The Tribune’s Brad Biggs answers your questions weekly. Christian Kirk, Calvin Ridley, Courtland Sutton, who do you like? Are any of them worth the eighth pick? Will they still be there in the second round? Can the Bears afford not to use the eighth pick on a WR given there are no free agents worth talking about? — William K., Los Angeles, from email It’s still early in the process for evaluating players and how they will wind up being slotted in the draft, but the consensus of most of the folks I have chatted with, and this is going back to last fall, is that Ridley will be the highest-graded wide receiver for most clubs. Depending on who you talk to there are one, two, maybe three wide receivers that will come off the board in Round 1. Of course, all of that could change if a couple of players blow up the scouting combine next month or fall on their faces with poor measurables and drill work. Kirk, from Texas A&M, has been compared to Golden Tate by some, and Tate is a pretty good wide receiver but not the kind of guy you would project coming off the board in the top 10 picks or maybe even the top half of the first round. Sutton has a chance to help himself at the combine. He has good size — listed at 6-foot-4, 218 pounds (we’ll see what he measures in Indianapolis) — and was super productive at SMU with consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and 31 career touchdowns. He did his work against defensive backs in the American Athletic Conference. He’s interesting, but I don’t know if he’s No. 8 pick interesting. To address your final question, the Bears absolutely cannot reach at No. 8 if they’re not in love with the player. Let me explain why. Yes, they have a glaring need at wide receiver and the position was woefully undermanned in 2017. You’re right, it seems unlikely some of the best free-agent possibilities will be available, and the Packers already took the best possibility off the market with an extension for Davante Adams back in December. But if the Bears reach for a wide receiver at No. 8 and it proves to be reach, what do they have in three years? They’ll have an overdrafted wide receiver who hasn’t lived up to the investment. If they draft a player at — pick your position — who does meet expectations of the draft slot, they’ve got a really good player in three years. What are you better off with? At the end of 2017, I would’ve bet my life that Markus Wheaton would be getting released. Currently, only Kevin White is on the roster at the WR position. Cameron Meredith seems to be as close to a guarantee to return considering he’s a restricted free agent. Based on Matt Nagy’s scheme and player fit, did Wheaton’s value to the team go up? And has his chance of sticking increased? — Jesse G., San Diego, from email For starters, I’d strongly advise mailbag readers against make life-changing decisions based on Bears transactions. That’s no way to go about your daily business. Of the wide receivers who appeared on the 53-man roster during the 2017 regular season, Wheaton, White and Tanner Gentry are the only ones currently under contract. I agree that the Bears are likely to tender an offer to Meredith as a restricted free agent provided they are satisfied with where he is in his recovery from a torn ACL. I have no reason to believe Meredith isn’t on schedule for a return at some point during the late spring or summer. I have a hard time seeing how Wheaton’s value could be enhanced by a coaching change. Durability was a repeated issue with a series of issues — shoulder surgery he had before being signed as a free agent, appendix, surgically repaired finger and groin injury. Wheaton clearly fell out of favor with the previous offensive coaching staff. When he was productive with the Steelers it was as their No. 3 option. Do the Bears want to pay a No. 3 receiver $5 million in 2018? They certainly could not count on Wheaton as a No. 2 option. That would be a mistake, in my opinion. I know what you’re getting at that shedding another player creates more work for the team to do to properly fill the depth chart, but I’d have to think there is a better chance they could re-sign someone like Kendall Wright than bring back Wheaton. I don’t think it’s a done deal Wheaton is gone, but it’s a lot easier to construct a case for moving on than it is for retaining him. Any young, under-the-radar, current backup OLB types that the Bears could snag in free agency? I'm thinking along the lines when the Bears scooped up Willie Young. — @mosconml Former general manager Phil Emery made a very shrewd move in 2014 when he identified Young as an underutilized player in Detroit who was ready to flourish with a larger role. The Bears signed Young to a three-year, $9 million contract, and to his credit he made a smooth transition to the 3-4 scheme when John Fox and Vic Fangio arrived in 2015. You’re not exactly looking for a unicorn here, but realize that up-and-coming pass rushers are hard to find on the open market. You’re talking about a young player with a lot of upside. There’s a swing-and-miss ratio in play. I’m not sure there’s a perfect match to a guy like Young, who was coming out of his rookie contract with the Lions, who will be available. Trent Murphy had a career-high nine sacks and three forced fumbles for the Redskins in 2016, but he tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee in the preseason opener last summer and you’d have to feel pretty good about the medical information before committing to him. Murphy, 27, was also suspended for the first four regular-season games last season for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs so you’d have to receive satisfactory answers from him in regards to that transgression. Jerry Attaochu was a second-round pick by the Chargers in 2014 from Georgia Tech. He played in only four games last season as he battled injuries and was a healthy scratch at times. But Attaochu, who is only 25, had six sacks back in 2015 and is athletic at 6-foot-3, 252 pounds. Could he blossom with a change of scenery? I don’t know the answer to that, but he doesn’t project quite like Young, who did have a lot of quarterback pressures (without sacks) in his final year in Detroit. Former No. 3 overall pick Dion Jordan has been an absolute bust, but he produced four sacks in five games for the Seahawks last season. Offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich could certainly offer insight on the former Duck, who missed the entire 2015 and 2016 seasons.

I’ve heard that the Bears will run a West Coast system and also a spread style offense with lots of RPOs. From my limited understanding, the West Coast offense is pretty much the opposite of the spread. So are the Bears doing a hybrid of the two? I feel like that could end up being jack of all trades, master of none or best of both worlds. Can you help clear this up for me? — Joshua S., Chicago, from email That’s a good question. I think the best way to answer it is the Bears are going to be a core West Coast scheme while mixing in spread concepts. That’s what Andy Reid has successfully done in Kansas City and really something he started in Philadelphia when Michael Vick had a lot of success at quarterback for the Eagles. The Bears are going to major in the quick game and use a lot of play action and movement and they will minor in spread concepts and RPOs. As I noted in the mailbag last week when I spoke to Eugene Chung, the Eagles assistant offensive line/tight ends coach, RPOs aren’t the primary engine of the offense. Chung coached under Reid previously and with Nagy and he said, “It’s a nice wrinkle to your game, but it can’t be a meat-and-potatoes type thing. It’s just another way of running a play.” When the Bears get their offense rolling, they will be able to create matchups at all three levels of the field. Hopefully it works like it does for the Eagles and Chiefs. It seems no one mentions Josh Gordon as a possibility in free agency. I know he has a rough past to say the least, but he is a talented player. I may be wrong, but I think he's an unrestricted free agent. — Bill F., Parts Unknown, from email Gordon is an exclusive-rights free agent and most people expect the Browns to tender him. The Bears charged into the offseason by hiring coach Matt Nagy to replace John Fox, a move that triggered a slew of other staff changes in January. After Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis on Feb. 4, it won’t be long before league business heats up again. Here’s a rundown of meaningful dates and deadlines that make up the Bears’ 2018 offseason calendar. (Rich Campbell) (Rich Campbell) I’ve read a lot of comments from fans and “experts” about how various players should be cut or signed or kept. But last year’s coaching staff really struggled taking advantage of players’ strengths. Shouldn’t it take some time for this staff to objectively evaluate what the players on offense can do? Was last year really a fair evaluation? What if Hroniss Grasu, just one example, can actually play center? — John R., Saigon, Vietnam, from email You make some fair points that will certainly be considered by the Bears as they plot the moves that will lead them into the new league year beginning March 14. I agree that if they see an underperforming player from 2017 being a fit for what they would like to do, absolutely they will keep that player around. They have plenty of salary-cap flexibility, so that’s not going to sway them one way or the other. It’s about projection, fit and durability. I don’t know if Grasu is a great example because he remains under contract on his rookie deal and will almost surely be with the team heading into training camp. I don’t know if he’s an example of a player who will suddenly be what the team expected when he was drafted in the third round, but I get your point. Perhaps the new offensive staff views tight end Dion Sims similarly to the way the front office did last March when he was signed in free agency. If that’s the case, he could certainly return. Maybe cornerback Marcus Cooper projects as at least a No. 3 cornerback with the thinking that 2018 will be a fresh start for him the way 2017 proved to be a fresh start for Kyle Fuller. I'm increasingly skeptical that wish-list free-agent wide receivers like Allen Robinson and Sammy Watkins will be available when Ryan Pace comes calling, so what do you think of the potential of a Bears WR corps featuring Jarvis Landry, Paul Richardson and Albert Wilson? In the event that the FA market for pass catchers truly dries up, do you see the Bears engineering a Brandin Cooks-like trade? — David D., Rogers Park, from email I’m with you that I doubt Robinson or Watkins will reach the open market, but we won’t know for a couple of weeks. Keep in mind Tuesday is the first day teams can begin applying the franchise/transition tag to players with the deadline being 3 p.m. on March 6. Landry has been wildly productive throughout his career with the Dolphins and if he reaches the open market, the first thing you have to do is ask one question: If Landry was that good in Miami why didn’t the Dolphins keep him? He’s a slot receiver and averaged fewer than 10 yards per reception last season. Could he be a nice safety blanket for quarterback Mitch Trubisky? Yes, and he could provide more value than that. Are there reasons to think twice about Landry? Probably, especially if the price tag climbs north of $10 million per season. I don’t know if Landry is the kind of receiver who’s going to strike fear in opposing defensive coordinators. If I’m paying a wide receiver $10 million or more per season, I want the opponent to feel like they’ve got to scheme to handle that player. Richardson is a deep threat but has durability concerns. Wilson, 25, knows the offense that coach Matt Nagy will be installing having played in Kansas City. He had a career-best season with 42 receptions for 554 yards and three touchdowns but had only three games with more than four catches last season and one with more than five when he caught 10 balls for 147 yards in the season finale against the Broncos. Wilson makes a lot of sense at the right price but doesn’t project as close to a No. 1. As far as a trade, the Bears would have to love the player they were getting to do something like give up a first- or even a second-round draft pick. Matt Nagy is going to run a West Coast offense with some spread offense thrown in. Jordan Howard can't catch. How in the world is he going to be good in the new offense? A back in the West Coast offense is going to get a lot of passes. I don't know what the Bears plan to do with Howard, but I don't see how this works at all. — Jeff H., Berkeley, Calif., from email

Your concerns about Howard’s ability as a receiver are well-founded. He tied for ninth in the league with five dropped passes last season, a conservative figure from STATS, and that was on only 32 targets. The first thing you should consider is that the offense will likely change in terms of the running game. If Nagy incorporates more of the inside zone runs that are a staple of the Chiefs system, you’re talking about a playbook that probably fits Howard’s strengths better. That will allow him to make a cut and get downhill more quickly than he did on a lot of the plays the Bears ran in the previous scheme. I think most people agree that will fit Howard’s frame and his physical strengths better. In terms of the passing game, Howard is probably never going to be great. But Kareem Hunt was decent, not great, as a receiver for the Chiefs during his rookie season. If the Bears put him in different routes, maybe in situations where he sees the ball better, perhaps he can be a little more effective. He did gain 289 yards on 29 receptions as a rookie and that was a decent start and a very nice average especially when you consider there wasn’t one huge gain that skewed the number. Howard’s longest reception that season went for 34 yards. His 5.4-yard per-catch average in 2017 was not acceptable. Again, I think that will improve in the new scheme. Do you think Mike Glennon will get a shot to start for another team? If not, after the Bears release him would they consider re-signing him (at a much lower rate) to back up Mitch Trubisky? — Eric H., Houston, from email I do not believe Glennon will be handed a starting job with another team, but he could certainly find work as a backup and some have speculated he could potentially return to Tampa Bay. Buccaneers coach Dirk Koetter liked Glennon and the Bucs preferred to keep him as the backup to Jameis Winston last season. Ryan Fitzpatrick served as the backup last season and he is a free agent. I doubt the Bears will consider Glennon at a reduced rate. The team and Glennon need to go their separate ways. Is there a scenario where the Bears can draft guard Quenton Nelson but still keep Josh Sitton for his last contractual year? — @Terrence_J_Naus from Twitter Yes, and I’ve said as much in a previous mailbag. There’s no reason the Bears could not retain Sitton and then draft Nelson. Even if the Bears pick up the 2018 option in Sitton’s contract before the March 9 deadline, the contract is not guaranteed if they do. It wouldn’t be the best situation for the player, but the Bears could execute the contract and then change their mind on Sitton before the season begins. I tend to think the team would prefer to avoid that option, but business is business and he has been well compensated for two seasons and would likely be able to find work. Any idea of how available tickets are for the Hall of Fame game typically? — @eyopper I’d imagine that tickets at face value will not be difficult to procure for those interested in heading to Canton, Ohio, to see the Bears kick off preseason against the Ravens on Thursday, Aug. 2. Tickets go on sale at 9 a.m. Friday and will be available at http://www.profootballhof.com/tickets/. The induction ceremony for Brian Urlacher will be Saturday, Aug. 4. How do you see Ryan Pace filling the backup QB void with Mike Glennon most likely to be cut? — @nickmau91 My best guess is the Bears will seek a veteran to serve as the No. 2 behind Mitch Trubisky. You can’t rule out the possibility the Bears will use a draft pick on a quarterback, but considering the wealth of needs elsewhere and the benefit of having an experienced player in a reserve role, I tend to think they go the veteran route. A look at key members of Matt Nagy's Bears coaching staff for 2018. If the draft were held today and you were able to make the Bears’ selection at No. 8 what player would you select? — @barbersquires It’s a little fruitless to start playing mock draft before the initial wave of free agency plays out and we have more information on the prospects for the top of Round 1. It would be hard to say right now what is going to unfold in the top seven picks. How much of an impact will the new athletic trainer and strength and conditioning coaches have? I read the strength coach Jason Loscalzo has an entirely different approach than the last regime. — @dj_jaco_10 Hopefully they will make a major impact. I’d keep in mind that the thinking was the previous hires were bringing different approaches to the job when they were brought in, so different isn’t always better and let’s be honest here, it’s not like anyone has reinvented the wheel when it comes to strength and conditioning. You are correct that Loscalzo was highly regarded at Washington State where he worked under Mike Leach and the Cougars experienced some real success. “I wanted a guy who bought into my philosophy but who also had state-of-the-art knowledge of strength and conditioning and was really dedicated,” Leach said in a 2017 Seattle Times article. “I consider Jason one of the most important assets of our staff, and in a lot of cases, I view his position as elevated above the full-time assistants depending on what the (situation) is. “It gets to a point where it’s repetitious, the coaches are tired of it, the players are tired of it. But you have to resist that and continue to make it interesting and exciting and challenging, and do it consistently and effectively. There’s points where it’s going to be a grind, and you need a guy who’s going to lead the grind too.” As far as Loscalzo’s approach, here is something he said in that same Seattle Times piece: “There’s no strength coach out there that has his own style. It’s all borrowing and stealing from others. … The No. 1 thing to keep people healthy is to keep them strong. In my thought process, being strong prevents a lot of injuries. It’s the catastrophic ones you’ve got to train for, the ACL (tears) and everything.”