Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2018 7:08:28 GMT -6
Bears Q&A: Why did the Bears match the Kyle Fuller offer right away? Why is Jerrell Freeman still on the roster?
Brad BiggsBrad BiggsContact ReporterChicago Tribune
www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-bears-mailbag-kyle-fuller-free-agency-20180321-story.html
Brad Biggs answers your Bears questions weekly.
Why did the Bears match Kyle Fuller’s offer from the Packers right away instead of drawing it out and freezing their cap? — @nickmau91
There were a lot of very popular questions in the mailbag this week and this was certainly one of them. Folks wanted to know why the Bears chose to make their intentions to match the offer sheet Fuller signed with Green Bay known almost immediately instead of waiting until Wednesday’s deadline to make it official. It’s a fair question and the first thing that comes to mind for me as the Bears were able to send a loud and clear message to Fuller by making the move quickly: We’re excited to have you on a four-year contract now and we’re glad this is done now. I don’t think the Bears really would have jammed up the Packers had they waited to make the move. Obviously, Green Bay has some contingency plans in place because it had to know landing Fuller was far from a slam dunk. It would have added a little bit of drama to things and had it dragged out, it’s worth wondering if the reaction would have been “the Bears are weighing their options because they’re not sure if they want Fuller at that price tag.” I don’t think the Bears made a tactical error in making their intentions known to Fuller right away. They wanted to keep him in place and they did.
What do you think of the Kyle Fuller terms? Could the backloaded structure and spreading out of the $18 million guaranteed cause cap space to be an issue preventing their ability to re-sign Adrian Amos, Eddie Goldman, Cody Whitehair and add pieces in 2020-2021? – Dan, Parts Unknown
I have yet to see the specific numbers in the entire deal for Fuller but I would not describe it as backloaded. Quite the opposite. As I understand it, the contract includes an $18 million signing bonus – money Fuller will have in hand (or in his bank account) very soon. Fuller can make $20 million in the first year of the deal with a $1 million base salary, $500,000 workout bonus and $500,000 in per-game roster bonuses. He stands to earn another $9 million in 2019 meaning he can pocket $29 million in the first two years of the contract. From there, the Bears have him for a total of $27 million over the final two years of the contract. A backloaded contract would have much bigger numbers in the final two years of the deal. I would imagine the Bears explore the possibility of an extension for Goldman sometime over the summer. I’m not as convinced they’re going to try to get something done in advance with Amos. I’m not saying that doesn’t happen but I think we’ll have to wait and see on that.
The consensus seems to be the more quarterbacks taken in the first seven selections of the upcoming draft, the better it is for the Bears. I personally hope that at least one of the top four quarterbacks is still available as it would provide the perfect opportunity to trade down with a team not wanting to miss out on a young quarterback. Buffalo seems like an obvious partner and other teams should emerge but is there a player in this draft that might still be on the board at eight that you think is too good to pass on? – Rob B., Smyrna, Ga.
There’s no question in my mind the more quarterbacks that come off the board early, the better it is for the Bears. I agree the Bills appear to be in the hunt for a quarterback and as I’ve said previously in the Mailbag, my hunch is they will be aiming higher than the No. 8 pick. In your scenario, sure the Bears could be an attractive spot for the Bills if they remain at No. 12 and a quarterback is on the board when the Bears go on the clock at No. 8. But the Colts now sit at No. 6 and they may be looking to trade down again. We could spend every Mailbag filtering through “what if” trade down scenarios for the Bears but it’s probably way too early to tell.
At this point, it doesn't seem unreasonable to expect four quarterbacks to go before the Bears’ pick, plus Saquon Barkley, potentially leaving the Bears with one of Quenton Nelson, Bradley Chubb or Minkah Fitzpatrick. People discuss Chubb as a 4-3 DE but could he fit in the Bears scheme? What adjustments would the Bears potentially make to fit Fitzpatrick into their secondary? Or would they potentially skip Fitzpatrick/Chubb/Nelson and go with a guy like Tremaine Edmunds who could play outside linebacker, arguably the biggest hole on defense now? – Maura S., Arlington, Va.
Let’s not discount the possibility that only three quarterbacks are selected in the top 10. Yes, if four quarterbacks go in the top seven, the Bears will be able to select a really good player at No. 8. No question about it. I don’t think it would be an issue finding a fit for Fitzpatrick in the secondary at all. He’d be a starter, period, maybe at safety. I can’t see the Bears taking Edmunds ahead of Fitzpatrick, Chubb or Nelson but maybe I’m wrong on that. Edmunds is a freakish athletic talent but he’s young and some scouts wonder if there will be a bit of an adjustment period for him in the NFL. Some also believe Edmunds is a better fit as an inside linebacker. He didn’t rush the passer a whole lot at Virginia Tech. I’m sure the Bears could find plenty of use for Chubb but the folks I have spoken to believe he’s a better natural fit for a 4-3 scheme. Would that rule him out for the Bears? Absolutely not. Right now, I tend to think he’ll be off the board before No. 8.
Is Adam Shaheen already a bust? What other conclusion can we come to considering the team just paid a huge amount of money to a pass-catching tight end and retained a blocking tight end who is averaging $6 million per season? Shouldn’t second-round draft picks be starting by their second year, which Shaheen isn't projected to be doing right now? Has Ryan Pace already given up on him? – Greg C., Gary, Ind.
I wouldn’t classify Shaheen as a bust and I also would not rule out the possibility he is a starter this season. I do expect the Bears to have a ton of different personnel groupings, so the “starting lineup” is likely to be different each week depending on the opponent and the game plan. But Shaheen could still be in position to log more than 50 percent of the snaps. It’s definitely a crowded group and it’s a fair question from the standpoint that Shaheen and Dion Sims, who will earn $6 million this season, seem a little redundant. I know coach Matt Nagy really is excited about the tight end group and plans to utilize all of them so we’ll have to see how this plays out. But the Bears have not given up on Shaheen.
Why do you think the Bears signed punter Pat O’Donnell to only a one-year contract? – Mark C., Oak Brook
The best answer I can give you is they’re not ready to make a commitment that would require a greater investment of guaranteed money to sign him to a multi-year deal. O’Donnell got a $500,000 signing bonus with a $1 million base salary. He can make an additional $500,000 in incentives. Given the parameters of the deal, I would not be surprised if the team adds young competition for him during the offseason and has a competition of sorts for the job. The Bears could prioritize a punter as an undrafted free agent and you at least can’t rule out the possibility of them drafting a punter to create competition for this summer.
Is there a reason why Jerrell Freeman hasn’t been officially released from Bears roster? —@chaindawg45
This was also a question that a lot of folks had this week. The Bears have informed Freeman he is not in their plans for 2018. I suspect he remains listed on the team’s official roster because he’s still injured. Freeman was forced to injured reserve after Week 1 last season with a torn pectoral muscle that required surgery. In this case, it’s possible the Bears are waiting for Freeman to pass a physical before terminating his contract. I don’t anticipate you will see him in a Bears uniform again.
Are there specific positions you believe the Bears will target in the second wave of free agency? – Ted S., Peoria
Between now and the start of the draft, I could see the Bears considering depth at running back, a guard, inside linebacker and safety as possible depth additions. The defensive line is worth monitoring as well. The Bears could be looking for some players to help them out on special teams as well.
What's the situation with the Bears OLB? There doesn't seem be deep pool in either the draft or free agency. Lamarr Houston did a very good job when he returned last year. Could he be back on the roster? —@gumm006
The Bears fortified their depth at outside linebacker when they signed Aaron Lynch to a $4 million, one-year contract. The hope is he rekindles some of the production he had as a rookie playing in San Francisco for defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. They also re-signed Sam Acho but you are right, the Bears could use some more players to challenge for playing time. I would be a little surprised if Houston is on their radar right now. He did produce a little for them in the final month of the season but the Bears only brought Houston back after the Texans released him because they were decimated at the position. I’d look to the draft for help or a possible addition later on in free agency. There just aren’t many great options out there right now and Houston’s best days are behind him.
When the Bears play their nickel defense, which position usually comes off for the extra cornerback? One of the ILB, or OLB or a DE? How often does Vic Fangio vary that up? Similarly, if I recall, Mitch Unrein slid inside to spell Eddie Goldman periodically. Do they have anyone capable of doing that right now? Does DL depth present any concerns at this point? Would another nose tackle for depth be a potential draft option in mid/late rounds? – Mel S., San Antonio
Typically, an inside linebacker is the player that comes off the field in the nickel package. Fangio will mix things up from time to time and remove a defensive linemen or sometimes the Bears will pull out an inside linebacker and a defensive lineman and insert different players. It’s all about looking for the right fit against the offense and of course it depends on down and distance and the situation in the game. A defensive lineman to watch during the offseason and training camp is Rashaad Coward. He was an undrafted free agent last season and was promoted to the 53-man roster late in the season. Coward might get a shot at a backup role on the line.
Lately, I’ve seen many mock drafts having the Bears pass on Minkah Fitzpatrick in favor of players like Denzel Ward/Tremaine Edmunds. In your opinion which one of those three players would you take with the No. 8 pick? —@adamowb
I’d take Fitzpatrick and feel really good about the secondary in a division that has some excellent quarterbacks in Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford and now Kirk Cousins. We’ll have to see how it shakes out. I think the Bears are much less likely to draft a cornerback in Round 1 now that they’ve paid Kyle Fuller and Prince Amukamara, two players that will combine to earn $47 million over the next two seasons.
Has the redesign plan held steady course over the last year and a half or has it been tweaked and adapted over time? —@wake_upmrwest
In my opinion, the plan is always shifting. You’ve got to adjust on the fly and there are a ton of different factors that come into play. Some are good. Some are bad. For instance, the Bears certainly were not counting on a breakout season from cornerback Kyle Fuller at this time a year ago. That was a pleasant surprise. The shortcomings of some of the signings in free agency last year would be classified as poor developments. The goal remains the same but the roster is constantly churning and evaluations are always taking place. Surely the Bears expected to amass more than 14 victories over the last three seasons but they feel confident about the direction they are headed in right now and have certainly created some momentum here in free agency. It’s all about carrying that momentum into training camp and then the regular season for new coach Matt Nagy and his staff.
What does the addition of the ex-Oregon coach do for Hroniss Grassu and Kyle Long? —@mattkurziwu
The hiring of Mark Helfrich as the offensive coordinator certainly gives Grasu and Long someone they are familiar with but I don’t think it does a lot more than that. Long is an established and successful player and Grasu, at this point, is a fringe roster player that will be battling to keep a spot on the 53-man roster. I don’t think Grasu becomes better all of a sudden because his college head coach is on the staff and I also doubt that changes the evaluation of him as a player at this point.
Do you believe the addition of two high-profile defensive tackles in the division increases the odds that the Bears would select Quenton Nelson if he's there at No. 8? —@scuttler22
No. You are referring to the Packers signing Muhammad Wilkerson and the Vikings adding Sheldon Richardson. Both of them signed one-year contracts, deals they hope will propel them to greater riches in free agency a year from now. It’s not like they’re young players on long-term deals that you feel will be in place for seasons to come. If Nelson is available, the Bears will draft him if they believe he is the best available player at that pick. I don’t think Wilkerson and Richardson change how you view two division rivals. In the case of the Vikings, we’re talking about one of the elite defenses in the entire league. They were powerful and problematic for the offense before signing Richardson.
One of the major needs for the Bears defense is an elite pass rusher. Typically, those don't just become available. However, do you see any big names that may shake loose due to cap or situations by August that the Bears would/should consider? If not, any trade scenarios? —@kashbunker
You kind of said it yourself. Typically, elite pass rushers don’t just become available. Teams cut other players for cap reasons to keep elite pass rushers. They don’t cut elite pass rushers because they are tight against the cap. The best chance the Bears have of upgrading their pass rush, in my opinion, is to hit on one in the draft. Perhaps they can find one with traits, maybe not a complete player, but one with some speed and savvy off the edge in the second round or even middle rounds of the draft. The Cardinals drafted Markus Golden in Round 2 in 2015 and he had 12 ½ sacks in his second season so they certainly don’t have to come in Round 1.
I know that Mitch Trubisky can't work with the coaches but is he working with the wide receivers? It seems that many of the great players get the key players together during the offseason and work on things. Is Mitch doing that? —@craigsn
For starters, some of his receivers are in the process of rehabilitating from injuries. That list starts with newcomer Allen Robinson and Cameron Meredith. I think the player-only gatherings in the offseason can be a little bit overblown. Right now, these players don’t even have a playbook. New Redskins quarterback Alex Smith was asked about these types of workouts when he was introduced in Washington last week and here’s what he said:
“I think a lot of that stuff looks great on TV; it’s great for Instagram followers,” Smith said. “To be honest, at this point, we’re limited with what we can get our hands on scheme-wise, and there’s all these rules and stuff. It would be great to come together and … go out on the field and throw it around. But I think we’d all like to have coaches there and I think we’d be better off with that.”
Do you get the sense that Bears are OK with Hroniss Grasu at center and Cody Whitehair at guard? No noise about chasing offensive linemen. —@bearsfaninnc
I doubt the Bears are penciling Grasu in as a starter for this coming season but I suppose that is a possibility. First, they have to determine if they want Whitehair to play guard or center. I kind of think they might want Whitehair to return to center and stay at center this season but he’s got some flexibility so there are probably different options in play. Grasu, of course, is one of those options.
Would/should the Bears have any interest in Allen Hurns? —@mattholub08
I would be surprised if the Bears were in play for Hurns, who had his contract terminated by the Jaguars on Tuesday and is reportedly set to visit the Jets on Wednesday. For starters, outside of the 2015 season, Hurns wasn’t very productive for the Jaguars. I think it’s fair to say the Bears got the best receiver from the Jacksonville roster. The Bears are playing Allen Robinson $14 million per season and as I detailed in Dollars & Sense, they are paying Taylor Gabriel $6.5 million per season. Factor in $8 million per season for tight end Trey Burton, and I find it hard to believe they’re going to sink much more money into receivers and tight ends. They’ve got Cameron Meredith and Kevin White along with Josh Bellamy to compete for spots on the depth chart.
If something wacky happens and both Saquon Barkley and Tremaine Edmunds are sitting on the board for the Bears, who do you think they would select? Both are physical freaks with huge upside. —@boscoethedog
Nothing wacky is going to happen to Barkley. I’m pretty certain he will be drafted before the Bears go on the clock at No. 8. I am not convinced Edmunds will be a top-10 pick at this point so he could certainly be available at No. 8. If the Bears had to choose between the two, I have to believe they would select Barkley.
Since, as you had said, Markus Wheaton's contract would not have been guaranteed until the start of the season, why not keep him around to see if he'd click in the new offense and to offer depth in case of injuries? Was it because they would have been on the hook if he got injured? —@zevyr
That’s certainly one reason to cut ties with Wheaton – the possibility that an injury could put the team on the hook for the $5 million salary he had for this coming season. The Bears got a speed threat that can get downfield in Taylor Gabriel and they also believe Allen Robinson can challenge cornerbacks vertically. So they effectively replaced what they hoped Wheaton would be for them in their offense a year ago. That made cutting ties with Wheaton the smart play.
Will the Bears be up against the cap in a couple of years with all these backloaded contracts? —@darthfrys
I don’t view the contracts they’ve signed players to as backloaded and I’ve gotten a number of questions about that. Generally, the contracts are mostly flat. That means the salary cap hit each season is even or close to even across the life of the contract. They’ve also given out guarantees that will be gone after the first year in some cases and first two years in other cases. The exception is tight end Trey Burton. He had a $6.7 million base salary for 2020 and $4 million of it is fully guaranteed if he’s on the roster on the third day of the league year in 2019. So, unless the Bears cut Burton after just one season, they will be on the hook for that $4 million in the third year of his contract.
What impact will Harry Hiestand have on the Bears developing O-linemen? —@iandshorr
If you listen to what former Bears linemen Olin Kreutz and Roberto Garza have to say about Hiestand, he will have a big impact on the line and performance of the offense.
“He gets the most out of his guys,” Kreutz told me after Hiestand was hired in January. “He totally buys into you, which makes you totally buy into him. He’s all about the offensive line and he has no other agenda. He just wants to help you and help the team win.”
Ater failing to bring a veteran guard in through free agency do you think the Bears will need to draft one high? Or do you think they could slide Cody Whitehair over to guard and maybe get better value by drafting a center in Round 4? —@zberg034
Whoa! Tap the brakes. Free agency is a week old. There are plenty of players out there and personnel men will tell you that guard is one of the easier positions to fill. The Bears have an in-house candidate on the roster in Erik Kush and I expect they will be making more moves on the line. They’ve got some veteran options to sift through and then there’s the draft. They could also find a center and have Whitehair play guard. There’s plenty of time to address this position.
Do you think Kyle Fuller is worth the money? —@clowboy7
Fuller ranks fifth in the NFL at cornerback averaging $14 million per season. It only takes one team to say a player is worth X amount of money and in Fuller’s case, he had two teams put that value on him – the Packers and then the Bears when they matched the $56 million, four-year contract. It’s a big price to pay the former first-round draft pick but as general manager Ryan Pace said in a statement released by the team on Tuesday, the Bears believe Fuller is still an ascending player.
A lot of mock drafts have the Bears taking the 5-foot-8 from Ohio State. After giving out big contract extensions to Prince Amukamara and Kyle Fuller, why would Ryan Pace even consider that? —@1959whitesox
I am assuming you are referring to Denzel Ward, the Ohio State cornerback who measured 5-foot-10 at the Scouting Combine. I find it much less likely they will select a cornerback with the first-round pick after paying Fuller and Amukamara but it’s worth noting I have had multiple personnel men tell me they believe Ward is a better cover man than his former teammate Marshon Lattimore, who was the NFL’s defensive rookie of the year for the Saints. Lattimore is bigger and a little more physical but Ward is skilled and fast.
Assuming four quarterbacks and Saquon Barkley go in the top five, do you see the Bears trading up to No. 6 and selecting Bradley Chubb? They already have limited picks but with the unanimous feeling around the league being that Chubb is miles above the rest, I think it would have to be entertained. —@thedevindeal
The Bears have traded up in the first round in the last two drafts and based on that aggressive track record, I wouldn’t rule out anything for general manager Ryan Pace. But I’d imagine that the price to make that jump – from No. 8 to No. 6 – would be hefty and perhaps would exceed the value you typically see on draft charts. The difference on the charts is 200 points which equates to a pick in the middle of the third round but I imagine the Colts would want a much higher premium for the pick if Chubb was on the board and they knew the team inquiring about the spot was coming to get him. As you said, he’s miles above the rest and that’s why you’d probably have to pay more. Remember, the draft trade chart is just a rough guideline and sometimes teams are forced to pay much more if they really want to move.
Did the Bears make an error in not placing a higher tender on Cameron Meredith as a restricted free agent? It looks like he could be signed to an offer sheet which could force the Bears to pay him much more? – Nick, Schaumburg
The Bears made a calculated move in placing the original round tender on Meredith at $1.907 million. Because he was undrafted, they will not receive any compensation in the event he signs an offer sheet with another club and the Bears elect not to match it. Meredith visited the Colts on Tuesday and from what I understand he has at least one more visit lined up. The Colts and any other team are going to want to take a close look at Meredith’s surgically repaired left knee and allow their doctors and medical staff to gauge exactly where he’s at in terms of recovery. There’s an element of risk involved there, not unlike the situation the Bears got into by signing Allen Robinson, who is coming off a torn ACL. The Bears could have placed the second-round tender on Meredith and ensured no one came knocking on his door because it’s highly unlikely another team would have forked over a second-round pick in order to sign him. That would have cost $2.914 million. As I wrote in the Mailbag recently, it’s going to take a pretty good offer for Meredith to sign, in my opinion. If he bets on himself for this coming season, he could put himself in line for a much bigger pay day in free agency. The money has been flowing for wide receivers in free agency. Just look at the deals for Robinson and Sammy Watkins and then consider the riches guys like Taylor Gabriel, Albert Wilson, Donte Moncrief, Paul Richardson, Marqise Lee, Michael Crabtree and others have commanded. That trend could lead Meredith to think long and hard about the trade off between some immediate security and the chance to do much better a year from now. The Bears could always match an offer sheet too but they’ve invested heavily in the position with Robinson ($14 million annual average) and Gabriel ($6.5 million annual average). If there is a team that believes Meredith will bounce back this season and they like his upside, things could get interesting quickly.
bmbiggs@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @bradbiggs
Brad BiggsBrad BiggsContact ReporterChicago Tribune
www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-bears-mailbag-kyle-fuller-free-agency-20180321-story.html
Brad Biggs answers your Bears questions weekly.
Why did the Bears match Kyle Fuller’s offer from the Packers right away instead of drawing it out and freezing their cap? — @nickmau91
There were a lot of very popular questions in the mailbag this week and this was certainly one of them. Folks wanted to know why the Bears chose to make their intentions to match the offer sheet Fuller signed with Green Bay known almost immediately instead of waiting until Wednesday’s deadline to make it official. It’s a fair question and the first thing that comes to mind for me as the Bears were able to send a loud and clear message to Fuller by making the move quickly: We’re excited to have you on a four-year contract now and we’re glad this is done now. I don’t think the Bears really would have jammed up the Packers had they waited to make the move. Obviously, Green Bay has some contingency plans in place because it had to know landing Fuller was far from a slam dunk. It would have added a little bit of drama to things and had it dragged out, it’s worth wondering if the reaction would have been “the Bears are weighing their options because they’re not sure if they want Fuller at that price tag.” I don’t think the Bears made a tactical error in making their intentions known to Fuller right away. They wanted to keep him in place and they did.
What do you think of the Kyle Fuller terms? Could the backloaded structure and spreading out of the $18 million guaranteed cause cap space to be an issue preventing their ability to re-sign Adrian Amos, Eddie Goldman, Cody Whitehair and add pieces in 2020-2021? – Dan, Parts Unknown
I have yet to see the specific numbers in the entire deal for Fuller but I would not describe it as backloaded. Quite the opposite. As I understand it, the contract includes an $18 million signing bonus – money Fuller will have in hand (or in his bank account) very soon. Fuller can make $20 million in the first year of the deal with a $1 million base salary, $500,000 workout bonus and $500,000 in per-game roster bonuses. He stands to earn another $9 million in 2019 meaning he can pocket $29 million in the first two years of the contract. From there, the Bears have him for a total of $27 million over the final two years of the contract. A backloaded contract would have much bigger numbers in the final two years of the deal. I would imagine the Bears explore the possibility of an extension for Goldman sometime over the summer. I’m not as convinced they’re going to try to get something done in advance with Amos. I’m not saying that doesn’t happen but I think we’ll have to wait and see on that.
The consensus seems to be the more quarterbacks taken in the first seven selections of the upcoming draft, the better it is for the Bears. I personally hope that at least one of the top four quarterbacks is still available as it would provide the perfect opportunity to trade down with a team not wanting to miss out on a young quarterback. Buffalo seems like an obvious partner and other teams should emerge but is there a player in this draft that might still be on the board at eight that you think is too good to pass on? – Rob B., Smyrna, Ga.
There’s no question in my mind the more quarterbacks that come off the board early, the better it is for the Bears. I agree the Bills appear to be in the hunt for a quarterback and as I’ve said previously in the Mailbag, my hunch is they will be aiming higher than the No. 8 pick. In your scenario, sure the Bears could be an attractive spot for the Bills if they remain at No. 12 and a quarterback is on the board when the Bears go on the clock at No. 8. But the Colts now sit at No. 6 and they may be looking to trade down again. We could spend every Mailbag filtering through “what if” trade down scenarios for the Bears but it’s probably way too early to tell.
At this point, it doesn't seem unreasonable to expect four quarterbacks to go before the Bears’ pick, plus Saquon Barkley, potentially leaving the Bears with one of Quenton Nelson, Bradley Chubb or Minkah Fitzpatrick. People discuss Chubb as a 4-3 DE but could he fit in the Bears scheme? What adjustments would the Bears potentially make to fit Fitzpatrick into their secondary? Or would they potentially skip Fitzpatrick/Chubb/Nelson and go with a guy like Tremaine Edmunds who could play outside linebacker, arguably the biggest hole on defense now? – Maura S., Arlington, Va.
Let’s not discount the possibility that only three quarterbacks are selected in the top 10. Yes, if four quarterbacks go in the top seven, the Bears will be able to select a really good player at No. 8. No question about it. I don’t think it would be an issue finding a fit for Fitzpatrick in the secondary at all. He’d be a starter, period, maybe at safety. I can’t see the Bears taking Edmunds ahead of Fitzpatrick, Chubb or Nelson but maybe I’m wrong on that. Edmunds is a freakish athletic talent but he’s young and some scouts wonder if there will be a bit of an adjustment period for him in the NFL. Some also believe Edmunds is a better fit as an inside linebacker. He didn’t rush the passer a whole lot at Virginia Tech. I’m sure the Bears could find plenty of use for Chubb but the folks I have spoken to believe he’s a better natural fit for a 4-3 scheme. Would that rule him out for the Bears? Absolutely not. Right now, I tend to think he’ll be off the board before No. 8.
Is Adam Shaheen already a bust? What other conclusion can we come to considering the team just paid a huge amount of money to a pass-catching tight end and retained a blocking tight end who is averaging $6 million per season? Shouldn’t second-round draft picks be starting by their second year, which Shaheen isn't projected to be doing right now? Has Ryan Pace already given up on him? – Greg C., Gary, Ind.
I wouldn’t classify Shaheen as a bust and I also would not rule out the possibility he is a starter this season. I do expect the Bears to have a ton of different personnel groupings, so the “starting lineup” is likely to be different each week depending on the opponent and the game plan. But Shaheen could still be in position to log more than 50 percent of the snaps. It’s definitely a crowded group and it’s a fair question from the standpoint that Shaheen and Dion Sims, who will earn $6 million this season, seem a little redundant. I know coach Matt Nagy really is excited about the tight end group and plans to utilize all of them so we’ll have to see how this plays out. But the Bears have not given up on Shaheen.
Why do you think the Bears signed punter Pat O’Donnell to only a one-year contract? – Mark C., Oak Brook
The best answer I can give you is they’re not ready to make a commitment that would require a greater investment of guaranteed money to sign him to a multi-year deal. O’Donnell got a $500,000 signing bonus with a $1 million base salary. He can make an additional $500,000 in incentives. Given the parameters of the deal, I would not be surprised if the team adds young competition for him during the offseason and has a competition of sorts for the job. The Bears could prioritize a punter as an undrafted free agent and you at least can’t rule out the possibility of them drafting a punter to create competition for this summer.
Is there a reason why Jerrell Freeman hasn’t been officially released from Bears roster? —@chaindawg45
This was also a question that a lot of folks had this week. The Bears have informed Freeman he is not in their plans for 2018. I suspect he remains listed on the team’s official roster because he’s still injured. Freeman was forced to injured reserve after Week 1 last season with a torn pectoral muscle that required surgery. In this case, it’s possible the Bears are waiting for Freeman to pass a physical before terminating his contract. I don’t anticipate you will see him in a Bears uniform again.
Are there specific positions you believe the Bears will target in the second wave of free agency? – Ted S., Peoria
Between now and the start of the draft, I could see the Bears considering depth at running back, a guard, inside linebacker and safety as possible depth additions. The defensive line is worth monitoring as well. The Bears could be looking for some players to help them out on special teams as well.
What's the situation with the Bears OLB? There doesn't seem be deep pool in either the draft or free agency. Lamarr Houston did a very good job when he returned last year. Could he be back on the roster? —@gumm006
The Bears fortified their depth at outside linebacker when they signed Aaron Lynch to a $4 million, one-year contract. The hope is he rekindles some of the production he had as a rookie playing in San Francisco for defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. They also re-signed Sam Acho but you are right, the Bears could use some more players to challenge for playing time. I would be a little surprised if Houston is on their radar right now. He did produce a little for them in the final month of the season but the Bears only brought Houston back after the Texans released him because they were decimated at the position. I’d look to the draft for help or a possible addition later on in free agency. There just aren’t many great options out there right now and Houston’s best days are behind him.
When the Bears play their nickel defense, which position usually comes off for the extra cornerback? One of the ILB, or OLB or a DE? How often does Vic Fangio vary that up? Similarly, if I recall, Mitch Unrein slid inside to spell Eddie Goldman periodically. Do they have anyone capable of doing that right now? Does DL depth present any concerns at this point? Would another nose tackle for depth be a potential draft option in mid/late rounds? – Mel S., San Antonio
Typically, an inside linebacker is the player that comes off the field in the nickel package. Fangio will mix things up from time to time and remove a defensive linemen or sometimes the Bears will pull out an inside linebacker and a defensive lineman and insert different players. It’s all about looking for the right fit against the offense and of course it depends on down and distance and the situation in the game. A defensive lineman to watch during the offseason and training camp is Rashaad Coward. He was an undrafted free agent last season and was promoted to the 53-man roster late in the season. Coward might get a shot at a backup role on the line.
Lately, I’ve seen many mock drafts having the Bears pass on Minkah Fitzpatrick in favor of players like Denzel Ward/Tremaine Edmunds. In your opinion which one of those three players would you take with the No. 8 pick? —@adamowb
I’d take Fitzpatrick and feel really good about the secondary in a division that has some excellent quarterbacks in Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford and now Kirk Cousins. We’ll have to see how it shakes out. I think the Bears are much less likely to draft a cornerback in Round 1 now that they’ve paid Kyle Fuller and Prince Amukamara, two players that will combine to earn $47 million over the next two seasons.
Has the redesign plan held steady course over the last year and a half or has it been tweaked and adapted over time? —@wake_upmrwest
In my opinion, the plan is always shifting. You’ve got to adjust on the fly and there are a ton of different factors that come into play. Some are good. Some are bad. For instance, the Bears certainly were not counting on a breakout season from cornerback Kyle Fuller at this time a year ago. That was a pleasant surprise. The shortcomings of some of the signings in free agency last year would be classified as poor developments. The goal remains the same but the roster is constantly churning and evaluations are always taking place. Surely the Bears expected to amass more than 14 victories over the last three seasons but they feel confident about the direction they are headed in right now and have certainly created some momentum here in free agency. It’s all about carrying that momentum into training camp and then the regular season for new coach Matt Nagy and his staff.
What does the addition of the ex-Oregon coach do for Hroniss Grassu and Kyle Long? —@mattkurziwu
The hiring of Mark Helfrich as the offensive coordinator certainly gives Grasu and Long someone they are familiar with but I don’t think it does a lot more than that. Long is an established and successful player and Grasu, at this point, is a fringe roster player that will be battling to keep a spot on the 53-man roster. I don’t think Grasu becomes better all of a sudden because his college head coach is on the staff and I also doubt that changes the evaluation of him as a player at this point.
Do you believe the addition of two high-profile defensive tackles in the division increases the odds that the Bears would select Quenton Nelson if he's there at No. 8? —@scuttler22
No. You are referring to the Packers signing Muhammad Wilkerson and the Vikings adding Sheldon Richardson. Both of them signed one-year contracts, deals they hope will propel them to greater riches in free agency a year from now. It’s not like they’re young players on long-term deals that you feel will be in place for seasons to come. If Nelson is available, the Bears will draft him if they believe he is the best available player at that pick. I don’t think Wilkerson and Richardson change how you view two division rivals. In the case of the Vikings, we’re talking about one of the elite defenses in the entire league. They were powerful and problematic for the offense before signing Richardson.
One of the major needs for the Bears defense is an elite pass rusher. Typically, those don't just become available. However, do you see any big names that may shake loose due to cap or situations by August that the Bears would/should consider? If not, any trade scenarios? —@kashbunker
You kind of said it yourself. Typically, elite pass rushers don’t just become available. Teams cut other players for cap reasons to keep elite pass rushers. They don’t cut elite pass rushers because they are tight against the cap. The best chance the Bears have of upgrading their pass rush, in my opinion, is to hit on one in the draft. Perhaps they can find one with traits, maybe not a complete player, but one with some speed and savvy off the edge in the second round or even middle rounds of the draft. The Cardinals drafted Markus Golden in Round 2 in 2015 and he had 12 ½ sacks in his second season so they certainly don’t have to come in Round 1.
I know that Mitch Trubisky can't work with the coaches but is he working with the wide receivers? It seems that many of the great players get the key players together during the offseason and work on things. Is Mitch doing that? —@craigsn
For starters, some of his receivers are in the process of rehabilitating from injuries. That list starts with newcomer Allen Robinson and Cameron Meredith. I think the player-only gatherings in the offseason can be a little bit overblown. Right now, these players don’t even have a playbook. New Redskins quarterback Alex Smith was asked about these types of workouts when he was introduced in Washington last week and here’s what he said:
“I think a lot of that stuff looks great on TV; it’s great for Instagram followers,” Smith said. “To be honest, at this point, we’re limited with what we can get our hands on scheme-wise, and there’s all these rules and stuff. It would be great to come together and … go out on the field and throw it around. But I think we’d all like to have coaches there and I think we’d be better off with that.”
Do you get the sense that Bears are OK with Hroniss Grasu at center and Cody Whitehair at guard? No noise about chasing offensive linemen. —@bearsfaninnc
I doubt the Bears are penciling Grasu in as a starter for this coming season but I suppose that is a possibility. First, they have to determine if they want Whitehair to play guard or center. I kind of think they might want Whitehair to return to center and stay at center this season but he’s got some flexibility so there are probably different options in play. Grasu, of course, is one of those options.
Would/should the Bears have any interest in Allen Hurns? —@mattholub08
I would be surprised if the Bears were in play for Hurns, who had his contract terminated by the Jaguars on Tuesday and is reportedly set to visit the Jets on Wednesday. For starters, outside of the 2015 season, Hurns wasn’t very productive for the Jaguars. I think it’s fair to say the Bears got the best receiver from the Jacksonville roster. The Bears are playing Allen Robinson $14 million per season and as I detailed in Dollars & Sense, they are paying Taylor Gabriel $6.5 million per season. Factor in $8 million per season for tight end Trey Burton, and I find it hard to believe they’re going to sink much more money into receivers and tight ends. They’ve got Cameron Meredith and Kevin White along with Josh Bellamy to compete for spots on the depth chart.
If something wacky happens and both Saquon Barkley and Tremaine Edmunds are sitting on the board for the Bears, who do you think they would select? Both are physical freaks with huge upside. —@boscoethedog
Nothing wacky is going to happen to Barkley. I’m pretty certain he will be drafted before the Bears go on the clock at No. 8. I am not convinced Edmunds will be a top-10 pick at this point so he could certainly be available at No. 8. If the Bears had to choose between the two, I have to believe they would select Barkley.
Since, as you had said, Markus Wheaton's contract would not have been guaranteed until the start of the season, why not keep him around to see if he'd click in the new offense and to offer depth in case of injuries? Was it because they would have been on the hook if he got injured? —@zevyr
That’s certainly one reason to cut ties with Wheaton – the possibility that an injury could put the team on the hook for the $5 million salary he had for this coming season. The Bears got a speed threat that can get downfield in Taylor Gabriel and they also believe Allen Robinson can challenge cornerbacks vertically. So they effectively replaced what they hoped Wheaton would be for them in their offense a year ago. That made cutting ties with Wheaton the smart play.
Will the Bears be up against the cap in a couple of years with all these backloaded contracts? —@darthfrys
I don’t view the contracts they’ve signed players to as backloaded and I’ve gotten a number of questions about that. Generally, the contracts are mostly flat. That means the salary cap hit each season is even or close to even across the life of the contract. They’ve also given out guarantees that will be gone after the first year in some cases and first two years in other cases. The exception is tight end Trey Burton. He had a $6.7 million base salary for 2020 and $4 million of it is fully guaranteed if he’s on the roster on the third day of the league year in 2019. So, unless the Bears cut Burton after just one season, they will be on the hook for that $4 million in the third year of his contract.
What impact will Harry Hiestand have on the Bears developing O-linemen? —@iandshorr
If you listen to what former Bears linemen Olin Kreutz and Roberto Garza have to say about Hiestand, he will have a big impact on the line and performance of the offense.
“He gets the most out of his guys,” Kreutz told me after Hiestand was hired in January. “He totally buys into you, which makes you totally buy into him. He’s all about the offensive line and he has no other agenda. He just wants to help you and help the team win.”
Ater failing to bring a veteran guard in through free agency do you think the Bears will need to draft one high? Or do you think they could slide Cody Whitehair over to guard and maybe get better value by drafting a center in Round 4? —@zberg034
Whoa! Tap the brakes. Free agency is a week old. There are plenty of players out there and personnel men will tell you that guard is one of the easier positions to fill. The Bears have an in-house candidate on the roster in Erik Kush and I expect they will be making more moves on the line. They’ve got some veteran options to sift through and then there’s the draft. They could also find a center and have Whitehair play guard. There’s plenty of time to address this position.
Do you think Kyle Fuller is worth the money? —@clowboy7
Fuller ranks fifth in the NFL at cornerback averaging $14 million per season. It only takes one team to say a player is worth X amount of money and in Fuller’s case, he had two teams put that value on him – the Packers and then the Bears when they matched the $56 million, four-year contract. It’s a big price to pay the former first-round draft pick but as general manager Ryan Pace said in a statement released by the team on Tuesday, the Bears believe Fuller is still an ascending player.
A lot of mock drafts have the Bears taking the 5-foot-8 from Ohio State. After giving out big contract extensions to Prince Amukamara and Kyle Fuller, why would Ryan Pace even consider that? —@1959whitesox
I am assuming you are referring to Denzel Ward, the Ohio State cornerback who measured 5-foot-10 at the Scouting Combine. I find it much less likely they will select a cornerback with the first-round pick after paying Fuller and Amukamara but it’s worth noting I have had multiple personnel men tell me they believe Ward is a better cover man than his former teammate Marshon Lattimore, who was the NFL’s defensive rookie of the year for the Saints. Lattimore is bigger and a little more physical but Ward is skilled and fast.
Assuming four quarterbacks and Saquon Barkley go in the top five, do you see the Bears trading up to No. 6 and selecting Bradley Chubb? They already have limited picks but with the unanimous feeling around the league being that Chubb is miles above the rest, I think it would have to be entertained. —@thedevindeal
The Bears have traded up in the first round in the last two drafts and based on that aggressive track record, I wouldn’t rule out anything for general manager Ryan Pace. But I’d imagine that the price to make that jump – from No. 8 to No. 6 – would be hefty and perhaps would exceed the value you typically see on draft charts. The difference on the charts is 200 points which equates to a pick in the middle of the third round but I imagine the Colts would want a much higher premium for the pick if Chubb was on the board and they knew the team inquiring about the spot was coming to get him. As you said, he’s miles above the rest and that’s why you’d probably have to pay more. Remember, the draft trade chart is just a rough guideline and sometimes teams are forced to pay much more if they really want to move.
Did the Bears make an error in not placing a higher tender on Cameron Meredith as a restricted free agent? It looks like he could be signed to an offer sheet which could force the Bears to pay him much more? – Nick, Schaumburg
The Bears made a calculated move in placing the original round tender on Meredith at $1.907 million. Because he was undrafted, they will not receive any compensation in the event he signs an offer sheet with another club and the Bears elect not to match it. Meredith visited the Colts on Tuesday and from what I understand he has at least one more visit lined up. The Colts and any other team are going to want to take a close look at Meredith’s surgically repaired left knee and allow their doctors and medical staff to gauge exactly where he’s at in terms of recovery. There’s an element of risk involved there, not unlike the situation the Bears got into by signing Allen Robinson, who is coming off a torn ACL. The Bears could have placed the second-round tender on Meredith and ensured no one came knocking on his door because it’s highly unlikely another team would have forked over a second-round pick in order to sign him. That would have cost $2.914 million. As I wrote in the Mailbag recently, it’s going to take a pretty good offer for Meredith to sign, in my opinion. If he bets on himself for this coming season, he could put himself in line for a much bigger pay day in free agency. The money has been flowing for wide receivers in free agency. Just look at the deals for Robinson and Sammy Watkins and then consider the riches guys like Taylor Gabriel, Albert Wilson, Donte Moncrief, Paul Richardson, Marqise Lee, Michael Crabtree and others have commanded. That trend could lead Meredith to think long and hard about the trade off between some immediate security and the chance to do much better a year from now. The Bears could always match an offer sheet too but they’ve invested heavily in the position with Robinson ($14 million annual average) and Gabriel ($6.5 million annual average). If there is a team that believes Meredith will bounce back this season and they like his upside, things could get interesting quickly.
bmbiggs@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @bradbiggs