Sugashane

Going to make my Team Needs, FA Targets and Cap Space posts in a bit. Will also say I am floating a trade to PIT to see if they will take a Fields for Johnson trade straight up, and I am looking for a potential suitor for Nate Davis (I drafted heavy on the OL and Vorhees is healthy (presumably). Will have to look at the cost to trade and cap saved, but daughter has a basketball practice right now.

Also worth noting was that Poles took the job and McCaskey had a short list of HCs he wanted to be interviewed, and it seems Poles just took Eberflus right out of the list since he respected him and knew he had the luxury of getting a full blown rebuild, so he might have the power to use Eberflus as the sacrificial lamb if the season goes poorly. Kevin Warren is the new President/CEO of Football Ops (oddly hired after Poles though) so he may not even want either, but I think if Poles got Moore and the capital from CAR, Sweat and a few solid picks like Wright, Dexter, and Stevenson, AND gets Williams Odunze/Bowers/EDGE that he will be pretty safe. Poles likely gets to pick his own HC, and I am looking DIRECTLY at Ben Johnson and backing the Brinks truck up for him.

Load up trenches - you win by protecting your QB and beating the hell out of the opposing QB Fill the OL with college OTs who have pro-OT measurables RB/WR/TE - find something they do better than normal, adjust the system to utilize that skill for each player and not what they have massive disadvantage on (IE - don't have Mooney blocking on screens) DL - be good at one thing and you can be a rotational piece DBs - I would have all CBs and S filled with natural CBs, the S can be zone specialists. SS can be a thumper, but I want all others to be coverage specialists Short enough? lol

Sugashane's Bears Dynasty - 2024 (3/10/24) Pos Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5 Offense QB Fields, Justin Bagent, Tyson Cunningham, Malik RB Herbert, Khalil Gordon, Melvin Homer, Travis Snell Jr., Benny FB Blasingame, Khari (Howard, OJ) XWR Moore, DJ Johnson, Collin ZWR Bobo, Jake Jones Jr., Velus Reed, Joe YWR Isabella, Andy Webster, Nsimba TE Kmet, Cole Howard, OJ Lewis, Marcedes Kuntz, Zach LT Wright, Darnell Borom, Larry Mbaeteka, Roy LG Jenkins, Teven Vorhees, Andrew Carvin, Jerome C Jones, Braxton Jones, Ben (Vorhees, Andrew) Kramer Jr., Doug RG Torrence O'Cyrus Davis, Nate (Vorhees, Andrew) Carter, Ja'Tyre Murray, Bill RT Jones, Dawand Sharpe, David Total Players on Offense - 32 Defense LDE Sweat, Montez Cox, Jr, Brenton Winovich, Chase Kareem, Khalid Hardy, Daniel NT Billings, Andrew Hicks, Akiem Bohanna, Quinton 3T Dexter Sr., Gervon (Walker, DeMarcus ) Dwumfour, Michael RDE Harrison, Zach Walker, DeMarcus Robinson, Dominique WLB Edwards, T.J. (Cole, Dylan) Baskerville, Micah MLB Edmunds, Tremaine Cole, Dylan SLB Sanborn, Jack (Cox, Jr., Brenton) (Winovich, Chase) LCB Johnson, Jaylon Williams, Greedy NB Gordon, Kyler Fuller, Kyle Blackwell, Josh RCB Jones, Sidney Jones, Jaylon Stroman Jr., Greg SS Byard, Kevin Harrison Jr., Ronnie Rowe, Eric Johnson, Quindell FS Brisker, Jaquan Hicks, Elijah Colbert, Adrian Moore, Tarvarius Total Players on Defense - 33 Special Teams PT Araiza, Matt Gill, Trenton PK Santos, Cairo LS Scales, Patrick Lyons, Cameron H Araiza, Matt Waitman, Corliss KO Santos, Cairo PR Isabella, Andy Jones Jr., Velus KR Isabella, Andy Jones Jr., Velus Homer, Travis

*** I'm going to be making numerous posts here today too, so if you guys want me to sticky it just to keep it out of the way then let me know. I decided I am going to start this actually from last year, I won't let myself have McGary or Pocic since that would have drastically altered my draft class but I will start with that draft class over Poles' last class. So here was my draft class as per my - You Be the GM thread My 2023 Draft Class Sugashane 1.10 – OT Darnell Wright 2.53 – DT Gervon Dexter Sr. 2.56– IOL O’Cyrus Torrence 3.64 - EDGE Zach Harrison 4.103 – OT Dawand Jones 4.133 – IOL Andy Vorhees 4.148 - TE Zach Kuntz 7.218 – WR/TE Jake Bobo 7.258 – SAM/EDGE Brenton Cox Jr. * I accepted the trade back from 1.9 to 1.10, rejected the trade from 2.56 for 2.61 and 4.135, and rejected the trade down from 4.103 for 4.115 and 5.165. So this means I kept a few players (Wright and Dexter) and lost the rest (few are of real consequence but Stevenson, Smith, Johnson and Pickens all showed at least serious potential, Stevenson in particular looking like a potential stud and Smith showing a TON of flashes. This means I ran with Herbert and Foreman for the RB1/RB2 so I will assume Foreman had stats that price him out of my range most likely. Also this means I did not get to sign free agents I wanted, and my draft class would have been far more focused on OL. So I will let myself pick PS players from all teams to round out some of the roster. All PS players signed from other teams were signed from this list - https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-practice-squad-tracker-team-by-team-roster-signings-ahead-of-2023-season WR/HB Andy Isabella – signed from BUF’s practice squad - He has been a forgotten man but adds speed and (as a converted RB) fits as the 3rd and long gadget back. EDGE Chase Winovich – signed from MIA’s practice squad - Clearly not the same as he was before but I needed depth and Sweat wasn’t on the team yet QB Malik Cunningham – signed from NE’s practice squad - Mobile QB for PS, no intention of him playing, he is for the defense to work on contain and DBs to work on man coverage with mobile QBs. RB Melvin Gordon - signed from BAL’s practice squad - With Johnson not being signed I needed another RB, and needed a vet. Do not want him getting more than a few carries per game, he may get beat out by Isabella CB Sidney Jones – signed from CIN’s practice squad - Did not have Stevenson or Smith so I needed a CB. Jones has good measurables and was someone I liked pre-draft in his year SS Ronnie Harrison Jr. – signed from IND’s practice squad - I like him, he is a LB/SS tweened, I think he could be the base SS or a nickel LB NT Quinton Bohanna – signed from DAL’s practice squad - Must stop the run, Bohanna isn’t great but is at least able to hold gaps and can fill in as a rotational NT OT David Sharpe - signed from CAR’s practice squad - Best years are behind him but he is a mammoth who had several really solid years, I would like to see him be a mentor for Dawand Jones, who is also a mammoth. SS Eric Rowe – signed from CAR’s practice squad Looking at the roster I would also have tried to bolster a few positions. Offers will be for players cut by their teams and not=re-signed elsewhere WR Marvin Jones Jr - released on Oct 24th - Need a vet for the QB, low expectations but would he really be a downgrade from Jones? I don't think so. CB Marcus Peters - released on Nov 27th - He looked completely different than what we saw in BAL and before. But LV was a ****show so maybe that was a major reason. With no FA for me to make a signing and with Stevenson and Smith being gone, beggars can't be choosers. CB Kyle Fuller - on BAL's practice squad per Spotrac - Again with the beggars can't be choosers deal, Fuller gets to come home and may be a bit of a last ride as with Hicks. He would fight for NB2 and to be a back up S. TE OJ Howard - released on August 1st - needed depth at TE and I think he could have been a better weapon at FB too. I want my FB to either be a mauler or be a weapon that offers some versatility. RB Benny Snell Jr. - released by DET on August 29th - I wanted a really physical runner in case Gordon goes down. He has experience with Johnson too.

I'm going to put my posts here from @dll2000's General GM Philosophies to see how closely I adhere to them. Copied/pasted from here - Ok so here is my positional breakdowns. First lets go over positional importance. If I use the > then it is more important, if I use the / then they are in the same grouping. Positional Order of Importance QB > OT/EDGE > CB/WR/3T > FS/TE/WHB > OG/C > LB/DT/ > SS/RBC > K > FB > P > LS Explanations: QB is the motor of the offense. With a great one you can do almost anything, with a poor one you can do near nothing. OT/EDGE – Simply put to me the game is about beating the hell out of the opposing QB and protecting your own QB. If you do both its rare to lose. CB and WRs are the elite skill positions. CB is the hardest position in football besides QB and a QB will look like crap if they have no one to pass to. Remember what I said about hitting the QB being a prime objective? Well guess who does that on the inside of the DL, the 3T. FS, TE and WHB– This is a ball hawking FS, not a traditional S that can roll play deep or into the box, I mean guys like Mike Brown, Ed Reed, etc. I want turnovers. For TE these are guys that can block and catch. If you offer me a Gronk or Kelce then they move up with THAT level of receiving ability. They are often guys that help protect the QB, open running lanes, or act as a safety net. WHB stand for Work Horse Back. These guys are like CMC, Henry, Forte, etc. Either they are dominant at one thing (Henry) or do several things well enough your depth can’t match up (CMC, Forte). 99% of the plays go either in the QB or RB’s hands, put the talented player there. IOL – Guys that are stout and protect the QB but aren’t as capable in space. I lump them together but if being specific I list them in order of RG>C>LG because RGs are often left more on islands, Cs roll over to the LG to help protect the QBs blindside and LGs are allowed to have the most help. I know Cs are supposed to be the leaders but they are often the least physically capable in one on one situation. Regardless protecting the QB is a premium. LB/DT – This is for offball LBs and DT/NTs. Both have important roles but are usually the guys able to be schemed around more easily than most EDGE and lockdown CBs. Generally I LBs to have 1-2 3 down talents (Edmunds and Edwards fit this perfectly) and 1 guy who does one thing really well (I often refer to Brandon Spikes, stud vs the run, get him out otherwise). Same for the DTs, this is where I want the Billings of the world. SS/RBC – Need to fill out the defense, this is the guy that may be too slow to be a CB but is tenacious or too light in the *** to be a LB bit is athletic. The Amos’ belong here. RBC is Running Back Committee. This is where the Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohens go, guys that have a clear role but you may know they only do one thing well. K – They aren’t respected until it’s a game winner but they add a TON of points if they’re good at their job. The Bears were a mess there between Gould and Santos. FB – Either I want a hulking, mean SOB (Ricard, Neal, Daryl Johnston – last two weren’t huge but blocked like a 280lb dude) or a versatile piece that can’t be a fulltime RB (Juszczyk, Kuhn, Leach) P – I want power. Kick the sumbitch deep and let coverage do what they’re supposed to do. If you can coffin kick great, but I want to flip the field to help the defense. LS – Like the K, no one respects the spot until they screw up. Would you believe I have a Mannely jersey? Because if you do, you’re dumb. Lol jk. Roster Layout Ok, now I have positional value, now for the traits I want from each spot with the pro roster, I’ll go with the 4-3 for simplicity. QB – I want accuracy under pressure and a guy who can consistently make the smart play. Athleticism is a plus, as is a cannon. But I’ll take a Brees before a Josh Allen for example. But I want them to be able to protect the ball and attack all levels of the field. HB – Do something extremely well, depth do one thing well. If it is a tank like Henry, Bettis, etc than great. If he is versatile like CMC, LT, or Forte great. IDC. Do something special or do everything well, or I am doing a RBC. FB – I want either a hulking blocker to be a 6th OL (I still say CornWash would have had a great career as a 280lb FB) or give me a scrappy SOB who can be another weapon too. I’m fine with either, but a midround TE with a bad attitude an undersized DT with some movement ability, or a strong LB that can’t cover seem to do well. WR – I like a mix of speed and size, I don’t care if WR1 is one or the other, I care that they can routinely make plays. Are they brutes like BMarsh, Owens, or Evans? Speedsters like Holt or Hill? Quick technicians like Harrsion or Chad Johnson? Hands for glue like Fitzgerald and Carter? Physical freaks like Moss or Johnson? IDC. Do something well and I will find a role for you to compliment the other WRs. I can run with all 6’4”, 230+ guys or all guys 6’ and under 200lbs. TE – Again, do something well. Are you a good threat as a receiver, if so excellent. I can deal with a rocked up WR any day. Are you a damn good blocker but not enough to play actual OL, still pretty sweet. You can get the dump offs and help the run game. If you are good at both but not elite at either, still great because now you don’t tip off the defense. OT – SPACE. Must be able to play in space. Now I want at least one guy that can play almost completely independently to cover the blindside. But this isn’t the days where the LT lines up vs the RE all day, defenses have evolved. So now I want at least one “true” LT and the RT needs to be someone who can hold their own in space, but if you have a monster like Orlando Brown or Dawand Jones then you put them there. I have zero issues chipping the EMLOS inside to let the mauler get his mitts on them. I call it 5.5 man protection when you do that, and I firmly believe it amplifies how well most RTs do (sometimes means defenses forget about the TE so they can break off a good chunk too). OG – I want bullies. I’ve said for years if I can’t have a Larry Allen then let me have Richie Incognitos on the interior (minus the racist POS streak, I just mean as football players). I think of OTs as the uber-talented big brother, but the OGs are the less-gifted but angrier little brothers. I LOVE mean bullies that play through the echo of the whistle. These guys need to be strong and want to bury their guy, they need to be able to anchor. C – If there is any spot for a “finesse” OL on my team, it is at the C spot. Generally they help the LG vs the 3Ts or if they have the hulking NTs that are a rarity anymore then they have help from one of the OGs. Still, I prefer this to be the same as the OGs, guys who are mean and nasty but this is the spot where mobility is a bigger plus on the inside. Being literate here is a plus too. EDGE – Beat the piss out of the opposing QB. I care about late hits less than most. I would be totally fine getting one per game, just make sure the SOB is seeing ghosts for the rest of the game. Hitting the QB is paramount, if you are good vs the run then that is a positive. But a run stuffing end who can’t rush the passer is all but useless to me. Go to NT or be the 3rd option off the sideline. 3T – Beat the piss out of the QB, but be chunkier while you do it. Or be Aaron Donald. If you can be Aaron Donald, then you ******* be Aaron Donald. NT – I like to put the second best passrusher inside here, usually a bullrushing specialist. Then back them up with the big nasty who only eats blockers and holds his ground. If you want to start the incredible bulk first (Billings) then do so and sub him out on 3rd and longs. OLB – WILLs are more important than SAMs because they demand versatility. I saw WILL doesn’t need the craziest athleticism but needs to be the most sound technically in coverage. SAMs need to be physical and stout vs the run. If you have an undersized passrusher then this is where they can go to set the edge and attack. MLB – This is where you need to be extremely quick to diagnose and attack or be the most physically gifted LB IMO. You are sideline to sideline and hunting RBs that are almost always great athletes. CB – Its such a hard position, I was a good WR and I could play S pretty well, I could only fill a VERY specific role at CB (jump balls, run containment, and blitzing – outside of that, I was screwed lol). I personally love to attack with 5 pretty constantly (Pretty sure I’m related to Flores and Wink) so I prefer man coverage specialists. FS –I want ballskills If you don’t have the hips to be a CB for me but can track the ball really well (or are just a zone specialist in general) then FS is where I will put you. I’m going to have guys hitting the QB, a pass will be errant a few times a game. Make them pay. SS – These guys are to CBs what OGs are to OTs. They’re not as gifted, and they’re angry about it. Remember how I said I don’t mind a late hit on the QB once per game? I also don’t mind one major shot on a receiver per game either, I’ll eat that flag if it gets the stud WR1 to get crocodile arms all game. This is where speed and physicality are key because I may blitz them, use the, as QB spies, or in a deep coverage. How I Grade So for drafting I grade every one of the base 22 starters on the same scale, but then I add positional value to that. I grade them based on what I see when I watch them, if they look physically superior to peers, stats, and if I think the scheme hides issues (think how Air Raid usually has quick two level reads or predetermined throws – which helps QBs and OTs a lot) and then give a base grade. Then I have positional values that either boost or lower that grade. QBs have a full round bonus (1.0 for me), EDGE and OTs get a 0.8 bonus, CBs and WRs get 0.75, etc. Positional versatility (OL who can play C, guys who can be base EDGE and kick inside in nickel, returner ability, etc) all get a 0.3 bonus on it. If they test out at the combine (long arms for OL, super fast on drills, really good explosion, etc) then they can get a 0.2 bonus. Not enough to drastically boost stock but helps separate people who are really close at least. I’ve gotten lazy over the last 4 years or so with this and don’t break down film or record games to rewatch like I use to. Draft Positions and Traits I Want from Them ***I’ll even throw in my favorite prospects of all time for each spot.*** QB is king. I think many Bears fans are fine with settling because the Bears were dominant in the 80s with a mediocre QB, but look what happened when he went down and the position was totally inept. Wasted a dynasty. I want the Rodgers, Brees, Herbert, etc. Unless they are top 10 (without a doubt in my mind at least) then they won’t get a big contract from me. I will trade up and trade major resources to get MY guy. Favorite QB prospect of all time – Aaron Rodgers RBs are key. Unless it is a trick play then any real offensive play goes through the QB or RB’s hands (I count both punting and kicking as purely special teams rather than offense or defense just for ease). I want dynamic talent, and value speed over brute strength. Vision, acceleration, and ability to break tackles are top priorities. If they do it by running over, past, or juking defenders – IDC. Just get yards. I would prefer an all around workhorse but will gladly take a pair of specialists with lower picks. With Derrick Henry I traded into the first to get his 5th year deal, and I think that is about where I would go for my top prospects usually. Most drafts there may only be 1 RB worth a first rounder to me. Favorite prospect here – Adrian Peterson FB – I love the psychos here, guys that LOVE contact and want to blow you up on a play by play basis. They’re OL that can see their toes when they look down. But I’m looking 4th at highest here, usually 6th and 7th picks as they are too small to be OL or too slow/unskilled to be true threats as RBs or TEs. Favorite prospect - Owen Marecic, though CornWash would have been a convert for me there WRs need to do something special. As a WR1/WR2 they need to be able to have good hands and something that is the in the top 25% of the league. Are they great at catching in traffic, are they technical route runners, are they freakish speedsters, etc. Its rare to have guys like Largent be just ok athletes and still be great, I want a high ceiling so they have to excel at something. When it gets to depth I am more about traits, I would be very happy with Leggette’s speed, Wilson’s ridiculous size, or Pearsall’s shiftiness in the 2nd or 3rd round for example. I will find a role for them in the offense. I’ll draft a WR top 3 or as a late round prospect, and anywhere in between. Favorite - Larry Fitzgerald (Sports Illustrated had a piece on him that really got me attached to him) TEs need to either be really good in the passing game or pretty good in both, or you’re depth. Kmet offers a level of versatility I love, and I would love to pair a move end with him. For elite receiving potential I will draft one top 10, usually they are 2nd- 5th rounders. If they are 4th and later then they are likely just SUPER raw (Kuntz last year) or someone I likely think is only a blocker or prospective FB. Favorite - Pitts OTs are my dancing bears. I will happily invest 1st rounders every 2-3 years here and never feel bad about it. I’ll draft one first overall in a crackhead heatbeat if I have my franchise QB, but I will favor traits and rely on the OL coach to develop them. Its their job to craft, its my job to ensure they have the material to build. Favorite – Robert Gallery (oops), I did call for Mailata for several months pre-draft and drafted him real time before PHI! Does that offset this pick? lol IOL – unless I think you’re special (I would have drafted Nelson early in the 1st, wanted Tippmann in the 2nd last year and drafted Trey Smith before KC did) then I am drafting college OTs and stacking you all along the OL. I would have zero issues stacking the OL with nothing but college OTs, and here is the thing – I want college OTs who project as OTs in the pros. I want guys who can move and play in space EVERYWHERE. My OTs are generally guys who were “pro LTs” and my IOL are “RTs” by standard measures. I will take in the first if needed, but I generally think of these as 2d-5th round picks. If you’re a 5th- or later pick you probably don’t have the athleticism or are too weak/soft to fit on my OL Or you’re super raw like Jordan Mailata was, but those are traits I treasure so whatever. Favorite – Quentin Nelson, though I had a draft magazine LONG ago that said Jason Peters was a 330lb TE that could run sub 4.8 40, and I instantly wanted to put him at OG and let him put defenders in an early grave when he pulled. That was nothing but a lucky guess though, but I called him a 2rd rounder just because of thatmagazine. He went undrafted to BUF. That pick was just stupid luck for me lol EDGE need to be athletic and tenacious. Hit the QB, as often as possible. Nothing pisses me off more than seeing a QB with a clean jersey after the game is over. I’d rather lose by 21 and watch the QB limping around and covered in grass/bloodstains than the QB be clean but the Bears lose a shootout in OT. I spent years as the RE in a 5-3 defense where I contained and tried to make the QB cry, and that was all I was supposed to do. So if you aren’t MY QB, then I ******* hate you. My favorite EDGE prospect of all time (and favorite overall of all time) – Davis Pollack. Offball LB (WILL and MIKE) – Generally I don’t want to spend a 1st here, exceptions like Smith and Edmunds occur but I usually think there are 2nd-4th round picks. The game has evolves so there is a level of athleticism that is necessary to be a 3 down player, so I will invest here. I will not draft someone if they are not physical tacklers and I give bonus points for being punishing guys. Loved Bostic for being a headhunter (and Gator). Favorite prospect – Jaylon Smith (bowl game injury totally ruined his pro career IMO) SAM – I want either a LB that is brutally strong here or an undersized EDGE rusher. They HAVE to be super physical and be willing to take out blockers to clear up paths for the other two LBs. They’re the NTs of the two point stance. That being said, I am looking at 3rd round at the absolute highest, and likely closer to the 5th round as they likely can’t play the MIKE or WILL properly. Favorite – Brandon Spikes (I know he was a MIKE for years but he was always a 2 down player, Belichick just knew how to utilize and rotate him so well). CBs – I will spend a top 10 pick here and not blink. I love physical tools here and ballskills. If you can be in the WRs pocket then you can make a play, I don’t want to focus too much on special traits or skills here, I prefer man coverage specialists, I like size/speed/athleticism, and there needs to be a level of toughness here. I draft regularly and keep trying to stock up. Favorite prospect – Joe Haden (Gator bias finally helped me here) FS – This is the one place where zone specialist CBs fit in great for me. I want basically a zone CB here and that was what guys like Earl Thomas and Mike Brown were, but they could hit like hell too. I’m fine with FS being a mid tackler, I prioritize turnovers and like physical talents here a lot too. Favorite prospect – Michael Huff SS – I love enforcers. This is where I want the Kam Chancellor’s or Brian Dawkins, guys that your QB knows he can’t throw near or his target may get knocked the hell out. They’re the OGs for me of the defense, and I like them being a little ‘too’ aggressive. Favorite prospect – LaRon Landry. Basic Draft Philosophies. - Draft college OTs with pro OT gifts, stack them all along the OL. Have a raw OT talent? He’s an OG. Got short arms but is smart? Learn to snap. I’m almost always drafting one 2 per year. Last year I went ape**** and overloaded the OL in my real time draft, and have ZERO regrets about it. I’d use that draft for my dynasty mock if I could. (Can I do that?) - The system has to fit the QB, not the other way around. That being said, if you have a QB you really want to push to be the guy, get a back up with the same playstyle/physical gifts. No going from Tru to Foles or Dalton to Fields. If your starter is really mobile, then the back up needs to be as well. So if the QB1 goes down then you’re not shifting EVERYTHING around on offense to get him to fit. You’ve spent all offseason getting the other 10 guys use to something, keep them doing the same exact thing if QB1 goes down so you can prop QB2 up for the time being. - I’d rather roll with a 5th that has electric athletic talents than a “safe” 3rd rounder who is average at everything. Coaches are there to develop. Give them the tools to work with and let them do their job or replace them. - HBs have to be special to be picked in the top 2 rounds for me. Generally I pick them in the 4th and beyond. I am a sucker for high effort in all spots, but Monty fighting for every inch was live-action art to me. I am hoping Johnson keeps showing that, he started a little softer than I expected last year but I think he was overthinking due to his limited reps early on. - I want to have my DBs be all CBs if possible. Like OL I draft 1-2 every year, I could happily put CBs in both S spots, NB, and on the boundaries, for starters and for depth. I could easily not draft a true S at all, just as I could do the same with OGs. Put the slowest/most physical at SS, the zone specialist ballhawk at FS, and press the hell out of the WRs with the other 3. I prefer the 4-2-5 like that. That being said I think a traditional SS is easier to find so I have no issues with a standard SS, I prefer enforcers but feel like they are a thing of the past due to rule changes. I flipflop a lot here. - Unless you’re a TEAM elite (Bears have Moore, Sweat, Johnson, Edmunds, Edwards, Jenkins, and Kmet) then you need competition. Those guys are the only ones I am handing the starting gig to. Wright looked great for a rookie, still has to own that spot. Dexter took off, still has to earn it. I want battles all across the board, and will draft prospects to push guys if I think they have potential. - I will draft “problem children” with mid to late picks. No GM loses his job for sucking in the 5th round every year, if you are hitting at a decent rate early on and developing a few late rounders then you have a pretty good team built up. For guys with academic or legal woes then I can deal with for a 4th or later. Guys with great physical tools go here too. Or guys with medical red flags. All can be taken, because the risk is minimal at that point for what may be a hell of a reward. - Punters and kickers are people too. They aren’t real people though… so they don’t get graded on the same scale as the base 22 spots. 5th round picks are for guys I think can be top 5 (like I said with Araiza, Aguayo, and Pineiro). 6th is for guys that I think will be above average starters rather early. 7th is to secure someone that I NEED for a role, like I have no K or P on staff and will take one here just to ensure I have my favorite guy left and then he has to beat out the camp bodies for the gig. - Punt returners are more important than kick returners now, and I will draft someone for the sole purpose of returning punts. If that is all they are going to do then 4th would be the highest I think I’d go, and I’d have to think they’re going to be elite in that role. Otherwise I will see if someone can multitask to try and get on the field more, and I will still draft a speedster later to challenge there. - Just how IOL versatility is huge for me, versatility in the WR corps is huge to me too. Bears didn’t have a really good receiving back this year, I still think Scott and Jones should have been fighting for the 3rd and long scatback roles. Fields was electric with his legs, all he has to do is extend the play so they get open and he can let them use their speed (assuming Jones doesn’t stonehands it). I know the CMC/Deebo pairing is a unicorn, but depth/fringe guys will get to dress for me if they can cover more than one role. Round Allocation Rounds 1-2 I want starters, guys that can come in at least as a rotational piece early on. Round 1 will probably be starting or playing a LOT of reps early on Rounds 3-4 I want guys who have good ceilings and physical traits. Higher RAS numbers help more here than 1-2 because their film usually doesn’t show enough to warrant a 1st or 2nd round pick. But these guys will fight for starting or top depth roles early on, and will hopefully be starters in the next 2-3 years. 5-7 I am drafting for almost pure potential and athletic gifts. IDGAF about what happens here, I am swinging for the fences. Red flags get dropped here, and their ceiling is what I care about most. This is also where the completely one dimensional guys fit perfectly. The mammoth NT that offers no passrush, the undersized EDGE or runstuffing LB that ran the 5.2 sec 40, the 250 lb runner, or the conversion prospects (like going from QB to WR). These guys are on a shorter string so if they screw it up you are out of less. If they hit occasionally you look like a genius. Practice Squad I stack the practice squad for scout team purposes more than I do for actual team depth. I always will want a running QB and would have signed Malik Cunningham for that role. Do I think he could be a real depth option? No. But he would be a stellar piece for your defense to get to work with to work on containment. With Jackson, Fields, Allen, Murray, etc you have a ton of guys who are great athletes at QB, and then you also have guys that move around really well like Mahomes and Rodgers who can extend plays of you’re not sound in your gaps. We risk a QB1 or QB2? Use the f-ing PS QB to get them to work against! Then let them hit his pads so they don’t get use to pulling up on QBs. Hell get 2 guys so you can drill man coverage concepts even faster. You have limited time to drill guys, so having 5 guys throwing mean 5 receivers and 5 DBs get reps instead of 2-3. More reps across the board. Get 1-2 huge WRs to get to have your DBs work against for jump balls. Last year I was looking at a kid named Jenkins who was 6’6” and a Landers kid who was a freaky physical specimen. IDK if they were drafted but they’d have been on my UDFA shortlist to carry out this role. And one may have been there to bench Jones and push ESB at minimum. Hell maybe have taken Tonyan’s role. Lol Get small school guys in there or guys who got lost behind stellar athletes from top schools. Drew Sanders was a fairly unknown at Bama to casual fans, but he went to Arkansas and made a name for himself. There are guys who don’t make that move that get lost in the shuffle. Underachieving 5 star prospects should be targets here. Stack guys with abnormally high RAS, high measurables. Maybe some more conversion guys, like DL/OL converts (they may have to practice as both to stay on the PS if I’m trying to get as many reps as possible) or tall WRs who are bulking up to try to go to TE. This isn’t for guys who are low end athletes to fill out roster, I want guys on the PS that can push the top 53 in some way, any way. Now if they outplay a guy that is the 3rd or whatever, hell yeah I’ll move them up. Roster Building Considerations There are a few things I thought about as well. QB/RB - I believe RBs and QBs caps should be lumped together. I have zero issue paying a Derrick Henry or Chubb with a QB on a rookie deal, as in guys who are dominant runners without a ton of upside as a receiver. If you are a CMC/Saquon talent I can be swayed more easily too as you're a multifaceted weapon. But since so much of the time the ball is either in the QB or RB’s hands I think they should be together. If I am paying $50 mil per year to a QB he will have to handle young RBs or vets on cheap deals. There are few exceptions (seeing Henry go to LAC with Harbaugh, Herbert, and Roman would be awesome and is one such exception). If doing a RBC I want one slasher/speedster and one tank, rather than 2 all around guys. Give me someone that excels at something and I’ll use that trait. WRs- I said before I can deal with guys with whatever traits, but I will keep versatile guys for the depth. If you can be a guy to get YAC you will have a role for me, if you can be a really dangerous punt returner you can stick, if you can jump in as the scatback for 3rd and long and make someone miss, you'll find a spot with me. I just want you to do one thing well to get my attention. TEs – I do like a mix of guys. I actually loved how Poles set up the TE room. Kmet was the best player and could block or catch. They had Tonyan who has been a really good receiving threat before (he just flopped, it happens) and then Father Time Lewis is still a 6th OL out there. I love that one goes down then you can still have the in-line and flex roles covered as long as you have two of the 3. That is massive to me. I enjoy being able to use my move TE as a 3rd WR and have 11 and 12 personnel be the same, but utilize that personnel to take advantage of who they have on the field. If they are small, then I want to use my 2 TEs to help run over them. If they get bigger, try to use your athleticism and shifts/motions to create significant mismatches. OL – I want the best 5 on the field. So positional versatility is huge to me. I firmly believe EVERY IOL should be capable of snapping. I wouldn’t want any drills where the QB is throwing routes and getting snaps from a coach. Screw that, get reps for your potential IOL. Especially since I like having multiple QBs and WRs doing the same routes in a line to get more total reps. There are swing OTs and swing IOLs for me. I also want constant competition because I am constantly adding talent, because I am hoping to get priced out on occasion. Also if I have one guy that is REALLY good as a run blocker but can't mirror to save his life, I can still use him. I have zero issues putting a heavy in at FB (same if I have a mammoth DT with movement ability) or to check in as a TE. Hell in true goal lines I might even go 7 OL, a heavy DT in as a FB, the best blocking TE, and the goal line RB. ***The Brotherly Shove is a perfect example of defenses knowing what you're going to do but not being able to do a damn thing about it. I don't want to react to you, I want to enforce my will on you with my trenches. EDGE – I like having one physical freak who can only rush the passer, and maybe be nothing at all but speed. I always think of Bruce Irvin in SEA when Quinn put him in the Wide-9 position. He was more if a handful than his stats showed IMO. This is where guys like Mark Anderson could have played a bigger role, or even Dominique Robinson as he is learning the position but had ridiculous burst. Just like a QB you find what they do really well and abuse it, then try to develop them into better overall players over time. Fangio did this with Aldon Smith, he pinned his ears back, then subbed him out to keep his wind. DT/NT – I like having one huge tank at least. He is basically the goal line specialist. With QB sneaks being done so well I have only doubled down on it. Get my 350lb macktruck right over the C and try to dig under. I prefer athletic DTs overall but if I have one guy that is pure passrusher (think like Henry Melton) then I need someone to balance that by being stout vs the run. I LOVE when there is positional versatility, Izzy being able to play inside or outside well allows you to draft the best player overall instead of taking a lesser player to fill a role that is completely open. That was why I liked Izzy so much and a major reason why I wanted to get Zach Allen so bad last year too. Much like OL I want bullies, I want them mean and aggressive. Hicks is my favorite DL that the Bears have ever had that wasn’t a true EDGE. LOVED watching how brutally strong and aggressive he was. LBs – I like athleticism, length, and versatility, but one thing ALL LBs have to have is aggressiveness. I loathe seeing a LB sit in a gap or catching blockers 4 yards off the LOS. I get it that some RPOs are done well and you have to be disciplined so you don’t open up an easy throwing lane, but I mean when they see the ballcarrier and aren’t trying to meet them at least at the LOS. This is where Briggs and Hillenmeyer were fantastic for me. Neither was particularly special as athletes but both would come up and meet blockers or RBs at the LOS every single opportunity they had. I’ll take that all day as opposed to Kirk Morrison, who had some great statlines but just constantly was making tackles 4-5 yards from the LOS. Essentially Kirk was the ‘prevent’ or ‘bend-but-don’t-break’ LB, which always irritated the piss out of me. I’m paying the big uglies to keep you pretty and clean and you’re going to be passive? Hell no. Vets – I want one ‘old head’ vet per group. Even if they are nothing but guys that are like mini-coaches for practice, helping the young guys review film and learn how to be a pro, I want one in each group. QB, RB/FBs, TE, WR, OL, DL, LB, DB. That’s 8 guys that may not even dress but each one has 7+ years of experience in the NFL. They don’t have to have been starters or guys who had great careers and are in the twilight of it, and they may not fit the profiles I listed above of being super athletic or an elite trait. Their biggest trait has been longevity and possibly who they have played by/under. For this year I am talking about Akiem Hicks, Blaine Gabbart, Matt Brieda, Randall Cobb, Marcedes Lewis, Justin Bethel, Gipson, etc. These are guys that either can only do one thing or you don’t want them out there unless you’ve pulled your starters, but they have a lot of experience to share and can show tricks of the trade they have picked up over the years from the various vet and staffs they have been with. Even just to help the young guys prepare and see how to take care of themselves over such a long season, those little bits add up IMO. Yes it is the coaches job to develop and groom players but there’s just too many coaches for everyone to get attention and there are too many different ways of doing things to limit your team IMO. Maybe I get a QB that has worked with Reid, McVay or Shanny and they have something that my coaches pick up and use from there on out. You have to fill the roster out and nobody wants to play their WR5 of QB3, so why not at least get some sort of use out of those guys? Who knows, they may end up being future coaching assistants you end up hiring later.

I'd wonder what his desired value would be. I said elsewhere if the Steelers were actually looking at trading their 2nd or 3rd and 2025 conditional that I'd be perfectly happy to trade Fields for him straight up. Then both teams get a positional value they desire and still get to keep their full draft capital. I know it sounds like they are still in on KP but it's lying season so I'm not trusting any sources on something like that.

To be fair if I was Getsy I'd be saying the same immediately. I mean this isn't us on a board with nothing more than bragging rights online, this is him trying to provide for his family. Even Fields would be there for a scapegoat option too, but Flus would 100% be the first one to blame.

Jones staying in KC and potato sacking the AFC West.

With the loss of both Ekeler and Kelley the Bears will generously offer RB Justin Fields for Mack.

I just don't think Fields is as valuable as we hope.

I don't get it. Like does the longsnapper have some sort of risk for physical decline that makes him ineffective? Lol

I saw someone mention that and would pull the trigger immediately.

He had significantly more help than Williams did, as I noted already. And if USC mailed it in while putting up 45 points then sign me up. I guess that means you're saying Daniels mailed it in for the Las Vegas Bowl too? I mean they put up 13 points, so less than a third of the results of Williams' effort. The only thing "more emotional" in any of this is your arguments, because they aren't based on any sort of logic. In college it is more about match ups because you have 50 guys on the team that will be working at high schools and offices in the next 2-3 years, then you have freak athletes destined to go to the NFL on the other end of the spectrum. There is a greater physical disparity in college than in the pros and it isn't even close. Almost no one but the clickbait loving media is claiming he is a can't miss prospect, that's an emotional over-generalization. He 100% could bust, as any draft pick can. MHJ is the only one I see as actually being in the conversation of being a generational talent, and even he can flop. You're also not making that bold of a statement in regards to Stroud, the guy literally put up a top 10 rookie season by any QB in history. I mean that's about as safe a bet as you can make, bettering Stroud's production as a rookie is going to be a ridiculous aberration. But you don't draft a guy in the first to be concerned just about his rookie year, you're hoping he can be the face of the franchise for the next 15 years. And you don't get to blame the defense for Fields, you already made the argument that the QB needs to "lead his team" so the failing of Fields. You're saying Williams and USC mailed it in for the Cotton Bowl but Williams put up 46 and *shockingly* the defense blew a 15 point lead in the last 5 minutes. So if that's on the QB Fields is trash and McCarthy is the guy that should be taken 1st overall by CHI. You're point was simply a bad one. If he can't find a QB to consistently perform at a high level then he isn't going to consistently win. Anyone who has watched the Bears for the last 50 years as seen that the only time they were able to win consistently was when they had an all-decade team to bail out the mediocre QB (McMahon). Bears have had some excellent defenses and players on offense but what has the constant Achilles heel been? QB. Fields has just been another addition to that history. If he sits on his hands and passes over the QB and 1-2 of them ball out then Kevin Warren likely boots Poles to find someone who can find talent at QB. Wilson was a "safe" move for DEN just as Carr was for NO, glad they didn't make a gamble and played it safe... Also if you want to build a roster, having a QB on a rookie deal makes it much easier than shelling out $40+ mil to one guy who can get hurt, under-perform, or not fit the system as well as you hoped. If the GM lacks the pair needed to snag the guy he believes is a franchise QB, then he shouldn't be involved in any competition. You can't cower away from a major decision, otherwise you're admitting you're not confident or talented enough to scout for talent to begin with. Players have bad games. You never saw Mahomes have a bad game in college or in the pros? Brady has had bad games. Peyton had them. If you really want to though, look at what Williams did though, he still put up 20 points in that nightmare game, while Daniels coasted on his defense to win game while putting up 13 vs Arkansas. Was it Daniels' "emotion" that got LSU bent over by GA by 20? What about his garbage performance vs Texas A&M and Daniels' 0 TDs? You have an "excuse" for that? It was clear the defense overwhelmed USC's offensive line, but did LSU get overwhelmed by the dominant TAM and TEN? By your logic that's on Daniels. As is Daniels getting absolutely outplayed by Travis in the season opener and the almighty Hooker the year prior? Or what other mental gymnastics need to be done to justify standards for Williams that don't count against Daniels?

I have zero intentions in being part of a real band. I've played guitar off and on for almost 20 years and due to my lack of actual dedication I am at best an advanced novice. Outside of church as a fill in I have been on stage all of 3 times. We do jam out. Use to be like 3-4 times a month but jobs, school, kids, etc. Now its a monthly thing but we look forward to it. I'm teaching my older two how to play, both are going to pass me up in 3-4 years if they keep working. They got my dad's musical talents, it skipped me. That being said I did fill in for a New Years Eve gig at a bar this last year and we had a fun lineup. Say it Ain't So by Weezer, Sweetness by Jimmy Eat World, Until the Day I Die by Story of the Year, Polyamorous by Breaking Benjamin and Scotty Doesn't Know as our one-off gag song. These guys are legit musicians and I had fun but felt like a total imposter. Good think is that getting back into the flow with it comes back WAY faster than learning it in the first place. I went about 3 years without touching a guitar at one point and it seemed like walking when your legs are asleep. You know what you're trying to do, what it SHOULD do, but damn it you're just stumbling around the neck like baby Bambi learning to walk. Just feel clumsy. Took about 2 weeks and I at least was getting the strumming and timing better, a month in and I was pretty much back to where I was before I dropped it (granted that isn't saying a lot). I always wanted to learn piano and drums, but I knew it would be a waste to invest since I wouldn't use them. Wife is really good at violin but has ridiculous performance anxiety. She still has no idea I've heard her practice before. Got home from work early and just sat on the steps and listened for like an hour. I've heard her play 4 times in the 18 years I've been with her. Kids have heard her once, and she looked like she was about to die when they mentioned how good it sounded. lol We actually just had two guys that played a lot and I liked hanging out with them, and then we kept bringing a coworker along that we found out would play (offer of free beer and BBQ always lures them in lol) and some pop in, some leave. We rotate between 3 houses. I have the most land, the biggest grill, and I'm out by the country so almost no traffic noise, but no basement. The other two have either a furnished basement or a big (unused 🙄) garage to use. So basically April-Sept is my place, they bounce back and forth when its cold. Being at my place means the kids have more room and we all know that ALL kids have to help pick up before they leave otherwise that person (El Pig as we call them) brings ALL the food. No one wants to foot that bill, so the houses are always in decent shape when someone leaves. Songs like Getting You Home and such is fun enough to sing when the girls are out there. What's really fun is when someone learns a new song from WAY back, and you can tease the wife/gf. I think it was November I realized I still know all the words to No Diggity and found out my buddy knew it, wife was amused/terrified when I gave her the hug and didn't let go when he started playing guitar. I got bit. 😅

Isn't almost 40 years straight enough? C'mon man. lol

He hasn't been able to stay healthy for an entire season, so there would likely be a LOT of teams lose interest if he did so for a 5th straight year. Regardless I'm damn happy for him. I was going for 5 years $88 mil and (I think) $45 mil guaranteed when I mocked an offseason. Dude is a fantastic cover corner and finally made some turnover plays happen last year.

I play guitar and sing poorly. Think like the Temu version of Chris Young. I can briefly get really low but that's harsh on the voice. I've been told I have a good speaking voice, never (honestly) been told I have a good singing voice. lol If actually trying to sound less crappy I will stick to some songs by Darius Rucker or Chris Young (Neon, Getting You Home, etc) but usually I prefer to just be a back up. We have a group that gets together about once per month to play around and sing or just BS. Of the normal 5 I'm probably the worst participant in singing. We play a lot of 90s and 2000s. One guy can play harmonica so we have to do some Billy Joel, Blues Traveler, Doobie Brothers, or Aerosmith even if none of us can sing most of them worth a damn. That guy is super talented, plays the cajon (like a drum box you sit on and play) usually while we play, and he's the best guitarist of all of us. Other than him the rest of us are mid to bad. Still, its fun and the wifeys get to do whatever the hell they're doing. Recently I got talked into performing with the talented one's band as a fill in, and I had fun but don't want to do that again.

I can always count on you to catch my stupid innuendo. 😂

Damn happy to see this. Great job Poles and Johnson.

So a guy that has been under constant scrutiny since high school has an easier road than a guy that got to develop and grow with far less pressure, and you think that enhanced that latter's mental toughness? Totally disagree. If you're going to state that then you obviously would say Fields has been an abject failure. He has led his team to a 10-28 record. So you've ruined any argument for being pro Fields if you want to stick with that argument. He put up 45, threw for 462 yards, 5 TDs, and Tulane allowed over 300 yards rushing. Clearly Williams should have done more... So how much of a failure is Fields for the defense giving up 27ppg in 2022? Clearly he didn't ins[ire them to play well, so he caused them to have the worst scoring defense in the league, at least by your own logic. Why didn't Daniels inspire his defense to play better then? lol Also I'd have a hard time saying a defense giving up only 22 ppg would be "terrible" I 100% am. Fields has not been able to play consistently, nor has he been able to stay healthy. Call me crazy but I don't believe Poles wants to bank on an injury prone QB who is only incrementally improving year by year that he didn't even draft as his savior. If he only had the pick at 9, the chance of moving up would be 100% on the table, but likely they take who falls to them. He also is the head of the team that has spent less than any team in the league over the last 3 years, and you think he is going to run out to go after Mayfield? No way. Its cool how you gloss over how he had his first season at 17 TDs and 2 picks, then regressed. Then he had an amazing year. So basically he was mediocre for all but 2 years out of his 5. Are you thinking Fields somehow makes a similar jump? lol Exactly, Rattler beat out a Heisman hopeful, then followed a coach he trusted. Daniels ran away from one school because he couldn't perform without an absolutely stacked WR corps. You know who DID perform without an all NCAA offensive cast? Williams.

I think there is a major difference in running wearing nothing as opposed to running in pads. 10 pounds isn't a lot, especially to highly trained athletes like in the NFL, but there is still a difference IMO. Also a lot of bigger guys might have a slower build up for speed, but once they get going their top speed is fantastic, like Derrick Henry. If a bigger guy already has a head start from running a route, then he can potentially turn it up if he gets hit in stride and that too will minimize the slower acceleration. May be nothing, just thinking out loud.

Right, I mean clearly they are fine with spending money, look at what they put down for Arlington Heights, it was near $200mil. So they will spend, I just hope their spending starts inflating the win numbers soon. Plus they have to spend so much over a 3 year window (90%? Someone who is more knowledgeable on cap legislations feel free to correct me) so if they are going low then I hope they make a big move while having a QB starting a rookie deal. Do the opposite of what Pace did to Fields, spend heavy to support the rookie.

I don't have a twitter, but I've seen enough bad takes from him posted on the boards I don't think I can take him seriously. I mean he seems like a Skip or SAS who just focuses on one team to me.

It's time to start the "McCaskeys are cheap" talk again, isn't it? lol