The Carl Nicks Mock Offseason
This Offseason is based on the projection by Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune that the Bears should start the offseason with 28 million in cap space.
Breaking down Bears and the salary cap - chicagotribune.com
Cuts/Restructuring [7 million saved]
OT Frank Omiyale [1.6 million]
RB Marion Barber [1.9 million]
DE Chauncey Davis [500K]
DT Anthony Adams [1.5]
DT Mansfield Wrotto [[500K]
WR Max Komar [500K]
TE Chris Adams [500K]
Re-Signing [15 million spent]
RB Matt Forte [4 years 32 million/20 guaranteed] [6/8/8/10]
A must resign and the most dynamic playmaker that the Bears have.
DT Amobi Okoye [4 years 14 million/6 guaranteed] [2/4/4/4]
DE Israel Idonije [3 years 6 million/2 guaranteed] [1/2/3]
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.
TE Kellen Davis [2 years 5 million/3 guaranteed] [2/3]
He is worth another look.
CB Tim Jennings [2 years 5 million/2 guaranteed] [2/3]
The Bears need Jennings for 1 more year while they develop Hayward to be the starter. He is also very good depth.
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.
Free Agency [14 Million Spent]
This free agency plan focuses on making immediate fixes to the offense that has struggled for 3 years to play up to the defense. The offense needs immediate solutions to take advantage of the defenses strong play.
OG Carl Nicks [New Orleans] 7 years 60 million/28 guaranteed [15 SB/13 RB] [6/7/8/9/9/9/12]
The Bears move aggressively to get a player that is the BEST at his position in the NFL. Nicks provides the Bears with a dominant player on their OL that they do not have. Ideally the Bears would be spending the big money at LT, but the market does not have an elite LT and the team seems to love J'Marcus Webb's potential. If the Bears want to push the ball downfield they need to secure the interior pocket and allow Cutler to step into throws. Nicks dominated Suh the entire game that the Saints played against the Lions.
http://whodatdish.com/files/2012/03/4908052.jpg
WR Pierre Garcon [Indianapolis] 5 years 35 million/16 guaranteed [10 SB/6 RB] [4/7/7/8/9]
The Bears do not get involved in the Vincent Jackson sweepstakes and instead focus on adding a couple of solid targets that upgrade the WR core. Garcon has a great combination of speed and physicality and can run all the routes. He also has the speed to threaten vertically.
http://media.nj.com/jets_impact/phot...ceb7_large.jpg
WR Harry Douglas [Atlanta] 4 years 12 million/4 guaranteed [4 SB] [2/3/3/4]
The Bears have 1 healthy WR that should start games in Earl Bennett and while I hope Knox recovers I do not think that he will be 100% this season. Douglas has the speed that the Bears will be lacking as Knox recovers from his injury and will give the Bears depth.
http://theredzonereport.com/wp-conte...ta_falcons.jpg
QB David Garrard [Jacksonville] 2 years 4 million/2 guaranteed [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.
http://atssportsblog.com/wp-content/...d-garrard1.jpg
Draft
The draft will focus on adding depth to the defense by spending a majority of the high picks on the defense in areas where are is becoming a concern.
1[19] WR Stephen Hill [Georgia Tech] 6'4" 215lbs.
Stephen Hill is an incredible risk, but he is also a player that can become a dominant force in the NFL with his size and physical ability [4.36 40, 39.5" vert]. The Bears may need to be patient with Hill and allow him to develop while using him like the Ravens used Torrey Smith, but the Bears have been to conservative for to long at the WR position.
http://media.cmgdigital.com/shared/i...t_0902_JC3.jpg
2[50] DE Vinny Curry [Marshall] 6'3" 266lbs.
Vinny Curry did not wow people at the combine and he did not run a blistering 40 yard dash, but after taking a risk in the 1st round the Bears play it safe in the 2nd. Curry is a relentless pass rusher with a good burst to threaten the edge. He showed at the Senior Bowl that he can rush the passer with a variety of moves. He can join the rotation with Izzy right away at the LE position.
http://www.huntingtonquarterly.com/a...p_20/Curry.jpg
3[74] CB Casey Hayward [Vanderbilt] 5'11" 190lbs.
Hayward has the size and speed to be a starter in the cover 2 defense and more importantly he creates a lot of trunovers [5 ints this season], which is a must in Lovie's defense.
http://www.giantsgab.com/wp-content/...seyHayward.jpg
3[80] LB Terrell Manning [NC State] 6'3" 235lbs.
The Bears need to add depth and speed to the LB core and Manning has the speed and quickness to be a starter down the road in the Cover 2 defense. This season he learns from Briggs while providing depth and contributing on special teams.
http://atlanticcoastconvos.files.wor...yr7-em-156.jpg
4. OT Donald Stephenson [OU] 6'6" 310lbs.
The Bears with the signing of Nicks can move Chris Williams to LT to compete with J'Marcus Webb, but they need to continue to add depth to the OT position. Stephenson is under the radar, but has the physical ability to play OT and he provides depth behind Carimi and his knee.
http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/D...uqVDW8xuWl.jpg
5. LB DeMario Davis [Arkansas St] 6'3" 225lbs.
Davis is another LB prospect that has the height, speed and nose for the ball to develop into a starter in the Cover 2 defense.
http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/35...Arky_State.jpg
6. S Donovan Richard [South Carolina St] 6'1" 220lbs
The Bears seem happy with Conte and Wright as they starting safeties heading into next season, but they need depth for the defense and special teams. Richard is from a small school, but he has incredible size combined with very good speed.
http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townn...b847.image.jpg
7. DT DeAngelo Tyson [Georgia] 6'2" 306lbs.
After cutting Adams the Bears add Tyson to the NT competition and he gives them increased size in the rotation against the run. Melton and Okoye have the pass rush that the Bears need, but they are not good against the run.
http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/S...ZEpmLZeA6l.jpg
Depth Chart
QB: Cutler, Garrard, Enderle
RB: Forte, Bell, Allen, Clutts
WR: Garcon, Bennett, Hill, Douglas, Knox [Inj], Hester
TE: Davis, Spaeth, A. Smith
LT: Webb/C. Williams
LG: Nicks
C: Garza, E. Williams
RG: Louis/Spencer
RT: Carimi, Stephenson
RE: Peppers, Wootton
DT: Melton, Okoye
NT: Toenia, Paea, Tyson
LE: Idonije/Curry
SLB: Roach, Davis
MLB: Urlacher, Dicico
WLB: Briggs, Manning
CB: Tillman, Jennings, Hayward, Moore, J. Moore
FS: Conte, Richard, Walter
SS: Wright, Steltz
