Shortly after authorizing the richest defensive contract in NFL history, the Bears are locking down another key defender.
The Bears and nose tackle Eddie Goldman agreed on a four-year extension worth more than $42MM Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The 24-year-old lineman will receive $25MM guaranteed as a result of this re-up, Rapoport reports.
A former second-round pick, Goldman was entering his contract year. Two days before the Bears begin their 2018 season, they now have another defensive lineman signed long-term. They took care of Akiem Hicks last year and now have four of their front-seven bastions signed to long-term deals, with Danny Trevathan and now Khalil Mack in the fold on veteran deals — one of which standing out a bit more than the other.
Goldman won’t be paid close to what Mack is, but the fourth-year starter is now one of the highest-paid nose tackles in the game.
Among pure 3-4 nose players, Goldman’s $10.5MM-AAV-plus agreement now is in line to sit second among this position. And among those extended long-term, Goldman’s deal now leads the pack. Ndamukong Suh is making $14MM this season, but the Rams gave him a one-year deal. Goldman’s now set to collect the most guaranteed money among nose tackles, his $25MM haul surpassing Damon Harrison‘s $20MM guarantee.
The Florida State alum started 15 games for Vic Fangio’s improved defense in 2017, bouncing back from a 2016 season-ending injury. He’ll join Hicks and Jonathan Bullard as first-unit linemen when the Bears face the Packers on Sunday night and will now do so knowing his long-term future will be in Chicago.
Not a big Bear fan but that defense is filthy. Might have best line backing group in all of football was just rated number 2 behind Denver. If offensive side of ball can move up into top with Nagy now HC 9-7 not out of reach
Yeah. Their front 7 is going to be very good. I do think if a good QB has 3 seconds, that secondary can be had. And I do not buy their QB, nor 4/5 spots on their OL either.
But they will be improved this year. That’s for sure.
Their O-Line grades out right around league average, somewhere between 12-18. It’s not great. But it won’t hurt them.
As for the QB, you really have nothing to base your opinion on. The Bears ran the most predictable offense in a football a year ago with a wide receiver corps tgat featured Kendall Wright as its best weapon. I’m not saying Trubisky is going to be all-world, but I think we should hold any judgment of him until after we see how he performs in an actual system with actual options in the pass game.
Trubisky had a rookie season that was arguably less impressive than the rookie season Rex Grossman had. This in a predictable offense as you stated. Nagy will be introducing a more complex offense so this will only place greater demands on their young QB. A strong run game would be the best medicine for this offense. That ranking of 27th in time of possession needs to improve.
Into top 15 I meant
All this team has to do is play great defense, don’t turn the ball over, run the ball consistently and have a kicker that can make 97% of his field goals! A 9-7 record will be a modest goal! I like 10-6! Bear down Chicago Bears! Bear down!
Let’s check the optimism at the door. You still don’t know what you have at QB.
Bears lose this weekend to open the season, and I don’t think it will be a 1 score loss either.
In fairness, he did say “run the ball consistently”, which is basically fan-speak for “Don’t give the QB a chance to F it up.” It’s hardly an optimistic view of the QB.
Why should he not be optimistic
Glad to see Ryan pace is going all in. Excited to see this defense perform. Even the bears finish last in the division. They may be the best last place team in the league. This division is going to be nuts.
Might be the most competitive division in the game.
I’d say the South with the Saints, Falcons, and Panthers all coming off a playoff appearance. If the Bears can surprise this year with 10 wins while the Vikes and Packers hold serve with their expected double-digit wins, then the North has a case.