Thread: The Vincent Jackson Offseason Plan

This off-season plan is based on the cap space of 20 million that was reported by Sean Jensen in the Chicago Sun Times, the Bears can carry over $8 million in cap space into 2012 and will have around $28 million in total cap space to franchise or re-sign Forte.

Despite 2011 collapse, Bears don

Will Bears Have Enough Salary Cap Room To Keep Matt Forte? » Bears Gab

Free Agents [14 million spent]

WR Vincent Jackson [Chargers] 4 years 38 million/20 guaranteed [7/10/10/11]

The Bears pay big dollars to Vincent Jackson because they are DESPERATE for a #1 WR to pair with Cutler who they have wasted for the last 3 seasons. Jackson gets a deal similar to Brandon Marshall, but shorter, because of the age difference between the players. Jackson is exactly what the Bears need in the Mike Tice offense. When Tice was in Minnesota he had the Randy Ratio, which stipulated that Randy Moss needed a number of deep passes a game. Jackson is a lot like Randy Moss he is a huge target [6’5” 230lbs] and does most of his damage deep [18 ypc average].



Vincent Jackson, WR for the San Diego Chargers at NFL.com

WR Eddie Royal [Broncos] 4 years 12 million/6 guaranteed [2/2/3/5]

The Bears are terrible at WR and they need to not only add talent, but bodies to the position that only has Bennett and Hester guaranteed to be around in 2012. Royal has dealt with injuries and a severe dip in production since Tebow took over in Denver, but when he was with Cutler he has very good years. Royal has the speed and route running to provide the Bears with a solid #2 option. Added to his ability to fill the #2 role Royal has a good report with Cutler. The Bears would be providing Cutler with a Pro Bowl deep threat in Jackson and 2 players that he is very comfortable with in Bennett and Royal.



Eddie Royal, WR for the Denver Broncos at NFL.com

QB David Garrard [Jaguars] 3 years 6 million/2 guaranteed [2/2/2]

The Bears were destroyed by their lack of a solid backup QB the last 2 seasons and they remedy that with Garrard. Garrard was holding out for a big money starting gig, but I do not see anyone giving that to him and in Chicago he can re-join Mike Tice and play for a team that really has a chance of winning. It would also provide him with a break for a body that has been beaten up in his career.



David Garrard, QB for the Jacksonville Jaguars at NFL.com

CB Richard Marshall [Cardinals] 4 years 16 million/8 guaranteed [3/4/4/5]

Tim Jennings was exposed at times in 2012 and he is allowed to move on for a younger, bigger and more versatile player. Marshall had a strong season for the Cardinals at CB and FS and has the physical nature that the Bears need in the Cover 2 defense.



Richard Marshall, CB for the Arizona Cardinals at NFL.com

Re-Signing [11 million spent]

RB Matt Forte [4 years 32 million/18 guaranteed] [6/8/8/10]

A must resign and the most dynamic playmaker that the Bears have.

TE Kellen Davis [1 year 1 million/1 guaranteed] [1]

Give him another year to show that he has some value, but the Bears need to get more dynamic.

DE Israel Idonije [2 years 5 million/2 guaranteed] [2/3]

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.

S Craig Steltz [2 years 2.5 million/1 guaranteed] [1/1.5]

Steltz has been a consistent contributor and can hold up as a sport starter and a leader on special teams.

RB Khalil Bell [2 years 3 million/1 guaranteed] [1/2]

Bell in my opinion has earned the right to be the primary back up, he runs hard and catches the ball well out of the backfield.

Cuts/Restructuring [5.8 million saved]

OT Frank Omiyale [1.6 million]
RB Marion Barber [1.9 million]
TE Matt Spaeth [1.8 million]
DE Chauncey Davis [500K]

Draft [8.8 million]

1[19] DE Courtney Upshaw [Alabama] 6’2” 275lbs.

The Bears have addressed the WR position in Free Agency opting for a safer route than the draft. This allows them to look at their next biggest need at DE. Upshaw who played DE and OLB at Alabama is the type of pass rusher that the Bears need. Upshaw has excellent size, exceptional strength and power and good speed to provide the pass rush that the Bears need. Upshaw was a disruptive force in the SEC with 17 TFL, 7.5 sacks and 1 INT and showed his ability to dominate the line of scrimmage in the BCS Championship. Upshaw reminds me a lot of LaMarr Woodley of the Steelers as he is more than a pure speed rusher. Added to Upshaw’s natural ability he will be coached by a great DL coach in Rod Marinelli and should combine with Idonije to upgrade the LE position for the Bears.



Courtney Upshaw NFL Draft Analysis - 2010 Season - YouTube

Player Bio: Courtney Upshaw - ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE - University of Alabama Official Athletic Site

2[50] OT/OG Kelechi Osemele [Iowa St] 6’5” 335lbs.

The Bears OL was better in 2011, but was still a long way from dominant. The Bears need to continue to add young talented players that can be upgrades from the average players they have. Osemele may have some rough edges and he may never be able to play OT, but he has the potential to be a dominant OG in the NFL. The Bears should move Chris Williams back to OT to compete and allow Louis and Osemele to compete at LG. I understand that Williams was better in 2011 and that he pulls well, but he is an average player by NFL standards and will never dominate the increasing talent at the DT position in the NFC North. Osemele represents a commitment to improvement at a position that the Angelo regime largely ignored. Osemele may be raw, but he is working with a coach that turned J’Marcus Webb into a reasonable starter in the NFL.



Kelechi Osemele - Iowa State University Athletics Official Web Site - www.CYCLONES.com - The home of Iowa State Cyclone Sports

Texas - Iowa State Highlights (Offense/Defense/ST, Texas Only) 2011 HD.mp4 - YouTube

3[74] TE Orson Charles [Georgia] 6’3” 245lbs.

The Bears continue to add weapons to the offense with the raw, but incredibly talented Charles. Mike Martz and Jerry Angelo tried to kill the Bears TE position in a league where most of the great teams have a dynamic receiving threat at TE. Kellen Davis is not a bad player and we do not really know what he can do as the #1 TE in a passing attack, but that inconsistency is a risk. Charles, like JerMichael Finlay has the speed and athletic ability to create mismatch problems and to punish teams for double teaming players on the outside. Davis provides the size and blocking ability and Charles provides a receiving threat from a number of different positions.



Player Bio: Orson Charles - The University of Georgia Bulldogs

Orson Charles - YouTube

3[80] CB Donnie Fletcher [Boston College] 6’1” 195lbs.

The Bears add a starter to the CB core with Marshall, but they still need depth and a long term replacement for Charles Tillman. Fletcher has the size and tackling ability to develop into a starting CB for the Bears. He may only provide depth and special teams this season, but with Tillman’s age and injury history a primary back up is needed.



Player Bio: Donnie Fletcher - BCEAGLES.COM - Boston College Official Athletic Site

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcqCK...eature=related

4. LB Nigel Bradham [Florida St] 6’2” 235lbs.

With Lance Briggs age and his constant complaints about the contract that he signed the Bears draft a player to develop as the long term answer at WLB. Bradham may be more physical ability than talent right now but he can be developed into a starter at WLB for a season or two. Bradham has the speed and coverage ability to thrive in the Cover 2 defense that can protect his lack of physicality.



Player Bio: Nigel Bradham

FSU LB Nigel Bradham Senior Season Highlights - YouTube

5. WR T.J Graham [NC State] 6’ 190lbs.

The Bears have made over the WR core in free agency with top line starters, but the injury to Johnny Knox, the arrest of Sam Hurd and the poor play of Dane Sanzenbacher create a need at the bottom of the WR depth chart. Graham is raw as a WR, but he has the speed and kick return ability to step in for Johnny Knox who may miss 2012.



Player Bio: T.J. Graham - NC State University Official Athletic Site

TJ Graham vs Louisville Belk Bowl - YouTube

6. S Blake Gideon [Texas] 6’1” 205lbs.

The Bears seem to have found their safety tandem of the future in Conte and Wright, but both had moments of inconsistency and injuries in 2011. The Bears need to add depth to the safety core as well as special teams stand outs to replace the departure of Corey Graham. Gideon may not be the greatest athlete, but he is solid in coverage and tackles well.



MackBrown-TexasFootball.com - Official website of the Texas Longhorns - Texas Football

Gideon chases down Griffin - YouTube

7. LB Nathan Stupar [Penn State] 6’1” 240lbs.

The Bears continue to add depth to the LB core and special teams unit with the selection of Stupar. Stupar might not offer a ton as an athlete and he may ever factor in as a Cover 2 starter. But his work ethic, technique and toughness could be an asset to special teams and as a spot starter down the road.



Player Bio: Nathan Stupar - Penn State University Official Athletic Site

Nathan Stupar - Penn State - Outside Linebacker #34 (2011 Highlights/Special Teams) - YouTube

Depth Chart

QB: Cutler, Garrard, Enderle
RB: Forte, Bell, Allen, Clutts
WR: Jackson, Royal, Bennett, Knox, Graham, Hester
TE: Davis/Charles, Adams
LT: Webb, C. Williams
LG: Louis/Osemele
C: Garza, E. Williams
RG: Spencer
RT: Carimi

RE: Peppers, Wootton
DT: Melton, Paea
NT: Toenia, Adams
LE: Upshaw, Idonije
SLB: Roach, Trahan
MLB: Urlacher, Dicico, Stupar
WLB: Briggs, Bradham
CB: Tillman, Marshall, Fletcher, Moore, J. Moore
FS: Conte, Gideon, Walters
SS: Wright, Steltz