Rotoworld says we will get Branden Albert

Top 50 Free Agency Forecast - Free Agency Update - Rotoworld.com

14. Left tackle Branden Albert -- At the Scouting Combine, coach Andy Reid greased the skids for Albert's departure by calling a 2012 back issue that only cost him three games "a fairly significant injury." Significant or not, the comments were telling. Bears GM Phil Emery's team is needy at tackle, and Albert was drafted by the Chiefs in Emery’s first year as Kansas City's college scouting director.

Free Agent Forecast: Bears on a five-year, $37 million contract.

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Originally Posted by NostraHistoria

Top 50 Free Agency Forecast - Free Agency Update - Rotoworld.com

14. Left tackle Branden Albert -- At the Scouting Combine, coach Andy Reid greased the skids for Albert's departure by calling a 2012 back issue that only cost him three games "a fairly significant injury." Significant or not, the comments were telling. Bears GM Phil Emery's team is needy at tackle, and Albert was drafted by the Chiefs in Emery’s first year as Kansas City's college scouting director.

Free Agent Forecast: Bears on a five-year, $37 million contract.

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Left tackle?
Back Injury?

Ok, somebody has some answering to do, looks like JA snuck back into Halas Hall again. Dude needs to learn to just let go.

Again, patting myself on the back for this one. But seriously, we NEED that Alex Smith trade to go through if we want this guy.

I really don't see us spending 40 million on anyone in free agency for a couple to reasons,

1. There are restrictive contracts in the books like Peppers, Melton if he is franchise and Cutler next season.

2. Emery was brought into build through the draft and not to Dan Snyder the free agent market.

3. You always over pay in free agency.

4. We have 17 of our own free agents to re-sign and while Hayden, Roach, Izzy and Scott may not make a ton they each make a million of more and that is 4-8 million right there.

I would expect us to sign 2 tier 2 guys to stop the bleeding at OL and TE. And I think the best we can expect is Jermon Bushrod on a 4-5 million dollar deal.

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Originally Posted by WindyCity

I really don't see us spending 40 million on anyone in free agency for a couple to reasons,

1. There are restrictive contracts in the books like Peppers, Melton if he is franchise and Cutler next season.

2. Emery was brought into build through the draft and not to Dan Snyder the free agent market.

3. You always over pay in free agency.

4. We have 17 of our own free agents to re-sign and while Hayden, Roach, Izzy and Scott may not make a ton they each make a million of more and that is 4-8 million right there.

I would expect us to sign 2 tier 2 guys to stop the bleeding at OL and TE. And I think the best we can expect is Jermon Bushrod on a 4-5 million dollar deal.

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I agree with #3. Can't load up on expensive FA's. Sometimes it pays off, like Peppers. But you can't do that very often or you're killing the rest of your team.

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Originally Posted by WindyCity

I really don't see us spending 40 million on anyone in free agency for a couple to reasons,

1. There are restrictive contracts in the books like Peppers, Melton if he is franchise and Cutler next season.

2. Emery was brought into build through the draft and not to Dan Snyder the free agent market.

3. You always over pay in free agency.

4. We have 17 of our own free agents to re-sign and while Hayden, Roach, Izzy and Scott may not make a ton they each make a million of more and that is 4-8 million right there.

I would expect us to sign 2 tier 2 guys to stop the bleeding at OL and TE. And I think the best we can expect is Jermon Bushrod on a 4-5 million dollar deal.

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First of all, Glad you're back Windy. Look forward to some mock drafts soon.

I've come full circle on this from Webb-hater to acceptance. Per PFF he ended up being halfway decent last year (rough game in week 2 notwithstanding) and Bushrod out-ranked him only marginally. Makes little sense to spend millions on a guy who's not much better than one we already have for cheap (and hopefully still has upside for Kromer to develop). Albert, even assuming he's let go by KC, will cost even more and may have a back injury concern.

As you mentioned, FA tends to result in over-paying, especially for a marquee position like LT. And we have a lot of "inside" FA needs to attend to with only $10-13 million in cap space as of now (estimates vary). I see re-signing Melton, Lach, & Roach as vital to keep the D humming and guys like Hayden, Izzy, and maybe Hayes or Scott as definitely worth a look if the price is right.

Im wondering if that's not more important than trying to hit a home run in outside FA. A vet TE +/- a vet OG in FA wouldn't be that pricey and then go OL-OL-TE or OL-LB-OL in the draft.

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Originally Posted by MPBears68

I've come full circle on this from Webb-hater to acceptance. Per PFF he ended up being halfway decent last year (rough game in week 2 notwithstanding) and Bushrod out-ranked him only marginally. Makes little sense to spend millions on a guy who's not much better than one we already have for cheap (and hopefully still has upside for Kromer to develop). Albert, even assuming he's let go by KC, will cost even more and may have a back injury concern.

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I agree with this. Maybe I'm delusional, but I don't see the Bears spending money on a FA left tackle this year. The team has a LOT of holes to fill, and not a lot of money to do it with.

But I could be dead wrong too.

Yeah, more reaching speculation in this. WAY too many variables involved and it's WAY too early as well. I HATE the slow time of the
off-season.
:badmood:

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Originally Posted by MPBears68

First of all, Glad you're back Windy. Look forward to some mock drafts soon.

I've come full circle on this from Webb-hater to acceptance. Per PFF he ended up being halfway decent last year (rough game in week 2 notwithstanding) and Bushrod out-ranked him only marginally. Makes little sense to spend millions on a guy who's not much better than one we already have for cheap (and hopefully still has upside for Kromer to develop). Albert, even assuming he's let go by KC, will cost even more and may have a back injury concern.

As you mentioned, FA tends to result in over-paying, especially for a marquee position like LT. And we have a lot of "inside" FA needs to attend to with only $10-13 million in cap space as of now (estimates vary). I see re-signing Melton, Lach, & Roach as vital to keep the D humming and guys like Hayden, Izzy, and maybe Hayes or Scott as definitely worth a look if the price is right.

Im wondering if that's not more important than trying to hit a home run in outside FA. A vet TE +/- a vet OG in FA wouldn't be that pricey and then go OL-OL-TE or OL-LB-OL in the draft.

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Your plan is good, but I would target 2nd tier OT in free agency and OG in the draft for 2 reasons,

1. The OT market is very deep in free agency and their is a nice 2nd tier of guys like Bushrod, Beatty, Cherilus that won't cost a ton but will give us another solid OT.

2. The OG class in this draft is stacked and we could be looking at an elite player at 20 [Warmack, Cooper, Fluker] or a starter in the 2nd round [Warford, Long].

I hope we stop the bleeding at 2-3 positions in free agency and then try and draft a couple of studs at TE or OL.

Report: Ravens don’t expect to sign McKinnie before free agency | ProFootballTalk

Bryant McKinnie would be a cheap, veteran OT upgrade that we would not have to tie ourselves too for a bunch of seasons.

He was fantastic in the playoff run for the Ravens.