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[Chicago Bears]

Bears superlatives for 2025 offseason

Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

WCG’s lead draft analyst analyzes his “superlatives” for the Bears’ choices in the 2025 offseason.

Superlatives are a fun way to shake up your typical lists or rankings and present them in a new format. Fun fact: I was voted the Best Male Dancer in the Benet Academy graduating class in 2019, but I’m sure nobody cares about that, because I’m ugly and stupid.

On Sunday, I created some superlatives of my own and applied them to specific moves the Chicago Bears have made in the 2025 NFL offseason.

My superlatives for the #Bears offseason:

• Best move: Ben Johnson
• Worst move: Dayo Odeyingbo
• Slept-on move: Drew Dalman
• Surprising move: Luther Burden III
• Cautiously optimistic: Jonah Jackson
• Favorite Day 3 pick: Zah Frazier

— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) July 7, 2025​

I tweeted this before a BABYMETAL concert, though I’m sure nobody cares about that fact, either.

The Bears were incredibly active between free agency, the 2025 NFL Draft, and the hiring of a new head coach and corresponding coordinators. A lot changed between the start of January and now, meaning there’s a lot of change to consider when making these superlatives.

Here are my explanations behind each of my choices.

Best move: Ben Johnson​

I considered the trade for Joe Thuney here, seeing as though the Bears got a first-team All-Pro offensive guard for just a fourth-round pick. However, I can’t help but come back to the slam-dunk head coaching hire they made.

I’ve been on record saying I think Ben Johnson was the best first-year head coaching candidate since Kyle Shanahan in 2017. That stayed firm before the Bears hired him, and I’ll remain on that bandwagon to this day. He dominated as the Lions’ offensive coordinator, resurrecting Jared Goff’s career and leading the offense to incredible heights.

The Lions were top-five in the league in yards per game, points per game, and PFSN’s Offense+ metric all three seasons that Johnson was their offensive play caller. For a Bears team who know firsthand the difference coaching can make in a game, bringing him in should be a breath of fresh air. I truly believe Ryan Poles hit a home run here.

Worst move: Dayo Odeyingbo​

There was a clear vision with the Bears signing Dayo Odeyingbo: betting on a traitsy player and anticipating that his best football is ahead of him. I just don’t think I agree with that approach.

There’s a lot to like with Odeyingbo, as he’s a massive edge rusher with elite length and good size-adjusted athleticism. He’s produced before, as he had eight sacks in 2023, and he’s still only 25 years old.

That said, I don’t think he’s enough of a finished product to warrant the $16 million a year they’re paying him. His average salary is 20th among all edge rushers. However, among edge rushers last year, he was 55th in PFF pass-rushing grade (150 snaps or more), 93rd in sacks and 44th in pressures.

The Bears are paying $12 million more a year to a player who wasn’t much better last year than DeMarcus Walker, whom they cut this offseason. Odeyingbo is younger and has more upside. But if he didn’t put it all together in his four years of playing NFL football in Indianapolis, I’m not sold he suddenly lives up to his price tag in Year 5.

Slept-on move: Drew Dalman​

“But Jacob, how can Drew Dalman be a slept on move”, say the fat losers everywhere. Nay, Dalman has widely been heralded as one of the best centers in the league, and it was a big deal when the Bears signed him.

However, I’d say the surprise of other moves dimmed the spotlight that Dalman’s signing in Chicago deserved. Amidst the Colston Loveland selection, the trade for Thuney, signing Grady Jarrett out of the blue, plus one more move I’ll get to soon, there was a lot that happened in favor of the Bears this offseason.

Dalman was almost everybody’s dream signing in free agency, and getting him almost felt like a foregone conclusion, given the Bears’ need at center and their large amount of cap space to work with. He’s been a top-five center each of the last two seasons.

I’m excited to see what Dalman can provide for the Bears’ offensive line. After years of instability and poor play at center, he should be able to give them the anchor they’ve been looking for.

Surprising move: Luther Burden III​

As a Mizzou alumnus, the Bears’ selection of Luther Burden III was a pick I was absolutely stoked about. He’s my favorite college football player of all time, considering my fandom of the team he played for. It just wasn’t a pick I was expecting.

Heading into Round 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Bears still had a few more needs left to fill. There are a few talented running backs and offensive and defensive linemen still available. After taking Loveland in Round 1, I didn’t think they’d take another pass-catching weapon with their next pick.

As TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins both came off the board, I had no idea where the Bears would go with the No. 39 pick. When I heard they selected Burden, I was jumping for joy.

Not only did I not expect the Bears would take a wide receiver that early, but I also didn’t think Burden would fall that far. I had him as my No. 18 overall prospect on my board, and I figured one of the receiver-needy teams like the Browns, Texans or Patriots would have selected him earlier.

Time will tell if that pick (and my reaction) actually ages well. However, I think Burden has WR1 potential if he can further develop his route tree. His explosiveness, agility, YAC creativity, ball skills and contact balance are all very impressive.

Cautiously optimistic: Jonah Jackson​

The Bears made the call before the start of free agency to trade for Jonah Jackson, reuniting him with his former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson after he played one season with the Rams. They also made the call to extend him another year, locking him in through 2027.

This was a bold move for Poles, seeing as though Jackson is coming off of an injury-shortened year in 2024. He disappointed in the Rams’ first two games at guard and center, got hurt, played in one game and got benched, then returned to the starting lineup for one more game in Week 18.

Granted, Jackson played at right guard in that Week 18 game — the position he’ll play with the Bears — and he finished with a 91.8 PFF grade on 66 snaps. He was a Pro Bowl guard under Johnson in Detroit, and there’s still plenty of upside to tap into.

I liked the trade for the Bears, seeing as though they only gave up a sixth-round pick to take a shot on him. Adding an extra year to his contract is what gives me pause. However, if Johnson trusts him and knows he can succeed in his system, who am I to question it?

Favorite Day 3 pick: Zah Frazier​

I thought about going with Kyle Monangai here, as the former Rutgers running back has the chance to contribute right away as a seventh-round rookie for the Bears. As much as I like that pick, I decided to shake it up and go with Zah Frazier for this last superlative.

Frazier is a big question mark, seeing as though he’s a one-year FBS starter at a Group of 5 school. He was UTSA’s highest-rated recruit as a JUCO transfer, and he lived up to the hype in 2024 with six interceptions and nine pass deflections.

Zah Frazier is a CB prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 9.35 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 179 out of 2752 CB from 1987 to 2025.https://t.co/eBK9KiaAX7 pic.twitter.com/VcX9MWOF92

— RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 3, 2025​

6’3” cornerback with nearly 33-inch arms and 4.3 speed don’t grow on trees. Frazier is a physical specimen with the ball skills from his early days as a wide receiver to make him a serious playmaking threat in the secondary.

Frazier is very raw as a technician, as his route-recognition skills are average, and his hip fluidity and pad level in his backpedal need to be improved. He’ll be a backup for the Bears in 2025, but if he develops properly, he has eventual starting upside in the NFL.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...draft-free-agency-ben-johnson-dayo-dalman-zah

 

[Chicago Bears]

The Bear’s Den, July 8, 2025

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Pundits rank Bears offensive line, Loveland high this preseason

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THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

DENMASTER KEN’S VIDEO GRAB BAG

BEARRRSSSS​

Chicago Bears mailbag: Did they finally get it right with Ben Johnson, Caleb Williams? - The Athletic - Heading into training camp, what’s on the minds of Bears fans? Did they finally get it right at coach and QB? Will Cole Kmet be traded?

2025 NFL offensive line rankings: Eagles, Broncos lead the way, Bears up to fourth. - Things are set to look a lot different in Chicago. Not only is the offensive line remolded, but it’s also perhaps the most improved unit in the NFL.

2015 NFL Redraft: Rebuilding the first round based on PFF grades and data, Bears make huge change - At the time, Kevin White was viewed as the next Julio Jones-type receiver, boasting a 4.35-second 40-yard dash at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds. But injuries early in his career dashed hopes of that level of production.

2025 NFL All-Rookie Team: Projecting 11 instant-impact newcomers on offense - NFL.com - Colston Loveland makes the list. Standing 6-6, 241 pounds, Loveland is a tight end who runs routes with the fluidity of a wideout. That’s what makes him special. And that’s what made Sam LaPorta a rookie Pro Bowler under Ben Johnson in Detroit, so it stands to reason that Johnson will get the most out of Loveland in Chicago.

2025 NFL offseason: Biggest surprise players on each team - ESPN - Ben Johnson singled out Ruben Hyppolite as the player that Bears coaches saw the most improvement from this spring. With veteran T.J. Edwards sidelined with a soft tissue injury, Hyppolite got a lot of run with the starting defense at a position he doesn’t have much experience at (weakside linebacker) after playing middle linebacker throughout his career at Maryland.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Mark Davis: Al Davis loved Las Vegas, would love seeing where the Raiders are now - NBC Sports - The legendary Raiders owner Al Davis died in 2011, having moved his franchise from Oakland to Los Angeles and back, but he didn't live to see his team in Las Vegas.

Report: Nyheim Hines wants to find a team for training camp - NBC Sports - Nyheim Hines would like another shot.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON​

Bears superlatives for 2025 offseason - Windy City Gridiron - WCG’s lead draft analyst analyzes his “superlatives” for the Bears’ choices in the 2025 offseason.

2025 Chicago Bears Training Camp Battle: WR3: Burden vs Zaccheaus - Windy City Gridiron - Luther Burden and Olamide Zaccheaus will battle it out for WR3.

10 Most Important Bears of 2025: #8 Grady Jarrett - Windy City Gridiron - Grady Jarrett was released by the Atlanta Falcons just a couple of hours before the early negotiation period for free agency was about to start, and the Chicago Bears worked quickly to ink him to a...

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Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...-offseason-draft-ben-johnson-colston-loveland

 

[Chicago Bears]

Training Camp Battles: Kicker: Cairo Santos vs Jonathan Kim

Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images

Does Cairo Santos have his spot locked up or will Jonathan Kim challenge him?

Our next training camp battle will be fully determined by the challenger.

I think basically all Chicago Bears fans understand the limitations of Cairo Santos. The Bears don’t need to be actively pursuing his replacement right now. He’s a reliable kicker, being virtually automatic from inside 40 yards. But Santos’ issues are that he isn’t nearly as reliable when kicks are a little further out.

Santos isn’t awful beyond 40 yards, but he’s pedestrian. He only made 5 of his 8 kicks from 40 to 49 yards, and while he was quite good from 50+ (he was 8 for 9 last year), the problem is that Santos' 50+ attempts are usually just 51 or 52 yards long. He has hit a few times from 54 or 55, but those are usually indoors or aided by the wind. He just doesn’t have the type of leg that good teams have at that spot.

Santos is under contract for the next three seasons, but at this point, it isn’t too difficult for the Bears to get out from under his contract. It’s a good situation for the Bears. They have Santos for the next three years at an affordable rate, but they can replace him whenever they see fit.

Enter Jonathan Kim.

Kim spent six seasons in college football. He spent four years at North Carolina and rarely played, but thanks to all the extended careers around COVID, he was able to transfer to Michigan State two seasons ago.

Kim’s 2023 season was a little suspect, making just 13 of 18 field goals, but last season he jumped to going 19 for 21 and earning second-team All-Big Ten. Last season, Kim made 3 of 4 from 50+ and was 8 for 8 from 40 to 49. Any kicker that makes 11 for 12 from beyond 40 is going to get looks by NFL teams. Kim’s long last season was 55 yards, which matches Santos’ career long as well. Kim’s long in 2023 was 58 yards, well beyond the range of Santos.

Kim was considered a good kicking prospect, but not elite. Of the draft websites that rank kickers, none had Kim in the top five kickers.

But Kim has an NFL leg and showed significant improvement from 2023 to 2024. If Kim comes in and impresses the Bears, especially from 50+ yards, they will absolutely have to consider him to take over for Santos this season.

However, if Kim looks like most rookies do and has some inconsistencies in his game in training camp and potentially in preseason games as well, Kim is going to find himself being released before week one, and Santos will remain the Bears' kicker, at least for this season.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...p-battles-kicker-cairo-santos-vs-jonathan-kim

 

[Chicago Bears]

Ranking the Bears' Biggest Rivals in 2025 and Beyond

Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

Taking a look at the Bears’ biggest rivals entering the upcoming NFL season

The spirit of competition in sports naturally breeds rivalry. While highly-contested play is largely the biggest reason for a rivalry to blossom, there is no doubt a number of factors and causes that can bring just a little more edge and hostility to what might otherwise be “friendly competition.” In a league that is more than 100 years old, like the NFL, that is certainly no exception.

With the recent schedule announcement and much of the offseason staff/roster excitement behind us, now is a great time for me to assess and rank my top 10 Chicago Bears rivals heading into the 2025 season.

Honorable Mentions (Bears’ All-time Record, including playoffs):​

Atlanta Falcons (16-14), Dallas Cowboys (12-16), and Pittsburgh Steelers (19-8-1)

Philip G. Pavely-Imagn Images

The first three teams I have missing the cut here share one thing in common – familiar faces. Specifically, a former Coach, General Manager, and… owner? The key one is Matt Eberflus, former Bears Head Coach, who has now taken over as the Defensive Coordinator in Dallas. Atlanta, meanwhile, has enjoyed the services of former Bears General Manager Ryan Pace as a front office executive since 2022. Obviously, I make the “owner” comment in jest as I refer to new Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers, but his history with Chicago is well-documented at this point. It’s worth adding that Eberflus and Pace likely played big roles in luring fan favorite former Bears like Jack Sanborn and Darnell Mooney to Dallas and Atlanta, respectively.

Ultimately, though, there isn’t enough strength in the recent history of these matchups (even the notorious Cassius Marsh – Steelers game) to warrant any of them taking the place of another team on this ranking.

10: Kansas City Chiefs (7-7 All-time, 0-1 2020s)​

David Banks-Imagn Images

Let’s all count to 10 together, shall we? Obviously, if the Bears could manage to be halfway competitive in competition against the Chiefs, this could easily fly up the rankings. Even so, the fact that the Bears could have selected Patrick Mahomes in place of Mitch Trubisky in the 2017 draft is unavoidable, and Mahomes’ greatness has stood as a reminder of the Bears’ offensive futility ever since (that said, I’ve always felt Chicago would have limited his potential anyway).

That alone might land KC an honorable mention, if not for another familiar face in former Head Coach Matt Nagy. General consensus seems to have warmed on Nagy, now one ‘Flus removed from his run in Chicago. Still, seeing his success leaving the Bears adds a little more fuel to this rivalry.

9: Jacksonville Jaguars (6-3 All-time, 2-0 2020s)​

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Jacksonville is an interesting one. On one hand, they bungled their initial coaching search this offseason, which *may* have resulted in the Bears landing Ben Johnson without having to worry about them. Many thought Chicago and Jacksonville could be Johnson’s top 2 landing spots.

On the other hand, that bungling resulted in their delayed GM vacancy and interview process that led to Bears Assistant GM Ian Cunningham being pulled away from his usual responsibilities as he pursued the Jaguars GM job. We’ll never know what kind of impact that may have had on the Bears’ draft process, but Cunningham wasn’t selected for the job, the Bears weren’t rewarded compensatory draft picks, and this entanglement with Jacksonville was established that will see Ben Johnson directly compared to new Jacksonville Head Coach Liam Coen.

Both offensive-minded head coaches will also have a 2024 1st-round WR at their disposal in the Bears’ Rome Odunze, selected at number 9 overall, and the Jaguars’ Brian Thomas Jr., the very next receiver taken at number 23 overall.

8: New York Jets (9-4 All-time, 0-1 2020s)​

John Jones-Imagn Images

The Jets are a team that have multiple layers to a rivalry with the Bears. I’m sure most of you reading this are immediately jumping to the Justin Fields connection, and that’s completely fair. Fields stepping into the starting role for the J-E-T-S, less than 2 years removed from being serenaded by “we want Justin” chants in his final game for the Bears at Soldier Field, is the most interesting element to this one.

Caleb Williams vs Justin Fields will always be a story worth keeping an eye on, even if most fans in Chicago don’t hold any negativity towards the latter. The additional layer to this rivalry comes from the new coaches as both Ben Johnson and new Jets Head Coach, Aaron Glenn, took their new posts this offseason after departing the Detroit Lions coaching staff. It will be intriguing to see how Johnson’s Bears compare to Glenn (former Lions DC) and his Jets in the coming years.

7: Las Vegas Raiders (9-8 All-time, 2-0 2020s)​

Candice Ward-Imagn Images

The Raiders are another team on this list that was considered to be a suitor for Ben Johnson this offseason. However, unlike others, Las Vegas was perhaps the team most likely to have tempted the then-Lions OC to take their vacancy. If you can put yourself back in time, you may recall that many actually expected Tom Brady’s Raiders to do just that after the Lions had been eliminated from the playoffs.

Fortunately, that wasn’t to be, and instead, Pete Carroll finds himself in the desert with Geno Smith in tow. The Bears have gotten the better of the recent matchups, but the Ben Johnson saga seems to have fired up an already fiery Raiders fanbase and with both teams looking to reestablish themselves this season, there’s plenty of fuel for a rivalry to burn here.

6: Carolina Panthers (9-4 All-time, 3-0 2020s)​

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

This feels like the point where things are officially heating up. The Panthers are the team that got me thinking about this rivalry ranking in the first place about a year ago. In the wake of the “Bryce Young trade,” (short for the “Bryce Young for DJ Moore, Darnell Wright, Tyrique Stevenson, Caleb Williams, Tory Taylor, and Luther Burden III trade”). tensions between these otherwise neutral fanbases elevated to borderline uncomfortable levels.

Poor J.B. couldn’t even put out an obviously satirical article without getting pounced on by Sir Purr’s faithful. As a former North Carolina resident myself, I can say you hate to see people blessed with such beautiful weather get caught up in the frustration of a painfully inept franchise. As a Bears fan, I can say that it’s perfectly fine to get caught up in the frustration of a painfully inept franchise, and I get it. All joking aside, the Panthers showed some signs of life in the latter half of last season, so even though the Bears appear to have gotten the better of them, the end of this story may not yet have been written.

5: New England Patriots (5-11 All-time, 1-1 2020s)​

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

While the Bears’ new Head Coach has thus far been a common theme in a few rivalries, another theme to look for is the Bears’ starting quarterback: Caleb Williams. Williams obviously was taken 1st overall in the 2024 draft, a draft which featured one of the most highly-touted QB classes in recent history and has (at least through one season) not disappointed.

One of the most notable of Williams’ peers is the New England Patriots’ Drake Maye, who was selected with the 3rd overall pick. Not only will Williams and Maye be continuously linked throughout their careers, but they’ve already gone head-to-head with Maye and the Patriots getting the (unexpected) victory over the Bears at Soldier Field last season. Of course, you can sprinkle in a little coaching intrigue in the form of the Ben Johnson/Mike Vrabel hires to further spice this up if you’d like, as these two were widely viewed as the sole names on the top tier of available head coaching candidates this offseason. The greater potential for sustained competition gives New England an edge over Carolina in these rankings for me.

4: Washington Commanders (25-28-1 All-time, 1-2 2020s)​

Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

Now, it should go without saying that every point I made about Drake Maye goes for Jayden Daniels to an even greater extent. Daniels was selected with the 2nd overall pick, right behind Williams, and went on to have one of the greatest rookie seasons for a quarterback ever. That season, of course, included a now infamous victory over the Bears on a Hail Mary play that signaled the derailment of the season for Chicago.

Despite the differences in record, these teams played in a classic last season and seem primed to have a rivalry for the foreseeable future, as long as the Bears are up to the task. In fact, given the intrigue of the recent matchups, the hostility that has been built, and the potential for more, I very nearly placed Washington ahead of the next team on the list, until very recent developments made it clear that just wouldn’t be possible.

3: Minnesota Vikings (58-68-2 All-time, 2-8 2020s)​

Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

At this point in the rankings, the entries shouldn’t really be as surprising (as much as I’d have loved to hit you with a wild “#2 will SHOCK you”). What might surprise you, though, is that I nearly didn’t have Minnesota ranking this high. When looking at this rivalry ranking for specifically the upcoming season, I felt pretty strongly about the case I just made for Washington, almost enough for them to overtake a division rival. But then… the book. The recent drama that emerged around Caleb Williams’ pre-draft feelings about the Bears definitely ratcheted up the intrigue in a Minnesota matchup after Williams apparently claimed to prefer the Vikings as a landing spot in the 2024 draft over Chicago.

When you add that to the historical context between the franchises and relatively competitive games a season ago, you get a really solid foundation. You can throw the Kevin Warren factor in, if you’d like, since the Bears' President and CEO previously served as the Vikings' COO, but what’s most interesting to me about this rivalry is watching the path each team has taken since 2022. That was the year in which both teams had a vacancy at both GM and Head Coach. The Bears hired Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus and are now onto Ben Johnson, while the Vikings hired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell and have made two playoff appearances.

2: Detroit Lions (105-80-5 All-time, 4-6 2020s)​

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

The runner-up is this ranking is the team that pulled off the kind of franchise turnaround that everyone in Chicago is hoping to emulate. In fact, they lured away one of the key figures of that turnaround to help lead the way in new Head Coach Ben Johnson. You may or may not have noticed this, but that created a little bit of hostility amongst the fanbase in the silver and blue. It’s true. While may of us Bears fans hoped or expected (maybe even manifested?) Ben Johnson’s arrival in Chicago, the fact that he chose a division rival when he had many suitors, definitely rubbed Lions fans the wrong way, particularly in the immediate aftermath of a tough playoff loss to the Washington Commanders.

Lions players have already voiced their opinions about wanting to get the best of Ben, whether they say it in the spirit of “friendly” competition or not, and that feeling is sure to be reciprocated. That’s not to mention that despite the Lions’ ascension in recent years, the Bears have managed to play them tough in recent matchups, nearly splitting wins in the 2020s, including some close games that really could or should have gone Chicago’s way. Players-wise, I’ll mention the Sewell brothers, I guess, but the David Montgomery – D’Andre Swift pseudo-trade is the more interesting element at play. All said, these will be two can’t-miss matchups in the season ahead.

1: Green Bay Packers (96-108-6 All-time, 1-9 2020s)​

Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

I mean, come on, it had to be. Right? There is certainly a case to be made regarding the level of recent competition between the Bears and Packers and how one-sided it has been in the modern era, being enough to rationalize dropping this rivalry. Even so, that feels almost sacrilegious. The 2025 Green Bay rivalry may not have the recent back-and-forth that the matchups with Detroit have seen or even some of the off-the-field intrigue that the Minnesota rivalry has had added recently, but that doesn’t mean this is coasting on pure nostalgia either.

There was certainly plenty of on-the-field drama in the most recent game between these two as Caleb Williams led the Bears into scoring position and Cairo Santos sealed a victory in Lambeau Field this past January. The players on both sides also seem to continuously buy into this rivalry, adding more weight when they go head-to-head. What’s exciting is that it seems to have even spread to the new coach, as Ben Johnson went out of his way to take a shot at the Packers' head coach, Matt LeFleur, during his introductory press conference when he cited that he “kind of enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year,” as a reason for wanting to stay in the NFC North. LeFleur, for his part, downplayed Johnson’s comments, but you have to imagine those words sitting at the back of is mind the next time these teams compete in the NFL’s most historic rivalry.

So, with the dust settled and a total of 13 teams named, how do you feel about this ranking? Are there any teams that I left out that deserve a spot, or maybe just a team that you feel is placed too high/low? This was a fun exercise to work through, and I’d love to see what the rest of the fanbase has to say about the Bears’ biggest rivals entering the upcoming season.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...ackers-patriots-commanders-lions-vikings-jets

 

[Chicago Bears]

Five veterans with the most to prove to stick around for 2026

Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

With Training Camp just over two weeks away, it’s time to start looking ahead. With a projected cap crunch coming next season, these five veterans have the most to prove in 2025 in order to stick around following the season.

As the NFL offseason winds down and teams start to prepare for the 2025 regular season, there’s a dead period between the final practice of mandatory minicamp and the start of training camp. This allows teams to assess their current rosters while also exploring what the next few years could look like in terms of the cap. For a team like the Chicago Bears, there have been plenty of big contracts handed out in 2025 that will have impacts far beyond this one season.

Bears fans have grown accustomed to a significant amount of cap flexibility over the last few seasons. After all, most bad teams usually have plenty of money to spend. The bigger issue is having enough good players to spend cap space on and ultimately meet the cash floor in those three years. Over the last three years, the Bears have consistently ranked in the Top 10 in available cap space throughout the offseason. With a new coaching staff and higher expectations, General Manager Ryan Poles spent more money in 2025 than he had in the previous three offseasons.

As a result, their cap outlook for 2026 appears tight on the surface. As of now, Chicago is projected to be $7.26 million over the cap when accounting for getting to the 51-player minimum. That, of course, is based on Over The Cap’s assumed $295.5 million cap for 2026 and does not account for any rollovers. Although this should not cause panic among the fanbase, it’s fair to say that they will have to make some tough roster decisions next year. Those decisions will come in the way of cuts, restructures, and allowing players to test the market. We’ll take a look at five players to keep an eye on this season, who are ultimately playing for their futures in Chicago.

1. LB Tremaine Edmunds​

No player on this list has more pressure on him than Edmunds heading into the 2025 season. With T.J. Edwards signing a two-year extension and a crunch to next year’s salary cap, Edmunds is going to need to have a career year to be retained. The former Bill has had a lackluster two years in Chicago, coming off a career year in Buffalo. His size, speed, and length have always been intriguing, but his inability to stay consistent has plagued him for most of his career.

Edmunds signed a four-year, $72 million deal in 2023, and due to the structure of that deal, he was essentially guaranteed three years of the contract. 2026 is a different story, and for a team like the Bears, who will be strapped against the cap, he’s their best candidate for a big chunk of cap relief. Barring an All-Pro type of season, there’s a very good chance that he’s playing his last year in Chicago.

2026 Cap Ramifications: $17.483 million cap hit with $15 million in savings (if released)

2. TE Cole Kmet​

Without such an expensive offseason that will hit even harder in 2026, it would have been much easier to feel better about Kmet’s future beyond this season. Instead, the 26-year-old’s future in Chicago is firmly in question. Heading into the offseason, most had expected Kmet to be a focal point of the offense under Johnson. Instead, the team went out and spent their No. 10 overall pick on Colston Loveland, who should be a perfect fit for this offense in the Sam LaPorta role.

So, where does that leave Kmet?

Historically, rookie tight ends tend to start slow. So, it should not be a surprise to see the former Notre Dame product heavily involved in the offense in the early stages of the season. The back half of the season should be more telling. Once Loveland is healthy and gets his feet under him at the NFL level, fans should expect to see him as a featured piece in this offense. Looking back at Johnson’s tight end usage in Detroit, it’s fair to expect their TE1 to see 70% (or more) of the total offensive snaps, and TE2 to eclipse the 50% mark.

Even so, can the Bears afford to pay Kmet’s $11.6 million cap hit? In theory, yes. Due to the modern-day structure of NFL contracts, they could allocate additional funds to keep him under contract. The money saved on a trade or release might be too much to pass up, though. Especially if there are more holes than anticipated heading into next offseason. The only way Kmet can ensure his roster spot is safe heading into 2026 is to have a career year, which might be difficult if he sees less time on the field.

2026 Cap Ramifications: $11.6 million cap hit with $8.4 million in savings (if traded or released pre-June 1st)

3. LT Braxton Jones​

Jones has been nothing short of a success story for a fifth-round pick who was plucked from a small school. The fact that he was able to step in from Day 1 and develop into a quality starting left tackle was one of general manager Ryan Poles’ best success stories. That being said, injuries have begun to pile up, and the Bears cannot afford to pay another offensive lineman responsibly. Next year alone, the Bears will be spending roughly $59.5 million on six linemen, including Ozzy Trapilo and Kiran Amgegadjie. A year later, Darnell Wright is projected to cost the team close to $18 million if they choose to exercise his fifth-year option.

Simply put, it’s hard to imagine many scenarios where the Bears can afford to pay four of their starting five offensive linemen $14 million or more per season in 2026. This was always the risk with their offseason approach of paying three interior linemen good money.

Call it a hunch, but it would be a surprise if Trapilo didn’t receive every opportunity to win the Week 1 starting job at left tackle. Despite the talk of potentially moving Wright to left tackle, that’s a scenario that would require two, maybe three plans to go horribly wrong. At worst, Jones is their starting left tackle to open the season. Realistically, he’s likely to produce a more balanced season than Trapilo or Amegadjie. Even so, this is the type of decision that requires a long-term outlook, which is why it’s fair to expect Trapilo to have multiple opportunities to win the starting job from the outset.

Assuming that one of Trapilo or Amegadjie can grab the job by the horns and run with it, Bears fans shouldn’t be surprised to see Jones shopped once he’s healthy. Although we are weeks away from finding out how this will all play out, it would take multiple situations going Jones’ way for him to be back in Chicago next season.

2026 Cap Ramifications: Projected Unrestricted Free Agent (Projected Contract Floor: Dan Moore four years, $82 million with $50 million guaranteed)

Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images

4. CB Tyrique Stevenson​

By all accounts, this is a big season in the career of Stevenson. Following a promising rookie campaign in 2023, adversity struck for the majority of last year. Even before the disastrous Hail Mary in Washington, Stevenson was not playing at a high level. Following the blunder, he was routinely benched and appeared to lose all confidence. He finished the season on a better note, but to label him anything more than an unknown heading into Year 3 would be optimistic.

The good news for Stevenson: He’ll have a relatively clean slate with the new coaching staff.

The potential bad news for Stevenson: He’s already accounted for enough playing time over his first two years to qualify on the Level 2 Proven Performance Escalator fourth-year rookie contract scale. This means that his projected $2.052 million cap hit for 2026 converts to an original round tender (projected at $3.453 million), plus an additional $250,000 for reaching level two, and his prorated bonus figure of $422,637 that registers as dead money. His actual cap hit would more than double.

Simply thinking out loud, it’s hard to imagine a team snug against the cap wanting to pay a player $4.126 million if they aren’t sure he’s an ascending player. That’s not to say that Stevenson will struggle again this year, but due to these escalators in each non-first-round pick’s contract, the former Miami product’s future is more clouded than it would be at $2.052 million. If he plays well, it’s a no-brainer. If someone like Zah Frazier starts earning rotational reps with the starters as the season goes on, Stevenson could be a cut or trade candidate heading into next offseason.

2026 Cap Ramifications: $4.126 million cap hit with $422,637 in dead cap. (Projected at a PPE2 amount as a fourth-year player)

5. S Elijah Hicks ​

The top four names on this list have been associated with a more negative connotation due to their financial ramifications. The last player of the five is here for the opposite reason. Looking at the Bears’ 2026 depth chart, there isn’t a single safety there, unless you’re optimistic that Major Burns and Tysheem Johnson will crack the final 53-man roster in September.

Kevin Byard will be 32 before the start of Week 1, and Jaquan Brisker’s concussion issues are well-documented. Although there’s a chance they could look to retain one of these names, settling on a value for an often-injured player like Brisker will be a challenging task. Instead, fans shouldn’t be surprised to see Hicks getting more playing time in this defense. New defensive coordinator Dennis Allen typically deploys five to six defensive backs in his subpackages. This means that even when a player like Kyler Gordon is on the field as the nickel, there will be plenty of opportunities for a sixth defensive back to make their mark. On paper, that could be Hicks, as he has the versatility at safety or even cornerback.

With no real answers heading into next season, giving Hicks an extended look to prove himself as a capable starter should be high on their priority list. It would be cheaper than overspending in free agency, and more reliable than expecting a rookie to play like an NFL veteran in their first year. Of all the Bears’ upcoming free agents, Hicks has one of the better chances to establish his value and get a multi-year extension next year.

2026 Cap Ramifications: Projected Unrestricted Free Agent

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...stick-around-for-2026-starting-with-cole-kmet

 

[Chicago Bears]

How Ben Johnson’s ‘Stumblebum’ came together

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Bears’ fans, it’s okay, we can reflect on the play because Ben Johnson is ours now.

In last year’s Week 16 game, Caleb Williams hit Keenan Allen in the waning seconds of the first half to pull the Chicago Bears within 13 points of the Detroit Lions. Detroit missed a long field goal as the second quarter ended, and the teams went into the locker room with the score 27 to 14.

The Lions got the ball to start the third quarter, and their offense picked up where it left off, moving 43 yards in four plays, with a Chicago penalty mixed in, and they had a first and ten from the Bears’ 21-yard line.

And then Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson called Stumblebum.

Lions’ quarterback Jared Goff took the snap from under center, feigned a stumble on his dropback, stood tall, and hit a wide-open Sam LaPorta for a touchdown.

For as disheartening as it was for Bears’ fans, it had to have the opposite effect on Lions’ fans.

I know, I know, that play sucked.

But now that Ben Johnson is wearing the Navy and Orange, I think it’s okay to look back on it and wonder what type of pizazz he’ll cook up at Halas Hall.

Check out Goff explaining how the play came about in this clip from Netflix’s Quarterback Season 2.

The origin and practice that went into Stumblebum, one of the greatest trick plays ever by the Detroit Lions.

Quarterback Season 2 is now playing. pic.twitter.com/TJywnQmCDo

— Netflix Sports (@netflixsports) July 10, 2025​

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...umblebum-came-together-jared-goff-sam-laporta

 

[Chicago Bears]

Checking the Chicago Bears player odds

Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images

Want to light your money on fire?

Now that it’s mid-July, hot, you’ve had your share of fireworks, the beach, the sunburn, the cookouts and all of that.

You’re itching for football. And you’re counting down the days.

And maybe you’re perusing futures bets.

Remember, always gamble responsibly. Don’t bet more than you can afford to lose and all of that.

Let’s check in on some Chicago Bears player odds.

I’m not looking at any specific book because they aren’t sponsoring me (my DMs are open, though, sportsbooks). So be sure to shop around for the best odds.

These are the odds for the player to be the league-leading player in yards in their position group.

Caleb Williams - +2500 (25/1)

D’Andre Swift - +8000 (80/1)

DJ Moore - +5000 (50/1)

Rome Odunze - +10000 (100/1)

To lead the league in touchdowns among their respective position groups:

Williams - +2500

Swift - +10000

Moore - +3000

Odunze - +10000

And to check in on some over/unders for the season:

Williams - O/U 3550.5 passing yards, 23.5 passing TD, 425.5 rushing yards

Moore - O/U 975.5 receiving yards, 6.5 TDs

Odunze - O/U 800.5 receiving yards, 5.5 TDs

Are any of these lines appealing to you? Any bets you’re going to make?

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...g-dj-moore-dandre-swift-caleb-williams-odunze

 

[Chicago Bears]

Bears fans expect DJ Moore to be their 2025 target leader

Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

A few days ago, we voted for the Chicago Bears player we thought would lead the team in targets in 2025, and most of our fans see a three-peat coming for DJ Moore.

In his first year in Chicago, he went for 96 receptions for 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns on 136 targets, and last season, he was targeted 140 times while racking up 98 catches for 966 yards and six scores.

What will this year bring for Moore?

His primary competition for targets will be second-year wideout Rome Odunze, who, according to Moore, is primed for a breakout season.

“Rome’s taken a step up this year,” he said via the team site. “I can already tell.”

Our partners at FanDuel Sportsbook don’t have a prop for targets, but they have the over/under for Moore’s receiving yards at 975.5, and Odunze at 825.5. For touchdowns, they have Moore’s over/under at 6.5 and Odunze’s at 5.5.

If you think either will crack a thousand yards, you can get Moore at -110 and Odunze at +175.

I was one of the 32% who voted that Rome would lead the Bears in targets, and I also think he’ll go over 1,000 yards, so I kind of like those odds for him. As a refresher, the +175 means a $100 bet would win $175.

If you’re feeling frisky, you can get DJ at +500 to go over 1,250 receiving yards, or Odunze at +850.

If you’re really feeling frisky, they have an over 1,500 yards prop, with Moore’s at +1800 and Odunze’s at +2800.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...arget-leader-rome-odunze-odds-receiving-props

 

[Chicago Bears]

Open Thread Question of the Day: What’s the best Chicago-style food to pair up with Da Bears?

Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Chicago Deep Dish and Tavern Pizzas. Italian Beef. Chicago Style Hot Dog. These are classics to eat while watching the beloved - which tastes best on gameday?

Chicago is an elite food town. Few places can do high-end (restaurants like Alinea, Oriole, Smyth, and Ever) while also doing low-end (Superdawg, Johnnies Beef, Vito and Nick’s, Birrieria Zaragoza, Nhu Lan, and Ghareeb Nawaz) as well as Chicago does.

Photo by Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Chicago’s prominence in the national (and global) food scene is equally hard to dispute, with loads of famous dishes like Deep Dish Pizza, Italian Beef, Chicago Style Hot Dog, Tavern Pizza, and lesser-known but also prominent Jibaritos, Saganaki, Maxwell Polish, and Mild Sauce Wings. You can’t go wrong eating in Chicago.

But what Chicago-style food goes best with Chicago Bears football?

My answer?

An Italian Beef sandwich.

My love of Chicago’s food scene is serious, and I think each of the aforementioned dishes and restaurants have an appropriate time and place. However, when I am watching the Beloved trounce another inferior opponent, I want thinly sliced beef atop a Turano French roll, covered in sweet peppers and giardiniera, delicately dunked into well-seasoned au jus. It just makes sense.

Now, to me this is food you eat at home (or at the establishment for which you purchase the beef). If I find myself at Soldier Field, then I’ll go Chicago Dog every time. While equally as complex, each component intertwines in a manner that is more conducive to public eating.

So long as it comes with an Old Style on the side and a bag Jays potato chips, I’ll be happy with any of the above.

Now it’s your turn - what Chicago-style food goes best with Bears football? Sound off in the comments!

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...t-chicago-style-food-to-pair-up-with-da-bears

 

[Chicago Bears]

Chicago Bears 2025 Offseason Superlatives: Worst Move

Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images

Check out our final Chicago Bears roundtable before training camp starts!

Our guy Jacob Infante shared his Chicago Bears offseason superlatives on his Twitter page, and then he expounded on those selections for us in this article. But our WCG team wanted to get in on the fun by doing our own version that we’re rolling out in this roundtable series. After checking out what we had to say, share yours in the comments section.

Yesterday’s topic was Best Move, so naturally, today’s topic is...

Worst Move​

Ryan Droste: I’m not crazy about the lack of attention to the RB room. I would have liked to have seen Poles and Johnson draft a running back earlier in the draft, preferably within the first four rounds.

Josh Sunderbruch: I tend to dislike the moves Poles doesn’t make more than the ones he does, but I struggle to find Luther Burden to be anything other than a redundant pick. There’s only one football, and I’m not convinced that Burden was the best use of a Top 50 pick with how this team is configured.

Gary Baugher Jr.: Dayo Odeyingbo. I hope I’m wrong, but I feel like for a position of need, this did not move the needle as much as I wanted. Sweat’s production fell off a cliff in 2024, and that was mainly due in part to not having a viable Edge threat opposite him.

Sam Householder: The biggest gripe is perhaps that they didn’t do enough to address the defensive line. Dayo is a bet on young upside without a ton of proof. Outside of that... not great.

Johnathan Wood: There are a number of strong candidates here (extending TJ Edwards, overpaying Grady Jarrett, cutting DeMarcus Walker to give 3x as much money to Dayo Odeyingbo, not having an adequate 3rd LB on the roster), but my choice for worst is failing to address interior OL depth. The Bears replaced all three interior OL starters this offseason, but their depth at the position is scary. Ryan Bates is the presumed top backup, assuming his shoulder arthritis improves to the point he can play (I’m not convinced it will). Nobody else on the roster is somebody I would feel comfortable putting in a game, and the starters are either aging (Joe Thuney is 32) or have significant injury histories (Drew Dalman and Jonah Jackson missed 11 and 18 games, respectively, over the last 2 years). I worry that the interior could turn from a clear strength into a glaring weakness in a hurry, and it would have been an easy fix to cut Bates, who had no dead money, and spend that $4 million on a healthy player who could be a capable backup.

Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.: I wasn’t sure which direction I’d go here until Jonathan mentioned interior o-line depth. Ryan Bates, who has been injured for a while, is the most experienced option. Jordan McFadden has two 2023 starts in his two-year career, and the other reserves have never started an NFL game.

Bryan Orenchuk: Passing on a RB in the 2nd and 4th rounds. Hard to have Ben Johnson as my favorite move while also questioning his first selections as Head Coach, but Ryan Poles is the GM, so this is more of a gripe with him. Time will tell if Ozzy Trapilo, Shemar Turner, and Ruben Hyppolite will be difference makers at the next level. But will they be even bigger difference makers than RJ Harvey, Kaleb Johnson, or Jaydon Blue? All three of those players could have been had instead of the three aforementioned Bears selections above. That was hard to swallow.

Mongo Peanut: Not finding Safety depth. Between Brisker’s concussions and Byard’s age, the Bears are a plausible scenario away from starting Elijah Hicks and Jonathan Owens on the back end. That’s not going to go well against Jefferson, Jameson Williams, and the first Packers receiver that learns how to catch a deep pass.

TJ Starman: It’s way too early for me to give up on a signing since, you know, there hasn’t been a game played yet this season. But, since we’re moving forward with this exercise, I have to say that I am feeling worse and worse about the contract given to Dayo Odeyingbo. The expectation shouldn’t be that Dayo becomes a superstar opposite Montez Sweat, but he’s certainly being paid to be productive, and I keep getting sent spiraling after remembering that D-Rob was getting snaps ahead of him in minicamp.

Donald Gooch: While I like acquiring Jonah Jackson for RG - paying his full contract and giving him an extension seemed questionable in my mind.

Jeff Berckes: Hey, it’s July, we’re all happy, why are we going to dwell on the less than perfect? I have to pick an answer... ummm, something about the stadium not getting figured out? Let’s just move on to someone else.

What do you think the worst move of the offseason was?

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...orst-move-dayo-odeyingbo-ryan-bates-nfl-draft

 

[Chicago Bears]

Which position should the Chicago Bears add some veteran depth to?

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Training camop is right around the corner, so should the Bears bolster their veteran depth?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in Chicago Bears fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Football is right around the corner as the Chicago Bears rookies report to Halas Hall for training camp on Saturday, with the veterans reporting a few days later on July 22.

After OTAs and minicamp, Chicago’s 90-man roster is pretty much set, but we’ve seen Ryan Poles make tweaks to the roster during the early portion of camp before. He previously brought in veterans Riley Reiff, Michael Schofield, Yannick Ngakoue, and Marcedes Lewis in late July/early August to bolster the veteran depth of his squads.

Does he have his sights set on someone else?

All offseason, there have been rumors linking the Bears to veteran defensive ends and veteran running backs, yet the Bears stood pat. There are still some decent veteran offensive linemen and defensive backs looking for work who could battle for a 53-man roster spot.

Is there a position you’d like to see the Bears add some talent to?

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...bears-add-some-veteran-depth-to-training-camp

 

[Chicago Bears]

Bears TE Colston Loveland Gives Shoulder Injury Update, Training Camp Status

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Bears rookie TE Colston Loveland commented on the status of his recovery from shoulder sugery.

The status of new Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland’s shoulder has been a topic of discussion around the team since he was drafted in the first round this past April.

Loveland underwent AC surgery on his right shoulder in January. The injury, a Type V AC Joint dislocation, was initially suffered during a game last September, though Loveland was able to play through the injury for the rest of the 2024 college season.

Dr. Neal Elattrache, Loveland’s surgeon, had stated prior to the NFL Draft that the tight end would be ready for the start of NFL training camp this year. That said, the Bears have not confirmed whether or not they expect Loveland on the field when training camp begins.

Mike Berman of NBC Chicago asked Loveland on Tuesday morning about the shoulder injury and reports that Loveland stated his shoulder is “100%.” However, when asked if he would be on the field at the start of training camp, the tight end stated that is yet to be determined.

Colston Loveland says his shoulder is 100%, but when I asked if he’ll be out on the field when camp begins, he said TBD. #Bears

— Mike Berman (@MikeBermanNBC) July 15, 2025​

Chicago Bears rookies are scheduled to report to training camp this Saturday, July 19th. Veterans report to camp on Tuesday, July 22nd.

Additionally, the Bears’ 2025 second round draft selection remain unsigned as of this Tuesday. That includes WR Luther Burden III, OT Ozzy Trapilo, and DT Shemar Turner.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...d-chicago-bears-shoulder-injury-training-camp

 

[Chicago Bears]

The Mac & Read Show: Bears Prepping for Training Camp

Photo by Matt Dirksen/Getty Images

Talking Chicago Sports and Pop Culture!

Check out the latest Mac & Read Show on our 2nd City Gridiron channel!

Chicago Bears training camp is less than a week away, so Evan McLean and Ross Read return to discuss all things Bears. They dive into the positional battles, their expectations for Caleb Williams, and the importance of this new coaching staff. Plus, it’s not just sports from the fellas; they also have some reactions to the new Clipse album and share a few thoughts about some of the summer movies.

Check it out in the embeds below!

Video version:

Once the show wraps, we’ll publish the audio version on our podcast feed.

Podcast version:

Our 2nd City Gridiron Podcast Channel is available on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, Audacy, and other popular podcast platforms, so be sure to hit subscribe wherever you get your audio. Our YouTube home is also called 2nd City Gridiron, so subscribe there for our podcasts and other video content.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...show-chicago-bears-prepping-for-training-camp

 

[Chicago Bears]

Can the Bears 2025 Defense give us a Return of the Monsters?

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Which Chicago Bears players on defense will set the tone this upcoming season and bring back the Monsters of the Midway?

Football is a violent sport played by some of the strongest, most athletic, most determined, and intense individuals on the planet. The best teams play with an intensity that overwhelms their opponents from opening kickoff to final whistle, usually with a handful of players leading the charge.

The Chicago Bears were deemed “Monsters of the Midway” after fielding multiple such squads, resulting in six championships in the 1930s and 1940s. Those Monsters returned with arguably the greatest defense in pro football history in the 1985 Chicago Bears.

Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
The ‘85 Monsters had half a dozen enforcers throughout.

Since then, only two such iterations of the Chicago Bears resembled anything close to “Monster Status” - the 2005 Bears and the 2018 version. Each with at least 4 “Monsters” on defense. In 2005, it was Tommie Harris, Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Mike Brown, and Chris Harris - players whose intensity and physicality made opponents think twice about catching or carrying the ball near them.

Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images
The 2005 Bears D had their fair share of Monsters as well.

In 2018, Chicago had Akiem Hicks, Khalil Mack, Danny Trevathan, and Roquan Smith. One could argue for Kyle Fuller or Adrian Amos a well, but the point is, there were players at each level who opposing offenses had to bear in mind.

Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The 2018 Bears had some of the most intimidating Monsters of all time.

However, the Bears have been lacking some teeth the last few years, which has coincided with more losing than winning. Can the 2024 Bears return to “Monsters of the Midway” status? If so, here are my players to watch for “Monster Status”:

Safety - Jaquan Brisker

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images
When healthy, Bears Safety Jaquan Brisker is a Monster whose presence is felt every snap.

Few have a nose for the ball like former Penn State Nittany Lion Jaquan Brisker. Be it blowing up ball carriers and pass catchers in intimidating fashion or scaring the QB as a blitzer and ball-hawk, Brisker needs only to stay healthy to ensure “Monster Status.”

DB - Kyler Gordon

Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images
Though Spidey is a good guy, his versatility on defense is as scary as it gets

Having just signed his first contract extension of his young career, Kyler Gordon is stepping into his best opportunity as a pro, thanks to new Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen. Allen has gone on record voicing excitement over the 25 year old DB and the many ways his skillets can be put to use. If Kyler can remain healthy, I expect this Monster to be one of the most impactful playmakers in the entire league in 2025.

LB - Tremaine Edmunds

Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images
If “The Predator” can step up his game and make more plays like this forced fumble, he will be well on his way to Monster status.

Easily one of the most polarizing Bears on the current roster thanks to the massive $72 million contract he signed with the team in the 2023 off-season, the 2025 defense's success will largely depend on Edmunds. If he can improve his game with added talent up front on the DL, I expect more bone-jarring hits and turnovers, comfortably placing the former Virginia Tech Hokie in “Monster Status” moving forward.

DE - Montez Sweat

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images
If Sweat can regain this “sparkle in his eye,” then offenses must be on the lookout for another Monster in 2025.

After a fantastic start to his tenure as a Chicago Bear in 2023, Montez Sweat failed to make much of an impact in 2025. Though he was reported to have played injured most of the season, the Chicago Bears will need more from their top DL in order for them to return to “Monster Status.”

---

As we can clearly see, health plays a pivotal role in Monsters being scary, but if these 4 Bears can remain healthy and improve their game with new coaching and talent around them, not only do I expect one of the best defenses in the league in 2025, but I also expect each of these players to join the ranks of Hicks, Mack, Briggs and Urlacher in “Monster Status” as we look back at this season.

Honorable Mentions:

Grady Jarrett/Shemar Turner, Gervon Dexter Sr., Kevin Byard

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What about you? Who is most likely to resemble a Monster in 2025, and whose play is most integral for the Bears D to return to “Monster Status”?​

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...brisker-tyrique-stevenson-shemar-turner-byard

 

[Chicago Bears]

2025 Chicago Bears Practice Squad News and Rumor Tracker and NFL Rules

The NFL will process all players waived over the last few days through waivers at 11:00 a.m. CT today. After that, teams can begin signing unclaimed players to their 17-man* practice squads. Any players who are claimed must be placed on the team’s 53-man roster, which would necessitate a corresponding roster move.

* Just like last year, all teams are eligible for a 17th spot if they add a player who qualifies for the International Player Pathway Program.

Teams can have up to six players on the practice squad with more than two accrued years of service in the league, and the remaining spots need to be filled by players with less than two accrued years of service.

Teams can elevate up to two practice squad players for each game, but they can still only have 48 players active on game day. After the game, the elevated player(s) will revert to the practice squad. A player can be elevated up to three times a season, but a fourth would require him to be signed to the 53-man active roster.

One thing to keep in mind about practice squad players is that they are free agents who can negotiate and be signed to another team’s active roster. The current club can make a counteroffer, but if the practice squadder wants to leave, the move can not be blocked. If a player is signed away, his new team must keep him on its 53-man roster for three weeks, but if he’s released, he’ll revert to his previous team. Players signed to another active roster are also guaranteed three weeks’ salary.

A practice squad player can’t sign with his team’s upcoming opponent unless it’s done six days before the upcoming game or ten days prior if his team is on its bye week.

We’ve already heard a few reports about the Chicago Bears’ plans to retain certain players, and if any additional rumors emerge, we’ll share them below.

• The Bears are signing WR J.P. Richardson to the practice squad. (link)
• Veteran defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon, who is a free agent, is likely to return to the practice squad if he doesn’t land a spot on another team’s 53-man roster.
• When tight end Joel Wilson was waived, the report indicated the Bears wanted him back for the practice squad.
• UDFA WR J.P. Richardson and center Ricky Stromberg were suggested to be strong practice squad candidates if they cleared waivers.

If Chicago is interested in claiming a player, here are the teams ahead of them on the #NFL waiver wire:

1) #Titans
2) #Browns
3) #Giants
4) #Patriots
5) #Jaguars
6) #Raiders
7) #Jets
8) #Panthers
9) #Saints
10) #Bears https://t.co/51Y1q5hsqu

— Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. (@wiltfongjr) August 25, 2025

Much like the UDFA frenzy that occurs after the NFL Draft, a team’s practice squad isn’t official until it is announced. And once the Bears announce theirs, we’ll share it here at Windy City Gridiron.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/c...ules-and-chicago-bears-news-and-rumor-tracker

 

[Chicago Bears]

Tyson Bagent named 10th best backup Quarterback in the NFL

CBS Sports dropped an article on Monday ranking their top 10 best back-up Quarterbacks for the 2025 season, and the Chicago Bears 3rd years Quarterback, Tyson Bagent made the cut at number 10.

Bagent was named the 30th best by PFSN just two weeks ago, but has since put together two fantastic performances in the preseason, including playing the entire second half in the Bears’ preseason finale against the Kansas City Chiefs, engineering a 29-27 come from behind victory, which included 3 straight touchdown drives in the 4th quarter.

Per my Quarterback grading system, he compiled passing grades of 2.20 against the Buffalo Bills in week 2 and 2.90 in week 3 against the Chiefs, both scores of which chart in as “Great” halves of football.

Fresh off inking a 2 year, 10 million dollar extension last week (with incentives making it worth up to 16 million), Bagent completed 46 of 69 passes (66.7%) for 511 yards, 5 touchdowns and just 1 interception, good for a 106.6 Passer Rating. He was arguably better statistically in the preseason last years, albeit in more limited reps, going 17 of 25 (68.0%) for 207 yards, 2 touchdowns, not interceptions and a Passer Rating of 119.9 Rating.

The Sheppard University stand out broke nearly every school passing record, and is currently the Division II record holder for completions (1,400) and yards (17,034), also holds the overall NCAA passing touchdown career record, with 159.

He has earned praise from Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson and General Manager Ryan Poles alike.

Ryan Poles to the FOX crew just now: "Tyson's a stud. There isn't a harder worker on this football team than Tyson Bagent."

— Ruthie Polinsky (@ruthiepolinsky) August 18, 2025

Ben Johnson is also enamored with his work ethic.

“I mean, I’ve really been blown away by his approach from the spring to start of camp to where we are now. He does a tremendous job knowing what to do, how to do it and getting it done. So I don’t think you can have enough talent in that room.”

Bagent went 2-2 in 2023 as an undrafted rookie filling in for Justin Fields, who injured his thumb in Week 6 against the Minnesota Vikings. A stretch that included an impressive win over the Las Vegas Raiders, earning him praise from the fanbase and national media alike.

The 10th overall ranking for backup Quarterbacks shows that Tyson Bagent has proven himself to be more than just a feel-good Division II story. His mix of clutch preseason performances, statistical efficiency, team trust, and prior NFL experience vaulted him from being an afterthought at 30th per PFSN, into CBS Sports’ top 10 backup quarterbacks for 2025.

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Gary Baugher Jr. is a rookie contributor to WCG, bringing football insight backed by over 16 years of experience in organized football and more than 30 years as a passionate fan of the game. You can follow him on Twitter at @iamcogs.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/c...named-10th-best-backup-quarterback-in-the-nfl

 

[Chicago Bears]

WCG’s NFL Power Rankings: Pre-Week 1

The start of the 2025 NFL regular season is upon us after another fun offseason. The Philadelphia Eagles will look to become the second team in a row to win back-to-back Super Bowls, but in an improved division, it won’t be easy. The start of a new season always brings optimism for the 32 teams around the league. After all, there are always a handful of new teams that make the playoffs each year. With the season set to kick off in less than a week, let’s rank each team and where they stand heading into another exciting season of football.

1. Philadelphia Eagles

The top of the NFC remains unresolved. Despite winning the Super Bowl a year ago, the Eagles lost plenty of talent in free agency over the offseason. With an improved Commanders squad looking to take the next step, and the Dallas Cowboys in a new era under Brian Schottenheimer, the Eagles must keep their foot on the gas if they want to repeat as division champs yet again.

2025 Headline: Fly Eagles Fly. But how high can they go? Why a repeat performance might be tough.

2. Kansas City Chiefs

I’ve seen plenty of predictions coming in for the Broncos and Chargers to overtake the AFC West crown this season. Perhaps I’ll be wrong, but I just don’t see it yet. Patrick Mahomes is still great, and their offensive tackle situation looks much better than a year ago. Similar to the Patriots’ dominant run under Bill Belichick, I’ll need to see it to believe it when it comes to the end of a dominant run. For now, I’ll continue to feel the Chiefs are the AFC favorites yet again.

2025 Headline: Will this finally be the year the Chiefs relinquish the division? Here’s why you shouldn’t count on their demise.

3. Buffalo Bills

From a talent perspective, there’s no denying that the Bills stack up well against any team in the league. The issue is that once they get into the playoffs, they haven’t been able to get over the hump, even with an MVP-level quarterback. The same could be said about another team on this list, but we’ll get to that later. Although I’m not sure the addition of Joey Bosa will move the needle, this is a complete team with as good a chance as anyone to win it all. It’ll be up to Sean McDermott’s defense to perform once the playoffs roll around.

2025 Headline: Super Bowl Bills or another disappointing finish? Why 2025 could finally be the year the Bills break through.

4. Detroit Lions

History has not been kind to head coaches who lose both coordinators in a single offseason. The one exception that comes to mind? The Super Bowl-winning Eagles from a year ago. There’s no question that Dan Campbell is a good head coach, but it’s worth wondering how much of an adjustment period his team will see following the losses of Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn, and multiple members of their staff. This is still a very talented roster, and because of that, it’s easy to see why they are projected as the NFC North favorites.

2025 Headline: For the culture: Why Dan Campbell is poised to prove the skeptics wrong, despite losing half his coaching staff this offseason.

5. Baltimore Ravens

Last year’s second-half run to win the division and get to the AFC divisional round was quite impressive. Especially coming off the heels of a 0-2 start. Quarterback Lamar Jackson had yet another outstanding season, and I felt he should have won the MVP. Even so, their inability to win the “big game” in the playoffs has been a big issue. It feels like one of Baltimore or Buffalo is due to knock off the Chiefs, but the bigger question is which one will be the one to do it.

2025 Headline: Lamar the Great: Why Jackson must find a way to conquer his last foe, the playoffs.

6. Washington Commanders

Outside of the 2022 Cincinnati Bengals, it’s hard to recall a better one-year turnaround than what the Commanders experienced last season. The club’s new ownership quickly turned things around, and the front office made many “right” decisions. Despite rumored attempts to move up to No. 1 overall and take the hometown kid in Caleb Williams, Daniels went on a tear that somehow eclipsed C.J. Stroud’s rookie season. Now we’ll see if they can take the next step or if last year was a product of playing over their heads. The pieces are there.

2025 Headline: And for his encore: Can Jayden Daniels avoid regression in Year 2, or will he follow a similar path to C.J. Stroud?

7. Green Bay Packers

It’s hard to label any (11-6) season a disappointment, but if you ask any Packers fan how they expected last year to go, most would have said they expected better. The good news is that this is still a young team with plenty of talent. Their defense took a significant step in the right direction under Jeff Hafley, but the offense remained stagnant. Following the big acquisition of edge rusher Micah Parsons, this could be a Top 5 defense in 2025. In theory, the addition of Matthew Golden should take their offense to a new level, but with Jordan Love recovering from thumb surgery, it’s fair to wonder how fast of a start they’ll get off to. The talent is there, but they’ll need to see another jump in development to make the playoffs. Could the Packers be considered a defensive team with a “good” offense in 2025?

2025 Headline: Love Island: Did Jerry Jones just give the Packers the missing piece to their Super Bowl hopes?

8. Los Angeles Rams

Before Matthew Stafford’s reported back issues that kept him out of the majority of camp, I had the Rams as one of my darkhorse teams to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. Now, I’m questioning how high their ceiling can be with an aging quarterback with severe back issues. The Rams are a good team coached by one of the best in the game. If everything is created equal and Stafford is healthy, this is one of my favorites for a Super Bowl berth. If not, I don’t share the same faith in Jimmy Garoppolo.

2025 Headline: Division favorites or taking a step back? Why Matt Stafford’s health is paramount for the Rams reaching their potential.

9. Denver Broncos

Most knew that Sean Payton was one of the best coaches in the league, but what he was able to do last year cemented his status as one of the league’s best. He took a quarterback that most had a late first or early second-round grade on and made the playoffs. It’s fair to question Bo Nix’s ceiling, and Year 2 should go a long way in determining that. With an elite defense and an offense that was playing consistently down the stretch, there’s credence to the thought that they could push Kansas City for the division, even if I think it’s premature.

2025 Headline: Bo knows or Mac Jones? Why Year 2 of the Nix, Payton pairing will define Denver’s future.

10. Minnesota Vikings

Speaking of outstanding head coaches, Kevin O’Connell led a team that shocked the entire league last year en route to a 14-win season. He did it all with a journeyman quarterback in Sam Darnold, who landed a big contract in Seattle a year later. Now, he’ll be tasked with working his magic again. If they can get Darnold-level production from McCarthy, this is a Super Bowl contender with the proper breaks.

2025 Headline: With an elite roster to support him, is J.J. McCarthy ready for prime time?

11. Los Angeles Chargers

No matter how you cut it, the loss of Slater is a tough one. Just weeks after becoming the highest-paid tackle in the league, a knee injury will force him to miss the entire 2025 season. On the plus side, Joe Alt will slide back over to his natural side, but it’s hard to replace a two-time Pro Bowler. This is a well-rounded team in a tough division. The passing offense, in particular, will need to take the next step if it expects to compete for a division title and achieve playoff success. If there’s a head coach who could get his team to take the next step, it’s Jim Harbaugh.

2025 Headline: Jimmy and Justin’s sHerbert shop: Can they overcome the loss of Rashawn Slater and challenge for the division?

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The NFC South has been one of the weaker divisions from top to bottom over the last few years. As a result, the Buccaneers have benefited from the lack of competition. On paper, this is a good roster, yet they haven’t played to the level of most division winners. How they start the season will be interesting to monitor, especially on offense. With Chris Godwin slowly working his way back to good health and Jalen McMillan out for the first half of the season with a neck injury, early pressure will be on first-round pick Emeka Egbuka to complement Mike Evans. On paper, this should be an 11-12 win team. We’ll see if they can live up to expectations in what should be another down year in the South.

2025 Headline: How many times can head coach Todd Bowles strike gold at offensive coordinator? Tampa Bay’s offensive success might be the key to their season.

13. Cincinnati Bengals

Week 2 of the preseason in Cincinnati was one to forget. Despite keeping the offense on the field for an extended amount of time on Monday Night Football, quarterback Joe Burrow spent the majority of the time running for his life and taking unnecessary hits. The key to the Bengals’ season relies on the offense being elite, especially given the significant resources they invested in that side of the ball this offseason. Even so, it’s fair to wonder if their defense is going to be good enough to get them into the playoffs. That unit still looks atrocious against the run and is still without Trey Hendrickson coming off the edge. 2025 feels like a critical year for all involved in Cincinnati.

2025 Headline: Make or Break: Can a loaded Bengals offense cover up a toothless defense?

14. Arizona Cardinals

The NFC West is a closely contested division, where a strong argument could be made for any of the four teams. Assuming Stafford is healthy, the Rams feel like the favorites, but would anyone be surprised to see the Cardinals finally break through? Since taking over in 2023, head coach Jonathan Gannon and the front office have made a concerted effort to add young talent to this roster. Now that Gannon has the horses up front for his defense, this could be the year they take the next step. Quarterback Kyler Murray bounced back in 2024 with a fully healthy year, but if this group is going to push for a playoff spot, he’ll need to look like he did coming out of Oklahoma. A significant help to that cause would be Marvin Harrison Jr. becoming the star most believed he would be after coming out of Ohio State. There’s plenty on the line in 2025, but this should be the sexy “breakout” candidate this season.

2025 Headline: Maserati Marv and the streaking Kylers. Will 2025 finally be the year that Jonathan Gannon’s group breaks through?

15. Pittsburgh Steelers

Not much has changed in Pittsburgh over the last decade plus. In some ways, that’s a good thing, but their inability to find any semblance of playoff success is troubling. Following another first-round exit in 2024, the Steelers decided to shake things up on offense once again, allowing both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson to depart in free agency. After a saga that lasted into July, Aaron Rodgers finally committed to playing one last season. Additionally, the team swapped out George Pickens for D.K. Metcalf. Similar to Seattle, there was plenty of shuffling, but it’s worth wondering how much better they are. Maybe Rodgers has one last ride in him, but history shows that’s unlikely to be the case. Either way, this will be an interesting team to monitor in 2025.

2025 Headline: Age ain’t nothing but a number. That’s what Steelers fans have been telling themselves in hopes that Aaron Rodgers’ (likely) final season doesn’t mirror Brett Favre’s.

16. Houston Texans

By all accounts, last year was a disappointment in Houston. Sure, they won the division, but it felt like a situation where they were the best of a weak division. Despite their lackluster regular season, they were able to win a playoff game, which should be seen as a positive. Going into the offseason, their most significant need came along the offensive line. Yet, it’s easy to wonder if any actual improvements were made. They traded away starting left tackle Laremy Tunsil, added a few journeymen, and drafted Arientay Ersery. On paper, the offensive line is worse than last year, but we’ll see if the shuffle was enough to spark improvement. The good news is that they are in a weak division with no clear-cut challenger.

2025 Headline: Sack watch: Can a new offensive coordinator and a re-worked offensive line be enough to get C.J. Stroud to the next level?

17. Seattle Seahawks

You can make a strong argument for the Seahawks having the most confounding offseason of any potential playoff team. Following a year where they missed the playoffs by a game, they swapped out their quarterback and top receiver for more expensive options. Change can be a good thing, but I’m having a hard time believing that this will be one of them. Sure, Sam Darnold is younger than Geno Smith, but is he better? I don’t think so. Swapping out Metcalf for an aging and slower Cooper Kupp was also a choice. We’ll see what Year 2 of Mike MacDonald has in store, but it’s fair to wonder how much better they really are heading into 2025.

2025 Headline: Change, change, change. Will Seattle’s bold offseason moves pay off, or will Sam Darnold’s clock strike midnight?

18. San Francisco 49ers

Following a year where the 49ers were marred by injuries galore, 2025 isn’t off to a much better start. Star receiver Brandon Aiyuk still appears to be far off from returning. Depth at running back and receiver is troubling to say the least. Combine that with an aging roster, and it’s fair to wonder how much disaster potential this season could have. There’s no denying that Kyle Shanahan is a great coach, but what happens if they miss the playoffs for a second straight season? The talent is there, but it’s fair to wonder if their window on their current core has already closed. Similar to Seattle, 2025 feels like a potentially deciding year in San Francisco.

2025 Headline: Has the 49ers window closed? With an aging roster and multiple significant losses this offseason, this might be a make-or-break year for general manager John Lynch.

19. Atlanta Falcons

It’s been a rough ride in Atlanta since Matt Ryan’s prime, especially at the quarterback position. Despite changes at head coach, things haven’t changed much. There’s hope in Atlanta that a full season of Michael Penix will cure some of their ails on offense. For my money, the NFC South is wide open for the taking. The talent is there, but the consistency and ceiling are the two big questions for the Falcons. Historically speaking, the chances of all six first-round quarterbacks being “hits” are nearly impossible. Can Penix be one of the outliers? Only time will tell.

2025 Headline: Year two of Michael Penix is the key to breaking their playoff drought. Do they finally have the right guy under center?

20. Chicago Bears

The debut of the Bears’ first team offense in Week 2 of the preseason was something, wasn’t it? Bears fans are no strangers to strong preseason performances being the highlight of the season, though. Ben Johnson was brought in with Caleb Williams as a priority. Still, so far, his intense personality has benefited a team that lacked any semblance of culture during the Eberflus era. This is a roster that underwent plenty of changes during the offseason, but in a loaded NFC North, did they do enough to contend for a playoff spot? We’ll see. There’s plenty to be learned in Year 1 of the Johnson era, but all eyes will be on their second-year quarterback, who must take a big step in 2025.

2025 Headline: Johnson and Williams could be a reliable law firm. Can this pairing bring the offensive success fans have been pining for since the Ditka era?

21. Jacksonville Jaguars

Following a somewhat unusual hiring process that led to a few awkward moments for new head coach Liam Coen, the waves have calmed in Jacksonville. The well-traveled offensive mind will be tasked with getting former No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence back on track, just a year after signing a massive contract extension. It’s easy to remain skeptical of the offensive line, but as we learned last year in Washington, the correct offensive play caller can scheme around weaknesses. The bigger question(s) for this roster are on the defensive side of the ball. How much of last year’s struggles were coaching versus the talent? Even if Houston is heading into the year as the odds-on favorite for the division, it’s easy to see a scenario where the Jaguars get back on track and challenge for the top spot in the AFC South.

2025 Headline: Duuuuuuvaaaaaal: Can Travis and Trevor lead the charge back to AFC South relevancy this year?

22. Indianapolis Colts

The official results are in, and the starting quarterback for your Indianapolis Colts is none other than Danny Dimes. It’s almost hard to believe, but the only quarterback with a lower quarterback rating than Daniel Jones since 2023 is none other than Anthony Richardson. Simply put, the Colts’ current regime isn’t in a position to allow Richardson to waste another year of development. Ironic, isn’t it? The regime that was responsible for drafting doesn’t have the time to give their No. 4 overall pick another year to develop. As a whole, this isn’t a bad roster, but it’s hard to envision many scenarios where this season ends in anything outside of a complete house cleaning.

2025 Headline: Here’s to hoping the image of Anthony Richardson’s dislocated finger wasn’t a visual description of things to come for Chris Ballard and company.

23. Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins are heading into a critical 2025 campaign, where changes could be aplenty without a return to the playoffs. Head coach Mike McDaniel is a fun personality, but following a playoff appearance in Year 1, things have not gone well. There are multiple holes on this roster, but when the offense is “right”, they are more than dangerous enough to keep this team afloat. We’ll see if McDaniel can turn things around. I’ve got him as the first head coach fired in 2025. I’m just not buying much with this roster right now, and much of that comes from general manager Chris Grier’s decision-making over the last few offseasons.

2025 Headline: Can Mike McDaniel save his job? It might be Tua late.

24. Dallas Cowboys

The Mike McCarthy era came to an end after four years and a 49-35 regular season record. Despite a quality regular season record, his 1-3 mark in the postseason highlighted his lack of postseason success. Following a typical Jerry Jones-led hiring process, Dallas decided to promote their offensive coordinator, Brian Schottenheimer, to the head position. Although he’s put a good coaching staff around him, the contract saga of Micah Parsons dominated most of the offseason headlines and ended any honeymoon phase for this coaching staff when he was traded to Green Bay on the eve of the regular season. The offense appears to be in good shape, but it’s fair to question the overall ceiling of this team with their current defensive depth chart and lack of cap flexibility.

2025 Headline: Can Jerry handshake deal his way back to contention, or has another quality roster core passed him by?

25. New England Patriots

For a second straight offseason, the Patriots were the first team to hire a head coach. Last year, it was an internal promotion for Jerod Mayo. This year, it was moving as quickly as possible (and likely too quickly) to bring back Mike Vrabel. Objectively, this is a rebuilding roster with some promising young talent, but in a division with only one clear playoff team, would anyone be surprised to see a quick turnaround? Much of that will depend on their second-year quarterback. If Drake Maye can reach his ceiling, there’s reason to believe they could finish around .500 this year. I’m still in the camp of them being one more year from being ready, but we shall see.

2025 Headline: In Drake we (Maye) Trust. Why Mike Vrabel’s team is primed for a quick turnaround.

26. Carolina Panthers

Although things didn’t start as planned last season, the Panthers ended the season with plenty of optimism. Former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young was benched early in the season, but when he earned the starting job back, he looked like a completely different quarterback. Head coach Dave Canales has demonstrated his ability to develop quarterbacks, but is the rest of the roster ready to compete? Similar to the Patriots, this team could surprise many people. Year 3 of Young is likely to define his future, which makes this a critical year for everyone involved in Carolina. Buckle in!

2025 Headline: The year of Bryce: Is this the year this Young team breaks out?

27. Las Vegas Raiders

It’s hard to envision a scenario where Pete Carroll took this job with an extensive rebuild in mind. History has not been kind to head coaches on their third NFL team, but even if he can act as a stabilizing force and bring some credibility back to the organization, he will have done his job. On paper, this doesn’t look like a playoff team, but they profile as a group that could make significant gains in 2025. It’s just a shame they play in such a deep division.

2025 Headline: Can Pete Carroll break the cycle of instability?

28. New York Jets

On the surface, Aaron Glenn was simply a defensive-minded coach coming from a successful organization. Upon deeper review, you’ll see a hard-nosed head coach with a versatile background on both sides of the ball. It’s easy to feel good about the Jets’ long-term future, while also questioning their ceiling in Year 1 of a brand new regime. 2025 feels like a make-or-break year for quarterback Justin Fields. If he can take a step forward in his development, there’s a future in New York for him; if not, the Jets might be in the market for their long-term starter next offseason. This season should be about establishing a new culture and finding as many long-term answers as possible. After all, there’s a quality core of young talent already on the roster.

2025 Headline: Culture changes take time. But how much time is the question?

29. Tennessee Titans

Don’t let Cam Ward’s preseason numbers fool you. He was much better than what it appeared to be on paper. Last year, I had this team as a sneaky Wild Card contender; this year, I’m just hoping they will do enough not to set Ward up for a second head coach in two years. There’s some talent on this Titans roster, but the primary focus should be growth on the offensive side of the ball. The offensive line settling in would be a good start, and there’s plenty of talent to do so. At some point soon, ownership needs to end the yearly cycle of firing the general manager or head coach.

2025 Headline: Cam the Titans avoid a new head coach with a second-year quarterback in 2026? (See what I did there?)

30. New York Giants

On the plus side, the Giants’ front four is one of the best in the league. Their defense alone should help things stay close in the first half of the season. Another positive development throughout training camp has been that Jaxson Dart has looked pretty damn good. That said, the future of this regime is uncertain and leaning toward a complete reset in 2026 without any semblance of progress. We’ll see if they can ride a quality defense to a respectable record. If not, Giants fans can expect changes galore once again next offseason.

2025 Headline: Let’s ride, New York. Changes are a comin’… again.

31. New Orleans Saints

Since the retirement of Drew Brees, the Saints have a 30-36 record, including their most recent 5-12 season under former head coach Dennis Allen, who was fired. As general manager, Mickey Loomis has continued to kick the can down the road regarding a poor cap situation, which worsens the future outlook for this team. With Kellen Moore at the helm as head coach, the primary goal should be solving the quarterback dilemma and trying to get out of cap hell. Whether either of these two can be accomplished remains to be seen. Thus, it could be another rough season for Saints fans in 2025.

2025 Headline: I can’t believe it’s not cap space: Dead money edition.

32. Cleveland Browns

There’s not a whole lot to feel optimistic about for the upcoming season if you’re a Browns fan. The defense is still in solid shape, but their quarterback situation severely limits their ceiling. As if their four-horse quarterback race wasn’t enough, injuries forced another move to sign Tyler “Snoop” Huntley in the short term. The image of Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel sitting on the bench with a doomed look on their face feels like a symbolic prelude to what’s to come in 2025. The team’s sole objective should be securing the No. 1 overall pick. Good luck to you, Joe Flacco. You’re going to need it.

2025 Headline: “With the first pick in the 2026 NFL draft, the Cleveland Browns select…”

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/c...pre-week-1-eagles-bears-chiefs-ravens-packers

 

[Chicago Bears]

Five Reasons the Packers’ Micah Parsons Trade isn’t as Good as it Looks

I feel ya, Chicago Bears fans. The Green Bay Packers have pulled their own Khalil Mack trade and acquired Micah Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys for Kenny Clark and two first-round picks. Cue the dirge. RIP Braxton Jones.

But before we pack up and go home and crown the Green Bay Packers, rather than actually play the 2025 NFL Season, here are a few notes of caution before the Cheeseheads uncork the champagne:

#1 The Packers are Staring at Cap Hell​

Trading for Micah Parsons and paying him in excess of $45 million places serious strain on the Packers’ cap situation, especially given they are already paying Jordan Love a ton of money to be their #1 QB. Furthermore, the Packers will eat $35 million in dead cap by trading Kenny Clark to the Dallas Cowboys, given he had already signed a $64 million contract extension with the Packers in 2024.

And it gets worse when we cast our eyes at the Green Bay free agents in 2026 and 2027.

2025 could be the Green Bay Packers best chance at making a run(explains the Parson's rumors)
Why?

The surplus of early draft picks(Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams trades) are becoming free agents over the next 2 years and they can't keep everyone.

Notable 2026 Free agents:…

— Nick Whalen (@_NickWhalen) August 28, 2025

Those are a number of good-to-very-good players that the Packers will find it difficult to pay after 2025. For example, their Pro Bowl-level guard, Elgton Jenkins, is a serious candidate to be a cap casualty as early as 2026. And now they will be missing, just as the Chicago Bears did after the Mack trade, their cost-controlled first-round picks for the next two seasons.

#2 Kenny Clark was a Key Cog in the Packers’ Run Defense​

The Green Bay Packers were fifth in the NFL in rushing yards per game in 2024, allowing only 146.8 yards per game on the ground. A big part of that run defense was Kenny Clark eating double-teams in the middle of that Packers defense. While the Packers’ edge rush is going to be something to behold, with Rashan Gary and Micah Parsons crashing the edges, the Packers’ interior defense has taken a serious blow with Kenny Clark headed to Dallas. And outside of going out and trying to sign Christian Wilkins, there are no obvious solutions for GB to fill the hole Clark leaves in their interior defense.

#3 The Packers Remain an Incomplete Team​

It’s not just their interior rush defense that the Green Bay Packers have to worry about in 2025. The Green Bay secondary, outside of Xavier McKinney, is the Achilles heel of this defense, a secondary that saw Jaire Alexander hop ship for the Baltimore Ravens. Keisean Nixon, Carrington Vaentine, and Nate Hobbs aren’t striking fear in the hearts of any of the offensive coordinators in the NFC North. So Green Bay’s pressure better get home, or they are likely to be gashed in the passing game, particularly in the deep third.

On offense, the Packers should still feature a solid rushing attack with Josh Jacobs and Matt LeFleur, and they added a first-round receiver for the first time in decades with Matthew Golden. But I for one was underwhelmed with their offseason acquisitions. They paid a bunch of money to Aaron Banks, who had trouble staying healthy for the San Francisco Forty-Niners, and was fairly middling when he was healthy. Jenkins is starting to get long in the tooth. It has always seemed like the Packers are able to field a top third offensive line no matter who they plug into their starting five, but color me skeptical that this offensive line will be as dominant as past Packers teams. Oh, and speaking of Jacobs – he will be 28 years old next season, an age where running backs tend to fall off the cliff.

#4 None of this Works if Jordan Love Isn’t Him​

As Chicago Bears fans can tell Green Bay Packers fans, trading for a generational defensive talent doesn’t guarantee you get to host the Lombardi trophy at the end of the season. Indeed, despite the dominance of Khalil Mack as a Chicago Bear, the Bears never won a single playoff game with Mack. The most significant factor in that result was not Mack failing to live up to the hype – he did. No, it was Mitch Trubisky busting out as a starting NFL quarterback. The Green Bay Packers can take solace in the fact that Jordan Love doesn’t appear to be as bad as Trubisky was, but he hasn’t exactly set the league on fire either. In 2024, he threw for 25 touchdowns but 11 interceptions in only 15 games played. His yards per game ranking was 18th overall, below the man he displaced, Aaron Rodgers, and in the company of players like Kyler Murray and Bo Nix. Unfortunately for the Packers, Love does not add a rushing component to his game like Murray and Nix do. The good news is Love, combined with LaFleur’s offensive approach and a great offensive line, was elite at avoiding sacks – only being sacked 14 times in 2024. Is that enough? Perhaps. The Eagles won the Super Bowl with Hurts – but Hurts, again, is a dual threat. Love is a traditional pocket passer. If we look at the top teams in the NFL, there are few pocket passers featured on teams like the Bills, the Ravens, and the Eagles. And Jordan Love is no Patrick Mahomes. If Love can’t move into the top 10 of NFL quarterbacks, it is likely the Packers will squander the Parsons window – just like the Bears squandered the Mack window.

#5 The Packers Were Not One Player Away in 2024​

Speaking of the Packers in 2024 – lost in the fact that they won eleven games and went to the playoffs — is they were just a blocked field goal away from going 0-6 in their division. The Packers failed to win a playoff game, getting trounced by the Eagles, and only scoring 10 points in a game that saw four Green Bay turnovers, including three interceptions by Jordan Love. Much has been said about the Bears not being a player away, and why they shouldn’t be looking to make a Mack-like splash in the 2025 season. But are the Packers really just a player away from competing for the NFC championship – let alone the Super Bowl? While the Packers’ Vegas odds of winning the Super Bowl doubled overnight, I’m not sure we should put our money on the Packers’ Super Bowl run in 2025. They are still in one of the toughest, if not the toughest, divisions in the NFL – meaning that even if they win the North, they may find it difficult to win enough games to earn the bye. Have they done enough to overcome the Washington Commanders, let alone the Eagles? I guess we will see. I for one am going to save my money on that particular bet.

But what do you think? Are the Packers destined for the Super Bowl, now that Micha Parsons is a Cheesehead?

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/c...icah-parsons-trade-bad-good-chicago-bears-nfl

 

[Chicago Bears]

2026 Bears mock draft: Early picks going into regular season

The 2025 regular season is right around the corner, meaning that months of waiting for the return of Bears football are about to come to an end.

It remains to be seen exactly how the year will play out, but training camp and the preseason have provided some insights into which positions may be weaknesses for the Bears this season. Now that college football is also underway, now seems like as good of a time as any for an early 2026 mock draft.

I’ll be using NFL Mock Draft Database’s simulator to make the selections around Chicago’s own picks. I’m also biased towards Pro Football & Sports Network’s simulator, seeing as though they’re gracious enough to pay me for articles. That said, I like to mix things up a little bit, and the consensus big board provides the most accurate sense on where the draft community as a whole ranks certain prospects.

Without further ado, here is my latest seven-round 2026 Bears mock draft.

Round 1: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami (FL)​

The mock simulator has the Bears picking in the No. 17 overall slot in the first round. Those of you pushing for Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love here will be disappointed, as he doesn’t fall to Chicago’s selection. Instead, I’ll look to address the pass rush, which is my biggest concern on their roster going into the new year.

Currently my second-ranked edge rusher on my board, Rueben Bain Jr. could end up going higher than this in real life. He’s a powerful edge rusher with a low center of gravity, allowing him to set the edge well in the run game and win with power as a pass rusher. He has a diverse arsenal of moves to shed blocks with, and he has good short-area quickness for someone listed at 275 pounds. Bain stands out as an edge rusher that fits Dennis Allen’s mold well and could be a good starter in the league for quite some time.

Doing early 2026 draft work, Reuben Bain Jr. from Miami is an EDGE I’ve become a fan of.

Inside-outside versatility, powerful defender. Knows how to use his hands to beat guys. Quick off the ball. He’s a name to watch. pic.twitter.com/p7IEUziHrH

— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) April 30, 2025

Round 2: Nicholas Singleton, RB, Penn State​

D’Andre Swift enters 2025 as the Bears’ undisputed starting running back, even coming off of a disappointing 2024 season. A new offense and an improved offensive line is enough reason to believe he improves this year, but if he doesn’t bounce back in a manner that’s reflective of his salary, Chicago might cut ties and look for another starting running back.

My top-ranked senior running back and third-best running back on my board overall, Nicholas Singleton is a talented back who brings size and speed to the table in abundance. He’s a thick runner at 6’0” and 224 pounds, and he hits the hole hard in between the tackles. His combination of straight-line speed and power makes him difficult to bring down at the point of contact. An experienced zone runner from his time at Penn State, Singleton would be a good fit in Ben Johnson’s offense.

Round 3: Keon Sabb, S, Alabama​

Of the Bears’ four contracted safeties on their 53-man roster, none of them are under contract beyond the 2025 season. Though they’ll surely retain some of those players, it’s realistic to think they make some additions at that position next offseason.

Keon Sabb is one of the most pro-ready safeties I’ve scouted so far in the 2026 NFL Draft class. What he lacks in elite range in coverage, he more than makes up for by his decisiveness acting upon his diagnoses in coverage, his ball-tracking skills, and his physicality as a tackler. Alabama lined him up deep, in the slot, and in the box, and his ability to thrive in all alignments speaks to his football IQ. I see him more as a Jaquan Brisker type than a Kevin Byard type, though I suppose which archetype of safety they’d target in the draft depends more on which of the two they’d re-sign.

Round 4 (via Rams): Gennings Dunker, OT, Iowa​

For the time being, I’m going with the assumption that the Bears have their eventual long-term left tackle currently on their roster. I’m trending towards it being Ozzy Trapilo, even though he’s taken more reps at right tackle recently. Even if he’s the guy, assuming that Braxton Jones leaves in free agency, they could always use more offensive line depth.

By the end of 2025, Gennings Dunker will be a three-year starter at Iowa. He’s the second-highest grading returning tackle in the Power 4 with a 90.2 PFF grade and is an experienced zone-run blocker. A powerful down blocker, he packs a nice punch at the point of attack and combines that with good short-area explosiveness. He plays with proper hand activity and a nasty demeanor, allowing him to drive defenders off the ball. He falls to Round 4 due to inconsistent pad level and a lack of lower-half flexibility, but Dunker is a nasty tackle who’s a lot of fun to watch.

I’m also going to include two tweet embeds here on Dunker to show you how cool of a dude he is. He’s a two-time champion of the Solon Beef Days hay bale tossing contest in Solon, Iowa.

Gennings Dunker back to back Beef Days hay bale toss champion pic.twitter.com/naIIaNcvhw

— ¿? (@jchesmore) July 22, 2023

And this is what he eats before, during, and after a game:

Iowa OL Gennings Dunker has a ridiculous diet

(via @BigTenGrant) pic.twitter.com/wCW2EVQVhS

— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) July 9, 2025

Round 5: Maurice Westmoreland, EDGE, Tulane​

While the Bears’ lack of high-end pass rushing talent is a concern for me, I also think the depth could improve in their group of edge rushers. Daniel Hardy is more of a special teamer than a consistent rotational defender, and Dominique Robinson hasn’t shown enough improvement to warrant an extension next offseason in my eyes. Doubling down at defensive end might not be a bad idea.

Maurice Westmoreland combined for 15.5 sacks and 21 tackles for a loss in his 2023 and 2024 seasons at UTEP, and he heads to Tulane this year as one of the most accomplished pass rushers in the FBS. He’s a stout edge rusher with great spatial awareness setting the edge in the run game, and he lands his hand moves with precise timing and placement to shed blocks and prevent tackles from getting inside his frame. He doesn’t have elite bend and is a little shorter for an edge rusher at 6’2”, but Westmoreland has the makings of a good rotational EDGE down the stretch.

Round 6: Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh​

The Bears might honestly take a linebacker earlier than this, especially if they choose to release Tremaine Edmunds next offseason (saving $15 million in the process). In the end, they wait until Day 3 to bring in another player to compete for playing time.

I think Kyle Louis has clear limitations that hurt his draft stock. He’s an undersized linebacker at 6’0” and 225 pounds, and his lack of ideal length and size means it’s tougher for him to deconstruct blocks as a downhill defender. But I love what he brings to the table as a processor and as an athlete. The 2024 All-American had 101 tackles, 16 tackles for a loss, seven sacks, and four interceptions last year. He plays with a high motor in pursuit, which maximizes his long speed and agility. He has a playmaking mentality in coverage across the middle of the field, and his range as a backside defender is intriguing. At the very least, I think Louis can be a demon on special teams.

Round 7: Kam Shanks, WR, Arkansas​

Admittedly, I don’t expect Kam Shanks to declare for the 2026 draft. However, after an All-American year as UAB’s punt returner, I think a strong pass-catching season with Arkansas could be enough to propel him up draft boards.

Shanks is an undersized slot receiver at 5’8” and 170 pounds, but he might just be the most electric receiver in college football right now. He led the FBS with 329 punt return yards and two returns for touchdowns in 2024, also leading the AAC with 20.6 yards per punt return. He’s an explosive athlete who’s quick out of his breaks as a route runner, and that agility also helps him make tacklers miss after the catch. His full-field vision is impressive, and he’s shown some flashes adjusting his route tempo against zone and using his stems to exploit leverage points against man. His size and average hands work against him, but Shanks is lightning in a bottle and deserves NFL consideration.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/chicago-bears-draft/97263/chicago-bears-mock-draft-2026-7-rounds

 

[Chicago Bears]

The Bear’s Den, September 1, 2025

WE WANT YOU!

Would you like to show your Chicago Bears spirit to the world? I’m starting a feature where Windy City Gridiron readers can share pictures of themselves and their families and friends in Bears attire. Simply email a picture to me at the following address: denmasterken at aol dot com. The pictures need to be clear, and full resolution (i.e. full size from your phone if that’s how you take them). Include any description information you like along with the photo!

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

BEARSSSSSS

Optimist vs. Pessimist: Where are the new-look Bears headed with Ben Johnson, Caleb Williams? – Chicago Sun-Times

A look at the quarterback, defense and head coach as the Bears try to relaunch when the season begins Sept. 8 against the Vikings.

Ryan Poles: Chicago Bears GM on Ben Johnson, Caleb Williams, more – Chicago Tribune

As the Chicago Bears season nears, GM Ryan Poles sat down with the Tribune to discuss coach Ben Johnson’s first training camp, QB Caleb Williams’ development and more.

Status of longtime Bears nemesis uncertain for opening night – SI

There might be no Vikings defensive player who has caused the Bears more problems in the last decade than safety Harrison Smith, but he may miss the opener.

Why do so many people hate Bears QB Caleb Williams? He answers exactly that question – Chicago Sun-Times

In an interview with the Sun-Times heading into his second season, Williams addresses whether his eccentricities lead people not to take him seriously and what he’s doing to put an end to misconceptions about him.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Should Illinois football really be ranked 12th in the country? – Chicago Sun-Times

In this week’s “Polling Place,” we also asked if college Saturdays beat NFL Sundays, or vice versa.

Justin Fields: Can New York Jets QB become next late bloomer? – Chicago Tribune

Justin Fields is on his third team in as many years. Sometimes success as an NFL quarterback takes a change of scenery. Or two.

Dak Prescott wasn’t “completely surprised” by Micah Parsons trade – NBC Sports

Prescott had said “11 is a Cowboy.” Now? Not.

Cowboys extend cornerback DaRon Bland – NBC Sports

As to Bland, the Cowboys didn’t drag their feet.

KNOW THINE ENEMY

The Vikings are optimistic about WR Jalen Nailor for Week 1 – NBC Sports

Adam Thielen is expected to have a prominent role and maybe start.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

2026 Bears mock draft: Early picks going into regular season – Windy City Gridiron

WCG’s lead draft analyst shares his most recent seven-round 2026 Bears mock draft.

Fantasy Focus Part 3: Top 10 Bears – Windy City Gridiron

Good luck in all your fantasy leagues this year!

Will the Bears have alternate Nike uniforms in 2026? – Windy City Gridiron

One report says the Bears will get an alternate uniform in 2026.

Five Reasons the Packers’ Micah Parsons Trade isn’t as Good as it Looks – Windy City Gridiron

The Micah Parsons trade is bad news for the Bears, Vikings, and Lions, but maybe it’s not as bad as we think.

Chicago Bears Fan Confidence is on the Rise – Windy City Gridiron

With the regular season right around the corner, many Bears fans are confident in the team’s direction.

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Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/c...ptember-1-2025-labor-day-weekend-vikings-week