I like to think we're a bit more intelligent around here and we understand why Poles made the choices he made in this free agency, and thus less hand wringing about it so far. Do I wish both lines were all set before the draft? Yeah. But I also don't want to overpay for guys just cause we need them, not because they are necessarily great at their positions...and thats what a lot of the potential signings on the line this off season would have been. Edwards and Edmunds were ACTUALLY two of the best at their positions who happened to be free agents. Can't really say the same about any of the line options.
Little advertised info but of note.
McGlinchey says no one else but Denver was really in the mix for him. They negotiated 'til he got the guaranteed money he wanted and then signed. All the other rumors were worth were only ways to assist in the bargaining. Denver was his only desired destination.
So.....whether Poles made any serious efforts or not it made no difference. It wasn't only the money. McGlinchey was never coming to Chicago period.
Was just going to post this. Poles must have had doubt about the FA tackle class.
I like to think we're a bit more intelligent around here and we understand why Poles made the choices he made in this free agency, and thus less hand wringing about it so far. Do I wish both lines were all set before the draft? Yeah. But I also don't want to overpay for guys just cause we need them, not because they are necessarily great at their positions...and thats what a lot of the potential signings on the line this off season would have been. Edwards and Edmunds were ACTUALLY two of the best at their positions who happened to be free agents. Can't really say the same about any of the line options.
According to Bleacher Report, the deepest area in the draft is Edge rushers and second is Tackle. So we don’t need to worry much about availability of these positions in the draft. He can take RT in first round and DL in next two picks. Then BPA thereafter, which should include center and slot receiver.
So he should take BPA, but those two BPA's need to be from those two positions...got it LOL
According to Bleacher Report, the deepest area in the draft is Edge rushers and second is Tackle. So we don’t need to worry much about availability of these positions in the draft. He can take RT in first round and DL in next two picks. Then BPA thereafter, which should include center and slot receiver.
So he should take BPA, but those two BPA's need to be from those two positions...got it LOL
I am saying if he gets RT and DL with first 3 picks, then center and WR are remaining positions of need and so get heavy weighting in the BPA calculation. So a player at a different position would have to exceed in playing ability the center/WR available when the Bears are on the clock.
It just seems too early for people to get so worked up about this - good or bad... positive or negative. I just want to watch what happens and then form an opinion as to what I think of Poles' player moves for 2023 (I'm talking about after seeing 4 or 5 games - regular season games unfold). Why get so worked up now when we really know nothing about the plan other than a few pressors that say nothing really. LOL. But I get it. If we won a super bowl this year there (seriously) would be fans having anxiety attacks over worrying we won't win a 2nd SB due to some perceived mis-move by the Bears. Crazy.
Of course its still early in the offseason but NOW is when you assemble the vast majority of your roster. It's too late to "get worked up" in July.
And....you will be the first one complaining about "lack of investment" and "not supporting your young QB" if the OL looks like crap yet again.
My usual mood swing goes WAY negative ~Novemberish. In a really bad year it's in October. Then I am beyond consoling and in the depths of despair. My username here should be bi-polar bear. Big mood swings for sure.
According to Bleacher Report, the deepest area in the draft is Edge rushers and second is Tackle. So we don’t need to worry much about availability of these positions in the draft. He can take RT in first round and DL in next two picks. Then BPA thereafter, which should include center and slot receiver.
So he should take BPA, but those two BPA's need to be from those two positions...got it LOL
LOL. You and davidl are our messageboard "Odd Couple" here :-)
But on that BPA topic I don't think any of us think of that term in a pure or strict sense. In my own simple way of thinking I have it figured that whatever formula Poles uses to assign value numbers to players, he must have a factor in his value equation that relates to team need and team fit (LOL, I guess that would be 2 factors). Team need doesn't drive rankings, but it surely adjusts that numeric value up or down a bit (or a lot). My gut feeling is that this can still result in drafting a guy at a position that is not a pressing need, if that player is so good that his value number is higher than the player of need's adjusted value number. One possible example of this would be Poles drafting a CB with that number 9 pick this year. We have greater need positions than CB. But if a guy is that special at CB when we pick, well hey, a lockdown CB is always a good thing to have. So it's not truly BPA but some concocted version of it. I get it, that this is far from an exact science and more of an art form.
I'm hoping Poles is our Michelangelo here. It took Michelangelo ~5 years to paint the Sistine Chapel. I'm hoping Poles works a little faster though :-)
So he should take BPA, but those two BPA's need to be from those two positions...got it LOL
LOL. You and davidl are our messageboard "Odd Couple" here :-)
But on that BPA topic I don't think any of us think of that term in a pure or strict sense. In my own simple way of thinking I have it figured that whatever formula Poles uses to assign value numbers to players, he must have a factor in his value equation that relates to team need and team fit (LOL, I guess that would be 2 factors). Team need doesn't drive rankings, but it surely adjusts that numeric value up or down a bit (or a lot). My gut feeling is that this can still result in drafting a guy at a position that is not a pressing need, if that player is so good that his value number is higher than the player of need's adjusted value number. One possible example of this would be Poles drafting a CB with that number 9 pick this year. We have greater need positions than CB. But if a guy is that special at CB when we pick, well hey, a lockdown CB is always a good thing to have. So it's not truly BPA but some concocted version of it. I get it, that this is far from an exact science and more of an art form.
I'm hoping Poles is our Michelangelo here. It took Michelangelo ~5 years to paint the Sistine Chapel. I'm hoping Poles works a little faster though :-)
My understanding from something you posted last year is that it is just a mathematical formula: Playing ability+ Position Need = Number. You rank order by the numbers and presto that’s your Big Board.
Actually, I think CB is a position of need, so it’s not a good example for #9. Best example would be B. Robinson. He’s going to be a great RB and will go in first round, although nobody puts RB as #1 position of need.
It's interesting how Poles' rep differs depending on where you look.
Here the response has been mostly positive to his moves this offseason. On WCG, not so much. There's a lot of disappointment and even anger over there on Poles' failure thus far to "build the trenches".
Yeah every board has curmudgeons who just love to complain, but I have some sympathy for their position. I'm surprised as well we have signed 3 ILBs but only 1 OL (an interior OL to boot). On the DL, we have signed 2 but both are definitely lower-tier, non-sexy signings.
Poles' choices this FA have been.....interesting and unconventional. Let's just put it that way.
He has 4 picks in the top-64 (essentially the top 2 rounds in most drafts). He could get a 5th with a trade-down from #9. Regardless, I really want to see 3+ of those top picks go to OL/DL at this point.
I like to think we're a bit more intelligent around here and we understand why Poles made the choices he made in this free agency, and thus less hand wringing about it so far. Do I wish both lines were all set before the draft? Yeah. But I also don't want to overpay for guys just cause we need them, not because they are necessarily great at their positions...and thats what a lot of the potential signings on the line this off season would have been. Edwards and Edmunds were ACTUALLY two of the best at their positions who happened to be free agents. Can't really say the same about any of the line options.
I think we all recognize that E/E are damn good ILBs and big upgrades. Edwards was also a steal in terms of value. No one disputes that.
I read some stuff about what happened in early FA with regards to the Bears and OLs (sorry, can't find the link). Apparently, Poles went after McGlinchey up to $17m AAV and then backed out when his cost went slightly above that. It's fair to say that MM got more money, esp guaranteed money, than he was worth. He got top-5 RT money and he isn't a top-5 RT.
There's no evidence that he made a serious attempt to sign another OT such as Taylor or Brown.
Instead, it appears Poles went after Ben Powers next. BP is a LG which seems to indicate that they're content with Jenkins at RG. But that didn't pan out either.
Then he turned to Nate Davis who was cheaper but has played mainly RG so someone (he or Jenkins) would have to switch sides.
I'm just adding some context here. Some will say Poles was "disciplined" and "patient". Others will say he missed multiple opportunities despite having far more cap space than any other team. Pick your poison.
But bottom line is, and brace yourselves cuz I'm agreeing with David here, Poles is now constrained in the draft somewhat. If he doesn't draft an OL (prob OT) in round 1, he is kinda hosed. Be really risky to count on getting a Day 1 starter in the late-2nd or hoping some team has a post-draft cap casualty that fits.
More and more I'm convinced he has to take Paris Johnson with fingers crossed he makes it to #9.
McGlinchey says no one else but Denver was really in the mix for him. They negotiated 'til he got the guaranteed money he wanted and then signed. All the other rumors were worth were only ways to assist in the bargaining. Denver was his only desired destination.
So.....whether Poles made any serious efforts or not it made no difference. It wasn't only the money. McGlinchey was never coming to Chicago period.
Was just going to post this. Poles must have had doubt about the FA tackle class.
I don't believe for a second that Poles didn't offer for MM. No way.
MM may not have been interested or Poles got outbid but I don't buy at all that Denver was the only possible suitor. McGlinchey would never have gotten the contract he did with just one team interested. McGary got way less for that very reason.
Was just going to post this. Poles must have had doubt about the FA tackle class.
I don't believe for a second that Poles didn't offer for MM. No way.
MM may not have been interested or Poles got outbid but I don't buy at all that Denver was the only possible suitor. McGlinchey would never have gotten the contract he did with just one team interested. McGary got way less for that very reason.
The other tweet says he did call but was told what Denvers offer was and didn't outbid.