Bear Hands

y'all gotta post more than a link. Getting tired of editing this crap

For ILB, maybe we are stil targeting high, but could take a smart value-based approach. Lloyd will get around 20, Tremaine or Okereke may get around $10 mil but the rest of the group has value for what they bring. Examples: Leo Chenal, EJ Speed, Singleton

An idea based off your wishes

Huge move for them. Their OL was getting into complicated territory.

If we can't work out trades (which is probably why neither are cut yet), likely happening. Should free up $16ish mil more (that includes the dead cap offset)

I don't know what you meant by that last sentence, but it is very likely he'll be north of 20 annually. Market Value on sites is anywhere from 20 to 21. UFAs tend to get overpaid relative to the largest contracts at their position which have been dated by a year or two. Factor in inflation and cap increase, it's a reasonable assumption.

This makes Pat Jones $10 mil cap & presence kind of off with Scourton & Princely being developed. Would like to see him moved. Both Jones Jr. and A'Shawn should be on the move

Extremely aggressive but it is a critical spot. It's a type of move that can pay off. Taking a gamble with the injury history but you're getting a very very good pass rusher. Not crazy, almost crazy. This is like what the Burns contract would have been. But we got a pick out of Burns and Philips is better in Run-D. I actually don't hate it.

For a modest $29 mil/yr. The contracts today are going to get some banger reactions haha

It's a conversation about paying him more than Roquan Smith. I wouldn't qualify that as "potshooting". Just some opinions on what we think. Nothing more, nothing less.

Totally, I've mentioned that before as well. Chenal was moved around with Tranquil and Bolton as primary ILBs and was used for blitzing a lot. They even threw him on the line sometimes. But when he had to fill in at ILB, he played great. So, the only thing is I'm unsure if he'd be fitting with Evero. But I would love to see Chenal happen. Think he fits pretty well with WAS.

TEN could be a winner for his services. Brings him near home again (he's a home-body re: his UGA to TEN move), they have a crap ton of money, and the need with letting Cushenberry go.

Yeah, I'm sure there's guys he fawns over that we could get a bit overly aggressive for. That Wharton/Jones combo signing was a bit much / an overcorrection from the Milton miss. Defense was improved but those two didn't really contribute THAT much...now taking up $28 mil in space this year. They better contribute in 2026. It shows - the FA overpays for second contract guys can seem appealing at times given age and production, but last year was overkill. And they're FAs for a reason.

Today will be telling. Don't get me wrong - I hope we land a solid LB, but I just don't want to see over-our-ski shenanigans. Feel like Tillis is a sound mind in our FO so hope the steadiness of his approach wins out. So sure, land a guy. But if we see a headline later today like- "Panthers sign Lloyd to a $22 mil/year", that'll be tough to swallow/scream a bit too much desperation. Sure, cap is whatever to us fans, but do we really want to be THAT team? Desperately paying an offball LB who doesn't excel in coverage more than Roquan and Fred Warner. Just seems dicey. Draft wise, I'm heavy on the CJ Allen train (waiting until post-FA to discuss more); think he's perfect for what we need and in ideal range. Pair him with Edmunds who you can sign for like $10-12 mil/yr.

Yep ^^^ It's also why if we overpay for 2 vets in Lloyd and Edmunds, I don't know if it really works well together. Coverage is a big weakness for them both and that's a load of dough where you can get similar value for a bit less. You also create a legit weak spot for our defense while bringing these guys on to monster deals. Doesn't make for good team building. Hope its just 1 if we do what so many reporters are claiming. Need a coverage/balanced offballer via draft that good in this respect (Allen, Lawson). It should honestly slide a guy like Rodriguez/Trotter off our board.

Freeling is going to be good. Would be awesome if there at 19. Solid selections in R1-2.

I don't want to be a doomer/pile-on, but Lloyd and Oweh are the top of the market at both of their positions, meaning it will be an overpay for us, and they have decent red flags. Oweh is a primary pass rusher and Lloyd considered a bust at the end of 2024. It's A LOT of money to throw around for those two. Oweh could be nice for us at 27 y/o while we continue to hunt for a real lethal pass rushing threat and/or develop Scourton/Princely. Similar to how Denver had Allen while developing Cooper and Bonnito. But you overpay for him at the top of his market, I don't think we need to stretch for Lloyd. Will say, if we pull it off, Lloyd & CJ Allen could work. Oweh and Scourton with Princely as our primary SPR is nice as well. I see what they're trying to do.

Yeah there's too much smoke around Lloyd with us. If it goes down, I just hope it's nothing insane that makes us need to restructure in the future. He's getting Roquan/Warner money, inflation adjusted. He's getting like $21.5 mil/yr. Get ready for that type of contract with him to beat others out. I just think some of these guys in the 9-15 mil range are of similar value (Edmunds, Chenal, Okereke, etc.). But if it happens, it happens.

Damn a lot of the good ones faked out the market and re-signed.

Seems like Edmunds is a real target - I’ve mentioned before, I’d be fine with it; but just know you’re not getting a top flight ILB. Kind of like a Shaq situation. Totally respectable, has some WTF moments and is not a general for the defense. If we get Edmunds, I would LOVE to pair him with CJ Allen via 19. That would be a complimentary duo. I’m a bit iffy on Lloyd— just seems he’s going to get overpaid for what he brings. His pay day will make him the highest paid offball LB, not sure you want to be THAT team. Oweh had a good season, would be fine, we’ll see on that. I also think Strnad could be the backup plan at LB. I just hope we don’t overpay 3 top guys, never a good recipe via FA. Get 1 or 2, get value vets, trust your draft.

Dammit

I think McGovern would be just as solid. He could be the get for center. Elsewhere in the OL; Taylor Decker just became available….

Maxx Crosby to BAL for (2) 1sts

Bears get their center.. https://nfltraderumors.co/trade-patriots-trading-c-garrett-bradbury-to-bears/ Bradberry from the Pats

I think it's moreso because I think Nijman is back. Haven't really considered the rest of the field but it sounds like something we're already working out.