Why exactly would anyone sink that much money into 3 linebackers considering for a majority of the snaps defenses are in two linebacker sets because their in nickel or dime? That would astoundingly stupid. Whats not stupid is spending only $4 mill per year to acquire TWO stud linebackers than it would have cost you to only have 1.
I am just saying that getting rid of Smith is not what enabled him to get these two guys. He could have had all 3 if he wanted. I would usually have all 3 on the field for first down, besides it doesn’t hurt to have some depth at the position. It’s not a stupid idea.
It actually kind of is though. If we were paying Smith $20 mill then opportunity cost starts to come into play. At that point Poles has to choose between Edmunds and Edwards, and depending on that choice he then has to choose other options at all the other positions he signed.
I am just saying that getting rid of Smith is not what enabled him to get these two guys. He could have had all 3 if he wanted. I would usually have all 3 on the field for first down, besides it doesn’t hurt to have some depth at the position. It’s not a stupid idea.
It actually kind of is though. If we were paying Smith $20 mill then opportunity cost starts to come into play. At that point Poles has to choose between Edmunds and Edwards, and depending on that choice he then has to choose other options at all the other positions he signed.
That is always true for every decision. For example, if he hadn’t bought these linebackers, he could have used that money to buy RT Taylor to protect Fields and then could have taken JSN at #9. That would be the max “support Fields” campaign.
It actually kind of is though. If we were paying Smith $20 mill then opportunity cost starts to come into play. At that point Poles has to choose between Edmunds and Edwards, and depending on that choice he then has to choose other options at all the other positions he signed.
That is always true for every decision. For example, if he hadn’t bought these linebackers, he could have used that money to buy RT Taylor to protect Fields and then could have taken JSN at #9. That would be the max “support Fields” campaign.
Would it though? "max support" is building the best TEAM around Fields. Would overspending for a right tackle help build the best TEAM? Poles opportunity cost choice was signing two YOUNG linebackers who both represented good value and were among the best not just at their positions, but overall available in free agency or sign a 29 year old right tackle to a top of the market deal who's play doesn't match that number. Poles then chose to sign one of the best available guards on the market to help improve the offensive line in a different way, essentially by improving the left guard and center positions even though he only signed one player there.
Now we have flexibility in the draft. We could literally take anyone at 9. Do we take one of the offensive tackles and solidify the line? Great! Do we take a defensive end? Great! Do we take a receiver and solidify that group into one of the top tier units in the game? Awesome!
Don't forget there will also be cuts after the draft as well. This roster isn't close to complete.
That is always true for every decision. For example, if he hadn’t bought these linebackers, he could have used that money to buy RT Taylor to protect Fields and then could have taken JSN at #9. That would be the max “support Fields” campaign.
Would it though? "max support" is building the best TEAM around Fields. Would overspending for a right tackle help build the best TEAM? Poles opportunity cost choice was signing two YOUNG linebackers who both represented good value and were among the best not just at their positions, but overall available in free agency or sign a 29 year old right tackle to a top of the market deal who's play doesn't match that number. Poles then chose to sign one of the best available guards on the market to help improve the offensive line in a different way, essentially by improving the left guard and center positions even though he only signed one player there.
Now we have flexibility in the draft. We could literally take anyone at 9. Do we take one of the offensive tackles and solidify the line? Great! Do we take a defensive end? Great! Do we take a receiver and solidify that group into one of the top tier units in the game? Awesome!
Don't forget there will also be cuts after the draft as well. This roster isn't close to complete.
Say what you want, but Taylor+JSN does more to support Fields in 2023 than two linebackers. The “support Fields” folks like JABF are prioritizing offense over defense this year. Poles is now locked into drafting RT at #9.
I am just saying that getting rid of Smith is not what enabled him to get these two guys. He could have had all 3 if he wanted. I would usually have all 3 on the field for first down, besides it doesn’t hurt to have some depth at the position. It’s not a stupid idea.
It actually kind of is though. If we were paying Smith $20 mill then opportunity cost starts to come into play. At that point Poles has to choose between Edmunds and Edwards, and depending on that choice he then has to choose other options at all the other positions he signed.
This is similar to why they aren't going to look at WR at 9, and probably not rd 1 or 2. You don't put 50-60mil or more into the LB position; not when defenses spend so much time in nickle/dime.
Would it though? "max support" is building the best TEAM around Fields. Would overspending for a right tackle help build the best TEAM? Poles opportunity cost choice was signing two YOUNG linebackers who both represented good value and were among the best not just at their positions, but overall available in free agency or sign a 29 year old right tackle to a top of the market deal who's play doesn't match that number. Poles then chose to sign one of the best available guards on the market to help improve the offensive line in a different way, essentially by improving the left guard and center positions even though he only signed one player there.
Now we have flexibility in the draft. We could literally take anyone at 9. Do we take one of the offensive tackles and solidify the line? Great! Do we take a defensive end? Great! Do we take a receiver and solidify that group into one of the top tier units in the game? Awesome!
Don't forget there will also be cuts after the draft as well. This roster isn't close to complete.
Say what you want, but Taylor+JSN does more to support Fields in 2023 than two linebackers. The “support Fields” folks like JABF are prioritizing offense over defense this year. Poles is now locked into drafting RT at #9.
No he isn't. There are plenty of RT's available in rd 2, and tons of slot wr's on day 3 of the draft. Not that I like it, but the only thing Poles locked himself into is DJ/CC playing a ton of WR, and Monty is a nice 2nd or 3rd depending on what they do w/Claypool.
RT and Slot WR aren't anymore of a priority then they were before, same w/DL and DE. Top priorities of this draft are the OL/DL; OL is RT/C(or OG) and DL is DT/DE. They can get RT/DT/EDGE in any order in the first 2 rounds.
Now we have flexibility in the draft. We could literally take anyone at 9. Do we take one of the offensive tackles and solidify the line? Great! Do we take a defensive end? Great! Do we take a receiver and solidify that group into one of the top tier units in the game? Awesome!
Don't forget there will also be cuts after the draft as well. This roster isn't close to complete.
+1 Poles has set up the draft well I think. Everything I've read says it's not a good draft for LBs. So it makes good sense to make the moves he made. Bringing in DJ Moore was brilliant too. I've read the scouting reports and it sure looks to me like the positions we most need filled, are going to be well-represented in the first 100 to 120 picks of this draft. We have 8 of our 10 draft picks this year in the first 5 rounds of this draft. Six picks in the top 4 rounds of this draft. And Poles has 2 first round draft picks for 2024 (the second of two rebuild years here).
You couldn't set this thing up any better than what Poles has. Yes, he still has to hit on his picks these two years. But the picks are there. No more of the crappy Pace/Trestman years with 5 draft picks and sometimes no first round pick at all.
I don't know how anyone can fail to be impressed with Pole's work so far. Masterful stuff for sure.
Poles has set up the draft well I think. Everything I've read says it's not a good draft for LBs. So it makes good sense to make the moves he made. Bringing in DJ Moore was brilliant too. I've read the scouting reports and it sure looks to me like the positions we most need filled, are going to be well-represented in the first 100 to 120 picks of this draft. We have 8 of our 10 draft picks this year in the first 5 rounds of this draft. Six picks in the top 4 rounds of this draft. And Poles has 2 first round draft picks for 2024 (the second of two rebuild years here)
Ed Zachary.
Building a team requires balance across all units and individual positions. Depth doesn't require having Pro Bowl level players playing only 50% of the snaps or being depth "just in case of injury". While it might be nice to have both Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady on the same roster so you have not one but two HOF QBs no one would advocate that either. We ended up far better off by not signing Roquan.
Reading through this thread all I can say is the logic is not strong in some.
Say what you want, but Taylor+JSN does more to support Fields in 2023 than two linebackers. The “support Fields” folks like JABF are prioritizing offense over defense this year. Poles is now locked into drafting RT at #9.
No he isn't. There are plenty of RT's available in rd 2, and tons of slot wr's on day 3 of the draft. Not that I like it, but the only thing Poles locked himself into is DJ/CC playing a ton of WR, and Monty is a nice 2nd or 3rd depending on what they do w/Claypool.
RT and Slot WR aren't anymore of a priority then they were before, same w/DL and DE. Top priorities of this draft are the OL/DL; OL is RT/C(or OG) and DL is DT/DE. They can get RT/DT/EDGE in any order in the first 2 rounds.
That’s not going to happen, unless Poles is prepared to risk Fields’ life and limb with more weakness at RT. All of the 4 RT prospects I would consider acceptable will very likely be gone before #54. He declined to pay up for a RT in free agency, and will not screw around with this. Poles went to Paris Johnson pro day yesterday and stood right behind him to observe his technique. This is our guy. I know some mocks have Skoronski, but I don’t believe it.
No he isn't. There are plenty of RT's available in rd 2, and tons of slot wr's on day 3 of the draft. Not that I like it, but the only thing Poles locked himself into is DJ/CC playing a ton of WR, and Monty is a nice 2nd or 3rd depending on what they do w/Claypool.
RT and Slot WR aren't anymore of a priority then they were before, same w/DL and DE. Top priorities of this draft are the OL/DL; OL is RT/C(or OG) and DL is DT/DE. They can get RT/DT/EDGE in any order in the first 2 rounds.
That’s not going to happen, unless Poles is prepared to risk Fields’ life and limb with more weakness at RT. All of the 4 RT prospects I would consider acceptable will very likely be gone before #54. He declined to pay up for a RT in free agency, and will not screw around with this. Poles went to Paris Johnson pro day yesterday and stood right behind him to observe his technique. This is our guy. I know some mocks have Skoronski, but I don’t believe it.
I'm sorry are you a NFL GM, or an NFL Scout? Not trying to be a jerk, but seriously no one that will be in the Bears draft room will give 2 shits what you, me or anyone outside of that warroom think, consider or care about; even if you were a GM/Scout, they still wouldn't care unless you are hired by the Bears.
There are quality RT's in the 2nd, same w/DT and Edge. there are quality WRs and C's and G's in the 3rd and 4th also.