2018 Cap Space

[wab]

I think they should plan to spend on oline, too. Grasu didn't work out. Sitton and Long have health issues.

Massie has looked OK and even if we draft an OT I'm good with keeping Massie as depth (or letting the youngster sit and learn while he gets conditioned for the NFL). Considering our cap space and tendency for injuries in this group, I wouldn't mind having a guy getting paid $6m on the bench in Week 1 if Trubisky isn't immediately in danger when we have our first injury. There's no real way to spend on weapons for him, so lets spend on keeping him protected.

Also, this will be discussed in another thread, but I'm not sure we can play to draft oline high with the situation at CB and WR.

Why would there not be a way to spend on weapons? there are some good FA WR plus you have the draft. I agree that depth is very important with this line, they seem banged up a lot in the middle. Morgan was a draft pick last year, I'm sure they are counting on him, Kush also plus Grasu. I would bring back Compton. In terms of bigger moves, I would not be against drafting tackle fairly early and battling for Massie's spot. Is there a FA guard better/more reliable than Sitton?

I think you're more impressed with the FA WRs than I am, and a lot more confident that we'll get our top choice. Now that we have Nagy, though, I think we can do more without a Julio Jones type of WR because he's good with smaller guys and a guy like Wilson will be inexpensive (relative to Landry). I've changed my opinion about drafting OL and now thinking OL/CB/OLB early, WR/CB/OLB later.

Yeah, I'm not impressed with the FA group of WR's at all. Plus most of them probably won't even hit the market. Albert Wilson and a 2nd or 3rd round pick along with a few of the Bears holdovers isn't that bad of a situation.

[malk]

Hopefully we start to become a draw for free agents. With a highly regarded new OC, a young QB on the uptick and a wide-open #1 spot, perhaps someone sees an opportunity to make a name for themselves. Normally I like a longer deal but in this case getting a wideout in on a prove it deal could give us the time to develop our own and get back some health.

The offensive line is my biggest concern though. There's a lot of money invested in Sitton and Long and both are becoming injury risks. A centre ripe for the new scheme would be a decent shot for me. Kick Whitehair out to RG and Long to RT. Hiestand to bring it all together.

[Middleguard]

Agree with your concern about the Oline. Assuming the Bears have successfully established a QB and scheme for the next several years, they need to set their OL for a similar period. I doubt Sitton (age + injuries) or Massie (scheme + ability) will be retained after this year, or that Long will last until the end of his '21 contract.

Bears need to establish a longterm OL pipeline that's more than UDFAs on the practice squad and dubious rent-a-players. Even Kush, if he recovers, is too old to be considered longterm. But Morgan, if he sticks next year, I would have to call true pipeline player even if he isn't all that good.

[mmmc_35]

I think you're more impressed with the FA WRs than I am, and a lot more confident that we'll get our top choice. Now that we have Nagy, though, I think we can do more without a Julio Jones type of WR because he's good with smaller guys and a guy like Wilson will be inexpensive (relative to Landry). I've changed my opinion about drafting OL and now thinking OL/CB/OLB early, WR/CB/OLB later.

Yeah, I'm not impressed with the FA group of WR's at all. Plus most of them probably won't even hit the market. Albert Wilson and a 2nd or 3rd round pick along with a few of the Bears holdovers isn't that bad of a situation.[/quote]

It's not a great group but there are a bunch of 2s and 3s. Or guys who have some potential. Most won't hit the market.

walterfootball.com/freeagents2018CB.php

Excluding the top couple, these guys might be worth a look.

Paul Richardson
Albert Wilson
Marqise Lee
Quincy Enunwa

[malk]

Just a thought, who are these two recievers:

Year Age Tm Pos No. G GS Tgt Rec Yds Y/R TD Lng R/G Y/G Ctch%
2017 wr 16 10 69 38 555 14.6 2 46 2.4 34.7 55.1%
2017 wr 13 7 62 42 554 13.2 3 63 3.2 42.6 67.7%

Anyway, I hope we give Mike Wallace a look. Everyone looks past older receivers but on a cheap contract, he could provide a quality veteran presence on a young offence. That and a much needed deep threat.

Otherwise, I'm not sure I'm a huge fan of any of them.

[Bears Whiskey Nut]

If you're into this kind of stuff, because I know I am(!):

https://overthecap.com/calculator/chicago-bears/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If I was GM, I would have about $76 million available in cap space after some cuts.

Holy crap, I could spend hours on this. Actually I think I will. I'm going to put together my version and post a link.

[malk]

If you're into this kind of stuff, because I know I am(!):

https://overthecap.com/calculator/chicago-bears/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If I was GM, I would have about $76 million available in cap space after some cuts.

Holy crap, I could spend hours on this. Actually I think I will. I'm going to put together my version and post a link.

There's the Spotrac one too, www.spotrac.com/nfl/chicago-bears/cap/. That one will give you a link to publish your version which is a nice touch.

I still think I'm missing something about restructures though. Is there a rule that there's a minimum amount that you can restructure a base salary down by? I want to know if it is legal under cap rules to ask a player to take a pay cut rather than convert base salary into a signing bonus or other such net zero restructure.

Likely immaterial but I'd still like confirmation. Perhaps I should ask...