Offseason Discussion: Free Agents

WindyCity · Joined: 26 Jun 2009 Posts: 6842

Preparing to be Disappointed in Free Agency

I have been thinking about, obsessing over and stewing about the upcoming free agent period for weeks now and finally last night I think I finally came to the conclusion about what we are going to do.

I believe that most Bears fans are going to be a little disappointed about what happens in free agency. I do not think that we are going to sign anyone that is really going to excite people.

I think we are going to sign 2-3 competent starters to fix the OL, TE and maybe LB positions. But I think Jermon Bushrod will be the best name we hear, that is if we even hear a name that highly ranked.

I am expecting names like OT, King Dunlap, Ryan Harris and at OG, Donald Thomas, Geoff Schwartz and Matt Slauson at LB Daryl Smith or Phillip Wheeler. I am expecting this for a couple of reasons.

1. Emery was brought in to build the team through the draft and while the OL needs some vet upgrades I think a majority of the stars will come from the draft.

2. Cap space is limited after the Henry Melton franchise tag the Bears would need to re do a ton of deals to be very active in free agency. With Peppers still on the books and Cutler coming up I do not know if the Bears want to be playing backload the deal with everyone on the roster.

I just do not see us making much of a splash unless a Brandon Marshall type deal that you cannot say NO to appears.
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Thanks to chisox

GOGRIESE · Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 5:10 pm Post subject:

I think its silly to prepare for anything because we dont have a huge amount of data to go on regarding Emery. Lets wait until free agency hits before we start all the doom and gloom.
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^^ props to Ty on the sig Smile

War room link
http://www.footballsfuture.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=512157

GOGRIESE · Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 5:11 pm Post subject:

Albert got tagged
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^^ props to Ty on the sig Smile

War room link
http://www.footballsfuture.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=512157

WindyCity · Joined: 26 Jun 2009 Posts: 6842

This is what I could see happening,

OT King Dunlap 4 years 14 million/5 guaranteed

Year 1: 1 million salary/1 million signing bonus [2]
Year 2: 2 million salary/1 million signing bonus [3]
Year 3: 2 million salary/1 million signing bonus/1 million roster bonus [4]
Year 4: 4 million salary/1 million signing bonus [5]

He is a solid LT that has held up in a pass happy offense with a QB that holds the ball way too long. For those of you who like the PFF stats Dunlap was the 15th ranked LT, 13 spots higher than Webb, and his grade of 6 was 5 higher than Bushrod. Dunlap is big [6'9" 330lbs], long and he has decent pass protection technique and he can push Webb to RT. He is not great, but he is much better than Carimi/Scott and gives the Bears 2 solid OTs for almost NO money invested.

OG Geoff Schwartz 4 years 12 million/5 guaranteed

Year 1: 1 million salary/1 million signing bonus [2]
Year 2: 1 million salary/1 million signing bonus [2]
Year 3: 2 million salary/1 million signing bonus/1 million roster bonus [4]
Year 4: 3 million salary/1 million signing bonus [5]

The Bears need someone who can play at LG, but does not limit them from developing James Brown or drafting someone who falls to them. Schwartz is a solid OG who can start, but is not getting paid enough or is good enough to not also be a back up. At 6'6" 340lbs with experience at OT Schwartz fits the bill of what the Bears are looking for on the interior. Again he is cheaper than other options.

LB Jonathan Casillas 3 years 7.5 million/3 guaranteed

Year 1: .5 million salary/1 million signing bonus [1.5]
Year 2: 2 million salary/1 million signing bonus [3]
Year 3: 2 million salary/1 million signing bonus [3]

A fast, physical player that can come in and start at SLB and allow Roach and a rookie to work at MLB. Casillas can cover and he is a core special teams player that adds depth for the Bears.

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Thanks to chisox

WindyCity · Joined: 26 Jun 2009 Posts: 6842

GOGRIESE · Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 5:28 pm Post subject:

WindyCity · Joined: 26 Jun 2009 Posts: 6842

Michael C Wright Chat

Jermon Bushrod (New Orleans)

Where are the nice neighborhoods to live in Chicago? Are they a close commute to Halas Hall?
Michael
(2:22 PM)

Doesn't matter. A prominent decision maker in the Saints organization told me the plan was to bring you back "at the right price." That right price is probably more than what the Bears will be able to pay.
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Thanks to chisox

DaMike · Joined: 21 Nov 2010 Posts: 3366

Mudderfudder77 · Joined: 14 Jan 2005 Posts: 1306

I'm not concerned about the Tackles - I didn't figure the Bears were looking to be that kind of spender in FA anyways. I expect we'll invest in the interior of the line in Draft/FA and go with what we've already got on the outside.
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2013 Draft - Go TE or go home. Yes, TE, even after signing Bennett. Vance McDonald is your huckleberry.

chisoxguy7 · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 1266 Location: Chicago

What's the likelihood we can get Vasquez for 5 and Cook for 6? That would be a solid free agency without breaking the bank.

SOCalBearsFan54 · Joined: 13 Jan 2013 Posts: 288 Location: Los Angeles

AZBearsFan · Joined: 04 Feb 2006 Posts: 8948

When are the RFA tenders due? Was that today too?
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