Thread: Bears Mock Offseason Feedback Needed

Originally I thought that this draft could be used to add defensive depth and tweak some things, but the injuries to Cutler and Forte have made it painfully obvious that the Bears need to increase the talent level on offense. Cutler was making average to below average talent look good, imagine what he could do with good talent.

Free Agents

WR Pierre Garcon [Indianapolis] 5 years 20 million/8 guaranteed

Garcon may not be the 6’4” WR that Bear fans want, but guys like Vincent Jackson, Dwayne Bowe and Stevie Johnson will be franchise tagged by their teams. Garcon is a great route runner, has solid hands and is a consistent deep threat something Jay Cutler needs. More importantly Garcon is a polished WR that will be where he needs to be and will not fall down.


QB Drew Stanton [Detroit] 2 years 3.5 million/1guaranteed

Caleb Hanie is a failure as a backup QB and the Bears need to add someone who can at least give them a shot to win in these situations. Stanton is athletic and can make plays right before he ruins it by doing the Dougy.


OT Anthony Collins [Cincinnati] 2 years 6 million/4 guaranteed

The Bears need a veteran backup and competition at LT for Webb and Omiyale is getting cut. Collins has been buried on a deep Bengals OL, but he has the size and athletic ability to play LT and he should demand better from Webb.


S Chris Hope [Tennessee] 2 years 4.5 million/2 guaranteed

The Bears have a ton of youth and upside at the safety position and need to add a veteran player that can stabilize the group and provide depth.


Resignings

Priority 1 [Players who are Free Agents or need extensions]

RB Matt Forte [5 years 45 million/21 guaranteed]
A must resign and the most dynamic playmaker that the Bears have.

CB Tim Jennings [3 years 12 million/6 guaranteed]
Jennings is a solid starter and at times looks like a blanket cover man. Jennings physical nature and violent tacking is a key in the Bear’s defense.

TE Kellen Davis [2 years 4.5 million/2 guaranteed]
The Bears and Davis have still not realized his potential, but he is a very good run blocker and I think could be a very good receiver.

DE Israel Idoinje [2 years 6 million/ 2 guaranteed]
Idonije might not be the pass rusher that the Bears need across from Peppers he is a great run stuffer and a perfect rotational player.

CB D.J Moore [4 years 10 million/5 guaranteed]
Perfect for the defense and a true take away machine he should be resigned for the top level of what a nickel CB gets.

DT Amobi Okoye [4 years 14 million/6 guaranteed]
Okoye has proven to be a nice rotational player and has shown he can get to the QB. The Bears should try and resign him and keep him in the competition, but he is not worth breaking the bank for.

Priority 2 [Players that are 2^nd tier free agents or will need to be extended before 2013.]

CB Corey Graham [3 years 5 million/3 guaranteed]
A valuable special teamer and has flashed a knack for the ball in limited defensive reps. The Bears should keep the special teams captain.

DT Henry Melton [5 years 18.5 million/10 guaranteed]
The Bears are in a position where a number of their young players have stepped up. Melton has not been consistent, but he has flashed dominance and he will have the stats to get a decent offer from other teams.

OG Lance Louis [5 years 20 million/8 guaranteed]
This is my dark horse signing as he has excelled at RT and showed tremendous improvement. Louis looks like a starting OLmen in the NFL and the Bears should reward the work that he has put in and the hustle and versatility that he has shown.

WR Johnny Knox [4 years 16 million/7 guaranteed]
There were rumors that the Bears tried to extend him and I think they should try again to allow him further development. I believe Knox would be a great #2 if the Bears bring in a #1.

Draft

1[15] WR Michael Floyd [Notre Dame] 6’3” 230lbs.

The Bears OL has been improved, but inconsistent and the with the addition of Collins we have competition at the LT position. The Bears can turn their attention to what is still the worst receiving core in the NFL. The Bears have the #3 slot WR position locked up with Earl Bennett, but they still need a #1 and #2 WR. This league is going the way of the super weapon offense, like the Packers and the Saints, and the Bears are showing up with a good old reliable knife. By adding Garcon the Bears give Cutler a solid dependable #2 WR that runs good routes and get deep. By adding Floyd the Bears give Cutler a big bodied physical #1 WR that can catch jump balls and run the slants and fades that we cannot. More importantly Floyd gives Cutler a legitimate redzone target.


2[47] C Michael Brewster [Ohio St] 6’5” 296lbs.

The Bears OL has played above average and looks like a solid group moving forward, but they are far from dominant and if the Bears want to reach their offensive potential they need to move to dominant on the OL. This years draft is stacked with elite center talent and players that have the potential to be dominant players. Brewster has the size and technique.to develop into a physically dominant center that may be able to handle Suh and Raji in one on one situations.


3[72] DE Andre Branch [Clemson] 6’5” 260lbs.

The Bears need to add young talented pass rusher to develop under coach Rod Marinelli and provide a rotational pass rush and an eventual replacement for Peppers and Idonije. Branch fits the mold with his combination of height, speed and ability to disrupt the pocket. Branch has more natural bend and athletic ability than the stiff Cory Wootton and gives us a young developmental player.


3[79] LB Danny Trevathan [Kentucky] 6’1” 235lbs.

The Bears hallmark on defence has been dominant play at the LB position with Urlacher and Briggs. Both Urlacher and Briggs are over 30 and the Bears need to restock with speed and talent behind them. Trevathan has a ton of speed and plays similar to Briggs where he simply seeks and destroys ball. carriers.


4. CB Josh Norman [Costal Carolina] 6’2” 195lbs.

The Bears CB are solid, but they are not capable of physically matching up with the top WRs in the NFL and this will always be a weaknesses when the Bears play against the Packers and the Saints. Norman did not play a high level of college football, but he has exceptional size, good speed and can tackle in the open field all things that the Bears need. He has time to develop behind Jennings and Tillman, which should help in his transistion.


5. S Sean Richardson [Vanderbilt] 6’1” 220lbs.

Richardson is a big safety with good speed an ball skills, both things that Lovie Smith stresses in his safeties. Richardson can step in a provide valuable depth to the defense while assuming a key special teams role. With the youth at safety and the injury history of Wright the Bears need to add depth.


6. LB Tahir Whitehead [Temple] 6’1” 230lbs.

The Bears continue to add speed and depth to the LB core with Whitehead. To replace players like Urlacher and Briggs you need to invest multiple picks and hope that some of them workout. Whitehead has the skill set that the Bears need and adds to the competition.


7. OG Lamar Holmes [Southern Mississippi] 6’6” 330lbs.

The Bears have been having success with 7^th round picks on the OL as Louis and Webb have both contributed. Holmes is another big body that can play a couple of different positions and has the size that Mike Tice wants on the OL. Holmes may need to go the practice squad route before being called up to the team.


Depth Chart

QB: Cutler, Stanton, Enderle
RB: Forte, Barber, Bell, Clutts
WR: Floyd, Garcon, Bennett, Knox, Hester, Hurd
TE: Davis, Spaeth, Adams
LT: Webb/Collins
LG: Williams/Louis
C: Garza/Brewster
RG: Spencer/Louis
RT: Carimi

RE: Peppers, Wootton
DT: Melton, Okoye
NT: Paea, Toenia
LE: Idonije, Branch
SLB: Roach, Travethan
MLB: Urlacher, Dicico
WLB: Briggs, J. Williams, Whitehead
CB: Tillman, Jennings, Moore, Norman, Graham
FS: Conte, Richardson
SS: Wright, Hope, Steltz