Not much else been going on.

Melton just got franchised. Figures to cost towards 9 mill. Doesn't mean they aren't working on a longer deal either.

From what I've heard I figure Cutler doesn't get a deal until well into the season, if he's proven himself in a contract year. If he hasn't then...

Melton seemed pretty positive after getting franchised, tweeted that he hopes this gives them more time to work towards a long-term deal to keep him in Chicago.

Regardless, there is just no way we could afford to let him walk. Very happy he's back.

The biggest draft need for the Bears is a center that can start day one, hopefully they can get one out of the first 2 picks

Disagree. Garza is far from ideal, and I'm aware of his PFF rankings, but he doesn't represent our line's biggest problem. There is no hope if Webb starts the season at either tackle position, and we still need to sort out our guards, especially if Lance Louis isn't 100% for the start of the season.

He also isn't a solution, i think the future improves greatly if you can acquire a quality center for the next 4-5 years. And i think Garza has more value this year as a guard.

Geddy I think you're set up for dissapointment if you think Webb's getting replaced (this year). I think there's no way he doesn't start at Tackle. At most, if we get a legit LT, he'll be shifted to the right side (and like as not still start). Loathe as I am to say it, Webb wasn't the problem. He was at least serviceable, and in a number of rankings he graded out as our best OL. Barring his odd meltdown game he was positively decent. Carimi is 5 times the problem atm.

I definitely want OL in the first though. Ideally Warmack (G). If not then Cooper or any of the Tackles who have a first round grade.

Duh, forgot Garza's a natural guard - but are there any centers available in the first two rounds who project to make that much of an appreciable difference?

I still want Eifert at 20th overall, sue me.

I have no idea

None of the centers are valued in the top 25 from all the mocks I'm looking at and I think there's only a couple centers valued in the top three rounds (I'm aware the dolphins have our third) so I think we'd be much better off taking Cooper or Warmack (decastro was projected around where warmack is in mocks and he fell that far last year) for a guard spot if we go O line there as I think all the good OT prospects will be long gone by that point.

It's very difficult for Webb to not be our starting LT next season b/c of extreme lack of cap space and the teams who have to pay a ton of $ just to get to the cap floor in free agency will inflate the price of many free agents. Carimi should be our RT, I think he's better than Scott because they both have nearly the same terrible pass blocking but Carimi is very good (and much much better) at run blocking. We only need average or close enough to it pass blocking from Gabe (hopefully this year he improves that) for him to be a good (and above average) tackle.

I'm hoping for Cooper (I haven't seen him play, but I like the words athletic guard) but I'm expecting to not like Emery's first rounder again this year. However, BPA is fine with me if someone I don't expect to fall out of the top 12 is around @ 20.

Kellen Davis and Jermichael Finley not being cut yet feels like a giant slowroll.

chi has like 3 million in cap space though right? they can't really make a play for any FAs?

I think it was reported around 10 million which is probably above average but not great.

It was around 10 before tagging Melton, he took up around 8, if they agree to a longterm deal with Melton some of that will open back up again.

Here's a not-brilliant but thoroughly decent article in the Trib a couple days ago about aspects of Trestman's personality and why he's hopped around from job to job so much.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...10,full.column

(If blocked by the trib's monthly article limit then look for a link on twitter and that will usually work provided you read it page by page.)

Article about one of the GOAT CFL coaches...alas "premium content is currently available only to users within the Untied States."

LOL Canada, ****.

LOL Geddy

Martellus Bennett, welcome to Chicago!

wait, a TE that can block and catch? What is this sorcery?

Also feel free to take all of kellen davis's $ as it'll be available soon.

Bushrod to the Bears per Schefter, i think Webb might actually make for an average RT

not convinced Bushrod is a huge upgrade over Webb though

so Webb goes to RT and Carimi moves inside?

Pretty sure that happens. (I guess they could let Carimi "compete", though not necessarily).

Makes me wonder what their plan is in the draft now, as an OT or Eifert seems almost off the table.

I guess I could still see them picking Warmack if he's still there, and perhaps Cooper if he's not. If they do go OL what a sick rebuild of the OL in one offseason.

Emery is seriously the nuts as a GM, when it comes to pickups. What he's done in a year has been incredible. He's turning all the weaknesses on the roster, that Angelo let go for 10 years, into strengths. And he's doing it by picking up Pro Bowlers.

Has anyone watched Bushrod enough to know where he excels/fails? I love that our OC/OL coach knows him inside and out.

If there's no premier OL talent left in the 1st I guess we have the pick of the board. Really curious who we'll end up with, as now it seems we have options.

I'd love to get Warmack or Cooper if they're still around. We might also look at LB, saw word of us checking out Arthur Brown today.

Emery's been a huge upgrade, but him flushing our first rounder down the crapper last year is still borderline unforgivable.

I'm not ready to call McClellin a bust just yet. This season's a big one for him, for sure.

Today was a very, very good day.

I predict trading back and getting a guard or Eifert

Agree to all that!

glad to have bennett but he really makes me nervous.

anybody that saw the cowboys hardknocks knows what i'm talking about.

the kid wasn't working hard, studying hard or practicing hard in dallas early.

he seemed solid last year with the giants but it could have just been contract year effort.

this is one of the many times in the next few years i'm going to just say "i wish lovie was still there" because i think smith could have really steered this kid into productivity.

love emery

hopefully big trest can handle a headstrong player who has been known to take a few too many plays off and has lapses in concentration.