Arlignton Apes Dynasty

[Sugashane]

Saw @jrry32's Stallions and wanted to do my own. I usually do my own "Be the GM" thread but I'm usually trying to plug the holes for the Bears, and my draft picks and FA signings never really match up (since obviously they get different players than I do). So I decided to take over with my own dynasty and just steal the franchise from Poles. I'll port in my posts from the thread I have in the Bears sub-forum.

I am taking over the Bears post-free agency in 2023, but pre-draft. I actually snagged McGary and Pocic in FA but if I had that then my real-time draft would be complete overkill and left some sizeable gaps elsewhere, so this is just what made the most sense.

With the Bears buying property in Arlington Heights, the McCaskeys (and Phillips) were all forced to resign. Kevin Warren somehow was brought on and will take the business side over for the new stadium, but in going to Arlington Heights they city offered much more resources if the team name was changed to their location.

 

As such, here is the beginning of the Arlington Apes!

 

 

And I am the first GM of the new Apes, Sugashane (indeed, I am a distinguished primate myself).

 

[Sugashane]

So some ground rules, and this can be added as debates happen or if clarifications need to be had.

1- My moves can be argued with any valid counterpoints (IE - Harbaugh would choose LAC over CHI due to Herbert) and can be rejected on such.

2- When it comes to free agents, I can sign anyone who is available or poach any practice squad player I want. If I bring someone up from another practice squad then I have to drop someone else to waivers and designate them as a PS stash.

3- In bidding for FAs I can list my top dollar amount for a player, if another team matches that I automatically lose. If I win by under 10% to the original team they stay with that team. If the original team doesn’t sign them and I outbid the new team at all, then I get the player. This can be argued, such as a 1 year deal for a WR to play with Mahomes might be much better than an extra $2 million to come to Chicago.

4-I will draft under the Bears for at least the 2024 draft since I was observing for the 2023 season. I will continue to draft for the Bears in their spot unless it seems pretty obvious this team would have outperformed the real Bears (IE – my QB drastically outperforms the Bears real QB, major injuries happen to the real Bear player but not my own, etc. This will be up for debate each year for anyone who wants to say my record is different than the real Bears.

5- I will use Spotrac as a simple Cap Tracker, since it is pretty user-friendly and I expect my team to dramatically differ from the real Bears in the next year or two. I'm sure I can find a way to port them to an excel doc to make it easier to keep track and post, or maybe just a simple copy/paste will suffice.

6- Draft picks, I can accept or reject any trade the Bears accept. If a pick within the 5 picks after my own is traded, I can steal that trade for the same value, with my higher pick being the only substitute. If I botch my pick (drafting an already drafted player as I have done before) then I MUST pick a player drafted within the 10 picks following my botched pick. No substitutions or trades allowed if I botch the pick.

7- I have full control over the staff, but it must be reasonable. Just as the example with Harbaugh, I cannot simply pick Belichick to be my DC because he didn’t get a job, and kick Vrabel to my LB coach for the same reason, nor throw McDaniels as the QB coach. I will try to connect dots for coaches (such as how Chad Morton came over to CHI due to his obvious connection to Waldron). I can poach other coaches but it must be a clear upgrade in duties and pay.

I will add rules as I come up with more and date the rule addition.

[Sugashane]

So now to look at the organizational structure. Poles is safe. I feel confident that he made some really good moves, and believe he had a long-term plan. The CAR trade was a coup even if the netting of 1.1 was pure luck, the Claypool trade sucked but the Sweat one was damn good. He reworked a roster that was aging and has had some really good insights. I would grill him as to what the plan was with Fields, why there were no movements to try and help Fields when Getsy was shown to be borderline incompetent and why he allowed the coaches to fail to properly test Fields. But overall, he would be safe so long as he was willing to work with a new HC we pick together.

And Poles chooses to stay the GM.

Now I will be interviewing for new HCs. I want the HC to pick the QB and know that I do not want to extend things with Fields. That being said I would trade Fields to a better situation if the trade package was similar. For example, if PIT and LVR both offered their 2nd rounders I would involve Fields and suggest PIT, even though they are picking at 51 compared to LVR picking at 44. If it was a full round later or so (77 for the Raiders and 51 for PIT) then I would just take the higher pick.

That being aid my HC search goes 1A)Harbaugh & 1B) Ben Johnson > Slowik > Kellen Moore > Caneles > Monken

I say Harbaugh likes having Herbert as the set-in-stone franchise QB and he clearly has an affinity for Cali, so he choose LAC. Johnson has a higher asking price but when it comes to building an offense for a QB to thrive - and weakening a damn good division rival - he makes too much sense. He has Jared Goff playing at a level I had zero faith he could get him to, and I want that for the franchise QB hopeful. Had DET at 5th in points, 3rd in yards, 2nd in passing yards, 4th in passing TDs, 1st in rushing TDs, 5th in rushing yards, etc. I mean, damn.

 So time to fill out the staff.

OC/ OL coach- Hank Fraley

Part of the reason for Goff's success and Johnson being able to attack the defense in the run and passing game in so many ways is that the offensive line has been really good the last two years. They invested in their OL but even when there were injuries like with losing Ragnow and Decker in 2021 they were able to have pretty damn good play. Last year they gave up only 24 sacks on the year. Fraley being an OL coach likely isn't looking to get too many OC opportunities and with Johnson calling the plays he will get the pay raise to help ensure the Bears QB of 2024 and beyond doesn't get Carr'd/Turbisky'd/Fields'd. If I could pull Steve Oliver (Assistant OL Coach for DET) and promote him to full OL coach I would but I suspect he will jump right into that role with DET. 

 

DC - Kris Richard (Former DC for SEA, DB specialist, Co-DC for NO)

Honestly I don't understand why he has not had his name thrown around more. He had some fantastic defenses and always had his DBs in great position. I was looking at Wink Martindale, Rivera, and Nielsen as guys to hand over playcalling duties to, I want the DC to own the defense entirely. I looked through connections for Ben and defensively there just wasn't much. A few lateral moves were the only opportunities available, and they aren't letting those guys go. So Richard gets to come here to own one side of the ball, he gets to bring in his staff, and run his 4-3.

- To be fair I'd have zero issues with Wink Martindale being here with the 3-4. Over half the snaps are in nickel but I think Richard is just a damn good defensive mind.

 

ST - Richard Hightower is retained. He has done well and Santos is killing it. Why move him.

 

Passing Game Coordinator/QB Coach - Shane Day

Senior Offensive Assistant for HOU, former Passing Game Coordinator and QB coach for LAC, former QB coach for CHI) - Worked with Ben in MIA for 3 years so there is overlap. He worked with Herbert who has done stellar and now is an assistant with HOU, and Stroud has played very well so far. With his experience in those passing attacks he stacks very well with Johnson and gives a LOT of his personal attention to the QB. Johnson of course still calls plays but this gives Shane a promotion and more direct path to becoming a playcaller if the young QB flourishes. 

 

RB Coach - Derrick Foster (Current RB coach for LAC, but likely replaced as Harbaugh fills out his own staff)

He seems to have done well with Ekler, as he has been extremely productive with him. He also was the RB coach for Iowa for years prior to making the jump to the NFL.

 

WR Coach - Seth Ryan (Assistant Wide Receivers Coach for DET)

He has been with Johnson just briefly in DET, but also has worked in San Diego prior to joining in DET. He also has had the unique privilege of learning under DET's current WR coach Antwaan Randle El for since 2021 and was quality control under Shane Steichen and Pep Hamilton. So he has been getting experience in working with an NFL vet as a coach and working a young WR corps that focuses on being more technical and explosive and a pair of vets in Allen/Williams with LAC. 

 

TE Coach - Jim Hostler (Senior Offensive Asst in DET right now, has been an OC and passing game coordinator, WR coach, and TE coach over the last 30 years).

With a young head coach and OC I want to sprinkle in some highly experienced guys to assist. 

 

DL Coach - Travis Smith is retained. While the production of the 2022 DL was terrible, so was the talent. This year the defensive talent jumped and the production did too. He was kept in large part due to the progression from the rookie DTs, and his work with Crosby when he was a Raiders DL coach.

 

LB Coach - Ken Norton Jr

He was the DC after Richard left and he was the LB coach under him. Norton might not have been a great DC but he IS a damn good LB coach.

 

CB Coach - Jon Hoke is retained, he has done a damn good job with the CB crew. Johnson has ascended, Gordon looked much better, Stevenson and Smith both played really well for rookies, etc.

 

S Coach - Andre Curtis is retained as he has history with Richard.

 

Now...

For my franchise to get off on the right foot I want to declare my first signing - Punt God himself, Matt Araiza for a 3 year, $3.9 mil deal fully guaranteed.

- This let's him make his "rookie" contract plus gets more guaranteed. Then he can earn significantly more if he balls out, but if there is any leal games being played he has a fully guaranteed contract. Should be enough to snag him.

[Sugashane]

Free Agents (2/4/24, before KC signed Araiza)

So I will list more free agents I sign before FA, so obviously guy that were already eligible to be picked up.

 

1) P Matt Araiza, already listed in the post above - 3 year, $3.9 mil deal fully guaranteed.

I was against Gill during the draft because I thought he had a weak leg, now the Bears have someone who can flip the field.

 

2) NT Akiem Hicks - 1 year, $2 mil

Big man is on his Last Ride, I loved having him here, he is the NT(2or3) but is a mentor as I mentioned. Even if he only plays 10 snaps per game you know you are getting 10 full-effort snaps from an ox, and I think he deserves to get to at least get one more season. I would give him the vet practice benefits just to try to keep him fresh, just as the Bears did for Lewis last year.

 

3) C Ben Jones - 2 years, $5 mil, $2 mil guaranteed (2/3)

He was a capable player for TEN before failing his physical. I'm not sure how good he his but I would get him just to compete on the inside and be a vet who may be able to mentor other young guys.

 

4) CB Greedy Williams - 1 year, 1.25 mil

Young guy and likely just a camp body, but athletic upside. I'm not counting on him making the roster obviously.

 

So, far from an inspiring list of guys at this point, but outside of Araiza there isn't anyone I want to really see the field other than a small rotational role.

[Sugashane]

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 6^th 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 3^rd 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 3^rd 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 5^th 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 4^th at highest here, usually 6^th and 7^th 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 2^nd or 3^rd 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 2^nd- 5^th rounders. If they are 4^th 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 1^st 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 1^st, wanted Tippmann in the 2^nd 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-5^th round picks. If you’re a 5^th- 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 2^rd 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 1^st here, exceptions like Smith and Edmunds occur but I usually think there are 2^nd-4^th 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 3^rd round at the absolute highest, and likely closer to the 5^th 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 5^th that has electric athletic talents than a “safe” 3^rd 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 4^th 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 5^th 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 4^th 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. 5^th round picks are for guys I think can be top 5 (like I said with Araiza, Aguayo, and Pineiro). 6^th is for guys that I think will be above average starters rather early. 7^th 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 4^th 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 3^rd 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 1^st or 2^nd 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 3^rd 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 6^th 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 3^rd 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.

[Sugashane]

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.

[Sugashane]

	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

[Sugashane]

Quote

Cap Ranking	Player	Pos.	Age	Expires	2024 Cap Figure		Top 51
1	Montez Sweat	DE	28	2028	$25,085,200		$25,085,200
2	Tremaine Edmunds	ILB	26	2027	$22,437,500		$22,437,500
3	D.J. Moore	WR	27	2026	$16,050,000		$16,050,000
4	Keenan Allen	WR	32	2025	$16,000,000		$16,000,000
5	Jaylon Johnson	CB	25	2028	$13,000,000		$13,000,000
6	Cole Kmet	TE	25	2028	$11,600,000		$11,600,000
7	Nate Davis	G	28	2026	$11,352,941		$11,352,941
8	DeMarcus Walker	DE	30	2026	$8,666,666		$8,666,666
9	T.J. Edwards	LB	28	2026	$7,500,000		$7,500,000
10	Kevin Byard	SS	31	2026	$7,000,000		$7,000,000
11	Denico Autry	DL	33	2027	$7,000,000		$7,000,000
12	Derrick Henry	HB	30	2027	$6,000,000		$6,000,000
13	AJ Epenesa	DE	25	2027	$6,000,000		$6,000,000
14	Darnell Wright	RT	23	2028	$4,765,515		$4,765,515
15	Cairo Santos	K	33	2028	$4,260,000		$4,260,000
16	Andrew Billings	DT	29	2026	$3,500,000		$3,500,000
17	Mike Gesicki	TE	28	2026	$3,500,000		$3,500,000
18	Larry Borom	RT	25	2025	$3,199,270		$3,199,270
19	Teven Jenkins	G	26	2025	$2,668,860		$2,668,860
20	Kyler Gordon	CB	25	2026	$2,368,071		$2,368,071
21	Marvin Jones Jr.	WR	34	2026	$2,200,000		$2,200,000
22	Marcus Peters	CB	31	2026	$2,200,000		$2,200,000
23	Travis Homer	RB	26	2025	$2,110,280		$2,110,280
24	Jaquan Brisker	SS	25	2026	$2,006,056		$2,006,056
25	Ben Jones	C	34	2026	$2,000,000		$2,000,000
26	Melvin Gordon	HB	30	2025	$2,000,000		$2,000,000
27	Ronnie Harrison Jr.	SS	26	2026	$2,000,000		$2,000,000
28	OJ Howard	TE	29	2026	$1,750,000		$1,750,000
29	Khari Blasingame	FB	28	2025	$1,600,000		$1,600,000
30	Gervon Dexter	DT	23	2027	$1,528,120		$1,528,120
31	Sidney Jones	CB	27	2026	$1,500,000		$1,500,000
32	Kyle Fuller	CB/S	32	2026	$1,500,000		$1,500,000
33	Velus Jones	WR	27	2026	$1,474,344		$1,474,344
34	O'Cyrus Torrence	G	24	2027	$1,465,795		$1,465,795
35	Zach Harrison	DE	24	2027	$1,309,952		$1,309,952
36	Matt Araiza	P	24	2025	$1,300,000		$1,300,000
37	David Sharpe	OT	28	2026	$1,300,000		$1,300,000
38	Greedy Williams	CB	26	2025	$1,250,000		$1,250,000
39	Akiem Hicks	DT	34	2025	$1,200,000		$1,200,000
40	Andy Isabella	WR/HB	27	2025	$1,200,000		$1,200,000
41	Chase Winovich	DE	28	2025	$1,200,000		$1,200,000
42	Quinton Bohanna	NT	25	2026	$1,200,000		$1,200,000
43	Patrick Scales	LS	36	2025	$1,152,500		$1,152,500
44	Dawand Jones	OT	23	2027	$1,107,172		$1,107,172
45	Benny Snell	HB	26	2026	$1,100,000		$1,100,000
46	Khalil Herbert	RB	26	2025	$1,087,677		$1,087,677
47	Andy Vorhees	IOL	23	2027	$1,080,863		$1,080,863
48	Braxton Jones	LT	25	2026	$1,059,888		$1,059,888
49	Nsimba Webster	WR	28	2025	$1,055,000		$1,055,000
50	Greg Stroman	CB	28	2025	$1,055,000		$1,055,000
51	Dominique Robinson	DE	26	2026	$1,053,289		$1,053,289
52	Ja'Tyre Carter	G	25	2026	$1,012,328
53	Elijah Hicks	CB	25	2026	$1,004,252
54	Trenton Gill	P	25	2026	$1,004,252
55	Zachary Kuntz	TE	22	2027	$996,237
56	Jack Sanborn	LB	24	2025	$987,500
57	Jaylon Jones	S	27	2025	$985,834
58	Corliss Waitman	P	29	2025	$985,000
59	Michael Dwumfour	DT	26	2025	$985,000
60	Stephen Carlson	TE	28	2025	$985,000
61	Josh Blackwell	CB	25	2025	$985,000
62	Khalid Kareem	DE	26	2025	$985,000
63	Aviante Collins	T	31	2025	$985,000
64	Adrian Colbert	FS	31	2025	$985,000
65	Jake Bobo	WR	25	2027	$985,000
66	Tyson Bagent	QB	24	2026	$923,333
67	Bill Murray	DT	27	2025	$915,000
68	Doug Kramer	C	26	2025	$915,000
69	Quindell Johnson	S	25	2026	$915,000
70	Daniel Hardy	DE	26	2025	$915,000
71	Micah Baskerville	LB	25	2025	$915,000
72	Brenton Cox Jr.	DE	24	2027	$915,000
73	Malik Cunningham	QB	25	2026	$915,000
74	Roy Mbaeteka	T	24	2025	$795,000
75	Cameron Lyons	LS	25	2025	$795,000
76	Douglas Coleman	S	26	2025	$795,000
77	Jerome Carvin	T	24	2025	$795,000
78	Collin Johnson	WR	27	0	$0
	Total Cap Spent				$239,885,362
Dead Cap
#	Player	Pos.	Age		2024 Cap
1	Eddie Jackson	FS	31		$5,580,000
2	Cody Whitehair	G	32		$4,104,000
3	Phillip Walker	QB	29		$500,000
4	Travis Bell	DT	26		$87,855
5	Trestan Ebner	RB	25		$82,968
6	Doug Kramer	C	26		$78,904
7	Kendall Williamson	S	24		$58,332
12	Micah Baskerville	LB	25		$6,667
11	Macon Clark	S	25		$6,667
10	Jalen Harris	DE	25		$6,667
9	Bobby Haskins	T	26		$6,667
8	Lorenz Metz	T	27		$6,667
13	Thyrick Pitts	WR	25		$6,334
14	Aron Cruickshank	WR	24		$5,334
15	Gabriel Houy	G	25		$4,000
16	Andre Szmyt	K	26		$1,334
17	Robert Burns	FB	26		$667
18	Tarvarius Moore	FS	28		$0
	Total Dead Cap				$10,543,063

Cap Space     Cap Available    $260,326,000 Total Cap Spent    $226,999,959 Dead Cap    $13,314,328 Cap Available     $20,011,713

Edited March 21 by Sugashane

[Sugashane]

So looking at the team needs and ranked in order- I'll post targets and max offers in a bit

 

1 - WR - need talent around the young guy, Moore is great but after him it's looking bare. Waiting to see if the Fields for Johnson trade works out.

2 - EDGE - I really like the Sweat, Harrison, Walker combo's potential and having Cox Jr. and Winovich as depth but half of my mantra for winning is "beat the hell out of the opposing QB" so more high-end talent is needed.

3 - DT - NTs are set and not even being looked at here unless I find a guy really late in the draft. 3T though is bad. Dexter Sr. is good, but Walker is the back up and there's no one else. Need an upgrade bad

4 - CB - Johnson is a stud, Gordon is a damn good NB, but there are serious questions and a lack of youth there. Need an upgrade for sure.

5 - RB - Herbert can be the RB1 of a committee but is not a bellcow. Need a complimentary piece as I do not want to count on Gordon or Snell for significant reps.

6 - TE - need a solid receiving option to compliment Kmet. A really solid receiving option (such as Bowers) can dual-task as the slot WR.

7- QB - I am set on trading Fields, but already know I am taking a QB at 1.1. So just want a vet for the rookie and Bagent to learn from.

8 - S - I was planning on offering Byard a 3 year, $24 mil deal as a maximum offer so negotiations never got as difficult as that. Sticking with him, Brisker, and the depth at hand.

9 - LB - Starters are locked in, Cole is a solid reserve, Cox Jr. and Winovich can step into the SAM role.

10 - OL - I'm content with what I have done with the OL, more depth is never a bad thing but this is a damn good group.

11 - K/P/LS - The trio of Santos/Punt God/Scales is a trio to behold, and thou shalt not **** it up.

[Sugashane]

Here is my Free Agency Target List

- I know I am underbidding on several and expect most to go for more than I offer. These are the limits I would go to, and would be able to negotiate for lower

- Signings is how many I aim to sign, Max AAV still will allow for structure set ups and higher guarantees, max years is the highest I want to offer, though I can go lower if they want to take a bet on themselves.

- I'm offering the min contract to ARob then just retracting it in spite. 🤷‍♂️

- If I could make the Fields for Diontae Johnson then I would only try to sign one WR.

 

Quote

 

Signings	Position	Name	Max AAV (mil)	Max Years
1	QB	Tyrod Taylor	$4.50	3
		Ryan Tannehill	$5	3
		Jacoby Brisett	$3.50	3
		Brian Hoyer	$1.80	2
Signings	Position	Name	Max AAV (mil)	Max Years
1	HB	Derrick Henry	$12	3
		Josh Jacobs	$10	3
		Saquon Barkley	$11	3
		Antonio Gibson	$3	2
		Austin Ekeler	$4.50	2
		Ezekiel Elliott	$3	2
Signings	Position	Name	Max AAV (mil)	Max Years
2	WR	Gabriel Davis	$15	3
		Curtis Samuel	$12	3
		DJ Chark	$9	2
		Odell Beckham Jr.	$11	2
		Tyler Boyd	$8	3
		Marquise Brown	$12	3
		Darnell Mooney	$6	2
		Josh Reynolds	$6	2
		Nick Westbrook	$3.75	2
		Allen Robinson	vet min.	0
Signings	Position	Name	Max AAV (mil)	Max Years
1	TE	Mike Gesicki	$5.00	3
		Austin Hooper	$3.50	3
Signings	Position	Name	Max AAV (mil)	Max Years
1	OL	Mekhi Becton	$5.50	2
		Jon Feliciano	$2.50	3
Signings	Position	Name	Max AAV (mil)	Max Years
1	EDGE	Danielle Hunter	$25	4
		AJ Epenesa	$9	3
		Leonard Floyd	$6	2
		Chase Young	$10	2
		Dante Fowler Jr	$3.50	2
Signings	Position	Name	Max AAV (mil)	Max Years
2	DT	Denico Autry	$10	3
		Marcus Davenport	$2	2
		Justin Jones	$4	2
Signings	Position	Name	Max AAV (mil)	Max Years
1	LB	Eric Kendricks	$5	2
		Shaquille Leonard	$3	2
Signings	Position	Name	Max AAV (mil)	Max Years
2	CB	Stephon Gilmore	$11	2
		Steven Nelson	$7	3
		Ahkello Witherspoon	$8	3
		Jeff Okuda	$3	2
		CJ Henderson	$2	2
Signings	Position	Name	Max AAV (mil)	Max Years
1	S	Jeremy Chinn	$2	2

[Sugashane]

So far my offseason is looking good. 

Signings for 3/11

Gabe Davis got 3/$39m, I had a limit of 3/$45m, so I'll say I won the bid at $14mil AAV and up the guarantees too. He got 4.7/6.7/17.2 with void years following it. I will do it 8/14/19 with $6 mil as the void year in 2027.

Denico Autry got 2/$20m, but I was willing to go 3/$30m, so I'll say I won at 3/$27m but I'll add 50% to the guarantees he gets from HOU. He is now getting 7/8/12

AJ Epenesa got a 2 year deal with an AAV of $6mil. A 3/$21m deal with higher guaranteed cash should secure the signing even from his hometown team. He gets to fight for the starting role with Harrison. BUF has him at 3.9/6, so I will so I will so 6/7/8

 

Signings for 3/12

Derrick Henry got 2/$16m from BAL, so I will give him 3/$24m and up the guarantee by year by 10% too. BAL has him set at 5.1/10.9, so I will set him up for 6/7/8 with a $3mil void year.

Mike Gesicki got signed for 1/$3.25m so I'll go for 2/$8m. The structure is 3.5/4.5

 

I'm loving this roster so far. 

 

 

I'll update this depth chart daily as things progress. ***Last Updated on 3/20/24***

Players with bold names are new from either trades, free agency, draft, or signings from the practice squad.

On 3/10/2024 at 5:15 PM, Sugashane said:

	Sugashane's Bears Dynasty  - 2024 Season
Pos	Player 1	Player 2	Player 3	Player 4	Player 5
Offense
QB	-Empty-	Bagent, Tyson	Cunningham, Malik
RB	Henry, Derrick	Herbert, Khalil	Gordon, Melvin	Homer, Travis	Snell Jr., Benny
FB	Blasingame, Khari	(Howard, OJ)
XWR	Moore, DJ	Bobo, Jake	Johnson, Collin
ZWR	Davis, Gabe	Jones Jr., Velus	Reed, Joe
YWR	Allen, Keenan	Isabella, Andy	Webster, Nsimba
TE	Kmet, Cole	Gesicki, Mike	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	Walker, DeMarcus	Cox, Jr, Brenton		Hardy, Daniel
NT	Billings, Andrew	Hicks, Akiem	Bohanna, Quinton
3T	Dexter Sr., Gervon	Autry, Denico	(Walker, DeMarcus)	Dwumfour, Michael
RDE	Harrison, Zach	Epenesa, AJ	Winovich, Chase	Robinson, Dominique
WLB	Edwards, T.J.	(Cole, Dylan)	Baskerville, Micah	Kareem, Khalid
MLB	Edmunds, Tremaine	Cole, Dylan
SLB	Sanborn, Jack	(Cox, Jr., Brenton)	(Winovich, Chase)	(Robinson, Dominique)
LCB	Johnson, Jaylon	Williams, Greedy	Jones, Jaylon
NB	Gordon, Kyler	Fuller, Kyle	Blackwell, Josh
RCB	Peters, Marcus	Jones, Sidney	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

[Sugashane]

Cap Space

Cap Available $260,326,000

Total Cap Spent $198,521,741

Dead Cap $10,543,063

Rookie Allotment $14,000,000

Cap Available $37,261,196

 

I'm actually happy and will move my FA focus to:

HB - Derrick Henry - I'll move up to $13AAV. I really only NEED an upgrade here, and 1.1 is spoken for.

QB - Hoyer - keep the same small contract but make it fully guaranteed if he signs ASAP.

TE - Gesicki - will not go above $5 mil but will fully guarantee up to 2 years at $5mil AAV if I can stagger his pay to be cap friendly in 2024.

*** as a side note I AM counting on Fields being traded, that will also free up $3,233,448 in cap space.

[Sugashane]

3/12 has been another damn good day for my Bears. 

 

Derrick Henry signed with BAL and I snagged him as my offer was much better

Mike Gesicki signed with CIN and I snagged up as well. 

 

Updated signings/depth chart above. 

[Sugashane]

Obviously I took Keenan Allen for the 4th round pick. My offense is looking SICK!

I would have traded Fields ASAP but I do really like him, so I will stick with the conditional 2025 pick for him. I think ATL and PIT were the two places I wanted him to go the most, so I'll just roll with that.

I will extend an offer to him of a 2 year extension for $40 mil, $32 mil guaranteed (based off Mike Evans)

Structure will change his 2024 cap hit to $16 mil. Total cap hits will be $16/17/21/9  (9 is a void amount for 2027)

I have adjusted the cap above to reflect this deal, but based on what extension he actually gets I might have to up it later.

At this point I have $20 mil left and want to have around $15 mil for the draft, so I'm pretty much done now. I'm ecstatic with my roster so far and with me knowing I am going QB at 1.1 (especially since Ben Johnson gets to be the one developing him).

 

The Arlington Apes Cap Situation Pre-Draft

Cap Available

$20,011,713

 

[Sugashane]

I've absolutely honed in and would be picking Williams or Maye for my QB1, and may just pull a MIA and make the pick a few weeks prior to the draft.

USC had their pro day today, and UNC has their own on the 28th. I'd be attending both and would make the declaration on the 29th most likely. Williams is my QB1, but if I do get any indication that he might be a head case then I'd wait to see if WAS might offer to swap picks and take Maye. If Williams gives me any real doubts I won't draft him, but for the most part I think the "attitude" is overblown. If Ben Johnson had any alternative views I will likely roll with him, but for simplicity I am going to assume he agrees with me.