The current moves we are seeing from the Bears seem to point to the same tried and true Bear’s strategy - prioritizing defense and the running game. The next chapter is obviously top first round picks. Im very skeptical that the Bears can make the shark move for the major value adds.
Frankly, if Williams is the prodigious franchise QB does he really want to come to Chicago? Can the current coaching staff facilitate a jump to the pro level for Williams given the train wreck of how Fields was “developed”? What about this year’s draft capital- is it enough? Picks are limited after first round so value reduces significantly. All this is pointing to trade down on pick 1 or 9. I believe Poles is stressing a long term patient strategy. I am tempering expectations for 2024 and project that the Bears can make bigger impacts by 2025 if they don’t blow this draft
My gut feeling is that there is no way Williams wants to play for the Bears. He may be saying the right things publicly so far, but my guess is that he somehow forces the Bears to either trade the pick or take another QB #1. Poles will then try to convince the fans that it was "their guy" all along. I'm not even sure Williams is a legit sure thing, I just get the vibes he doesn't want to be a Bear and I don't blame him. Odds for success are stacked against him here.
I'm not sure what they've done so far makes the D any better than last year. Byard on paper should be an upgrade from Jackson, but he wasn't exactly great in Philly last year.
Swift seems like a weird fit to me. Really should've just made Montgomery a better offer to stay instead of paying similar money to a smallish, speed back who now will run on grass.
The biggest problem for the Bears, as seen so far in free agency, is this isn't a team that good players are clamoring to go to. Even Montgomery supposedly took the similar money from DET instead of signing with the Bears last year. The Bears need to show the NFL that they have a good coaching staff in place and a system to win. Not sure how long that takes or if this current staff will develop into that, but right now they are a poor to middling team in a improving division. Best case they will be battling for 3rd place.
I think you nailed this. My gut feeling says the bears a dumpster fire. Caleb probably is thinking "please trade the pick, PLEASE!". Their coaches and offensive play calling last year was bad and didn't help Fields out at all. Fields seems like a legit good guy who is working hard and trying his best. One of those guys you want to root for but the coaches just couldn't get out of their own way to help Fields be successful.
I just don't see how they are going to help Caleb unless they somehow figure it all out this offseason and change how they operate.
Your Monty analysis is spot on, they Bears bring in Swift when they should have just kept Monty. I'm actually happy Monty got out of there and is on a true team now where they value their players and have an amazing culture. Couldn't be more opposite than the Bears last year.
Something just isn't right with the Bears and maybe it is a bit of everything - front office, coaches, schemes, culture etc. Bringing in Caleb isn't going to fix this. Yes he very well may be a better QB in the end but I'm not sure he's mentally there to handle this mess right now.
Caleb going into this mess is not a good fit for him and it could get ugly if the fail bigtime in year 1. If it fails they fire their coaches, and have to start over with a new system/coaches for Caleb and he basically lost a year.