Preparing for Free Agent Disappointment

Preparing to be Disappointed in Free Agency

I have been thinking about, obsessing over and stewing about the upcoming free agent period for weeks now and finally last night I think I finally came to the conclusion about what we are going to do.

I believe that most Bears fans are going to be a little disappointed about what happens in free agency. I do not think that we are going to sign anyone that is really going to excite people.

I think we are going to sign 2-3 competent starters to fix the OL, TE and maybe LB positions. But I think Jermon Bushrod will be the best name we hear, that is if we even hear a name that highly ranked.

I am expecting names like OT, King Dunlap, Ryan Harris and at OG, Donald Thomas, Geoff Schwartz and Matt Slauson at LB Daryl Smith or Phillip Wheeler. I am expecting this for a couple of reasons.

1. Emery was brought in to build the team through the draft and while the OL needs some vet upgrades I think a majority of the stars will come from the draft.

2. Cap space is limited after the Henry Melton franchise tag the Bears would need to re do a ton of deals to be very active in free agency. With Peppers still on the books and Cutler coming up I do not know if the Bears want to be playing backload the deal with everyone on the roster.


I just do not see us making much of a splash unless a Brandon Marshall type deal that you cannot say NO to appears.

Here's a few comments made an hour ago by Michael Wright on today's chat, regarding the Bears FA:

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LINK to the article

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Matt (Houston)Michael-does the Bears franchising Melton effectively mean they are out of the Jake Long/Brandon Albert race? Thanks

Michael (2:05 PM)
No, Matt. I look at the franchise tag for Melton as nothing more than a placeholder for cap space until they can work out a long term deal. Still, even if the Bears work out the long-term deal with Melton, it won't represent a huge cap savings. You've got to figure that he'll still command a salary in the $5 million-per-year range. If the Bears want to create cap space, they'll have to look at more than just Melton.

likely be his last year because any restructuring just adds to his cap number in the future.

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Chris (Chicago)
With Melton tying up so much of the Bears' salary cap with the franchise tag, how will Chicago manage to be aggressive during the upcoming first days of Free Agency?It's especially difficult to imagine any early FA activity, when you recall that the front office could not come to a long-term deal with Matt Forte's camp until June of last year?

Michael (2:16 PM)
Chris, maybe they won't be aggressive in free agency. Did you see how that worked out for the Philadelphia Eagles a while back? I've said this somewhere else, but how we on the outside perceive a team is often different than how the team views itself internally. So all the needs we constantly talk about may not be needs in the team's mind. Maybe the Bears think all they've got to do is fill a couple of holes inexpensively and use the draft to supplement. All I'm saying is that big-time free agency moves don't necessarily equate to victories. Look at the addition of Brandon Marshall. The Bears finished their first season with him with just two more wins than they had in 2011. The Bears are going to need a ton of contributions from guys already on the roster under contract moving forward. It's time for a bunch of folks to step up and play.

that offensive line; especially with a new coaching staff.

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Jermon Bushrod (New Orleans)
Where are the nice neighborhoods to live in Chicago? Are they a close commute to Halas Hall?

Michael (2:22 PM)
Doesn't matter. A prominent decision maker in the Saints organization told me the plan was to bring you back "at the right price." That right price is probably more than what the Bears will be able to pay.

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This is what I could see happening,

OT King Dunlap 4 years 14 million/5 guaranteed

Year 1: 1 million salary/1 million signing bonus [2]
Year 2: 2 million salary/1 million signing bonus [3]
Year 3: 2 million salary/1 million signing bonus/1 million roster bonus [4]
Year 4: 4 million salary/1 million signing bonus [5]

He is a solid LT that has held up in a pass happy offense with a QB that holds the ball way too long. For those of you who like the PFF stats Dunlap was the 15th ranked LT, 13 spots higher than Webb, and his grade of 6 was 5 higher than Bushrod. Dunlap is big [6'9" 330lbs], long and he has decent pass protection technique and he can push Webb to RT. He is not great, but he is much better than Carimi/Scott and gives the Bears 2 solid OTs for almost NO money invested.

http://phillysportscentral.com/wp-co...2702072348.jpg

OG Geoff Schwartz 4 years 12 million/5 guaranteed

Year 1: 1 million salary/1 million signing bonus [2]
Year 2: 1 million salary/1 million signing bonus [2]
Year 3: 2 million salary/1 million signing bonus/1 million roster bonus [4]
Year 4: 3 million salary/1 million signing bonus [5]

The Bears need someone who can play at LG, but does not limit them from developing James Brown or drafting someone who falls to them. Schwartz is a solid OG who can start, but is not getting paid enough or is good enough to not also be a back up. At 6'6" 340lbs with experience at OT Schwartz fits the bill of what the Bears are looking for on the interior. Again he is cheaper than other options.

http://www.panthers.com/assets/clubi...uts_inside.jpg

LB Jonathan Casillas 3 years 7.5 million/3 guaranteed

Year 1: .5 million salary/1 million signing bonus [1.5]
Year 2: 2 million salary/1 million signing bonus [3]
Year 3: 2 million salary/1 million signing bonus [3]

A fast, physical player that can come in and start at SLB and allow Roach and a rookie to work at MLB. Casillas can cover and he is a core special teams player that adds depth for the Bears.

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpx8nyIHkF1qgj8qx.jpg

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Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

Here's a few comments made an hour ago by Michael Wright on today's chat, regarding the Bears FA:

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"just" two more wins for marshall? first of all, the difference between 8-8 and 10-6 is almost always the difference between making the play-offs or not...that's a stupid way to look at it anyways but if his premise is that marshall got us two more wins, that would be an argument for making a splash in free agency...2 more wins makes us 12-4..."just" two wins...

also, "look at the eagles" premise is bullshit...good teams use both free agency and the draft to gather talent, and good teams spend in free agency when they have to...just because one team went crazy in free agency and it didn't work out doesn't mean spending money is always a mistake...
some of you, and apparently some of our mediocre beat writers, are paying way to much attention to the "agent talk"...jake long wants $11 million, jermon bushrod wants $10 million! greg jennings wants $13 mil! how will the bears afford anyone?!

it will be a buyers market...it's an almost unprecedented free agent tackle crop-assuming a bunch aren't re-signed this week-and if the bears do pass on it, they're making a huge mistake...these guys aren't going to get close to the money their agents are circulating, it's all b.s at this point...

Can we please sign Jared Cook Jr...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WindyCity

This is what I could see happening,

OT King Dunlap 4 years 14 million/5 guaranteed

OG Geoff Schwartz 4 years 12 million/5 guaranteed

LB Jonathan Casillas 3 years 7.5 million/3 guaranteed

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Omfg, I think I'll need a couple of those :jd: before I start thinking about this scenario. :10_7_3[1]:

Sorry Windy, but I think this would be horrible for us Bears fans.

One dynamic that is an unknown at this point, is what the new coaches think about our existing talent. This is a HUGE unknown as far as fans trying to guess what Emery will do in FA. Guys that looked bad under Lovie's regime, may be viewed by the new coaching staff as good players. And the coaches could be correct here.

So we're just taking stabs in the dark right now. We look at the existing OL players and think most if not all of them are not very good. The new coaches, however, may feel like Tice didn't know his butt from a hole in the ground and mismanaged his talent. Same could be true all over the team.

Sure, they'll see players that need to go, and be replaced. But we really don't have a clue (as fans) as to who is good and who THEY think should go. Wouldn't it be wild if they look at a guy like K.Davis, and believe he's part of their plan moving forward? Not because of what he did with Tice in charge, but maybe THEY see him as a real talent to be developed. What if they feel like Hester was mishandled, and actually could be a weapon for us? I know it sounds crazy, but in some cases it could be true.

I don't know what to think. I'm just watching the Emery/Trestman parade go by. By the end of the parade I hope we're all ecstatic, happy campers. :smile:

I think Windy is right, but I would think we would only get 1 FA OL and my guess is Schwartz. The new regime likes webb and we dont have a LG at the moment. He would be a decent value and give Emery a little more flexibility in the draft. The scary thing is there may not even be a cooper/warmack or even fluker at #20. Everyone assumes fluker will be there but he has risen up the boards and scouts inc has him at 15 now.

I guess this is where the coaches have to coach the existing team, and win with what we have.

Not having that 3rd round pick hurts. I guess this is a reality check for fans as to just how important (vitally important) it is to not miss with those top draft picks. Those advocating "taking a chance" on long shot character issue players are not thinking this through. We simply CANNOT MISS with these two top picks. Can't pull a Jerry Angelo here or we're really hurting the team.

Santa is going to leave 2 high round picks under our tree. Maybe an upper/middle-tier FA in our stocking & some dirt cheap training camp fodder guys too.

That's probably "it" for this year.

We'll have 4 lower round picks that could have "development" worthy players for the future. Other than that, it looks like we have to dance with the Webb guy another year & Carimi.

http://s3.amazonaws.com/cmi-niche/ga...jpg?1344834484

Rotoworld wrote:

The Chargers have identified free agent LG Louis Vasquez as their "top priority" to re-sign and will make him a contract offer "shortly."
The Chargers arrived in Indianapolis on Wednesday, and on Thursday night met with Vasquez's player rep. Vasquez is believed to be seeking $6 million annually. Turning 26 in April, Vasquez would be a hot commodity if he hit the open market.