Yeah, but not dramatically in this scenario. I'd pour 80% of my resources into OL and DL if I'm Ryan Poles.
Spending draft capital and huge $$$ on DeAndre Hopkins.....I'm gonna pass on that.
I am not passing on that. Poles has enough money and drafts picks to upgrade both lines and trade for WR1 (Hopkins, Evans, Cooks, etc.). He needs to get this done, AND spend first 2 picks on DL. Draft center in third round.
Get tackle and guard in FA after spending $19M of the $122M for D-Hop. That’s all in my off-season agenda.
It will be fascinating to watch what Poles actually does this year. He will undoubtedly address WR, but how he will do that I have no clue. I doubt he goes with an aging vet. I only say that because he seems to be emphasizing young ascending players and just finished getting rid of our older veterans on the team last year. I'm not saying this is good or bad. Just saying that seems to be what he is doing.
I have my own wish list for what I hope he does on the OL and at WR. Those are the two areas that interest me the most. But then I have to accept reality, that the defense needs help too. I don't like that. But I accept that it is a huge need, a critically important need. It breaks my heart to realize the OL probably won't be the #1 focus this year. It never has been the #1 focus here in Chicago and that is one reason why the Bears teams struggle to be relevant in the NFL. Defense we "get" and we have a great defense most years... and have over the past 50 or 60 years. Offense? Not so much.
But as I said, I accept the reality of where the team is at right now. D will probably get the most love. Again.
I am not passing on that. Poles has enough money and drafts picks to upgrade both lines and trade for WR1 (Hopkins, Evans, Cooks, etc.). He needs to get this done, AND spend first 2 picks on DL. Draft center in third round.
Get tackle and guard in FA after spending $19M of the $122M for D-Hop. That’s all in my off-season agenda.
It will be fascinating to watch what Poles actually does this year. He will undoubtedly address WR, but how he will do that I have no clue. I doubt he goes with an aging vet. I only say that because he seems to be emphasizing young ascending players and just finished getting rid of our older veterans on the team last year. I'm not saying this is good or bad. Just saying that seems to be what he is doing.
I have my own wish list for what I hope he does on the OL and at WR. Those are the two areas that interest me the most. But then I have to accept reality, that the defense needs help too. I don't like that. But I accept that it is a huge need, a critically important need. It breaks my heart to realize the OL probably won't be the #1 focus this year. It never has been the #1 focus here in Chicago and that is one reason why the Bears teams struggle to be relevant in the NFL. Defense we "get" and we have a great defense most years... and have over the past 50 or 60 years. Offense? Not so much.
But as I said, I accept the reality of where the team is at right now. D will probably get the most love. Again.
He wants to win games in 2023. The DL is absolutely horrible, he got rid of the whole front-7 to create this mess. It’s his job to clean it up. However, I allow no excuses for not both trading AND drafting at #53 to try to get WR1. If Warren has to PUSH him into the D-Hop trade, I’m all for it.
Yeah, but not dramatically in this scenario. I'd pour 80% of my resources into OL and DL if I'm Ryan Poles.
Spending draft capital and huge $$$ on DeAndre Hopkins.....I'm gonna pass on that.
I am not passing on that. Poles has enough money and drafts picks to upgrade both lines and trade for WR1 (Hopkins, Evans, Cooks, etc.). He needs to get this done, AND spend first 2 picks on DL. Draft center in third round.
Get tackle and guard in FA after spending $19M of the $122M for D-Hop. That’s all in my off-season agenda.
Bears need upgrades at 3 positions on OL--LG, C, and RT (or LT if Braxton gets moved). OL is my #1 priority, particularly on offense
OL & DL are where I hope Poles spends most of his resources. Receiver is next up after those two. Get strong in the trenches FIRST IMO.
Hopkins wasn't that effective this year as the Cards had major OL struggles. OL first.
I am not passing on that. Poles has enough money and drafts picks to upgrade both lines and trade for WR1 (Hopkins, Evans, Cooks, etc.). He needs to get this done, AND spend first 2 picks on DL. Draft center in third round.
Get tackle and guard in FA after spending $19M of the $122M for D-Hop. That’s all in my off-season agenda.
It will be fascinating to watch what Poles actually does this year. He will undoubtedly address WR, but how he will do that I have no clue. I doubt he goes with an aging vet. I only say that because he seems to be emphasizing young ascending players and just finished getting rid of our older veterans on the team last year. I'm not saying this is good or bad. Just saying that seems to be what he is doing.
I have my own wish list for what I hope he does on the OL and at WR. Those are the two areas that interest me the most. But then I have to accept reality, that the defense needs help too. I don't like that. But I accept that it is a huge need, a critically important need. It breaks my heart to realize the OL probably won't be the #1 focus this year. It never has been the #1 focus here in Chicago and that is one reason why the Bears teams struggle to be relevant in the NFL. Defense we "get" and we have a great defense most years... and have over the past 50 or 60 years. Offense? Not so much.
But as I said, I accept the reality of where the team is at right now. D will probably get the most love. Again.
I don't know that I agree with you.
Poles was a former OL and he's talked about the importance of that. We saw it yesterday in live action. Two teams with two great young QBs both have good offensive weapons. Yet, one team completely dominated offensively despite being on the road in bad weather conditions and that was because it's OL won the battle at the LOS all day. Mixon had good running lanes and Burrow had extra time to throw. It was a clinic on what a good OL can do.
If the prospective trade-down with Indy happens (and I think it will), I want Poles insisting on Quenton Nelson as part of the deal. I'll take QN plus two 2nds for the #1 pick. There are several good Centers who should be available in FA and well as a couple good mid-round draft prospects. That leaves one upgrade needed at OT. Could be signing Orlando Brown if he hits FA or drafting a RT in round 2.
Do that ^^^ and you have a rock solid and young OL in front of Fields which should do wonders for both the running and passing games.
Now, I'm not denying the DL needs major help too and the top prospects this year outside of QB seems to be on D. I hope we can sign Daron Payne or Zach Allen at DT and somehow still draft Anderson at Edge. If Anderson is gone, maybe Carter (let's see if his stock falls, it may), another DE or DT, or even Skoronski (RT) and go defense in round 2.
I know everyone wants the "shiny new toy" big name WR and I get it. But TRENCHES FIRST in my opinion.
It will be fascinating to watch what Poles actually does this year. He will undoubtedly address WR, but how he will do that I have no clue. I doubt he goes with an aging vet. I only say that because he seems to be emphasizing young ascending players and just finished getting rid of our older veterans on the team last year. I'm not saying this is good or bad. Just saying that seems to be what he is doing.
I have my own wish list for what I hope he does on the OL and at WR. Those are the two areas that interest me the most. But then I have to accept reality, that the defense needs help too. I don't like that. But I accept that it is a huge need, a critically important need. It breaks my heart to realize the OL probably won't be the #1 focus this year. It never has been the #1 focus here in Chicago and that is one reason why the Bears teams struggle to be relevant in the NFL. Defense we "get" and we have a great defense most years... and have over the past 50 or 60 years. Offense? Not so much.
But as I said, I accept the reality of where the team is at right now. D will probably get the most love. Again.
He wants to win games in 2023. The DL is absolutely horrible, he got rid of the whole front-7 to create this mess. It’s his job to clean it up. However, I allow no excuses for not both trading AND drafting at #53 to try to get WR1. If Warren has to PUSH him into the D-Hop trade, I’m all for it.
He didn't "create the front-7 mess". It was already there the day he took the job. It was chock full of past-prime players who weren't gonna be part of a multi-year rebuild process. We have been over this a million times and multiple posters have presented the details of that multiple times.
At 12....and when you have other first round picks, he's not bad there. He's gonna test off the charts and he's 6'4'' 200+ pounds. He's not Jamar Chase, who's probably 5'11''. Different dudes who do different things. AJ Brown is a WR 1...he's not what I'd call a technician at route running. Different dudes who do different things.g
We already got a guy Claypool who physically tests off the chart and can run the two routes Johnston knows. We need a crafty route runner who can get quick separation and move the chains on third down. ALL of the QBs still in the playoffs have that guy. Fields does not. Poles needs to get this done. No excuse in 2023. Eagles, Bengals, Chiefs, Bills went out and got their WR1 for their franchise QB.
I don't disagree...I was just making a point. Chiefs don't really have a WR1 TBH...at least one that was recently acquired. Kelce is the WR1...and he's been there.
We already got a guy Claypool who physically tests off the chart and can run the two routes Johnston knows. We need a crafty route runner who can get quick separation and move the chains on third down. ALL of the QBs still in the playoffs have that guy. Fields does not. Poles needs to get this done. No excuse in 2023. Eagles, Bengals, Chiefs, Bills went out and got their WR1 for their franchise QB.
I don't disagree...I was just making a point. Chiefs don't really have a WR1 TBH...at least one that was recently acquired. Kelce is the WR1...and he's been there.
That catch Kelce made yesterday was unreal and at a clutch moment too. A great TE can certainly make a QB better. What an asset to have. I'd love to see Michael Mayer in a Bears uniform. I know it's not going to happen but I do watch ND football and he is amazing.
I don't disagree...I was just making a point. Chiefs don't really have a WR1 TBH...at least one that was recently acquired. Kelce is the WR1...and he's been there.
That catch Kelce made yesterday was unreal and at a clutch moment too. A great TE can certainly make a QB better. What an asset to have. I'd love to see Michael Mayer in a Bears uniform. I know it's not going to happen but I do watch ND football and he is amazing.
There's a bunch of good receiving TEs (not saying any of these guys are Kelce who's in a league of his own) slated to hit FA in March. Off the top of my head, there's Mike Gesicki, Austin Hooper, Dalton Schultz, and Hayden Hurst. All of them under 30 yo. None of them would be break-the-bank type of sigings.
Been thinking about this. Poles might wanna consider signing one these guys as a TE2/"move TE". All of them are massive upgrades as a receiving weapon over Ryan Griffin. Maybe add a WR like JuJu and you now have 5 solid pass catching weapons. That shouldn't cost all that much money and it doesn't require giving away a draft pick on a trade.
Allows you to spend the lions share of offseason resources on OL and DL which is where it should go IMO.