Dustin Keller

Not sure what he will cost, but I think he would be a nice fit for a second TE.  He had a down season last year and the Bears may be able to buy low and get a nice player for a smaller contract.

I always thought Keller had decent hands and athleticism along with being a capable run blocker. 
Possible a starting caliber TE for backup money. 

2 or 3 year deal at about 2 million per would seem reasonable. 

To my knowledge the Bears have no interest though and I have no clue what he is looking for.

Dustin Keller would likely get similar money to Cook. It'd be a little too much for us.

Did cook get 7 million?

Wow, I thought Keller would be a lot cheaper. 

Teams do overpay in FA.  I guess that just strikes at the heart of why drafting is important. 

Martellus Bennett is going to be the Y tight end and Evan Rodriguez will be the F.

Don't think they need to invest any sizable money in a third tight end.

Not when Cutler is likely to throw Marshall's way as many times as he will.

Any more investment in the offense should go to the interior line and finding a speedy receiver, likely via the draft.

I think Evan Rodrigues has a chance to be a pro bowl caliber FB.  His draft position is high for a FB, but I would like to see the Bears let him grow into that position. 

I also don't know enough about the offense they will run to know how much H-back they will run.  I think Rodriguez is a bit small for TE in the current climate of the NFL.

right now the focus in my opinion should be trying to get back any free agents we want to bring back.  Most important in my opinion is Urlacher but quite possibly Roach, Louis and Idonije.  The cap space for any big signings is about tapped out unless Emery starts restructuring.

I think Evan Rodrigues has a chance to be a pro bowl caliber FB.  His draft position is high for a FB, but I would like to see the Bears let him grow into that position. 

I also don't know enough about the offense they will run to know how much H-back they will run.  I think Rodriguez is a bit small for TE in the current climate of the NFL.

Trestman has commented once that he prefers to use the Y and the F versus an H tight end.

Even Rodriguez is the same height and about the same weight as Aaron Hernandez. Care to venture a guess on what position he plays?


The beauty of the F tight end is you can put them everywhere. It's a perfect role for Rodriguez. Asking him to become a straight up fullback would be a waste of his talent.

The Patriots use Aaron Hernandez in an interesting way.  He plays in the backfield a lot. 

I am not familiar with the the Bears are going to do, well because they have not done it yet. 

If the Bears are planning on using Rodriguez like Hernandez, that would be very nice.  I am not sure the Bears have the other parts to do what the patriots do though. 

I still think they need another TE.  Having 3 TE/FB is probably one to few.  I guess they can draft one, but they are already very young at that post. 

It seems like most of the successful offenses around the league have adapted to using a guy that can line up at multiple spots, esspecially the backfield.

Some teams are doing it with receivers like Harvin, Antonio Brown, and Randall Cobb. Others use h or f tight ends.

Rodriguez currently seems to be the only guy on the roster that fits that mold, someone that can line up in the backfield, on the end of the line, or in the slot.

If they can draft a receiver that is in the mold of a Randall Cobb that would awesome. But it's probably unlikely.

Even Rodriguez came into the league raw. But he has some great tools and I think the guy could be a valuable 3rd-4th weapon if used correctly.

You are preaching to the choir.  I really like Evan Rodriguez.  I wrote that dissertation last season about him.  I think he can be a real weapon.  I like the idea of him stating in the backfield and then moving pre-snap or just being a guy to use in a "base" package to create miss matches. 

I still think they need 1 more body.  I would like to see it in FA because they have so much youth already and I have a feeling there will be a quality TE who will be had for ~2 million. 

I am ok agreeing to disagree.  I can see how someone would look at the Bears team and say that they do not need another vet TE/FB/HB or whatever you want to call it. 

Tice was too stupid to use Rodriguez in any other way besides a FB.  In a long line of horrible OC's in Chicago, I think he stands out as the worst.  The only good thing about Rodriguez playing FB was that we learned he can block, which was the biggest question mark about him in the draft.  The potential of this offense with Marty Bennett is something we have never seen the likes of in Chicago.  The biggest question I have is with the slot and of course the improvement of the offensive line (Bushrod doesn't solve all the problems).  Hopefully Bennett or Hester can find some open space (or just stay the hell out of the way and occupy a defender) with Marshall and Jeffery on the outside, Bennett patrolling the middle and Forte out of the back field and mixing in the potential of Rodriguez.

If Trestman can get Cutler focused and he is even half of the offensive mind I think he is, the Bears will be fun to watch next season and I will no longer have the urge to throw beer bottles at my very expensive TV screen as I watch them go 3 and out over and over.

Nah. any 2M TE would not be worth it in Free Agency. With Bushrod and Bennet Emery made his splash and the splash was big enough that I dont think there is enough room to make some of those smaller smart deals.

The Bears need to focus on resigning their own now. Especially guys like Urlacher, Izzy, and Lance Louis. Those guys would leave bigger holes if they left than the hole currently sitting at #2/3 TE. 

Everybody keeps talking about a speedy receiver ( like Austin ) to blow the top off of the defense. If the Bears go for an offensive weapon in the first round, I still want Eifert. We know Cutler likes big targets. Look at two of the better offenses in the NFL, the Patriots ( Gronk/Hernandez ), and the 49ers ( Davis/Walker ). Don't get caught up with defining a receiver a TE or WR. With two competent TEs, one can line up inline and one can line up in the slot or out wide.


Eifert is going to be a day one starter and with growth could turn into a star. I can see the Bears running a base two TE set with both lining up inline. The defense has to wonder... Are they running? Are they passing? Both these guys can block and both of them can burn our LBs. That will draw a safety in the box. Then the Bears have tons of options... Marshall would go crazy vs the cover 1 ( he can blow the top off ) and Jeffery would get one on ones all day. If the defense goes two deep, work Bennett, Eifert, and Forte all day. Imagine what Forte could do in the running game with a seven man front that has actual run blockers. Imagine the motion possibilities. There is a TE revolution going on in the NFL right now. ERod would be involved as well.


The Bears are in the process of an overhaul at OL, TE, and LB. Good TEs can supplement or substitute for WRs. They can also chip to help the OL. The Bears were chipping with WRs to help the tackles out of four wide sets last year... The first round pick is still OL, TE, or LB.


         

Eifert was game planned for, double covered, and matched up with Milliner ( potential top 10 pick ) at times in the NCG...

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmHweQiUlNA]

I'd love to have two big tight ends that can catch the ball but using that first round pick to take a guy like that would be ignoring other needs (linebacker, interior o-line, receiving depth?) that I think are more important right now.

If we had a ton of picks I would say go for it. We don't.

To be honest, I see trading down and out of the first round to add picks as a sound strategy at the moment.

. Imagine what Forte could do in the running game with a seven man front that has actual run blockers

Imagine Forte being able to occassionally run up the middle of the field because the center was able to block for him instead of Forte just running into a brick wall.

Imagine not needing to rely on pulls and trap plays all the time to get positive run gains.

Imagine Jay Cutler having the ability to step up in the pocket consistently.

We need a friggin center.

We need a friggin center.

Yes, we do.

If Cooper is there in the first, take him. If Jones is there in the second, take him.

Trade down and take Jones if Cooper isn't there in the first. Give E.Williams a shot.  



It isn't hard to find a starting C in the first two or three rounds.   


        

It isn't hard to find a starting OG in the first two or three rounds.


Cooper would be a great pick if he is there at #20. 

 

(linebacker, interior o-line, receiving depth?)

LB is a major concern right now. We need to see what happens with Urlacher and Roach.

TE is receiving depth...

TE is receiving depth...

Bennett and Rodriguez are pass catchers.

I'd rather add some speed.



I just don't think you overload at one position when you are short in others.