Tag: Khalil Mack

Free Agency: Grading the Bears’ signing of EDGE Robert Quinn

The Bears upgraded their pass rush with the signing of All-Pro Robert Quinn. So how does this free agent signing grade?

While pass rush was certainly a need, it wasn’t at the top of the list for the Bears this offseason. But Chicago just added an All-Pro pass rusher to line up opposite Khalil Mack, and suddenly the Bears’ already-dominant defense looks unblockable.

The Bears agreed to terms with All-Pro edge rusher Robert Quinn on a five-year deal worth $70 million with $30 million guaranteed. With the signing, Chicago released former first-round pick Leonard Floyd and freed up $13.2 million in salary cap space.

Quinn is most definitely an upgrade over Floyd. In fact, he’s everything Floyd was not. Considering what Quinn was able to do without a force like Mack lined up across from him, there’s no doubt that he’ll be able to take advantage of Mack’s presence in a way that Floyd could not.

While Quinn will be 30 years old when this season begins, he’s in the prime of his career. Quinn is coming off an All-Pro season with the Cowboys, where he notched 11.5 sacks. Over his career, Quinn has averaged nine sacks per season.

By comparison, the most sacks Floyd managed in a single season was seven. Not to mention Floyd’s sack total has declined every year he’s been in the NFL.

It’s interesting to note that Quinn is just two years older than Floyd — and he’s everything the Bears were hoping to get out of Floyd. Given that Floyd was due $13.2 million in 2020 and Quinn is looking at roughly $14 million per season, it was an easy decision for general manager Ryan Pace.

When you look at Chicago’s front-seven, it’s impossible not to get excited, especially about what Quinn brings to the table.

Khalil Mack. Robert Quinn. Akiem Hicks. Eddie Goldman. Bilal Nichols. Roquan Smith. Danny Trevathan.

You can’t block everyone. Pick your poison.

Bears fans haven’t seen what a pass rusher is capable of doing opposite Mack on this defense. They’re about to see with Quinn.

Grade: A

What do you think, Bears fans? How would you grade Chicago’s signing of Quinn?

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Twitter reacts to Bears signing pass rusher Robert Quinn – they’re ready for some football

The Bears bolstered their dominant defense by signing Robert Quinn. And it’s safe to say this addition went over better than Jimmy Graham.

The Chicago Bears bolstered their already dominant defense with the addition of pass rusher Robert Quinn. Chicago agreed to terms with Quinn on a five-year deal worth $70 million with $30 million guaranteed.

The Bears are also releasing former first-round pick Leonard Floyd, which will free up $13.2 million in cap space Floyd was due with his fifth-year option.

Quinn had an impressive year for the Cowboys last season, where he notched 11.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Imagining Quinn and Khalil Mack, along with Akiem Hicks and Eddie Goldman, getting after the quarterback is almost too good to imagine.

Yet, it’s reality.

And it’s safe to say that this free-agent move went over exactly the opposite that the Jimmy Graham signing did yesterday.

Even the NFC East appreciates the move.

Let us not forget what opposing teams will have to deal with next season.

Now, if only the Bears can fix the offense.

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Report: Bears to release former 1st-round pick Leonard Floyd

Just as one pass rusher enters, another one leaves Chicago. The Bears are releasing former No. 9 overall pick Leonard Floyd.

Just as one pass rusher enters, another one leaves Chicago.

After the Bears agreed to terms with pass rusher Robert Quinn on a monster five-year deal worth $70 million with $30 million in guaranteed money, that essentially sealed Leonard Floyd’s fate in Chicago.

The Bears are planning to release former first-round pick Leonard Floyd, according to Ian Rapoport.

Ultimately, the Bears get out of Floyd’s fifth-year option and free up $13.2 million in salary cap space, which you figure opened up the door to bring in Quinn and helps with Chicago’s already-limited cap space.

The move doesn’t really come as a surprise considering Floyd’s disappointing production over his first four seasons. Every season, Floyd’s sack total has declined since he entered the league in 2016.

In 2019, Floyd managed a career-low three sacks during a season in which he played in every game. That, lining up opposite stud edge rusher Khalil Mack.

Floyd is the latest first round pick of Ryan Pace’s to fail to make it past the fourth year on the team. Receiver Kevin White was Pace’s first failure, and the writing seems to be on the wall with Mitchell Trubisky.

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Bears to sign pass rusher Robert Quinn to 5-year deal worth $70M

The Bears made a monster move at arguably the 2nd-most important position on the roster at edge rusher, agreeing to terms with Robert Quinn.

The Chicago Bears made a monster move at arguably the second-most important position on the roster at edge rusher.

The Bears agreed to terms with former Cowboys pass rusher Robert Quinn on a monster 5-year deal worth $70 million with $30 million fully guaranteed.

Quinn is coming off a big year with the Cowboys, where he had 11.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in 2019. With the addition of Quinn opposite stud pass rusher Khalil Mack, the Bears have seriously upgraded their pass rush.

This move signals the end of Leonard Floyd’s less-than-illustrious career in Chicago, where his sack total declined every year since he entered the NFL. Last season, Floyd mustered just three sacks and couldn’t take advantage of lining up opposite Mack.

In parting ways with Floyd, the Bears have freed up $13.2 million in salary cap space.

The Bears have only strengthened the strongest aspect of their team: Defense.

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Bears have met with several edge rushers at NFL Combine

The Bears are doing their due diligence when it comes to edge rushers heading into the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Bears have a few needs to address on defense this offseason, among them edge rusher. While Khalil Mack saw a decline in production in an injury-riddled season for Chicago’s defense, he remains one of the best pass rushers in the league.

One of the things that general manager Ryan Pace hasn’t managed to do is find a productive edge rusher opposite Mack. Pace has a decision to make regarding Leonard Floyd, who is entering his fifth season with the Bears. He’s slated to make $13 million, but his production hasn’t been up-to-par with what was expected out of the former No. 9 overall pick.

Floyd’s sack production has dipped every season since he joined the NFL. Only, injuries weren’t to blame for his lack of production in 2019. Floyd had two sacks in the season opener against the Packers, but he managed just one sack in the final 15 games.

The Bears are doing their due diligence when it comes to edge rushers heading into the 2020 NFL Draft. Chicago met with several edge rushers at the NFL Scouting Combine.

K’Lavon Chaisson (LSU)

Yetur Gross-Matos (Penn State)

Jonathan Greenard and Jabari Zuniga (Florida)

Considering Floyd’s future with the Bears remains murky — they have until March 18 to release him to avoid paying his fifth-year option — there are several alluring options at edge rusher, including some of the ones they’ve met with above.

While it sounds like Pace is content with Floyd, that’s not stopping him from doing his homework on potential replacements. Even if Pace decides to keep Floyd under the fifth-year option, his future beyond that isn’t guaranteed.

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It doesn’t sound like Bears are moving on from Leonard Floyd

Bears OLB Leonard Floyd hasn’t exactly lived up to his potential as a former No. 9 overall pick. But Ryan Pace still stands by him.

Outside of quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, one of the most controversial players on the Bears is outside linebacker Leonard Floyd.

Floyd, who is entering his fifth season, hasn’t exactly lived up to his potential as a former No. 9 overall pick. While the Bears pass rush as a whole suffered in 2019, Floyd was especially underwhelming.

While Floyd had a career-high 12 quarterback hits, he had a career-low three sacks last season. In fact, every season his sack total has decreased since entering the league in 2016.

When Bears general manager Ryan Pace met with the media at the NFL Scouting Combine, he reaffirmed his faith in Floyd. Pace acknowledged that Floyd needs to be more productive as a pass rusher. But he also sounded like someone that remains all-in on Floyd.

“I think Leonard wants to be more productive as a pass rusher,” Pace said. “We want him to be more productive there too. He’s close in a lot of areas when you look at the pressures and those things. He just needs to finish a little better on the quarterback. But I think when you’re evaluating him, you have to factor in everything. His run defense. His ability in coverage.

“We consider him our ‘Sam’ outside linebacker, so we value what he can do in coverage and think sometimes that goes a little underrated for what he does in that area, for a guy that’s of his stature. Not many outside linebackers can drop in coverage like he does. So, that’s a factor.”

That sounds like the declaration of a general manager that’s not willing to move on from Floyd just yet. But knowing Pace, that’s not really a surprise. Moving on from Floyd — or even Trubisky — would be admitting failure.

While Floyd’s ability in coverage is something that separates him from other outside linebackers, ultimately he needs to be more productive opposite Khalil Mack, which in itself affords Floyd more opportunities to close on the quarterback.

But is Floyd’s potential enough to justify his $13.2 million salary in 2020? I guess we’ll see. The Bears still have until March 18 to decide what to do with Floyd. But it sounds like Floyd will remain with the Bears — at least for one more year.

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Raiders QB Derek Carr fuels Bears trade speculation with Instagram post

We’re still 3 weeks away from the start of free agency, but rumors and speculation are rampant when it comes to QBs and the Bears.

We’re still three weeks away from the start of free agency, but rumors and speculation are rampant when it comes to quarterbacks and the Chicago Bears.

It seems half of the NFL’s passers have been linked in some way to the Bears, who are expected to bring in competition to push starter Mitchell Trubisky, who regressed mightily last season as he led the Bears to a .500 record. Now, one name that’s been floated as a possibility poured gas on the quarterback hot stove on Thursday morning.

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, a player who is also in limbo, posted a message to his Instagram page embracing former teammate and current Bear outside linebacker Khalil Mack following their game in London last season. His brother David Carr, another former quarterback, commented simply: “#MegaPowers.”

The post comes days after it was reported that the Raiders would be willing to pay upcoming free agent quarterback Tom Brady $60 million over two years in an attempt to lure him out of New England and into the desert.

This post may also just be a shout out to Carr’s good friend and nothing more. But rumors regarding a trade involving the Raiders’ career passing leader have been prevalent ever since head coach Jon Gruden returned to the team two years ago. Carr currently has two years left on his deal that he signed back in 2017. He’s set to earn $19.25 million in base salary next season.

It’s unlikely anything will happen to Carr until March when free agency opens and the Raiders can go after Brady. But until then, Bears fans are left wondering and speculating who their next quarterback could be come September.

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5 EDGE prospects Bears should watch at NFL Scouting Combine

While defense isn’t the overwhelming concern for the Bears this offseason, but edge rusher still needs to be addressed.

While defense isn’t the overwhelming concern for the Bears this offseason, there are still position groups that need to be addressed, among them edge rusher.

Khalil Mack remains a force, despite a statistical dropoff in 2019, but the Bears need to find an edge rusher opposite Mack to really breathe life back into the pass rush. While Leonard Floyd remains on the roster — he’s due to make $13.2 million in 2020 — can the Bears justify retaining Floyd with his lack of production?

With that said, here are five edge rusher prospects the Bears should watch at the NFL Scouting Combine next week:

1. Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn State

Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports

The Bears need someone opposite Khalil Mack that can take advantage of one-on-one opportunities, and perhaps Penn State edge rusher Yetur Gross-Matos is the guy for the job. Gross-Matos has a reputation for getting after the football and making plays, especially in pursuit. In the last two years at Penn State, he had 34.5 tackles for loss and 17 sacks.

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If Raiders part ways with Derek Carr, should Bears target him?

If QB Derek Carr becomes available to trade for, the Bears should be first in line for his services.

Next month’s free agency is gearing up to be a doozy, especially when it comes to the quarterback position.

With so many big-name quarterbacks set to hit the open market, there are no shortage of options for the Bears to bring in a veteran quarterback to challenge or replace Mitchell Trubisky.

But there could be another veteran quarterback on the trading block that the Bears would serve well to target in Raiders quarterback Derek Carr.

According to Minnesota media member Larry Fitzgerald Sr., the Raiders are prepared to offer Tom Brady a two-year deal and $60 million to become their new starting quarterback, which would mean the Raiders would be looking to trade Carr.

It wouldn’t be the first time trade rumors swirled around the Raiders trading Carr. They reportedly were shopping Carr during the NFL Scouting Combine last February.

Last season, Carr completed 70.4% of his passes for 4,054 yards with 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He had a QBR of 62.2, which was 10th best in the league.

If Carr becomes available to trade for, the Bears should be first in line for his services. While it’ll likely cost a pretty penny in draft capital — probably a 2021 first-round pick — adding Carr to Matt Nagy’s offense would be an absolute game-changer.

The Bears and Raiders have worked together before, as they orchestrated a trade for All-Pro edge rusher Khalil Mack in 2018. But could we see the two teams make another trade this offseason at the most important position?

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Bears’ top 5 positional needs this free agency

With free agency just about a month away, the Bears have plenty of needs they could address at the start of the new league year.

The Chicago Bears have no shortage of needs this offseason as they look to rebound from a disappointing 2019 season. The offense will require plenty of work this offseason, which has already begun with the hiring of four new offensive coaches in Bill Lazor, John DeFilippo, Juan Castillo and Clancy Barone.

With free agency just about a month away, the Bears have plenty of needs they could address at the start of the new league year in regards to their roster.

Here are the Bears’ top five positional needs for free agency:

1. Quarterback

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Finding a veteran quarterback to challenge incumbent Mitchell Trubisky will surely be the Bears’ biggest priority in free agency. While general manager Ryan Pace has publicly voiced his support of Trubisky, what he does at the quarterback position this offseason will speak louder than than his words.

Considering the Bears are in a bit of crunch as far as the salary cap goes, they likely won’t be able to afford some of the high-profile free agents, like Teddy Bridgewater. Instead, expect the Bears to bring in an experienced veteran quarterback that will challenge Trubisky but won’t necessarily be anointed the starter upon arrival, perhaps a Marcus Mariota or Case Keenum.

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