What Did The Bears Want?
May 1st, 2018
What was Jason Licht trying to fleece the Bears for?
It seems Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht was a popular man Thursday night.
In a somewhat candid discussion about his draft, Bears general manager Ryan Pace, appearing on WGN-AM’s Hoge and Jahns podcast, walked the co-hosts through the Chicago draft.
Pace discussed the anxiety he felt through the first few picks and for how the early minutes of the draft would shake out. The Bears had the No. 8 pick, right behind the Bucs at No. 7 (originally).
Pace sure seemed to indicate he was on the phone with Licht perhaps trying to swing a deal when Buffalo called Licht to work out a trade that netted the Bucs two additional second round picks and Buffalo’s No. 12 pick overall for the Bucs’ No. 7 slot.
“We were curious [how many quarterbacks would be drafted early],” Pace said. “Would two go, would three, would four? We were trying to go through all of the scenarios and you try to prepare yourself for every scenario that can take place. You just don’t know.
“In front of us, it went off pretty much how we expected. When Buffalo traded up to Tampa’s pick, I was — I had called Jason Licht. I was talking to Jason Licht on the phone in Tampa. He said, ‘Hey, Buffalo is coming up.’ He and I are close friends. And you knew what [Buffalo] was coming up for which was good for us. At that time, we knew Roquan [Smith] was going to be there at our pick.”
Pace also mentioned his two top choices were Quenton Nelson and Smith, though he said he didn’t expect Nelson to be on the board at No. 8.
So this begs a couple of questions: First is, what was Pace offering Licht to flip spots? Just guessing by the haul John Lynch lifted from Pace last year by flipping spots between the 49ers and Bears, it makes Joe salivate. Joe cannot imagine, given how busy general mangers are on the first draft night, that Pace called Licht only to get a recommendation on the best beach bar on Treasure Island.
The second question is, if Pace was talking to Licht about flipping spots, was Nelson the target for Pace? Did he know or get intel that Licht may have passed on Nelson for Vita Vea?
Or — and this is very likely — Pace called Licht after Indianapolis had selected Nelson?
This is all very interesting to Joe.
May 1st, 2018 at 4:13 pm
hmmm…if only I married the DuPont heiress hot for my bod….
May 1st, 2018 at 4:15 pm
it would’ve SUCKED to trade w Chicago only for them to trade with buffalo. I’m glad it worked out like it did.
May 1st, 2018 at 4:26 pm
????????????????
Not sure what that means nor does Joe have any clue how DuPont has anything to do with this post.
May 1st, 2018 at 4:27 pm
no disrespect joe, but screw the draft….its over and “real bucs fans” are happy…..no more what couldva shoulda woulda…..time to turn the page…..
will dirk run another soft TC, which IMO led to most of our injuries?……
will smitty play man press coverage now that we have players that can get to the QB?……
will dirk commit to the run game?…..
these are the things we need to be discussing…..we need to be discussing the coaches and how they have no excuse not to get us to the playoffs…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!!…..#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
May 1st, 2018 at 4:33 pm
Joe Says:
May 1st, 2018 at 4:26 pm
hmmm…if only I married the DuPont heiress hot for my bod…
????????????????
Not sure what that means nor does Joe have any clue how DuPont has anything to do with this post.
woulda…coulda…shoulda….What Did The Bears Want?
May 1st, 2018 at 4:34 pm
From the sound of it, the Chicago GM wanted Roquan and wanted first dibs if someone else was trying to trade up for him. Since it was Buffalo and they wanted a QB, he concluded the call.
May 1st, 2018 at 4:39 pm
Have all June and July to discuss that.
May 1st, 2018 at 4:40 pm
813 … Good comment!
May 1st, 2018 at 4:47 pm
I would guess Pace was interested who might me looking to trade into our spot, and offering to out bid a team not looking for aQB
May 1st, 2018 at 4:49 pm
joe
sounds good….cant wait……
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!!…..#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
May 1st, 2018 at 4:57 pm
it doesn’t sound like an offer was made or was even necessary. i think they just wanted to know who was trading up and make sure it wasn’t a team like SF who would jump on Roquan – if it were, maybe Chicago would repeat the Trubisky trade antics, but knowing it was Buffalo they could save their picks. These GMs have lots of time between picks, i’m sure there are many calls just to see if the movement on the board is going to force them to adjust their plan or assumptions, with no offers even discussed
May 1st, 2018 at 5:15 pm
I just hope both Dirk and Smitty up their game..their coaching this season. They say..We got the players now right? We had a great draft right? Jameis is going to improve 2-fold..right? No..Excuses..Right!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 1st, 2018 at 5:17 pm
I’m obviously missing something. That’s one of the most confusing JBF articles I’ve read in a long time. What does Bears GM Ryan Pace have to do with anything? Bears knew we weren’t gonna pick Roquan Smith, so if we’d stayed at #7 they would’ve gotten their man anyways. Our trade was with Buffalo … who was desperate. The QB the Bills wanted (Josh Allen) was still there, and Buffalo had LOTS of draft picks to play with. As Thomas Bassinger wrote, “Bucs GM Jason Licht robbed the Bills like a thief in the night.” Gotta love it.
May 1st, 2018 at 5:20 pm
813
From all the Bucs fans I’ve talked to since the draft the only ones that are “happy” are right in this here corner of the inter web. As a whole everyone I’ve talked to is bewildered by the M.J. Stewart pick and there’s prob been a 50/50 split on Vea.
But whateva man as long as the “real buc” fans are happy that’s all that matters. Hopefully the stadium gets to rocking with all 17k real Bucs fans.
The Bucs finished 29th out of 32 NFL teams in average home announced attendance — that’s down one spot from 28th a year ago, with the Bears passing Tampa Bay in the rankings.
May 1st, 2018 at 5:27 pm
I’m stoked with our draft but imagine if we could’ve traded down to 8 to get picks and then traded from 8 to 12 with buffalo. Which would have worked since Chicago wanted Smith.
But like Altered said, if dreams were reality we would all be set. I’m down for a DuPont heiress lol
May 1st, 2018 at 5:28 pm
@DR yeah I am kind of confused by the take as well.
Either way – Licht said he was ready to take Vea at 7. If that’s true then a trade with the Bears just means Vea + less picks than we got… I think the situation played out as perfectly as possible. If Licht’s not lying then Vea had to be 4 on their board after the big 3 with James & Fitzpatrick likely the next guys (or Denzel Ward – who in theory could have been higher than Vea). Dropping to 12 was a no brainer for that many picks given who had been selected at that point in time.
May 1st, 2018 at 5:30 pm
Also even if we traded down then again from 8 to 12 with Buffalo – the draft capital we get may not have been as good with a 4 spot move vs 5 for all we know. Look at the 10 to 15 deal as comparison. They only got a 3rd and a 5th for that 5 spot move. lol @ gruden
May 1st, 2018 at 5:51 pm
My guess is the call was before the colts took nelson. He was sure bucs wouldnt take roquan. Sounds like bears gm is more anxious during draft than licht. One of the few. Stoked licht finally rubbed one out before the draft, his patience was rewarded nicely for once. I hope he learns from this one and pulls this off every year. The draft is a lottery. Win some lose most. I prefer the more picks the better route. Nice job Licht
May 1st, 2018 at 5:56 pm
Maybe they were interested in Joe’s punter…..
May 1st, 2018 at 6:01 pm
Good point Lord Cornelius
May 1st, 2018 at 6:07 pm
The Bears wanted Roquan Smith. So bad that they were gonna flip spots with the Bucs. However once the Bills traded up the Bears knew they were good at 8 and we’re gonna get their guy.
May 1st, 2018 at 6:11 pm
To have JPP………and..and….3~~ 2nd round drafts picks….I simply can not image who would complain…especially considering before the trade we had 2 picks in the first 100….is it me or is everyone else irrational…
May 1st, 2018 at 6:36 pm
Seems like simply intel collection and no trade was even debated most likely. If Licht was being crafty he could have said we are talking to a couple of teams (meaning SF may be in the mix), trade down to 8 and then 8 to 12.
May 1st, 2018 at 6:51 pm
TBBF,
I love you man, but you’re starting to sound a little bit tmaxish.
Beating the dead horse punter crap.
May 1st, 2018 at 6:53 pm
@TDTB … “Seems like simply intel collection and no trade was even debated most likely.” That I can buy. Agree with Lord C … Vea was our guy, once the Big-3 were gone. Thank heaven that the Bills (1) NEEDED a QB; and (2) had enough stashed picks to make their trade-up happen. Bucs were in the right place at the right time (see, good things can happen when you don’t intentionally lose games to get a higher draft pick).
May 1st, 2018 at 6:53 pm
GOLDILOCKS
May 1st, 2018 at 7:10 pm
Defense Rules…Bingo !!!!
May 1st, 2018 at 7:35 pm
Off topic, sorry, but has anyone else noticed that in the RoJo highlights that he never looks back to see if he’ll be caught from behind? RoJo gone bro!
May 1st, 2018 at 7:37 pm
“I play with poop.” Said the guy who thought it was a good idea to draft Sequon Barkley instead of a real QB. Strive foe 6 wins sounds like a reasonable NYG goal.
May 1st, 2018 at 7:53 pm
Dave Pear I agree. Keep repeating it doesn’t make it funnier.
I guess Chicago’s worry is someone trades to 7 to take Smith and leaves them oh so close to getting the guy they want but I don’t know what they offer to slide a pick.
May 1st, 2018 at 8:30 pm
813bucboi…no disrespect but stop being a troll, the draft was 3 dags ago, it’s 3 months till training camp what else would you like to talk about, baseball
May 1st, 2018 at 8:37 pm
Why are you extrapolating they were discussing a trade. Pace said they’re good friends and he had intel that Buffalo was trying to move up.
May 1st, 2018 at 9:57 pm
(see, good things can happen when you don’t intentionally lose games to get a higher draft pick).
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if they were at 5, they would have gotten more to move down, or chubb or nelson!
May 1st, 2018 at 10:08 pm
And everywhere that Mary went the sheep was sure to go.
May 1st, 2018 at 10:24 pm
Vita Vea vs Will Hernandez
11/16/2018 at MetLife Stadium
Let’s road trip there. Who’s with me!!!
Hmu
May 2nd, 2018 at 12:44 am
Who the F.. Cares? what the bears wanted/ What do the tampa Bay Bucs want/,,mediocrity? I think its quite SAD..those cannons only fire 5 or 6 time during a game. We are Florida..The home of Football. Got Dam…t!! I want us to retuen to respectability. to be FEARED on DEFENSE. Like we use to be like the old Midway Mosters(chicago) of old. Dammit Buc ..Get her done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The biggest problem we had was.. We thought..it ws Offense..We only need a slightly above above offense. But YOu NEED..a stellar DEFENSE!!!