Bears sign RB Mike Davis to 2yr, $6M deal

[Otis Day]

I don't think Pace and Nagy are bringing this guy in to start. I don't think was a possibility anyway.

[Funkster]

Talk about a boner killer, one minute we’re talking about Bell and the next the bears sign Mike Davis.

He’s depth... what’s killing your boner?

Are you sure? Average AAV is 2.2M, bears sure aren’t paying him like depth. I live in Seattle and have seen enough of Davis to know what the bears are getting and it’s not better than Howard. Much like Howard, he thrives on inside zone and designed screens. Isn’t much of an outside passing threat which I thought Nagy was looking for?

[DoubleDoink]

@RapSheet

Former #Seahawks RB Mike Davis is signing with the #Bears, source said. The former practice squad earns his first big payday.


Now following the 2018 season, Davis has proven to be a versatile force in a new NFL offensive landscape where versatility is the spice of life. Not only was he the NFL's 37st best rusher with 514 yards on 112 attempts (4.6 yards per carry) along with four rushing touchdowns but he also provided 34 receptions out of 42 targets for an additional 214 yards and a touchdown. Rising from the fourth running back on the depth chart at the beginning of the season to the team's unquestioned third-down back and fill-in when Chris Carson was hurt, Davis now finds himself in the driver's seat for a much bigger payday than $1.2 million over a single year.

I like this signing a lot. I hope we still draft a guy early.


Also, when am I able to send PMs on here?

[wab]

Talk about a boner killer, one minute we’re talking about Bell and the next the bears sign Mike Davis.

He’s depth... what’s killing your boner?

Are you sure? Average AAV is 2.2M, bears sure aren’t paying him like depth. I live in Seattle and have seen enough of Davis to know what the bears are getting and it’s not better than Howard. Much like Howard, he thrives on inside zone and designed screens. Isn’t much of an outside passing threat which I thought Nagy was looking for?

Sooooooo they are paying him basically what Cunningham/Mizzel were making.

[southdakbearfan]

Talk about a boner killer, one minute we’re talking about Bell and the next the bears sign Mike Davis.

He’s depth... what’s killing your boner?

Are you sure? Average AAV is 2.2M, bears sure aren’t paying him like depth. I live in Seattle and have seen enough of Davis to know what the bears are getting and it’s not better than Howard. Much like Howard, he thrives on inside zone and designed screens. Isn’t much of an outside passing threat which I thought Nagy was looking for?

I would say he is depth that is a hedge against getting a rookie up to speed and he also performed well in starter duty. On the plus side, if it means the end of Mizzell ever seeing the field for the bears again its a double bonus.

Frankly Bell is a pipe dream that wasn't ever going to happen $ wise, even at a bargain price of 10 million it would be too steep considering current and future impacts to their ability to sign and resign others.

[MoFugger]

Talk about a boner killer, one minute we’re talking about Bell and the next the bears sign Mike Davis.

He’s depth... what’s killing your boner?

Are you sure? Average AAV is 2.2M, bears sure aren’t paying him like depth. I live in Seattle and have seen enough of Davis to know what the bears are getting and it’s not better than Howard. Much like Howard, he thrives on inside zone and designed screens. Isn’t much of an outside passing threat which I thought Nagy was looking for?

Sooooooo they are paying him basically what Cunningham/Mizzel were making.

Pretty close. Maybe a hair more depending on how the contract is structured, but definitely not any reason to believe they just signed atheir starting running back.

[Funkster]

Talk about a boner killer, one minute we’re talking about Bell and the next the bears sign Mike Davis.

He’s depth... what’s killing your boner?

Are you sure? Average AAV is 2.2M, bears sure aren’t paying him like depth. I live in Seattle and have seen enough of Davis to know what the bears are getting and it’s not better than Howard. Much like Howard, he thrives on inside zone and designed screens. Isn’t much of an outside passing threat which I thought Nagy was looking for?

Sooooooo they are paying him basically what Cunningham/Mizzel were making.

I should have said, the 2.2 AAV is average STARTER money. Cunningham/Mizzel were making a combined 1.35M. To date Davis is the highest paid RB on the team and about the 18th overall. If Howard is moved, he’ll be splitting reps with Cohen unless they draft and fall in love with that back during camp.

This signing doesn’t make much sense to me. I don’t see how the running or passing game got better with this signing. I’m trusting Pace and Nagy though but this is the first signing from Pace that has me scratching my head.

[Bearfacts]

I like the deal. Now Pace has some options as to how to proceed with dealing Howard if possible and also how to draft.

Davis appears to be a shorter but quicker and more elusive version of Howard but far more of a natural receiver. But he's more of a supplemental back in a Running Back by Committee backfield than a 20+ carry lead back. With his versatility he looks to be a slight upgrade over Howard.

[VA_Mountain_Bear]

Have to agree with Wab on this one. He looks to be a replacement for Cunningham, not Howard. If Howard is going to be traded, then I imagine there are a couple RBs in the draft we are targeting. I doubt that Mike Davis is here to replace him.

[G08]

Have to agree with Wab on this one. He looks to be a replacement for Cunningham, not Howard. If Howard is going to be traded, then I imagine there are a couple RBs in the draft we are targeting. I doubt that Mike Davis is here to replace him.

I dunno man... he's awwwwfully similar to Kareem Hunt from a pure metrics standpoint:

Hunt:

5’10” 216 lb
4.62 40
18 bench reps
4.53 short shuttle
36.5 vertical
9’11” broad
7.22 3-cone

Davis:

5’9” 217 lb
4.61 40 (4.52 at Pro Day)
17 bench reps
4.18 short shuttle
34.0 vertical
9’8” broad
7.00 3-cone


No, I'm not saying this kid is going to be or is expected to be Kareem Hunt... but he's got some talent to him.

[UOK]

Davis is the Cunningham/Mizzell guy that doesn't make fans groan in confusion when he comes into the game. Yet.

[Mikefive]

Talk about a boner killer, one minute we’re talking about Bell and the next the bears sign Mike Davis.

He’s depth... what’s killing your boner?

Boners shouldn't be killed, all boners lives matter.

LOL

[Mikefive]

Those of you who think Davis is a younger replacement for Cunningham are right I think. Those who think he also replaces Mizzell may be missing it. Mizzell is Cohen's backup. Davis isn't that. And I'm not a Mizzell fan in any way. But that's how I see it.

[Funkster]

Have to agree with Wab on this one. He looks to be a replacement for Cunningham, not Howard. If Howard is going to be traded, then I imagine there are a couple RBs in the draft we are targeting. I doubt that Mike Davis is here to replace him.

I dunno man... he's awwwwfully similar to Kareem Hunt from a pure metrics standpoint:

Hunt:

5’10” 216 lb
4.62 40
18 bench reps
4.53 short shuttle
36.5 vertical
9’11” broad
7.22 3-cone

Davis:

5’9” 217 lb
4.61 40 (4.52 at Pro Day)
17 bench reps
4.18 short shuttle
34.0 vertical
9’8” broad
7.00 3-cone


No, I'm not saying this kid is going to be or is expected to be Kareem Hunt... but he's got some talent to him.

But you can’t base field play on metrics. Davis plays nothing like Hunt and has a problem staying healthy. After a sleep, I’m still scratching my head.

[G08]

PFF CHI Bears
‏

@PFF_Bears
7m7 minutes ago
More
Mike Davis averaged 2.94 yards after contact per carry in 2018.

That's more than Joe Mixon (2.76), Alvin Kamara (2.75) and Jordan Howard (2.74) last year

[ramentaschen]

this is fine if he is our third RB and occasional receiver

[Funkster]

this is fine if he is our third RB and occasional receiver

3M APY for a 3rd RB? Bears would have been better off singing Frank Gore if that were the case.

[wab]

this is fine if he is our third RB and occasional receiver

3M APY for a 3rd RB? Bears would have been better off singing Frank Gore if that were the case.

Frank Gore is like 46yrs old tho

[G08]

Have to agree with Wab on this one. He looks to be a replacement for Cunningham, not Howard. If Howard is going to be traded, then I imagine there are a couple RBs in the draft we are targeting. I doubt that Mike Davis is here to replace him.

I dunno man... he's awwwwfully similar to Kareem Hunt from a pure metrics standpoint:

Hunt:

5’10” 216 lb
4.62 40
18 bench reps
4.53 short shuttle
36.5 vertical
9’11” broad
7.22 3-cone

Davis:

5’9” 217 lb
4.61 40 (4.52 at Pro Day)
17 bench reps
4.18 short shuttle
34.0 vertical
9’8” broad
7.00 3-cone


No, I'm not saying this kid is going to be or is expected to be Kareem Hunt... but he's got some talent to him.

But you can’t base field play on metrics. Davis plays nothing like Hunt and has a problem staying healthy. After a sleep, I’m still scratching my head.

See the bold above in my post you quoted. I watched everything I could find on him... he's got some burst through the hole and some wiggle to his jump cuts. Kid runs hard too and has decent hands. I'm not opposed to opening up the RB competition and giving him the reigns if he wins it.

[Umbali]

Not sure what Pace and Nagy are thinking on this signing but I honestly dont know anything about the guy. I am sure they have a plan. I am more curious as to what they are planning regarding Howard. If something doesnt happen in next day or two are they going to deal him to move up or get picks on draft day, or keep him and use him more the way they did during the latter part of the season last year versus the early part?

The loyal part of me would like to see him back, however with him hitting the year where he could be getting paid bigger next year, we would really be better off finding a cheaper RB in the draft and getting something for Howard now rather than letting him walk next year for nothing.

As a long time Bears fan I have always over valued RBs based on my love of Payton and how the Bears tend to value the running game, however you can look at the plug and play nature of how the Pats use RBs and realize its ok not to have that bellcow back

[Funkster]

this is fine if he is our third RB and occasional receiver

3M APY for a 3rd RB? Bears would have been better off singing Frank Gore if that were the case.

Frank Gore is like 46yrs old tho

True but that “46” year old is always available, is a true everydown back, out performed Davis and was about 1 million cheaper. What does that say about Davis? Ohh well, I guess that’s who they’re riding with. I just hope everyone is right about him being the 3rd back. I just don’t see it like that.

[G08]

this is fine if he is our third RB and occasional receiver

3M APY for a 3rd RB? Bears would have been better off singing Frank Gore if that were the case.

Frank Gore is like 46yrs old tho

True but that “46” year old is always available, is a true everydown back, out performed Davis and was about 1 million cheaper. What does that say about Davis? Ohh well, I guess that’s who they’re riding with. I just hope everyone is right about him being the 3rd back. I just don’t see it like that.

I don't think he's being looked at as the 3rd back... but I'm a minority, er in the minority

[Funkster]

this is fine if he is our third RB and occasional receiver

3M APY for a 3rd RB? Bears would have been better off singing Frank Gore if that were the case.

Frank Gore is like 46yrs old tho

True but that “46” year old is always available, is a true everydown back, out performed Davis and was about 1 million cheaper. What does that say about Davis? Ohh well, I guess that’s who they’re riding with. I just hope everyone is right about him being the 3rd back. I just don’t see it like that.

I don't think he's being looked at as the 3rd back... but I'm a minority, er in the minority

I’m right here with you. Most are thinking he’s replacing Mizzel, who was the 3rd back. I’m feeling he will be spitting reps with Cohen come game 1. Your assignment of Davis his fair, I’ve seen him up close at practice and have watched him the last couple of years since he became a hawk. I’m just not that impressed with him, especially as a starter.

[wab]

I’ve been watching vids of this kid the last couple hours. I like the way he runs. His burst out of the jump cut is incredible.

[G08]

I’ve been watching vids of this kid the last couple hours. I like the way he runs. His burst out of the jump cut is incredible.

Right? And he's got some juice to him when he gets a head of steam... not afraid to lower his shoulders and thud you either!

[southdakbearfan]

They didn’t sign him to replace Mizzell. I could crap out a turd more productive than Mizzell.

He is a borderline starter, low cost, with potential to be more that won’t complain sharing the load with a draft pick and Cohen.

[thunderspirit]

They didn’t sign him to replace Mizzell. I could crap out a turd more productive than Mizzell.

He is a borderline starter, low cost, with potential to be more that won’t complain sharing the load with a draft pick and Cohen.

He produced pretty good numbers in the SEC (South Carolina).

I'm not expecting much, but he's got talent and could be a surprise. It's a roll of the dice for what's basically slightly more than draft pick money, and you're committed for roughly a year. No downside from my point of view.

[Atkins&Rebel]

Davis was pretty successful in Seattle's read option offense. I think he's coming in to get about half the rushing attempts with a decent share of check down passing options. Cohen will get a 30-40% share of the rushing attempts again, with a larger share of check down options from the backfield. And Nagy just can't help himself to throw in a guy like Patterson to take up ~10-15% of the rest from both rushing and passing.

Part of a true committee

[Pagan]

Davis was pretty successful in Seattle's read option offense. I think he's coming in to get about half the rushing attempts with a decent share of check down passing options. Cohen will get a 30-40% share of the rushing attempts again, with a larger share of check down options from the backfield. And Nagy just can't help himself to throw in a guy like Patterson to take up ~10-15% of the rest from both rushing and passing.

Part of a true committee

This is the route I see Pace & Nagy going.

Unless the Bears land a huge surprise upgrade.. I believe they're planning on having Davis, Cohen & Patterson as the RB rotation.. IF they get the trade they want for H. Jordan.

Nagy would loving nothing more than having 3 RB/WR hybrid type players to chess piece around during presnap shifts.

[crueltyabc]

I like the player and I think he fits the part of the scheme I saw last year but I'm not sure this exactly fills our need for a 1st and 2nd down back that is also a bit of a receiving threat. If our committee is Davis/Cohen/Patterson then I can't see us running a terribly "traditional" offense. That feels more like a throw-first spread type system. I don't mind it but I thought Nagy was going to try for some amount of "balanced traditional offense" with play action, etc.? I'm contrasting this to New Orleans replacing Ingram with Murray and trying to read the tea leaves. Either they still hope to find that 1st and 2nd down guy in the draft or we're going full on Saturday offense on the lakefront and the sausage-ditka-bearrsss crowd is in for a ride