What are your top needs for the Bears and top choices to fill those needs? – @BigBear_Brennen
This was of course the most popular question so I’ll try to make sure I’m clear on this. It’s only my opinion as to the exact order involved and the players I like. Take that for what you will:
#1 – Wide Receiver
The Bears have exactly nothing at this position. Cameron Meredith and Kevin White are injured. Kendall Wright is a third option masquerading as a first. Markus Wheaton can’t stay healthy. Tanner Gentry and Tre McBride have proven nothing yet. This team made a huge mistake in years past by failing to properly arm their quarterbacks. They cannot and should not rest until they’ve changed that.
Players I like: Allen Robinson (Jaguars), Davante Adams (Packers), Jarvis Landry (Dolphins), Equanimeous St. Brown (Notre Dame), Christian Kirk (Texas A&M)
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#2 – Edge Rusher
Leonard Floyd is a stud and should only get better as this season progresses. He’s got three sacks in the past two weeks alone. Health permitting he will be a fixture for the next five years. Outside of him the Bears are questionable at best. Pernell McPhee has had multiple knee surgeries. Willie Young is on injured reserve and 32-years old. Sam Acho isn’t much of a pass rusher. They lack talent and depth. Given the quarterbacks they’re facing in the NFC North alone, it can’t stay that way.
Players I like: DeMarcus Lawrence (Cowboys), Ezekiel Ansah (Lions), Dee Ford (Chiefs), Dorance Armstrong (Kansas), Clelin Ferrell (Clemson), Arden Key (LSU)
#3 – Cornerback
These are the only two stats you need to know. The Bears are giving up over 24 points per game and have zero interceptions. With all due respect to Prince Amukamara, Marcus Cooper and Kyle Fuller they’ve done nothing to show this secondary is any better than previous ones. Aaron Rodgers and Jameis Winston both had their ways with them. It’s not a group that can impact a game. They’re merely serviceable. They need a star.
Players I like: Terrance Mitchell (Chiefs), Malcolm Butler (Patriots), Kevin Toliver (LSU), Iman Marshall (USC), Jaire Alexander (Louisville)
Obviously #Bears need edge and a wide receiver help. Which position has better talent in the 2018 draft? – @KiddChicago
The Bears are in luck. Early impressions are that both positions should be pretty strong next spring. Edge rushers could have as many has five or six go in the first round. Wide receivers may be four or five with strong depth in the second and third rounds. If you’re asking which position the Bears should target early, the answer is both since each is a huge need. As far as the first round goes that will depend on where they pick.
If we’re talking top five again, edge rush would be more likely. A big reason for that is receivers are easier to find in later rounds.
What’s the word on Chicago’s interest in NaVorro Bowman – @joemoscone77
According to Benjamin Allbright, a noted NFL insider, at least a “half dozen” teams have already reached out to the 29-year old linebacker. He’s expected to sign somewhere no later than Monday. Odds are Chicago is one of those teams. They have needs at inside linebacker. Jerrell Freeman tore his pectoral and is out for the year. Nick Kwiatkoski suffered a similar injury though not as severe. John Timu is out with a high ankle sprain.
Chicago has something other teams don’t. That being defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. Bowman experienced his greatest career successes under Fangio from 2011 to 2013 with the 49ers. He might be interested in a reunion and the Bears can afford to pay him. Whether he’d choose them over a team that’s in contention is of course the big counterargument. It’s hard to see it happening at this point.
If the Bears get a top pick again next year what are the chances they trade it given the strong QB class? – @jlarrison
It makes such logic sense, doesn’t it? Chicago has their quarterback in place now with Trubisky. That means if they get another high draft pick, say top five they would have the luxury of trading down and stockpiling picks without concern of missing out on a QB. They would recoup the remaining picks lost in the Trubisky trade in April and be able to fill out a number of their thinner positions with young talent.
Problem is this is Ryan Pace running the show. In three drafts he’s had an opportunity to trade down in the first round. Each time he passed. In fact he’s traded up twice. Pace made it clear in recent interviews that he doesn’t believe in passing on opportunities to get a top talent. Something he learned under Mickey Loomis in New Orleans. Besides that trading down, for all the excitement it brings hasn’t always proven successful. Just look at the Browns. They’ve stockpiled tons of picks and yet are still the worst team in the league.
What do you think of Josh Gordon for the Bears? – @jlarrison
This has remained one of the hottest names on the rumor mill for three years now. Josh Gordon was an All-Pro receiver when he was suspended by the league in 2014. Since then he hasn’t been able to get back in due to repeated violations of the NFL substance abuse policy. To his credit he’s worked hard to clean up his act including stints in rehab. Word is he’s had more success at this over the past few months than ever before.
Now two questions remain to be answered. Will the league reinstate Gordon this year? Will the Cleveland Browns strive to keep him if they do? Answering the first is difficult since it’s unclear what the thoughts are from the league offices. As to the second, the Browns are utterly destitute at wide receiver just like Chicago. It’s hard to imagine they’d let Gordon walk out the door in spite of all his problems.
What are your thoughts on bringing back Victor Cruz for some veteran support of the rookie? – @Mowhawkia
Cruz had his chances to make the roster. He quite literally bobbled them away. He’s 30-years old with an injury history and now struggles to catch the football. The fact no other team has signed him since the Bears let him go says it all.
Depending on cuts, the Bears will have $70M+ under the cap. What are the top 5 potential free agents you’d go after? I know it depends on franchise tags – @RRadulski
Indeed the franchise tags are always what determine a free agent class will look like. I have no idea who will or won’t be available so it’s difficult to answer this question. Often the best way to gauge this is by following which teams have salary cap issues going into 2018. Then look at what free agents they might have available. In this case I’d be looking long and hard at Martavis Bryant, Dee Ford, and Jarvis Landry
What is your opinion of Pace’s free agency abilities? – @OscSae72
A lot of people are upset with Pace thanks to this situation. Most of the ire rests on his colossal miscalculations with Mike Glennon and Markus Wheaton. Both got significant money this offseason and were spectacular failures on the field. It is more than fair to criticize Pace for this. His prestige as a pro personnel evaluator took a big hit.
At the same time this is the man who collected guys like Akiem Hicks, Danny Trevathan, Josh Sitton, Eric Kush, and Brian Hoyer. All of whom have made solid contributions to the team at one time or another. Hicks might go to the the Pro Bowl this year and Sitton went last year. Pace views free agency as a place to take calculated, cost-effective risks to shore up the roster depth. It’s the draft where he wants to find his stars.
That may anger a lot of people but the fact is the Bears were spending heavily in free agency before Pace arrived in 2015. It did them little good. Maybe Pace could be more aggressive, but to say his free agency ventures were all failures is wrong.
