First, I addressed Eberflus in post above. Doesn’t seem like he’s going to shown the door and I’m fine with that.Here's what I'd like to see the Bears do...
Trade #1 pick for a haul--the BEST that they can get.
Keep Fields.
Draft Bo Nix with their #9 pick (most accurate QB in history, strong arm, good wheels, big kid.)
Use the rest of the picks to build up a powerful defense ,and offensive line; stock up for the future.
sign a top of the line wide receiver and a veteran stud defensive end.
Reasoning: they're not winning it all next year anyway-- so build up the best tools going forward and give Nix a year or two to learn behind Fields.
Oh yes--- Fire Eberflus-- he'll never be a winner. Get a charismatic coach to lead this team into the future.
Comments?
The rest sounds fine but fraught with peril. I’d guess there are 7-8 teams that will be looking for a new QB including the Bears and another 2-3 who may possibly be doing so. No guarantee that Nix is still there at Bears own draft pick. Plus, if you really think he is your franchise QB (you know, the most important position), are you going to play games trying to figure out how low you can get him? Only takes one team to jump up ahead of you.
Sure, signing a “top of the line wide receiver and a veteran stud defensive end” sounds great. First, are there any available next year? Second, no guarantee they sign with Bears. Third, I know they have cap money, but also need to re-sign Johnson to be contract or sign a lockdown corner. Is there money for all that?
I guarantee there won’t be money for that if you keep Fields for 2 years as that would require signing him to an extension. Highly doubt he’d do that and franchise tag could be even more expensive for that one year as I don’t think Fields is inline for a position defining contract extension. Even keeping him the final year of contract cuts into cap space not to mention the impact on team and QB room dynamics. And you lose the trade value of Fields, which really sounds like it will be a second rounder. I actually saw mock draft yesterday that had I think LVR giving up a 2 and 4 for Fields.
So while your scenario sounds good, this isn’t a video game or fantasy football. To accomplish what you say would not be easy. If Fields isn’t your QB you move on from him now. You want your new QB to sit for a year, you then sign a relatively inexpensive veteran to come in for a year. And QB position is too important to not take the top guy on your draft board. If that is Nix, way, way too risky to try and thread the needle and wait until #9. I don’t think you can go lower than #3. If WA or NE wants #1, I might risk it. But I really doubt Poles will surround what very well could be a career and franchise defining decision with all that risk.
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