Updates From The Owners Meeting..................
Mar 28, 2018 3:51:38 GMT -6
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2018 3:51:38 GMT -6
Ryan Pace updates Bears' free agency, possibly trading down in the draft and Cameron Meredith's status
Rich CampbellRich CampbellContact ReporterChicago Tribune
www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-bears-ryan-pace-free-agency-20180327-story.html
General manager Ryan Pace updated media Tuesday on the Bears’ activity in free agency. In his first comments since the team’s initial splurge, he provided context to several signings, including that of cornerback Kyle Fuller.
Here are the highlights from his media session at the NFL’s owners’ meetings.
On signing cornerback Kyle Fuller to a four-year, $56 million contract that matched the offer sheet to which the Packers signed him
We were prepared for corner-needy teams, and Green Bay was one of those ones we thought could be a possibility. So you aren’t surprised when the offer sheet comes in. It’s just, OK, now what does this contract look like? Once we were able to dig down and see the contract and see the language, then understand that, hey, that’s a very fair contract for Kyle, and then the excitement of, hey, let’s match this. Now we’ve got him here with us long term, and he earned that. And we’re happy for him.
On the status of restricted free agent receiver Cameron Meredith
We’re monitoring it closely. We know we’ll have a decision to make if an offer comes in, and we’re prepared for that. … I think teams are probably weighing the productivity he has had in the past, along with the injury that he sustained.
On the secondary’s potential for interceptions after re-signing cornerbacks Fuller (two interceptions in 2017) and Prince Amukamara (none)
I think it's twofold. You've got to get pass rush, and I think those interceptions will come with more pass rush. And I think Kyle was second or third in the NFL in pass breakups. Fortunately, sometimes those balls will bounce your way the more we're doing that. (Safety) Eddie's (Jackson) got excellent ball skills, I think (safety Adrian) Amos kind of turned a corner this year with that, so I think that will come, too, the more our defense plays together and the more pressure we get on the quarterback.
On outside linebacker Aaron Lynch and reuniting him with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio
He's a very talented player, and Vic knows him well from drafting him in San Francisco. … This free agency, we didn't feel like there was a ton of outside linebackers, but Aaron Lynch stood out in a number of ways. He definitely has the traits to be a very productive pass rusher. You see signs of it, and he's very comfortable in Vic's scheme. Vic knows him inside and out. So to get him here on kind of a one-year contract, kind of in a motivated state, we're excited about that. We think there's a lot of upside in that transaction.
On agreeing to terms with cornerback Marcus Cooper after cutting him earlier this offseason
We were very open and honest with him and his agents in that process. Marcus was kind of able to explore the market a little bit and we feel very fortunate and very happy to have him back in the mix. … He’s long, he’s got really good size, and he’s a guy that has very good ball skills. We just think the more he gets comfortable in our defense some of those things will come to fruition.
On the team’s left guard situation
There’s some guys on our team right now we feel good about: Eric Kush, Jordan Morgan, Hroniss Grasu. There’s flexibility, obviously, with (Cody) Whitehair, so we got some things that we can do there. We’re always trying to improve our offensive line. I think you’ve got to be mindful of that, especially as you approach the draft, I think you see how valuable the offensive line position is getting in free agency more and more every year. But we like some of the in-house candidates we have right now.
On a potential run on quarterbacks at the top of the draft
That would be huge. If four quarterbacks go in front of us, I’m all for it. I think you see the value of that position right now when you see people posturing to get up in the draft and get a quarterback. It’s critical. What happened in free agency, you can see the obvious value to the quarterback position. So us personally right now, we’re all for as many quarterbacks going.
On whether it’s easier to sleep now that the Bears have quarterback Mitch Trubisky
It’s easier to sleep not only when you feel like you have the guy who has all the physical traits, but when he has the makeup you really want in that position. That’s what makes you sleep well.
On potentially trading down in the draft
Over the next couple weeks those will be scenarios we’ll go over. We’ll go over what players would we consider trading up for and what’s it going to require for us to do that. And then if we want to go back, who is going to be in those clouds as we go back and what would be the draft capital we’d want to obtain if we did that. So we’ll examine all that, and we’ll know when we’re getting out of a certain category of player and if we want to venture past that line or not.
On the return of veteran cornerback Sherrick McManis
It’s huge. He’s one of our best special teams player. He’s a valuable depth player on defense. But then also from a very critical standpoint, the intangibles he brings and the leadership he brings on a relatively young team. He’s a guy who has some skins on the wall, is a productive special teams player but also has excellent makeup.
Rich CampbellRich CampbellContact ReporterChicago Tribune
www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-bears-ryan-pace-free-agency-20180327-story.html
General manager Ryan Pace updated media Tuesday on the Bears’ activity in free agency. In his first comments since the team’s initial splurge, he provided context to several signings, including that of cornerback Kyle Fuller.
Here are the highlights from his media session at the NFL’s owners’ meetings.
On signing cornerback Kyle Fuller to a four-year, $56 million contract that matched the offer sheet to which the Packers signed him
We were prepared for corner-needy teams, and Green Bay was one of those ones we thought could be a possibility. So you aren’t surprised when the offer sheet comes in. It’s just, OK, now what does this contract look like? Once we were able to dig down and see the contract and see the language, then understand that, hey, that’s a very fair contract for Kyle, and then the excitement of, hey, let’s match this. Now we’ve got him here with us long term, and he earned that. And we’re happy for him.
On the status of restricted free agent receiver Cameron Meredith
We’re monitoring it closely. We know we’ll have a decision to make if an offer comes in, and we’re prepared for that. … I think teams are probably weighing the productivity he has had in the past, along with the injury that he sustained.
On the secondary’s potential for interceptions after re-signing cornerbacks Fuller (two interceptions in 2017) and Prince Amukamara (none)
I think it's twofold. You've got to get pass rush, and I think those interceptions will come with more pass rush. And I think Kyle was second or third in the NFL in pass breakups. Fortunately, sometimes those balls will bounce your way the more we're doing that. (Safety) Eddie's (Jackson) got excellent ball skills, I think (safety Adrian) Amos kind of turned a corner this year with that, so I think that will come, too, the more our defense plays together and the more pressure we get on the quarterback.
On outside linebacker Aaron Lynch and reuniting him with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio
He's a very talented player, and Vic knows him well from drafting him in San Francisco. … This free agency, we didn't feel like there was a ton of outside linebackers, but Aaron Lynch stood out in a number of ways. He definitely has the traits to be a very productive pass rusher. You see signs of it, and he's very comfortable in Vic's scheme. Vic knows him inside and out. So to get him here on kind of a one-year contract, kind of in a motivated state, we're excited about that. We think there's a lot of upside in that transaction.
On agreeing to terms with cornerback Marcus Cooper after cutting him earlier this offseason
We were very open and honest with him and his agents in that process. Marcus was kind of able to explore the market a little bit and we feel very fortunate and very happy to have him back in the mix. … He’s long, he’s got really good size, and he’s a guy that has very good ball skills. We just think the more he gets comfortable in our defense some of those things will come to fruition.
On the team’s left guard situation
There’s some guys on our team right now we feel good about: Eric Kush, Jordan Morgan, Hroniss Grasu. There’s flexibility, obviously, with (Cody) Whitehair, so we got some things that we can do there. We’re always trying to improve our offensive line. I think you’ve got to be mindful of that, especially as you approach the draft, I think you see how valuable the offensive line position is getting in free agency more and more every year. But we like some of the in-house candidates we have right now.
On a potential run on quarterbacks at the top of the draft
That would be huge. If four quarterbacks go in front of us, I’m all for it. I think you see the value of that position right now when you see people posturing to get up in the draft and get a quarterback. It’s critical. What happened in free agency, you can see the obvious value to the quarterback position. So us personally right now, we’re all for as many quarterbacks going.
On whether it’s easier to sleep now that the Bears have quarterback Mitch Trubisky
It’s easier to sleep not only when you feel like you have the guy who has all the physical traits, but when he has the makeup you really want in that position. That’s what makes you sleep well.
On potentially trading down in the draft
Over the next couple weeks those will be scenarios we’ll go over. We’ll go over what players would we consider trading up for and what’s it going to require for us to do that. And then if we want to go back, who is going to be in those clouds as we go back and what would be the draft capital we’d want to obtain if we did that. So we’ll examine all that, and we’ll know when we’re getting out of a certain category of player and if we want to venture past that line or not.
On the return of veteran cornerback Sherrick McManis
It’s huge. He’s one of our best special teams player. He’s a valuable depth player on defense. But then also from a very critical standpoint, the intangibles he brings and the leadership he brings on a relatively young team. He’s a guy who has some skins on the wall, is a productive special teams player but also has excellent makeup.
