dwayne Allen [Indianapolis] 4 years 14 million/4 guaranteed
The Bears need an option at TE in case Miller gets hurt, and while Allen has battled injuries himself he is a complete TE that can catch and block and he could thrive with more reps than he got in Indy. Allen has also lined up at FB and could fill multiple roles on the offense.
S David Bruton [Denver] 3 years 9 million/3 guaranteed
Bruton provides depth at SS in case Rolle is injured again or is actually declining. He brings size [6'2" 210lbs], experience, and special teams ability to the Bears. Bruton at a minimum will give the Bears special teams a captain.
Draft
I used Matt Miller's mock draft to determine who was available with each pick.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...t-millers-post-super-bowl-predictions/page/2
1[11] QB Paxton Lynch [Memphis] 6'7" 245lbs.
Jay Cutler played pretty well in 2015, this pick is not about right now. This is a pick is focused on the future of the most important position in football in Chicago. Chicago has struggled to get anything more than adequate play from the QB position and they need to start looking for someone who can be more than that. Lynch has every physical tool in spades, he is huge, has a big arm, and on top of it he can run. What Lynch need is coaching and experience in an NFL system, those are both things that the Bears can get him. Lynch can be developed for a year before he competes with Cutler. Imagine having 2 talented QBs pushing each other to play, imagine having options at the QB position, imagine having a player who may develop into more than the 13th best starter in the NFL.
I know the Bears need defense, but by the time the defense is good enough to carry the Bears to a Superbowl, like Denver, Cutler will more than likely be done playing in the NFL.
2[41] DE Kenny Clark [UCLA] 6'3" 310lbs.
The Bears can take advantage of the incredible DL depth in this draft by waiting till the 2nd round, where they should be drafting a 1st round grade and a player who can be expected to play a lot early in 2016. Clark is a long armed powerful player that can come in and immediately help against the run. Clark physically bullied Pac 12 OLmen and has very similar tape to Eddie Goldman from last season. Clark notched 6 sacks this season and is starting to show development as a pass rusher. He uses his powerful upper body with a nice slap rip move and a push pull to disengage on his way to the QB. Clark should start immediately.
3[72] LB Deion Jones [LSU] 6'1" 220lbs.
Deion Jones is too small right now to be a full time starter, but he can pair with John Timu to provide the Bears with a complete LB while he develops physically. Jones can run and cover like a safety, he can match up on slot WRs and TEs. In this plan he will play the obvious passing downs and sub packages, while Timu plays the base defense and the obvious run downs. This allows both young players to play to their strengths while they develop and the Bears see what they have. Jones can easily carry 235lbs, but he needs time to do so.
4. OG Kyle Murphy [Stanford] 6'6" 310lbs.
Murphy played OT at Stanford, but his Senior Bowl performance makes me think that he may be better suited at OG. Murphy is big, physical, and well coached. His feet are not great and he is more of a mauler than a dancer. The Bears can develop Murphy at RG and RT and use him as a back up in 2016. Murphy should fit with the hard working culture of the OL and has starting potential. You can never have too many big, versatile OLmen.
5. CB/S Sean Davis [Maryland] 6'1" 200lbs.
The Bears need to continue to add to the secondary. The front 7 is clearly the focus of the offseason, but they need better options coming off the bench than McManis etc. Davis is a big CB, that will move to FS. He has good size, range, and he fits the physical profile of what the Bears seem to be looking for. Davis can cut his teeth on special teams and work at safety with Donatel.
6. OT/OG Brandon Shell [South Carolina] 6'5" 326lbs.
More OL options not named Ducasse and Omaneh, that not only provide depth, but a realistic expectation that they could develop beyond career backups. Shell played OT in college and may be able to stick at RT, but he may be best being developed at RG. Shell has long arms and incredible size and has the physical tools that Dave Magazou can work with.
6. OLB Dadi Nicolas [Virginia Tech] 6'3" 235lbs.
The raw tools are here to have a pretty dynamic pass rusher, but there is a ton of coaching that needs to happen. Nicholad does not need to play anytime soon, he can be a long term project for Fangio and if he does not figure it out, nothing was really risked.
6. CB James Bradbery [Samford] 6'1" 209lbs.
Ideal size and athletic ability, but simply needs a ton of work and experience to be an NFL DB. Luckily the Bears have a pretty good DB coach and some time. In 2016 Bradbery should be a core special teams member, upgrading the size and speed on that unit.
7. LB Blake Martinez [Stanford] 6'2" 245lbs.
There may be some athletic limitations, but Martinez is a hard nosed, physical, leader who will more than likely out play his draft position. He has experience in the defense which is also a plus as the Bears look for better options at ILB.
Depth Chart
QB: Cutler, Lynch
RB: Langford, Carey, Rodgers, Perry
WR: Jeffery, White, Royal, Wilson, Meredith, Thompson
TE: Miller, Allen, Lee
LT: Leno
LG: Slauson, Shell
C: Grasu, Montgomery
RG: Boone, Murphy
RT: Long, Fabajule
RE: Goldman, Ferguson, Gaston
NT: Harrison, Sutton
LE: Clark, Jenkins, Unrien
OLB: Young, Acho, Nicholas
ILB: Trevathan, Anderson, Martinez
ILB: Timu/D. Jones, C. Jones
OLB: McPhee, Houston
CB: Smith, Fuller, Porter, Callahan, Bradbery, Hurst
FS: Amos, Davis
SS: Bruton/Rolle, Jones-Quartey
TE Martellus Bennett [5.1 million]
OT Jermon Bushrod [4.3 million]
OG Vlad Ducasse
OG Patrick Omaneh
CB Alan Ball
CB Sherick McManis
LB Shea McClellin
WR Josh Bellamy
Re-Signed
WR Alshon Jeffery 5 years 65 million/32 guaranteed
-The Bears need him, the offense just sucks without him and while I wish he was healthier the Bears cannot afford to let any talent walk out the door right now. Jeffery will be tagged and a long term deal worked out before free agency.
TE Zach Miller 3 years 10.5 million/5 guaranteed
-With Bennett gone the Bears need to keep some options open at TE and Miller can play. His age and health limit the length of the deal, but he should be back in a prominent role on offense.
CB Tracy Porter 3 years 9 million/3 guaranteed
-He is being counted on to stay healthy and be a starting CB, the low guarantees protect against health and allow the Bears to move on to a replacement when that player is developed and ready.
DE Jarvis Jenkins 3 years 7 million/2 guaranteed
-Good rotational guy who played way too many snaps this season. He gets to move into the primary backup role and play sub package snaps.
OLB Sam Acho 2 years 4 million/2 guaranteed
-Great team guy, who can cover and play the run and with the re-emergence of Young and Houston he does not have to start and play pass rush downs. He is also a core special teams player and a guy who can captain those units. You will notice special teams got better when he played less defensive snaps.
DE Mitch Unrien 2 years 2 million/500k guaranteed
-The staff loves him and he grinds.
C Will Montgomery 1 year 1.5 million/500k guaranteed
-The Bears need a veteran option in case Grasu struggles. Montgomery gives them a guy who looked good before breaking his leg and is experienced at coming off the bench.
WR Deonte Thompson 1 year 650k
-Should have every opportunity to be the long term KR/PR and a speed option in the offensive sub packages.
Free Agents
LB Danny Trevathan [Denver] 5 years 35 million/17.5 guaranteed
The Bears desperatly need an ILB that can come in and stabilize the position. They need someone who can cover and with the athletic ability to make a couple of plays. Trevathan has the athletic ability and the instincts to make the plays the Bears didn't make last season. Trevathan is good in coverage, which should help to stop the biggest area of weakness for the Bears as they were abused by backs and TEs in the passing game. Trevathan gives the Bears a legitimate ILB and allows them to work and develop the other spot where they have some interesting young options and can add a draft pick.
NT Damon Harrison [NY Jets] 4 years 20 million/8 guaranteed
The Bears should pursue Malik Jackson, but landing him and Trevathan could be tricky. My fall back is Harrison. Harrison is an elite run defender, in fact he is the highest ranked NT in the NFL at stopping the run. This does 2 things for the Bears that I think are very important. 1. The Bears sucked against the run, and if you cannot stop the run in the NFL you are sunk. Just watch how Denver's DL stops the run and then the rest of the defense just tees off on the QB. Harrison can almost single handily make a team 1 dimensional. 2. It allows the Bears to move Goldman to DE and to save him for pass rush situations. Goldman is the Bears best interior pass rusher and I do not need him worn out and tired from absorbing run down double teams over and over again.
CB Sean Smith[Kansas City] 3 years 24 million/14 guaranteed
Tracy Porter and Kyle Fuller were a very nice and mediocre story in 2015, but neither is going to consistently shut down an elite WR and Porter cannot be trusted to stay healthy. Smith will come at less of an investment than guys like Jenkins and Johnson, and he provides a similar press man skill set. Smith at 6'3" 215lbs is a huge long CB that can match up with the bigger WRs and bully speed guys.
OG Alex Boone [San Francisco] 3 years 21 million/12 guaranteed
Boone is an upper echelon RG with the versatility to play OT if needed. Boone can step in at RG an immediately give the Bears a huge upgrade over what they had last season. At 6'8" 310lbs. Boone has the size and length to be difference maker in the run game and in the pass game.
TE Dwayne Allen [Indianapolis] 4 years 14 million/4 guaranteed
The Bears need an option at TE in case Miller gets hurt, and while Allen has battled injuries himself he is a complete TE that can catch and block and he could thrive with more reps than he got in Indy. Allen has also lined up at FB and could fill multiple roles on the offense.
S David Bruton [Denver] 3 years 9 million/3 guaranteed
Bruton provides depth at SS in case Rolle is injured again or is actually declining. He brings size [6'2" 210lbs], experience, and special teams ability to the Bears. Bruton at a minimum will give the Bears special teams a captain.
Draft
I used Matt Miller's mock draft to determine who was available with each pick.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...t-millers-post-super-bowl-predictions/page/2
1[11] QB Paxton Lynch [Memphis] 6'7" 245lbs.
Jay Cutler played pretty well in 2015, this pick is not about right now. This is a pick is focused on the future of the most important position in football in Chicago. Chicago has struggled to get anything more than adequate play from the QB position and they need to start looking for someone who can be more than that. Lynch has every physical tool in spades, he is huge, has a big arm, and on top of it he can run. What Lynch need is coaching and experience in an NFL system, those are both things that the Bears can get him. Lynch can be developed for a year before he competes with Cutler. Imagine having 2 talented QBs pushing each other to play, imagine having options at the QB position, imagine having a player who may develop into more than the 13th best starter in the NFL.
I know the Bears need defense, but by the time the defense is good enough to carry the Bears to a Superbowl, like Denver, Cutler will more than likely be done playing in the NFL.
2[41] DE Kenny Clark [UCLA] 6'3" 310lbs.
The Bears can take advantage of the incredible DL depth in this draft by waiting till the 2nd round, where they should be drafting a 1st round grade and a player who can be expected to play a lot early in 2016. Clark is a long armed powerful player that can come in and immediately help against the run. Clark physically bullied Pac 12 OLmen and has very similar tape to Eddie Goldman from last season. Clark notched 6 sacks this season and is starting to show development as a pass rusher. He uses his powerful upper body with a nice slap rip move and a push pull to disengage on his way to the QB. Clark should start immediately.
3[72] LB Deion Jones [LSU] 6'1" 220lbs.
Deion Jones is too small right now to be a full time starter, but he can pair with John Timu to provide the Bears with a complete LB while he develops physically. Jones can run and cover like a safety, he can match up on slot WRs and TEs. In this plan he will play the obvious passing downs and sub packages, while Timu plays the base defense and the obvious run downs. This allows both young players to play to their strengths while they develop and the Bears see what they have. Jones can easily carry 235lbs, but he needs time to do so.
4. OG Kyle Murphy [Stanford] 6'6" 310lbs.
Murphy played OT at Stanford, but his Senior Bowl performance makes me think that he may be better suited at OG. Murphy is big, physical, and well coached. His feet are not great and he is more of a mauler than a dancer. The Bears can develop Murphy at RG and RT and use him as a back up in 2016. Murphy should fit with the hard working culture of the OL and has starting potential. You can never have too many big, versatile OLmen.
5. CB/S Sean Davis [Maryland] 6'1" 200lbs.
The Bears need to continue to add to the secondary. The front 7 is clearly the focus of the offseason, but they need better options coming off the bench than McManis etc. Davis is a big CB, that will move to FS. He has good size, range, and he fits the physical profile of what the Bears seem to be looking for. Davis can cut his teeth on special teams and work at safety with Donatel.
6. OT/OG Brandon Shell [South Carolina] 6'5" 326lbs.
More OL options not named Ducasse and Omaneh, that not only provide depth, but a realistic expectation that they could develop beyond career backups. Shell played OT in college and may be able to stick at RT, but he may be best being developed at RG. Shell has long arms and incredible size and has the physical tools that Dave Magazou can work with.
6. OLB Dadi Nicolas [Virginia Tech] 6'3" 235lbs.
The raw tools are here to have a pretty dynamic pass rusher, but there is a ton of coaching that needs to happen. Nicholad does not need to play anytime soon, he can be a long term project for Fangio and if he does not figure it out, nothing was really risked.
6. CB James Bradbery [Samford] 6'1" 209lbs.
Ideal size and athletic ability, but simply needs a ton of work and experience to be an NFL DB. Luckily the Bears have a pretty good DB coach and some time. In 2016 Bradbery should be a core special teams member, upgrading the size and speed on that unit.
7. LB Blake Martinez [Stanford] 6'2" 245lbs.
There may be some athletic limitations, but Martinez is a hard nosed, physical, leader who will more than likely out play his draft position. He has experience in the defense which is also a plus as the Bears look for better options at ILB.
Depth Chart
QB: Cutler, Lynch
RB: Langford, Carey, Rodgers, Perry
WR: Jeffery, White, Royal, Wilson, Meredith, Thompson
TE: Miller, Allen, Lee
LT: Leno
LG: Slauson, Shell
C: Grasu, Montgomery
RG: Boone, Murphy
RT: Long, Fabajule
RE: Goldman, Ferguson, Gaston
NT: Harrison, Sutton
LE: Clark, Jenkins, Unrien
OLB: Young, Acho, Nicholas
ILB: Trevathan, Anderson, Martinez
ILB: Timu/D. Jones, C. Jones
OLB: McPhee, Houston
CB: Smith, Fuller, Porter, Callahan, Bradbery, Hurst
FS: Amos, Davis
SS: Bruton/Rolle, Jones-Quartey
