Bears players hitting free agency

[HisRoyalSweetness]

Here's a thread to discuss current Bears who are hitting free agency.

First up, Keenan Allen:

Bears WR Keenan Allen: If I play next year, it will be in Chicago or L.A.

f Keenan Allen plays again next year, he said Friday will be in either Los Angeles or Chicago.

The receiver, who will become a free agent after Sunday’s game, kept his family back at their home in Southern California after the Bears traded for him in March. He said Friday he’d be open to playing for either the Chargers or Rams next year; if he decides to sign a new deal with the Bears, Allen said he’d at least consider moving his family to the Chicago area.

“I have to talk it over with the wife and the kids to see what they want to do,” he said.
...

Allen said Friday he’s liked his new home — “The city is top-notch, the food is great,” he said — but said whomever the Bears hire as a coach will influence whether he wants to return. He wants a coach with experience.
...

Full article: https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2025 ... t-year-nfl

[Magilla_Gorilla]

Interesting that Keenan explicitly says he’d like a coach with experience.

[Ditka’s dictaphone]

He’s too expensive, we have greater needs

[Magilla_Gorilla]

He’s too expensive, we have greater needs

3rd WR is going to be a pretty big need - we have nothing behind the top 2 if Keenan leaves.

[HisRoyalSweetness]

I should have included a list of all the players in the first post. Here they are:

WR Keenan Allen
WR Deandre Carter
WR Nsimba Webster

RB Travis Homer

TE Marcededs Lewis
TE Stephen Carlson

OL Teven Jenkins
OL Coleman Shelton
OL Matt Pryor
OL Larry Borom
OL Bill Murray
OL Doug Kramer
OL Jake Curhan

DE Darrell Taylor
DE Jake Martin
DE Daniel Hardy

DT Chris Williams
DT Byron Cowart

LB Jack Sanborn
LB Amen Ogbongbemiga

CB Josh Blackwell
CB Jaylon Jones

S Tavarious Moore
S Adrian Colbert
S Douglas Coleman

LS Patrick Scales
LS Scott Daly

[HisRoyalSweetness]

3rd WR is going to be a pretty big need - we have nothing behind the top 2 if Keenan leaves.

And 4th and 5th too with Carter also being a free agent and with Scott's lack of opportunities this season.

I'm glad Scott's getting some special teams chances now, both as a KO returner and as a gunner on punts. Hopefully the new HC and OC will give him a fresh start and see something in him at WR.

[wulfy]

I should have included a list of all the players in the first post. Here they are:

WR Keenan Allen
WR Deandre Carter
WR Nsimba Webster

RB Travis Homer

TE Marcededs Lewis
TE Stephen Carlson

OL Teven Jenkins
OL Coleman Shelton
OL Matt Pryor
OL Larry Borom
OL Bill Murray
OL Doug Kramer
OL Jake Curhan

DE Darrell Taylor
DE Jake Martin
DE Daniel Hardy

DT Chris Williams
DT Byron Cowart

LB Jack Sanborn
LB Amen Ogbongbemiga

CB Josh Blackwell
CB Jaylon Jones

S Tavarious Moore
S Adrian Colbert
S Douglas Coleman

LS Patrick Scales
LS Scott Daly

Players to Keep:
Jack Sanborn

[Ditka’s dictaphone]

I should have included a list of all the players in the first post. Here they are:

WR Keenan Allen
WR Deandre Carter
WR Nsimba Webster

RB Travis Homer

TE Marcededs Lewis
TE Stephen Carlson

OL Teven Jenkins
OL Coleman Shelton
OL Matt Pryor
OL Larry Borom
OL Bill Murray
OL Doug Kramer
OL Jake Curhan

DE Darrell Taylor
DE Jake Martin
DE Daniel Hardy

DT Chris Williams
DT Byron Cowart

LB Jack Sanborn
LB Amen Ogbongbemiga

CB Josh Blackwell
CB Jaylon Jones

S Tavarious Moore
S Adrian Colbert
S Douglas Coleman

LS Patrick Scales
LS Scott Daly

Players to Keep:
Jack Sanborn

[The Cooler King]

Yea I'm kind of dreading how they attack WR.

Allen is tied among the oldest WR FA and I don't think you can justify a multi year deal for him. Maybe he does a one year deal in LA, but that quote doesn't scream one year deal in Chicago...

I don't think prove it deal guys will want to potentially be behind Moore and Odunze, yet at same time I have legit concerns Moore isn't going to be anything worthy of that (hope he proves me wrong).

So you're left I think to scrape the third or fourth wave guys who go after the first wave of prove it deals. That's either olds who are just hanging into any chance to not hang up the cleats or very young guys with maybe some tools but little to no real production.

Then if Scott as a development guy is dead you probably gotta dedicate a draft pick somewhere to a development guy.

I think Tutu Atwell and Demarcus Robinson are two guys to look at. Doubt Rams keep both, if not either one. Commanders also have 3 guys who competed for the second WR role behind McLaurin and are all FA (Dyami Brown, Olamide Zaccheus, and Noah Brown) plus they just drafted Luke McCaffery.

Ideally grab 2 guys of that caliber and draft a day 3 guy. Of course ST/return roles eventually factors in... Hopefully Moore isn't on a permanent regression and bounces back slightly. Hopefully Odunze is a future bona fide #1 and it comes quick. Caleb better put him up in LA all summer.

[The Cooler King]

Sanborn, Blackwell, and Jones are all RFA, but don't think any even justify the right of first refusal tag. May see them all hit FA but could be brought back on minimum or near-min deals.

Shelton and Pryor both worth considering back dependent on $. Jenkins you probably gotta at least talk to, but I don't see it happening. He's the only one to even consider a multi year deal on. Everyone else is one year deals only, most at minimum only.

So no comp pick tracking should be needed again

[HisRoyalSweetness]

Sanborn, Blackwell, and Jones are all RFA, but don't think any even justify the right of first refusal tag. May see them all hit FA but could be brought back on minimum or near-min deals.

Shelton and Pryor both worth considering back dependent on $. Jenkins you probably gotta at least talk to, but I don't see it happening. He's the only one to even consider a multi year deal on. Everyone else is one year deals only, most at minimum only.

I agree with this. I'd also consider bringing back:

• Bill Murray (82.3 PFF grade), who played well but got hurt, so we really didn't see what they had in him

• Jacob Martin (63.2 PFF grade) who in 10 games and 200 snaps has 3 sacks, a couple of knockdowns, a couple of hurries and a batted pass. He's had 15 tackles (9 solo) and only 1 missed tackle. He's also played 76% of special teams in the games he's played.

They're the sort of guys who make a 90 man roster and have a chance of making the final 53 as bottom of the roster depth pieces.

[Ditka’s dictaphone]

We keep rewarding failure and wonder why we fail

[The Cooler King]

Sanborn, Blackwell, and Jones are all RFA, but don't think any even justify the right of first refusal tag. May see them all hit FA but could be brought back on minimum or near-min deals.

Shelton and Pryor both worth considering back dependent on $. Jenkins you probably gotta at least talk to, but I don't see it happening. He's the only one to even consider a multi year deal on. Everyone else is one year deals only, most at minimum only.

I agree with this. I'd also consider bringing back:

• Bill Murray (82.3 PFF grade), who played well but got hurt, so we really didn't see what they had in him

• Jacob Martin (63.2 PFF grade) who in 10 games and 200 snaps has 3 sacks, a couple of knockdowns, a couple of hurries and a batted pass. He's had 15 tackles (9 solo) and only 1 missed tackle. He's also played 76% of special teams in the games he's played.

They're the sort of guys who make a 90 man roster and have a chance of making the final 53 as bottom of the roster depth pieces.

Murray is early rights FA so I think he'll definitely be tagged as be back. Will look forward to see how he returns back from injury but wouldn't want to count him among my top 10 OL. Other ERFA are Ford, Hardy, Speed, Coleman. Hardy is the only one who jumps out as somewhat interesting though all have a good chance to be back as camp fodder and a chance to compete for 53 man or PS.

[dplank]

One of the long snappers will be back probably. Poles (or hopefully his replacement) have a lot of work to do.

This seems like a ton of churn even for the bottom part of the roster which obviously turns over at a high rate. Does anyone know if this is a normal amount or more/less than normal amount?

[HisRoyalSweetness]

We keep rewarding failure and wonder why we fail

A strange comment. Are you suggesting the Bears retain none of their pending free agents and bring in close to 50 new players? They only have 34 under contract and 7 draft picks as things stand. They need 90 for the offseason. If they bring some guys back it doesn't mean they'll make the final roster.

[southdakbearfan]

He’s too expensive, we have greater needs

3rd WR is going to be a pretty big need - we have nothing behind the top 2 if Keenan leaves.

Maybe we can throw it to the athletic tight end we aren’t using.

Seriously, 3rd wr is about 17th on the list, after offensive and defensive lineman 16 times.

[The Cooler King]

I'm honestly contemplating that they should resign Jenkins and another top IOL too (Smith please). Yea hell miss some games which is why they should also use a top 50 pick on a OL too. And get a good swing OT. Resign Shelton as the C on a one year deal.

Maybe invest a multi year deal in a young emerging Edge and the rest of FA is stop gap spending on prove it deals, cut vets, etc. See what (hopefully) real coaching shakes out after that.

[wulfy]

Wow, maybe I’m missing something, but there is nothing in Shelton I’ve seen that would make me consider taking him back. He is the worst player at the point of attack on that entire offensive line.

Bates …. I guess you could say he’s been hurt so we don’t really know. I’d rather bring him back than Shelton. We know about Shelton.

Blackwell probably deserves a little more love than I’ve given him - he’s played well when called upon and bailed on the team on punt returns.

Otherwise, yes, launch them all into the ocean.

[dplank]

I know it would be bold, and expecting the Bears to be bold is generally not realistic. But if I’m Poles I’m thinking I need to win now. So Smith+Tev for the OL, Sweat for the edge, and draft Banks or Campbell at 9. Best DT in Rd 2. Two weaknesses turned into immediate strengths. Caleb heads into Y2 and tears up the league.

[HisRoyalSweetness]

Wow, maybe I’m missing something, but there is nothing in Shelton I’ve seen that would make me consider taking him back. He is the worst player at the point of attack on that entire offensive line.

Bates …. I guess you could say he’s been hurt so we don’t really know. I’d rather bring him back than Shelton. We know about Shelton.

Bates is under contract so won't be hitting free agency unless the Bears cut him, which given his injury is a possibility.

Shelton's a bit of an enigma. He's certainly been inconsistent blocking-wise. Up until the last game his snapping though has been very reliable. Williams hasn't been picking the ball of his toes or jumping to catch it. That shouldn't be underestimated. Poor snap placement can throw timing off and adds another difficulty a young QB in particular really doesn't need.

PFF ranks Shelton as the 12th best center out of 41. ESPN has him listed as 18th for IOL pass block win rate (sustaining a block for at least 2.5 seconds).

On Tap Sports Net however has him ranked as the 5th best Bears O-lineman with below average grades in both pass and run blocking. They have him down as losing 15% of his pass blocks and 22% of his run blocks.

What may make folk really consider taking him back though is the lack of decent options in free agency. Here's PFF's list of the top 9:

Drew Dalman, Atlanta Falcons
Ryan Kelly, Indianapolis Colts
Austin Corbett, Carolina Panthers
Brady Christensen, Carolina Panthers
Coleman Shelton, Chicago Bears
Josh Myers, Green Bay Packers
Bradley Bozeman, Los Angeles Chargers
Connor McGovern, New Orleans Saints
Robert Hainsey, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Only Dalman features in their top 50 free agent list that dplank posted in another thread. It seems unlikely the Falcons won't extend him. This thread isn't really for discussing the alternatives, but nobody else stands out as a better option than Shelton.

There has to be a concern that if the Bears don't retain Shelton then when the music stops they may be left without a viable alternative.

[RichH55]

Sanborn, Blackwell, and Jones are all RFA, but don't think any even justify the right of first refusal tag. May see them all hit FA but could be brought back on minimum or near-min deals.

Shelton and Pryor both worth considering back dependent on $. Jenkins you probably gotta at least talk to, but I don't see it happening. He's the only one to even consider a multi year deal on. Everyone else is one year deals only, most at minimum only.

So not comp pick tracking should be needed again

Was gonna ask on the RFAs. (and ERFA)

Disagree on comp pick stuff - It's going to bear watching

[RichH55]

One of the long snappers will be back probably. Poles (or hopefully his replacement) have a lot of work to do.

This seems like a ton of churn even for the bottom part of the roster which obviously turns over at a high rate. Does anyone know if this is a normal amount or more/less than normal amount?

It's just not really true is the main issue with this line of attack

[RichH55]

I know it would be bold, and expecting the Bears to be bold is generally not realistic. But if I’m Poles I’m thinking I need to win now. So Smith+Tev for the OL, Sweat for the edge, and draft Banks or Campbell at 9. Best DT in Rd 2. Two weaknesses turned into immediate strengths. Caleb heads into Y2 and tears up the league.

Again - the problem is the critique isn't really true.

Poles has traded the #1 pick overall (rare), traded a 2nd for a player - TWICE - including a big extension right away. Moved on from Fields, Traded for Keenan Allen, Traded Roqoun (lm not putting Mack and Quinn as bold as they were older types), and has been active in FA with some big contracts (your mileage may vary on how well that has turned out - but you just said bold)

So I guess the main issue with the Bears haven't been bold, is that.....they kind of have been.


I assume this is a different Sweat than we already have? Eagles I assume?

[RichH55]

I know it would be bold, and expecting the Bears to be bold is generally not realistic. But if I’m Poles I’m thinking I need to win now. So Smith+Tev for the OL, Sweat for the edge, and draft Banks or Campbell at 9. Best DT in Rd 2. Two weaknesses turned into immediate strengths. Caleb heads into Y2 and tears up the league.

It would be bold to sign Tev expecting him to be healthy when he's never been - including the year he was literally playing for a New contract and had every incentive in the World to play.

I do expect them to be adding a Veteran Guard and Veteran DL in the offseason though

[thunderspirit]

Wow, maybe I’m missing something, but there is nothing in Shelton I’ve seen that would make me consider taking him back. He is the worst player at the point of attack on that entire offensive line.

Bates …. I guess you could say he’s been hurt so we don’t really know. I’d rather bring him back than Shelton. We know about Shelton.

Bates is under contract so won't be hitting free agency unless the Bears cut him, which given his injury is a possibility.

Shelton's a bit of an enigma. He's certainly been inconsistent blocking-wise. Up until the last game his snapping though has been very reliable. Williams hasn't been picking the ball of his toes or jumping to catch it. That shouldn't be underestimated. Poor snap placement can throw timing off and adds another difficulty a young QB in particular really doesn't need.

PFF ranks Shelton as the 12th best center out of 41. ESPN has him listed as 18th for IOL pass block win rate (sustaining a block for at least 2.5 seconds).

On Tap Sports Net however has him ranked as the 5th best Bears O-lineman with below average grades in both pass and run blocking. They have him down as losing 15% of his pass blocks and 22% of his run blocks.

What may make folk really consider taking him back though is the lack of decent options in free agency. Here's PFF's list of the top 9:

Drew Dalman, Atlanta Falcons
Ryan Kelly, Indianapolis Colts
Austin Corbett, Carolina Panthers
Brady Christensen, Carolina Panthers
Coleman Shelton, Chicago Bears
Josh Myers, Green Bay Packers
Bradley Bozeman, Los Angeles Chargers
Connor McGovern, New Orleans Saints
Robert Hainsey, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Only Dalman features in their top 50 free agent list that dplank posted in another thread. It seems unlikely the Falcons won't extend him. This thread isn't really for discussing the alternatives, but nobody else stands out as a better option than Shelton.

There has to be a concern that if the Bears don't retain Shelton then when the music stops they may be left without a viable alternative.

Shelton is an adequate body at center. Nothing more, but adequate. He's the sort of player you're always looking to upgrade, but you can live with in the short term – particularly if you have reasonably reliable guys on either side of him. Throw another $3-4M his way to buy yourself some time to find a replacement.

[The Cooler King]

Sanborn, Blackwell, and Jones are all RFA, but don't think any even justify the right of first refusal tag. May see them all hit FA but could be brought back on minimum or near-min deals.

Shelton and Pryor both worth considering back dependent on $. Jenkins you probably gotta at least talk to, but I don't see it happening. He's the only one to even consider a multi year deal on. Everyone else is one year deals only, most at minimum only.

So not comp pick tracking should be needed again

Was gonna ask on the RFAs. (and ERFA)

Disagree on comp pick stuff - It's going to bear watching

I can't see more than 4 of the FAs factoring into the + comp. That's assuming you let them all walk? That only gets you 3 CFAs you can sign. I guess never say never if Poles is GM again since he's loath to spend. Even still, in 2 of his 3 offseasons he's perfectly offset his meager outbound CFA with inbound CFA. And gotten stellar results like 35 combined targets to Byron Pringle and Gerald Everett. Those 35 targets represent two 4th round comp picks.

Excuse me while I go puke.

[RichH55]

Was gonna ask on the RFAs. (and ERFA)

Disagree on comp pick stuff - It's going to bear watching

I can't see more than 4 of the FAs factoring into the + comp. That's assuming you let them all walk? That only gets you 3 CFAs you can sign. I guess never say never if Poles is GM again since he's loath to spend. Even still, in 2 of his 3 offseasons he's perfectly offset his meager outbound CFA with inbound CFA. And gotten stellar results like 35 combined targets to Byron Pringle and Gerald Everett. Those 35 targets represent two 4th round comp picks.

Excuse me while I go puke.

Yeah. I'm suggesting don't sign AQM and Everett types - or at least sign those types either after the Draft or find their equivalent that was cut

I actually only see 2 players that might sign elsewhere and qualify for compensatory formula:
Tevin
Keenan (and he's capped at a 5th)

But if Tevin gets a big contract elsewhere - and it's not a great FA list overall so maybe? Then I'd be watching it.

It would still let you sign one qualifying FA

And you can sign cut guys (or possibly trade for them for later round picks)

For example (From ESPN)
Joel Bitonio, G, Cleveland Browns
Cleveland's stalwart interior lineman -- his 93.9% pass block win rate ranks 12th among guards -- is in his 11th season and turned 33 last month. Bitonio has one year left on his contract and is scheduled to earn $15 million in 2025. However, all but $1.255 million of that is in the form of option and roster bonuses that the team has to decide on by March. If the Browns can avoid the bonus payments, they could release Bitonio in the offseason and take on about $14.5 million in dead money for 2025.

The Browns have bigger cap and cash problems -- more on that in a second -- but Bitonio has reached an age and contract inflection point where he and the team have to figure out how much longer he'll be there and how much he'll get paid in that time.


This is another fun list:
https://www.spotrac.com/news/_/id/2529/ ... candidates

[The Cooler King]

I think Shelton and to a lesser extent Pryor could end up factoring into CFA value. Those are the 4 I think could.

But yea considering Poles history he'd lose those 4 and sign exactly 4 totally ass players at like $3-5M deals, get little to no value and whiff on the comp picks.

BTW I don't think they should be playing into the comp pick game at all in 2025. That will come as they draft better and get coaching that restores players value with better frequency and turns stop gap signings into production and lost FAs.

[RichH55]

I think Shelton and to a lesser extent Pryor could end up factoring into CFA value. Those are the 4 I think could.

But yea considering Poles history he'd lose those 4 and sign exactly 4 totally ass players at like $3-5M deals, get little to no value and whiff on the comp picks.

BTW I don't think they should be playing into the comp pick game at all in 2025. That will come as they draft better and get coaching that restores players value with better frequency and turns stop gap signings into production and lost FAs.

Pryor would surprise me - And I think Shelton resigning is probably the favorite in the clubhouse.

I do think he should be playing the comp pick game IF (and only if) Tevin is getting big money

Either that - or if you are gonna lose 2 FA....then just go sign 5-6 and blow past the comp formula

[HisRoyalSweetness]

I really don't get this talk about comp picks. The team's been struggling mightily and Poles (or a new GM if he's fired) has amongst the most cap space in the league to work with. Major money is going to be spent upgrading the roster. It has to be. Surely that will negate any possibility of comp picks this year regardless of whether any Bears free agents sign significant contracts with other teams?