If they sign Brown, draft Skoronski at #9, and then use the first 2nd to pick a center you likely see Whitehair cut and Jones at RT, so your starting o line nexy year would be Brown (solid pro who is certainly not going to be bull rushed into your QB's lap), Nate Davis at RG, a rookie at C, Skoronski at LG, and Jones at RT, a massive upgrade. Solid if not spectacular guys at WR, not a lot of depth at TE, an OK RB group, and a huge question mark at QB, but a question mark with much better pieces around him.

The D will be a work in progress, some young talent in the secondary, a quality LB group, and a patchwork defensive line.

He's plugged some holes via FA, but as with all NFL teams it will all depend on the draft.

If Orlando Brown isn't a Bear tomorrow Poles should step down.

They’re getting there. Kind of building outside in so far but they’re going to have a mostly NFL caliber roster next year.

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Dre'mont Jones is getting $23M in the first year. That's a guy who is expecting to suck.

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The Bears can't negotiate with Lamar Jackson or any other guys who were tagged until Wednesday.

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M&H had a discussion this morning noting that only one average to above average starting OL is still available in FA.

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Brown and Bradbury are still on the board.

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Is Bradbury actually good or just a guy? Everything I’ve read suggests he’s easily overpowered, which seems undesirable for an interior lineman.

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Poles has said from the beginning he prefers to shop later in free agency after the draft when teams cut veterans. I do like that he spent only on young players on this first day. I'm confused by the positions he prioritized but I do see coherence in his approach.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

He's good. He's also one of the least penalized players in the game.

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/minnesota-v ... ket-value/

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/minnesota-v ... ket-value/

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I really love the C group in this draft. There will be a day 1 starter for them when they pick in the second. Wypler from OSU looks tailor made for the Bears offense. Half of the big ten had pro level centers. There will be guys who could be day 1 starters even farther down.

On the other hand Mustipher may put his spell on the administration and be starting again.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

I think he wants to build the lines through the draft. I would love to see a free agency splash on the offensive line.

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supposedly they are trying to get Brendel from the 49ers. Older guy so he wouldn't block a development player

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

I always thought you build a dominant defense front to back, not vice versa

Thus far Poles has signed younger guys and not gone after anyone in their late 20's to early 30's which is smart if your looking long term.

He may be looking to bring in a few older guys at better prices to shore up a few positions for a year or two while draft picks develop, but the big paper is going to dudes that were good enough to earn a second contract.

Did see one mock where one of the QB's was still there at nine and if that is the case Poles likely moves back a bit to pick up an extra picks which could then be packed to move up later, tons of interesting prospects in the 2nd/3rd round.

Seems his first and two seconds will be o or d line, but he showed a tendency to go best player available last year, so expect a surprise or two.

Having the extra picks, especially the extra fourth rounders creates the scenario where you could flip a pick for a vet and absorb a big cap hit.

There are also several teams that are in cap hell and need to move guys, still have the most cap room and maybe Poles has a few dudes targeted.

Lovie's Bears did it back to front.

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Its curious for an old lineman.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

The first major move of the Lovie era was drafting Tommie Harris. They traded for Ogunleye the next year. He inherited Mike Brown, Tillman, Briggs, and Urlacher.

I suspect that the first major move for Poles will be drafting Murphy or Wilson. He believes in his ability to find a Braxton Jones. I want the splash, but I'm an idiot fan.

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Agreed, Nas. My only concern is that it appears D-Line draft picks will have come in more ready to play at the NFL level where O-Line will take longer to develop. There's a lot of work needed on both sides of the ball and FA players are all just about locked up. It appears drafting is the only option left. So far...no stupid FA contracts so that's a good sign.

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My thinking is they might be about done to leave room for people cut etc after it all settles down.

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Elections have consequences.

As long as each guy he brings in is filling a need, I am good. He has plenty of money left and lots of draft capital. This was never going to be a one year fix. I also love that he is getting some young guys with upside rather than guys on the backside of their careers.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

I think this FA signing choices indicate that Poles doesn't think they will be a winning team next year. He has a two year buildup plan

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

True, short of a miracle, next years’ team has little chance of winning. It is better to win in a sustained way and building with younger talent that will be here when the team is playoff ready.

They needed an entire front seven on D and many offensive players. And they have few pro bowl level players…..

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Hawaii (fuck) You

One of the concerns I have here is that the oline won’t get adequate attention and they’ll still have plausible deniability if Fields sucks as a thrower again next year.

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Add in ten million if you designate Whitey Codehair a post June 1 cut. How many teams out there still need a offensive tackle? If you can get Brown for under 20 million a year you have to do it. Would he go back to right tackle?

Their linebacker play last year was horrible. And was a modest strength of the free agency class.

Really good backers coming into their prime. And the middle of the field will no longer be wide open all game on passing downs.

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I imagine you're going to be paying Brown an average of $25-30M. Lesser players got $20M yesterday.

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Yes, but you have to look at the remaining teams with

A need for a tackle, and willing to pay a high price
Cap space to logically pull it off

Any team with already a tackle making close to 20 a year is eliminated. Who is left? For instance I don't think anyone in the NFC North outside of the Bears needs a tackle.