Bears Team Notes

[Chicago Bears]

See what's happening with your Chicago Bears.

 

[Chicago Bears]

Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

There’s been a lot of downs, but there have been some great ups!

For decades, we have heard about the Chicago Bears in the 1980s and how great those teams were. And they certainly were great. The Bears probably had as many great seasons in the 1980s as they have from 1990 to the present.

There have been way too many losing seasons and not enough joy for Bears fans over the last 30+ years, but some of the highs have been pretty great. A couple of days ago, we lost former Chicago Bears head coach Dick Jauron who was the head coach for one of those great seasons, the magical season of 2001.

How does that 2001 season compare to the other great seasons the Chicago Bears have had? We take back at the five best seasons the Bears have had since 1990.

5. 2013 Chicago Bears: 8-8​

It may seem weird to have an 8-8 season in the top five. The Bears have certainly had better seasons in terms of their records than this one, but I don’t know if Bears fans had five seasons where they had more fun than this one.

Marc Trestman’s first season in Chicago didn’t result in a great record, but it did result in an offense that the Bears haven’t matched over the last quarter century. The Bears had the second-highest-scoring offense in the entire NFL. Jay Cutler and Josh McCown combined for 32 touchdown passes, Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery both had over 1,000 yards receiving, and Matt Forte was just shy of 2,000 yards from scrimmage.

The fact that Bears fans got to sit back and watch an elite offense score points, even if it didn’t result in wins, makes this season one of the most enjoyable ones Bears fans have had since Walter Payton retired.

4. 2010 Chicago Bears: 11-5​

Lovie Smith is the only Bears coach who puts two of his seasons on the list. This one wasn’t the most exhilarating season. The Bears started 4-3 as they hit their bye week and I don’t think Bears fans had incredible expectations at that point, but the Bears ripped off wins in seven of their next eight games, catapulted themselves to an 11-5 record, and won the NFC North. That streak earned them the division championship and a bye into the Divisional Round.

The Bears at that point knocked off the Seahawks and found themselves in the NFC Championship game and were a Caleb Haine away from reaching another Super Bowl. I don’t think this team is remembered with much love because the offense was one of the bottom ten in the leagues, but Lovie’s defense had an excellent season and when you’re an eyelash away from the Super Bowl, you have to look back on it fondly.

3. 2018 Chicago Bears: 12-4​

We all remember this season well, probably too well. The bitter end of the “double-doink” is what resonates when people look back on this season because fans truly believe that had that field goal gone through the uprights, this team could have reached the Super Bowl.

It’s hard to argue after what Vic Fangio did to the Rams in the regular season and the fact that Bill Belichick ran the Bears’ defense in the Super Bowl and the Rams scored three points. Had the Bears been able to knock off Brady and Belichick? Who knows, but this will always be a season with a big “what if” attached to it. But if you look back at the season as a whole, with the dominance of Khalil Mack, the defensive touchdowns, the fantastic touchdown celebrations, and some hope surrounding Mitch Trubisky, this one was one of the best seasons the Bears have given us in a very long time.

2. 2001 Chicago Bears: 13-3​

This Bears team came into the season with practically zero expectations. The Bears had gone 4-12, 6-10, and 5-11 the previous three seasons. They had Jim Miller and Shane Matthews as their quarterbacks. Cade McNown had just busted his way off the team. There was no reason to think anything spectacular was going to happen this season.

But Dick Jauron’s boys had some magic.

The Bears started the season against the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens and lost 17-6, an expected type of score, but the Bears then won 6 straight including two miracle Mike Brown game-winning pick-sixes in overtime against the 49ers and Browns (which of course also included the James Allen Hail Mary) and other than the Packers, the Bears didn’t lose to another NFL team the rest of the season.

They lost their first playoff game to the Philadelphia Eagles, but Hugh Douglas knocked Jim Miller out of that game, and you have to wonder if Miller finished that game, would the result of that one have been different? The Bears had a 14-13 lead early in the 3rd quarter, but the Bears' passing game was nonexistent all game and eventually, it was too much for the Bears' defense to overcome.

1. 2006 Chicago Bears: 13-3​

Of course, this was going to be the top season. The Bears have been in the Super Bowl one time in the last 35 years, and this, of course, is the season. This season’s excitement went far beyond just the Super Bowl, this was, of course, the start, of the electricity that is Devin Hester.

Between Hester’s electricity, the ridiculous “They are who we thought they were” game against the Arizona Cardinals and of course, a Super Bowl appearance where you have to wonder if they kept feeding the ball to Thomas Jones in the second half, perhaps the electricity that Devin Hester’s opening kickoff touchdown return produced would have continued all the way to Rex Grossman holding up the Lombardi Trophy after the game. What a sight that would have been.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...rown-devin-hester-brian-urlacher-double-doink

 

[Chicago Bears]

Top free agent OL for Bears to consider in 2025

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

WCG’s lead draft analyst shares the top offensive line targets the Bears could pursue in free agency.

It’s hardly a bold take to say the offensive line is the Bears’ biggest need heading into the 2025 offseason.

Caleb Williams was sacked 68 times in 2024, making him the third-most sacked quarterback in a single season in NFL history. With three starting offensive line positions likely up for grabs in 2025, the Bears have the perfect combination of openings in the starting lineup and general needs up front.

Darnell Wright figures to be locked in as Chicago’s starting right tackle, and Braxton Jones, as much as opinions about him in the fanbase may vary, realistically figures to start at left tackle again in 2025. Both primary starting guards from last season — Teven Jenkins and Matt Pryor — are slated to hit free agency, though, as is center Coleman Shelton.

The Bears have the fifth-most cap space in the league heading into the offseason, and they have four picks in the top 75 selections in the 2025 NFL Draft. They seem likely to use some of the money along their offensive line, and should they choose to do so, these free agents could be targets.

Chiefs RG Trey Smith​

A Pro Bowl guard at 25 years old, Smith is the crown jewel of offensive linemen in free agency if the Chiefs don’t extend him. He graded above 72.0 in PFF grades each of his four seasons in the NFL thus far, and he didn’t allow a single sack in 2024. Ryan Poles was in Kansas City’s front office when they drafted Smith, so the ties are there. With the Chiefs spending a significant amount of money on their interior offensive line already, there’s a chance he hits the open market.

Falcons C Drew Dalman​

Dalman has been a reliable starter for the Falcons each of the last three seasons, grading as a top-five center by PFF each of the last two seasons. He missed significant time in the middle of the 2024 season due to an ankle injury, but he’s a high-level starter at 26 years old who figures to make a significant amount of money this free agency.

Lions RG Kevin Zeitler​

If the Bears want a short-term answer at guard, Zeitler is a perfect fit. He worked with Ben Johnson in Detroit, he played at an extremely high level in 2024, and he’s been a reliable starter since coming into the league back in 2012. There’s always risk signing older players to more expensive deals, so Zeitler, who turns 35 in March, feels like a player a team signs on a one-year deal instead of a long-term contract. That said, he’s aged like fine wine and remains one of the top guards in the NFL.

Colts RG Will Fries​

A season-ending leg injury cut Fries’ 2024 season short, providing some murkiness in regards to his contract status in upcoming free agency. He’ll be in the prime of his career turning 27 in April, though, and he earned a phenomenal 86.9 PFF grade this year that would have made him the second-best guard in the league had he kept that pace up in a healthy season.

Eagles RG Mekhi Becton​

Injuries and weight issues plagued Becton’s time with the Jets after the team used a first-round pick on him in 2020. The Eagles signed him on a one-year deal and kicked him inside to guard, and that has helped propel his career back on track. He’ll be 26 in April, meaning there’s likely still a lot of good football ahead of him.

Steelers RG James Daniels​

Ryan Poles opted to not extend Daniels after his rookie contract expired with the Bears, but given the team’s struggles along the offensive line, Chicago’s former second-round pick could be back on the table if the two sides come together. He had an unbelievable 92.9 PFF grade in four games before tearing his Achilles, and for how experienced he is as an NFL starting lineman, he’s only 27 years old.

Cowboys RG Zack Martin​

Martin is a guaranteed future Hall of Famer, and while he’s not the perennial All-Pro he was earlier in his career, he’s still an impact starter who can serve as a valuable mentor for young players along an offensive line. At 34 years old, he’s likely more of a one-year rental but could be worth considering if he hits the open market.

Colts C Ryan Kelly​

A four-time Pro Bowler at center, Kelly has been an anchor of the Colts’ offense since he entered the league in 2016. He turns 32 in May, and he’s spent his entire career in Indianapolis. That said, he could be a great stopgap starting option at center should he hit free agency.

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Check out Jacob working through a mock draft and breaking down some prospects!​

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...-agent-signings-2025-nfl-offseason-trey-smith

 

[Chicago Bears]

Mocking the Mocks: Chicago Bears Three Rounder from NFL.com

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What are your thoughts on this three-round mock draft for the Bears?

Most Chicago Bears mock drafts are similar in that they have the Bears addressing the trenches early, and the latest from NFL.com’s Chad Reuter does just that. His mock goes a full three rounds, and he has the Bears addressing needs while staying true to the value of the board.

Our lead draft analyst, Jacob Infante, chimed in about Reuter’s mock earlier today, saying, “That would be an A+ draft in real life. I’d be ecstatic,” so what do you guys think about this one?

10 - Will Campbell - LSU · OT · Junior

Chicago lands a legitimate starting left tackle to protect Caleb Williams and move defenders in the run game. He’ll be the best player they’ve had at that spot since Jimbo Covert, the sixth overall pick of the 1983 NFL Draft.

Some scouts feel Campbell would have to move to guard in the NFL due to arm length, but I’d like to see him given a chance to stay at tackle. His experience (31 starts at LT), athleticism, and technique make him a likely day-one contributor, even if he does need to play left guard as a rookie.

39 - Mike Green - Marshall · Edge · Junior (RS)

He led the nation with 17 sacks in Conference USA, but his performance at the Senior Bowl put teams on notice.

41 - Donovan Jackson - Ohio State · OG · Senior

The Bears’ o-line depth needs talent, so double dipping works for me. Jackson has the size and athleticism to fit whatever Chicago’s new offense would want.

72 - Kaleb Johnson - Iowa · RB · Junior

Johnson has decent speed through the hole and can break arm tackles, and Jacob tells me this is a deep running back class, so grabbing one in the third round makes sense.

Check out Reuter’s mock, and let us know if this is how you’d pick it if the actual draft fell this way.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...-mike-green-kaleb-johnson-donovan-jackson-lsu

 

[Chicago Bears]

The Draft Research Project: A decade of building the trenches

Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Can the Bears afford to wait on drafting talent for the lines?

In 2011, the NFL shifted to a new era of rookie contracts and pay scales, changing in many ways how teams could and would build their rosters. The first ten draft classes (from 2011 through 2020) have now been able to see through their entire first contracts, including the fifth-year option afforded teams under the terms of the CBA. Excluding specialists like place kickers, punters, and long snappers, teams have drafted 2502 players in this time.

Among these men, the players drafted in the first two rounds tend to be the major contributors. Although only a quarter of the total pool of candidates, they represent 70% of the players who will earn a Pro Bowl distinction in their first five years. For more modest aspirations, nearly 500 of the 1200 players to make it at least four years and play in at least fifty games were drafted in the first two rounds. Some of this second group is because teams will tend to favor players who they invested resources in, but much of it is because the talent in the NFL draft is top heavy.

As the 2025 NFL draft draws closer, I intend to fully explore the full results of all 2500-plus of these players, grouped by position, by draft order, and by on-field outcomes. However, given the current needs of the Chicago Bears and the opportunity they enjoy by holding a pick in the top ten and a total of three picks in the top two rounds, I wanted to take a quick look at what happens when teams invest top picks (i.e. those from the first two rounds) in the trenches.

258 of the 635 picks in the first two rounds went to players on either the offensive or defensive lines, but those are not evenly spread in terms of investment. Despite the fact that there are five starting positions on the offensive line, only 110 top picks were spent on offensive linemen, versus 148 top picks spent to cover either 4- or 5-position defensive sets.

On defense, 81 picks were spent on edge rushers. That’s 13% of the top picks in the draft spent on a position that is only 9% of a starting line up. Those picks were used to find 23 players who would go on to make at least one Pro Bowl in their first five years in the league (or a 28% rate of finding a Pro Bowler, roughly the league average across all positions). However, less than half of these players (37) started in at least 40 games in their first five years. Instead, 61 played in at least 60 games. In other words, teams invested heavily in edge rushers, and while they tended to find elite players at the same average rate as other positions, they struggled to turn these picks into starters. The good news is that talent that was worth drafting in the top two rounds was almost always valuable enough to keep around.

Only 67 picks were spent of iDL, and only 25% of those made the Pro Bowl (17 picks) in their first five years. A total of 41 of these players (61%) started at least 40 games (with 48 total players making an appearance in at least 60 games). The overwhelming majority of these players (59 total) had careers of at least five years. While it was slightly harder to find impact players on the interior, in general picks spent on the inside of the defensive line resulted in starters at an average rate and players were far less likely to wash out completely compared to their peers at similar draft positions. Compared to other positions, teams seldom “wasted” picks spent on the defensive line.

On the offensive side of the ball, things are different. Only 61 picks were invested in tackles, despite the lip service given to the importance of the position, and less than 20% of them made the Pro Bowl in their first five years. However, 80% of these players would start at least 40 games, and the failure rate was still around 11%. Compared to the defensive side of the ball, tackles were safer bets at finding a starter but not as likely to pay off with a Pro Bowl appearance.

Finally, 47 high-value picks were spent on the interior of the offensive line. Despite representing 14% of a starting lineup, teams only invested 7% of their best picks in these positions. Amazingly, fifteen of these picks (32%) found Pro Bowlers. This could mean that NFL teams only spend high picks on interior offensive linemen if they are standouts, or it could mean that more teams, in fact, should invest high picks on the elite talent at these positions. Overall, 39 top draftees became regular starters here (83%), and only two failed to make it at least five years in the league. In simple terms, when teams spend top picks on the interior of the offensive line, those picks are less likely to go to waste and more likely to produce valuable players in terms of contributing or making an impact.

One final note, teams that wait to select players on the interior of the offensive line do not find elite players later on. Instead, only two multi-Pro Bowl interior offensive linemen were found after the first two rounds, which was the same total as quarterbacks, and about the same level as Edge, Wide Receiver, and Defensive backs (3 each) or interior Defensive Line, Offensive Tackle, or Linebacker (1 each). In fact, the only positions where it makes sense from the historical perspective to wait for elite talent are running back (six multi-Pro Bowlers drafted after the first two rounds) and tight end (five).

Ultimately, teams that want to see improvement on the trenches need to invest elite resources there. The Chicago Bears have those resources if they choose to fix the problems in front of them.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...trenches-interior-offensive-line-guard-tackle

 

[Chicago Bears]

Nine Potential Cut Candidates with Ties to the New Bears Coaching Staff

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NFL free agency is just under four weeks away. With the Chicago Bears ranking in the top six in projected cap space, there will be plenty of action before the draft. Here are nine players who could join the market in the coming weeks that have ties to the new coaching staff.

With Super Bowl 59 in the books, the official close of the 2024 NFL season has concluded. Unlike most sports, even when football is not being played on the field, the league still commands most sports fan’s full attention. The unofficial start of free agency is just under four weeks away, while late April’s draft is still two-and-a-half months away.

For teams like the Chicago Bears, the acquisition period has been the highlight of their seasons as of late. As fans have learned, it’s much easier to “win the offseason” than win games when it counts. Head coach Ben Johnson will take over a team that has won 15 games over the last three seasons. With a star-studded coaching staff by his side, it’ll be interesting to see how attractive of a destination they are in free agency.

The team’s needs are precise. The trenches will be the primary focus, and they’ll have plenty of resources to do so. Outside of the top names that will headline the opening day (or two) of free agency, this is a shallow class with much disaster potential. Assuming the Bears don’t spend their fill in the opening few days of the market, some veteran names could come at a discount. More importantly, these are players with a keen familiarity with this new coaching staff, which is usually valued in the early years of a new regime.

WR Kalif Raymond (Detroit Lions)​

The ties to the Bears’ new head coach on offense are few and far between when it comes to potential cut candidates. Even so, Chicago doesn’t have a massive need for most skill positions, which could make adding a familiar receiver (or two) more plausible.

According to Over The Cap, Raymond ranks 4th on a list of 100 players with the highest probability of being cut due to production versus contract value. The 31-year-old is due $6.376 million in 2025, but the team can save around half of that with a pre-June 1st cut. If Detroit were to designate him as a post-June 1st release, they would save $4.826 million.

Raymond isn’t a player who will bring immense value as an offense player, but he should come cheap (if released). As a fourth option, the Bears could do a lot worse. Despite low totals in 2024, he averaged over 500 yards receiving from 2021-2023 in Johnson’s offense. He also brings value as a punt returner. At the right price, Raymond could be a valuable role player in Chicago.

Projected Contract: Two years, $6million ($1.9 million guaranteed)

WR Josh Reynolds (Jacksonville Jaguars)​

Ranking one spot below Raymond on OTC’s list is another familiar name in Reynolds. The former Los Angeles Ram and Lion share the same (76.8%) cut probability and would bring plenty of value as a No. 3 in Chicago.

Last offseason, Reynolds signed a two-year, $9 million deal with $4.245 million guaranteed. The veteran receiver was waived in December by the Denver Broncos after just 12 receptions for 183 yards and a touchdown. Jacksonville claimed him, but with a new regime in place, there’s always a chance he could be cut, especially with the Jaguars tight against the cap.

In two seasons with Detroit, the 30-year-old averaged 39 receptions for 544 yards and four touchdowns per season. Similar to Raymond, this wouldn’t be a move that would make many headlines. Still, it would help establish depth behind the Bears’ top two names and, more importantly, provide some much-needed scheme familiarity at a reasonable price.

Projected Contract: One year, $3 million ($750,000 guaranteed)

RB Jamaal Williams (New Orleans Saints)​

Williams has a reasonable $3.93 million cap hit for 2025, but the Saints currently sit at a league-low $59.509 million in effective cap space, according to OTC. New Orleans could save $3.15 million by designating Williams as a post-June 1st cut. While those cap savings would be “ready” to use until June 2nd, this could be enough of a cushion to take into the season.

Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t see many scenarios where a third-team running back making $3.15 million makes sense, especially in New Orleans’ cap situation.

For Williams, he had two of his three best years when it came to success percentage. In 2022, under Johnson’s play calling, Williams had a career-high 1066 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns. A year later, he signed with the Saints after the Lions gave David Montgomery a three-year, $18 million.

This wouldn’t be a long-term move but could help bridge Johnson’s need for a quality running game for a year while they address the trenches.

Projected Contract: One year, $2 million ($1.65 million guaranteed)

Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

S Marcus Williams (Baltimore Ravens)​

Moving over to the defensive side of the ball, there are multiple fits within the latest scheme of new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. Although it’s similar to what Matt Eberflus ran in Chicago, Allen relies more heavily on pressure up front to be aggressive with blitzes. Because of his background, he’s always put a fair share of value into the secondary.

Williams was initially drafted with the 42nd overall pick in the 2017 draft by New Orleans. Most will remember his infamous blown coverage moment in the playoffs against Stefon Diggs. Still, he enjoyed an impressive seven-year stint with the Saints before signing a two-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens last offseason.

Although Pro Football Focus graded him as the worst safety in the league this year, the 28-year-old regularly ranked inside the Top 20 in the seven previous years. This would be a low-cost, high-upside type of move and could help Chicago move away from Kevin Byard if they chose to do so. In the worst case, Williams could sign a cheap one-year deal to reunite with the defensive mind with whom he had seven years of NFL success.

It’s worth noting that Baltimore has already restructured his deal in advance to using a Post-June 1st designation on him in the coming weeks.

Projected Contract: One year, $3 million ($2.745 million guaranteed)

DT David Onyemata (Atlanta Falcons)​

Make no mistake: Signing a 33-year-old defensive tackle wouldn’t be made with a long-term vision. Onyemata experienced some of his best years under Allen at the NFL level. It ultimately led to him signing a three-year, $35 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons in 2023.

Although Onyemata is still a productive player, the Falcons are facing the cap and will need to clear some space to improve their roster. It’s possible that they could opt to cut fellow defensive tackle Grady Jarrett instead, which would net them double the savings at $16.25 million. According to PFF, the two graded out similarly, but Jarrett had double the pressures and one more sack.

I won’t pretend to know what the Falcons are thinking, but considering their tenures, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them restructure Jarrett while cutting ties with Onyemata. If so, he could be Chicago’s perfect one-year deal candidate to help build immediate depth on the interior defensive line.

Projected Contract: One year, $5.125 million ($4.625 million guaranteed)

DT Sheldon Rankins (Cincinnati Bengals)​

Rankins’ time in New Orleans lasted just four years (after being drafted in the first round in 2016), but Allen’s current scheme still values his skill set. The 31-year-old has bounced around quite a bit since leaving New Orleans, but he’s produced everywhere he’s gone.

Rankins is one year removed from signing a two-year, $24.5 million deal with the Bengals, but considering their cap crunch, there’s plenty of reason to believe that they could cut bait and bank the $9.618 million in space saved. OTC says the defensive tackle holds a (62.9%) cut probability. He’s coming off a down year and could probably be signed for relatively cheap. At 31, he wouldn’t be a long-term option, but in the same vein as Onyemata, he would provide immediate value to an undermanned interior group.

Projected Contract: One year, $5.125 million ($4.625 million guaranteed)

DT Khalen Saunders (New Orleans Saints)​

The former Kansas City Chief has become a much more effective pass-rushing force over his two years in New Orleans under Allen. Despite being slightly undersized, the 6 ‘2, 310-pound defensive tackle has produced 14 pressures in his past two seasons, including two sacks and 38 stops.

Saunders is entering the final year of his three-year, $12.3 million free agent deal, but with the Saints tight against the cap (as always), a post-June 1st release would save them $3.929 million. Although this would be more of a signing with depth in mind, the 29-year-old still has plenty left in the tank to be more than a one-year solution.

Projected Contract: One year, $3 million ($2.49 million guaranteed)

DT Nathan Shepherd (New Orleans Saints)​

Shepherd, the 32-year-old veteran, is another name similar to Saunders that New Orleans brought in over the last few years to help out Allen’s defense. Unlike the name above, Shepherd is much more about rushing the passer. The issue: He’s been horrible against the run for most of his career.

For a team like the Bears, that might be a deal-breaker. Chicago ranked fifth worst against the run, giving up 136.3 yards per game on the ground. The Saints ranked 31st, giving up 141.4 yards per game.

Of the defensive tackles listed, Shepherd likely makes the least sense. He’s worth mentioning due to his ties with Allen and OTC’s (62.5%) cut probability.

Projected Contract: One year, $3.5 million ($2.325 million guaranteed)

DT Shy Tuttle (Carolina Panthers) ​

Two years ago, the Panthers gave Tuttle a three-year, $19.5 million deal to come over from the Saints. Their goal was with him stopping the run in mind. PFF said his run defense has fallen off a cliff since leaving New Orleans. In the three years prior under Allen, Tuttle consistently ranked in the Top 40 among defensive tackles, including rankings of 10th and 11th in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

It’s possible that Tuttle was playing above his head with the Saints, but it’s just as possible that he simply played his best football under his former defensive coordinator. Carolina could save $6.5 million if they designate him as a post-June 1st cut. Considering how much work their defensive line needs, I wouldn’t rule it out. The 29-year-old could provide much-needed depth behind Andrew Billings for the right price.

Projected Contract: Two years, $6 million ($3.25 million guaranteed)

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...tle-josh-reynolds-jamaal-williams-bears-lions

 

[Chicago Bears]

Expect more play action for Caleb Williams in 2025 from Ben Johnson

Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

More play-action is always a good thing, regardless of whether a team can run the ball effectively or not

There is no better easy button in the NFL than play-action passing. The numbers show that attempts from play action have a higher success rate and go for bigger gains than other passing attempts. The numbers have also shown through the years that the ability to run the ball doesn’t matter. Play-action works regardless.

I know that will blow some of your minds, so I’ll give you a second.

Countless studies have been done.

Numbers have been analyzed.

I’ve written about it here at WCG and discussed it on my podcasts.

You can have a 50/50 or 30/70 run-pass ratio, and play action is still a cheat code.

Play-action works whether you can run the ball or not.

I know some will fight this notion, but if you disagree with the data and facts, you may as well click away and watch some highlights from the 1985 Super Bowl.

For the rest of you, welcome to football this century.

Play-action passing isn’t about how good of a running team you are. It’s about misdirection, deception from the offensive line and running back, ball-handling skills from the quarterback, and most importantly, it’s about how well you can marry your run concepts to the pass.

The following clip is from our recent Bear & Balanced, where we interviewed playbook author Bobby Peters about the offense that new Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson ran as the Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator.

What does it really mean to marry the run and pass?

Ben Johnson takes it to another level. pic.twitter.com/4BIc1Gkpj5

— Bobby Peters (@b_peters12) January 29, 2025​

The entire show was a fascinating look at Johnson’s possible Bears’ scheme and his play calling, so check out the podcast version on our 2nd City Gridiron network wherever you get your podcasts, or considering the visuals really help on this show, hit up our YouTube channel. ​

Johnson’s offense will look different in Chicago because he will build it around the Bears’ personnel, but his philosophy will remain intact.

While Johnson was Detrot’s play-caller, Lions quarterback Jared Goff led the league in play-action pass attempts in 2024 and 2023, and he was fourth in 2022. In 2021, before Johnson took over as the Lions’ primary play-caller and before he specifically designed the playbook around Goff and what he was comfortable with, Goff ranked 27th. Last year, Jared Goff’s yards per pass attempt (YPA) on play action was 16% better than on other passes. Also, 40% of Goff’s passing yards came on play-action passes.

I'm sure there are still some nonbelievers reading who insist that Goff and the Lions’ play-action success was only because of their top-five rushing attack.

So, let’s check out the other end of the spectrum.

The Las Vegas Raiders had the fewest rushing yards in the NFL in 2024 with just 1,357, and they were dead last in rushing yards per attempt at 3.6, but Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew II received a 5% boost in YPA on play-action passes, and Aidan O’Connell saw an 11% increase.

Las Vegas’s poor running game didn’t matter, as both of their top quarterbacks performed better on play-action.

According to Fantasylife.com, of the 40 quarterbacks who threw the most play-action passes in 2024, only six had a worse yard-per-attempt average on play-action passes than on other pass attempts.

Chicago’s rushing attack was also poor in 2014 as they ranked 25th in rushing yards (1,734) and were 29th in yards per attempt (4.0), yet quarterback Caleb Williams, who ranked 20th in total number of play-action passes, had a 27% boost in yards per attempt on play-action.

Even though the Bears struggled to run the ball last season, Caleb benefited greatly from play-action, and his effectiveness will grow under Johnson’s leadership.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...ams-2025-ben-johnson-jared-goff-detroit-lions

 

[Chicago Bears]

Schefter: Bears are ‘The Matchup to Watch’ to Face Eagles in NFL’s 2025 Regular Season Opener

Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images

ESPN’s NFL Insider shared his theory for why Chicago could be kicking off the new season with the defending champs

Well, the NFL season officially concluded following an extremely one-sided Super Bowl that saw the Philadelphia Eagles stomp out any hope the Kansas City Chiefs had at selling “3-peat” merch. Naturally, all attention has turned to the 2025 season, where many of us Bears fans have already been looking toward for quite some time. A natural question might be, “Who will be the two teams competing in the first game of the 2025 regular season?” The answer to the first half of that question was decided this past weekend as the Eagles will host the NFL’s kickoff game as the league’s defending champions, leaving only their opponent still unknown.

ESPN’s Senior NFL Insider, Adam Schefter, took to theorizing about the possibilities based on the Eagles’ 2025 home opponents on his recent podcast episode and explained why the Chicago Bears may well be the team that lines up opposite the champs:

When the NFL sits down to mull its options for the 2025 regular-season opener, the Bears at the Eagles will have a compelling case.

https://t.co/TL1EPjZy1c pic.twitter.com/Z9B2kwjYVo

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 12, 2025​

The Bears have a lot of ground to make up before anyone could confidently say a matchup with Philly would be a competitive one. However, getting the chance to see the Ben Johnson-led Bears play on the national stage a few days earlier than expected would be a nice treat. At any rate, we’ll have to wait and see how the schedule shakes out before that’s a reality. But just in case you’re the planning type, maybe keep Thursday, September 4th, free just in case.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...delphia-eagles-nfl-2025-regular-season-opener

 

[Chicago Bears]

Waddle: Bears should not bring back Keenan Allen

Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images

Tom Waddle joins the Bears Banter Podcast!

The latest Bears Banter Podcast has dropped!

The Super Bowl is in the books, and that means all teams have pivoted to the 2025 season. Former Chicago Bears’ great and ESPN 1000’s Tom Waddle joined the podcast earlier today, and we discussed plenty of topics, from Virginia McCaskey to the ownership transition to the Super Bowl itself. We also asked him to assess the team’s top three wide receivers, and he didn’t think bringing back Keenan Allen was the best plan for the team.

“I thought they lost track of the tight end position [last year],” Waddled stated. “I don’t think he [Cole Kmet] and Caleb were on the same page at all, and I think that was the residual of throwing to Keenan as much as they did. I would wish Keenan well. He has had a fabulous career, borderline hall of fame player, I just don’t think that’s the route they need to go.”

Waddle also had great insight on other topics, so make sure you check out a great podcast!

To watch the podcast on the 2nd City Gridiron YouTube channel, you can check that out here:

To listen to the podcast, you can do that on the 2nd City Gridiron podcast feed wherever you get your podcasts or use the player below:

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...nan-allen-caleb-williams-rome-odunze-dj-moore

 

[Chicago Bears]

New 1920 Football Drive episode shows synergy between Ben Johnson, Caleb Williams

David Banks-Imagn Images

“He’s got some burning inside of him. It’s something that I think I have, and I think he fits me.”

If you learn one thing from the latest episode of 1920 Football Drive, let it be this: the Chicago Bears' new head coach and ascending young quarterback sound like they were made for each other.

The most recent installment of the team’s behind-the-scenes show, which dropped this morning, delves a little deeper into newly hired coach Ben Johnson, who will be tasked with helping Caleb Williams reach superstardom and bring a championship parade to Chicago’s lakefront.

Some of what we heard from both Johnson and Williams are things we’ve heard before, like the second-year quarterback’s audible excitement when Ryan Poles and Kevin Warren informed him of Johnson’s hire.

But it’s still somewhat surreal to hear the coach and quarterback talk about one another and why they align so well, which feels almost unthinkable looking back on the past three years under Matt Eberflus.

“Standing on the opposite sideline from him this year, I gained a tremendous amount of respect for not only the talent level that he possesses but the type of person he is,” Johnson said of Williams.

We know you've Ben waiting for this one

Catch a new episode of #1920FootballDr NOW

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) February 14, 2025​

That feeling is very mutual.

“I have friends over at Detroit — Amon Ra, couple other guys — and teams don’t function that way, offenses don’t function that way without a guy like Ben,” said Williams of his new coach and play-caller. “He’s got some burning inside of him. It’s something that I think I have, and I think he fits me. He’s a competitor. Being able to have that same kind of juice, I think, will mesh well.”

If you really want to get excited about the Bears’ on-field product, though, there are a few nuggets here to satisfy you as well.

In particular, Johnson has made it clear that the Bears offense won’t simply be a re-run of what he ran in Detroit with Jared Goff the last three years when the Lions ascended into the league’s best scoring unit.

“This is going to be ... the quarterback’s offense,” Johnson explained. “We’re going to tailor this right around Caleb Williams. It will not necessarily be what you’ve seen from me the last three years. We’re going to find out exactly what our quarterback does well, and that’s really what we’re going to anchor on.

“We want to keep defenses on edge.”

Music to our ears.

While Goff is by no means a bad quarterback — he’s become quite good, actually — the veteran could only dream of having Williams’ skill set as a passer. Tapping into that latent potential and molding it into consistent production could see Williams become a top-five quarterback in football.

With that challenge, though, comes accountability and a desire to correct mistakes that held Williams back under the previous regime, and it sounds like the two haven’t shied away from those conversations early in their relationship: “Our first time speaking, we addressed things that won’t work, doesn’t work to be able to lead teams and organizations to win big games,” Williams added.

Obviously, nothing matters until the Bears hit the football field and plug several of the holes they have on both sides of the ball, especially in either trench.

But after years of rebuilding and uncertainty, the winds of change finally seem to have arrived at Halas Hall, and one can just feel expectations rising.

Dare to dream, Bears fans.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...sode-ben-johnson-caleb-williams-chicago-bears

 

[Chicago Bears]

Ranking the 5 Chicago Sports teams by who is set up to succeed in the future

Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images

It’s been a rough stretch for Chicago sports. Will it get better?

As Chicago sports fans, we all know there have been plenty of stretches where the Chicago Sports landscape hasn’t been great. But even in those stretches, there’s usually at least one or two of the teams that win, or even dominate. The 1980s had the Bears, the 1990s had the Bulls, the 2000s saw the White Sox win a World Series, and of course, the Blackhawks were great in the 2010s and the Cubs broke their World Series drought.

But the 2020s? It hasn’t been great for really, well, any of the teams. Will things be getting better any time soon? Let’s take a look at the five major sports teams (apologies to the Chicago Sky, I hope Angel Reese brings them a championship but I don’t follow the league close enough to compare them) and rank them in terms of which teams are set up to succeed in the future.

5. Chicago Bulls​

The Bulls are just stuck in NBA purgatory. If you don’t have a star, you don’t have anything. The Bulls were spinning their wheels in the mud the last few years and finally started blowing it up with DeMarr DeRozen exiting last year and the trade of Zach LaVine.

But until the Bulls have a potential building block, and I mean a true building block (sorry Coby White fans) that you can build around, there’s just not much here to think that AK can build this team into a contender. The Bulls are years away from being years away.

4. Chicago White Sox​

The fact that this team isn’t last just tells you everything you need to know about Chicago sports. At least this team has torn it up and tried to replenish their farm system. After completely blowing their last rebuild, which ended with plenty of Major League talent, the White Sox are starting over, and after trading off several pieces, Baseball America now ranks their farm system as the 4th best in all of baseball.

These players need to develop both in the minors and then, of course, in the majors, but in three or four years, hopefully, the White Sox are competing once again.

3. Chicago Blackhawks​

Connor Bedard. He’s good, and he’s still a teenager. Is he going to be the next Connor McDavid? Perhaps not, we will have to see what kind of season he puts together next season. When McDavid was 20, he tallied 100 points and led the league with 70 assists.

The Hawks haven’t exactly surrounded Bedard with a great supply of talent at this point, but it’s still very early in this version of the rebuild. We will see what the Hawks put together over the next couple of years but while they may not be where fans wanted to see at this point, the White Sox got the nod over the Bulls for having a direction and the Blackhawks got the nod over the Sox for having Bedard.

2. Chicago Cubs​

The Cubs are without a question the team best set up to win now. The Cubs won 83 games last year and have added pieces like Kyle Tucker and Ryan Pressly and they have a solid stable of talent already and Craig Counsel is still one of the most respected managers in baseball.

The Cubs have a lot of solid players, but do they have enough top-end talent? Is Tucker going to be the guy to anchor the line-up and start pushing the Cubs towards competing with teams like the L.A. Dodgers?

I think the Cubs ceiling is good and can push for 90 wins, but can this team come together and become true World Series contenders? We will have to wait and see over the next couple of years to see if it all comes together.

1. Chicago Bears​

Maybe the Chicago Cubs should be in the top spot, but I think the Bears are in the best shape to win big. The Cubs are going to be the better team in 2025, but I want to look at who is going to be in a position to win big in 2026 and beyond.

If you have the QB and the head coach right at the NFL level, you are a contender every year. I’m a believer in Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson, and I think those two gel this year and are in a position to truly contend in 2026.

The Cubs could take another swing with a trade or in free agency in the future that could make them World Series contenders, but as their roster is currently constructed, I don’t think their ceiling is that high. But for the Bears, if you think the Bears have the right QB and the right head coach, they are on the cusp of doing some big things on Sundays.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...-to-win-bears-cubs-blackhawks-white-sox-bulls

 

[Chicago Bears]

Infante: Evaluating my 2024 NFL Draft board after rookie year

Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

The NFL Draft is one of my favorite parts of being a football fan, and evaluating it has become a treasured past time of mine.

As loyalists to Windy City Gridiron may know, I have been covering the NFL Draft on this website since 2017, often with a Bears slant. For those newer to the site or for those who have no idea who I am, you can understand that growing up a Bears fan would make someone particularly interested in the draft.

I’m hardly a professional scout, and there are people for whom talent evaluation is a full-time job. Those people do a lot more prep work than me and probably know a lot more than me, too. I’m just a guy who likes to watch football in his free time, and after picking up bits and pieces along the way, some people come to enjoy my analysis.

All this to say, draft evaluation should be a constantly evolving process. Nobody hits on 100% of their evaluations. Hell, if we’re being realistic, nobody hits on 50% of their evaluations. That said, you can try to minimize those mistakes by learning from the past.

I wanted to put together a quantifiable number on how accurate or inaccurate my draft analysis actually is. Not only does this provide some public accountability, but it also helps me see which evaluations I’ve aced and which ones I bombed.

For the sake of this argument, I will be using Pro Football Reference’s Absolute Value statistic. To me, it’s the best quantifiable, individual statistic that measures a player’s value of play each year.

To put together these differentials, I put all 178 rookies who ended the year with an Absolute Value score of 1 or above, and I compared them to my top 75 prospects in my final big board. I calculated the absolute value of PFR’s AV minus the ranking on my board.

The lower the differential, the more accurate my big board’s ranking was in terms of how they performed in Year 1. There were a few players who didn’t tally an Absolute Value score — most of whom having dealt with serious injuries their first year — so their differential grade would be 179 (the absolute value of 179-0=179, and since there were 178 rookies with AV scores, all players with an AV score of 0 tied for 179th in the league).

Just as all sports statistics are, it’s not a perfect system. This doesn’t account as much for missed time due to injury. For the sake of one specific season, one could argue that AV earned per game would be a better scale. However, the cliche goes that the best ability is availability, and just as consistent injury issues would affect a player’s value, so too do injuries in this differential equation.

If you want to rank the entire 2024 NFL Draft class by Absolute Value, use the link I provided above and sort by wAV. If enough people are interested, I may do this with my other big boards from years past.

Judging off of these scores, a differential of 10 or below is a stellar evaluation. A differential of 11 through 32 is pretty good, seeing as though I got the player’s approximate round value correct. Anything from 32 to 64 is a mediocre evaluation. If the differential score reaches above 65, I consider that to be a straight-up miss.

Without further ado, this is the absolute value differential of my top 75 players in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Takeaways​

It’s worth noting that a verdict on a player should not be reached after just their rookie seasons. There are many rookies who struggle out of the gate, only to find their way down the stretch and develop into a star player. Conversely, we’ve seen a handful of flash-in-the-pan prospects who star as rookies and fizzle out soon after.

That said, I’m noticing a lot of my top prospects ended up living up to the hype. This isn’t necessarily surprising, as these guys are early first-round picks for a reason. Of my top 10 players, I nailed seven evaluations, had one pretty good one, one mediocre evaluation and one massive flop.

Given the surroundings, I have faith the Rome Odunze and Olu Fashanu rankings will look better as they both step into bigger roles in 2024. Dallas Turner had the misfortune of playing behind two Pro Bowlers in Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel, eating into his playing time significantly. He was hardly impressive when he did play, though. That could teach me to better prioritize polished skill sets early at the edge rusher position.

Out of my other nailed evaluations, a vast majority of the players were polished prospects with elite Relative Athletic Score grades. Xavier Legette wasn’t super refined but still possessed tremendous physical talent, and the Panthers accounted for those strengths and weaknesses pretty well in 2024. Kamari Lassiter didn’t test out of this world, but he passed the eye test for me, and so far, that’s paying off.

The other players outside of my top 30 that I nailed — Wilson, Green, Bullard, Beebe, Bullock and Nubin — all had sound, quality tape and, out of the players with RAS grades, all tested very well.

Some of my big misses missed a majority of the 2024 season due to injury. Those evaluations I’ll circle back on once they’ve had more reps to build off of. There are a few glaring ones, though, particularly at wide receiver.

Most of my best wide receiver evaluations were polished route runners with high RAS scores. Most of my worst evaluations were either lacking one or the other. Not only is size-adjusted athleticism important, though, but general athleticism for the position is. If a player doesn’t hit that second gear as a runner, it might be tougher for them to create separation, especially if they aren’t overly huge like a Keon Coleman.

Some of my bigger misses were wiry types like Roman Wilson, D.J. James and Troy Franklin. Nate Wiggins showed flashes but just barely avoided a flat-out miss grade on my board, and he fits the criteria, as well. That’s an archetype I may need to be more cautious on, particularly among receivers and defensive backs.

It’s possible some of my misses turn around — a good handful of these players ended up in situations where they had proven, veteran talent ahead of them on the depth chart. Likewise, it’s possible some of my hits don’t age so well.

That said, I wanted to provide some sort of method to look into where I’ve graded correctly as a wannabe scout and where I’ve missed. Who knows? With this formula, maybe you could have some fun with it yourself.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...kie-year-caleb-williams-jayden-daniels-bo-nix

 

[Chicago Bears]

Chicago Bears 2025 Offseason Positional Breakdown

Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images

Our 13-part series in the story stream below takes a detailed look at each position group on the Chicago Bears with an eye toward the 2025 season. With new offensive and defensive schemes on the horizon, we may see more roster shuffling than a usual offseason. There are 31 free agents on the current roster, so we’ll go through each player to check their contract status while also providing some thoughts on their future with the team. We’ll also look at a few free agent and NFL Draft possibilities at each position.

Here are some important dates on the 2025 NFL calendar.​

• Teams can designate their Franchise or Transition tag players starting on February 18, with the deadline to do so on March 4.
• The NFL Combine runs from February 24 to March 3.
• The league year and free agency begin on March 12, and the early negotiating period starts on March 10.
• The NFL Draft is on April 24-26 from Green Bay, Wisconsin.

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

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...agent-agency-nfl-draft-ben-johnson-ryan-poles

 

[Chicago Bears]

Mocking the Mocks: Pro Football Network’s latest 7-Round Bears Mock Draft

Photo by John Adams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Most of the NFL mock drafts floating around have the Chicago Bears addressing the trenches, which is what fans are hoping for come April 24. Chicago needs help on both lines, but their direction in free agency could affect how they stack the top of their board. Assuming they land a couple of new starters on the interior of the offensive line, they could be in a prime position to snag the top defensive lineman on their board with the tenth overall selection.

In the latest mock from form Pro Football Network’s Ben Rolfe, they have Chicago heavily addressing offense on the first two days, but at ten, they go with a 6’5”, 265-pound Bulldog.

10) Chicago Bears: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia

The Chicago Bears’ main needs this offseason are in the trenches on both sides of the ball. They need a lot of help along the offensive line, but they also need a partner in crime for Montez Sweat, who can make the most of one-on-one opportunities or can force double teams to give Sweat more freedom.

Mykel Williams fits that description perfectly from the 10th spot. He combines elite size, agility, and power. His athleticism and dynamic play style set him apart, but refining his pass-rush technique and converting pressures into production will be key to unlocking his full potential at the next level.

Sweat had a down year in 2024 with just 5.5 sacks, but that was still the most sacks on the team. Overall, Chicago’s 40 sacks were 16th in the league, so they need more consistent pressure. Williams is an athletic player with good strength at the point of attack, and he fits the profile that new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen likes at the position.

39) Chicago Bears (From CAR): Grey Zabel, OT, North Dakota State

As we discussed earlier, the Bears need offensive line help, and they need it in multiple positions. Grey Zabel could be the ideal selection here, as he can play any of the positions across the line. After an impressive Senior Bowl performance, he is rising up draft boards, and that flexibility will only help teams see him as a valuable early Day 2 pick.

Zabel combines solid size and strength with a high football IQ, allowing him to adapt to different blocking schemes and defensive looks. He is effective in both run and pass blocking, using strong hand placement and leverage to control defenders. The level of competition he has played against in college will raise concerns, but we have seen others succeed in stepping up, especially on the interior of the line.

Zabel (6’5, 316) was a big winner at the Senior Bowl, so I could see him sneaking into the first round due to his versatility. If he’s there at 39, this would be a no-brainer pick, especially if the Bears go defense in the first round.

41) Chicago Bears: Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina

Picking a running back might be seen as a luxury for the Bears, but this is Ben Johnson we are talking about. We have seen how effective the two-back offense was in Detroit, and Omarion Hampton would give Johnson the chance to have a similar style of offense in Chicago.

Hampton is the kind of dual-threat back that Johnson loves, but he also has the power to be a force near the goal line. Hampton’s style is a little more physical than that of D’Andre Swift, so he could be the David Montgomery-style back, with Swift playing more of the Gibbs role. However, it is also worth noting that Swift was traded out of Detroit while Johnson was the offensive coordinator, which makes for an interesting situation.

First off, I don't see Swift as a viable trade candidate. He was productive in Johnson’s offense, and Hampton would be a good complement to Swift’s skills. Hampton (6’, 220) wants to get downhill, and while he’s decisive — which can be a good thing — he’s also not very creative.

72) Chicago Bears: Xavier Restrepo, WR, Miami (FL)

With most of the value having dried up along the offensive line, the Bears may look to give Caleb Williams another weapon in Xavier Restrepo. He thrives in the slot and over the middle, his versatility and sharp route running make him a rising NFL prospect. Restrepo’s ability to create separation, find holes in coverage, and adapt his routes to break defenses sets him apart.

As a potential replacement for Keenan Allen, who could develop into a full-time starter opposite Rome Odunze, Restrepo is an intriguing pick for the Bears.

Receiver isn’t talked about enough as a need for the Bears, but if Allen leaves, which seems likely, they’ll need a third receiver. Some fans want Tyler Scott to be that guy, but I’m not sure he’ll take that step. Restrepo (5’9”, 200) was very productive for the Hurricanes the last two years (25 games) with 154 receptions, 2,219 yards, and 17 touchdowns.

149) Chicago Bears - Clay Webb, G, Jacksonville State

Webb started his career at Georgia before transferring to Jacksonville State. Although he has mostly played guard, he was a five-star recruit as a center out of high school.

204) Chicago Bears - Ty Robinson, DT, Nebraska

Robinson saved the best for his sixth and final season with the Cornhuskers. He has experience playing everywhere on the defensive line.

235) Chicago Bears (from CIN) - Tyler Batty, EDGE, BYU

Batty is more edge setter than speed rusher, but he’s another experienced and versatile d-lineman.

242) Chicago Bears (from MIN) - Nickolas Martin, LB, Oklahoma State

Martin was a tackling machine in 2023 for the Cowboys but only played five games in 2024 due to a knee injury.

What are your thoughts on this seven-round mock? Would you like it if the real draft fell this way?

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...ms-grey-zabel-omarion-hampton-xavier-restrepo

 

[Chicago Bears]

NFL Free Agency: If the Bears can’t land Trey Smith, who is your Plan B?

Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

We’re kicking off a 4 part WCG roundtable about free agency.

The number one offensive guard in free agency is the Kansas City Chiefs’ Trey Smith, and whether he stays in K.C. or moves on, he’ll likely reset the market with his deal. The Philadelphia Eagles’ Landon Dickerson, at $21 million a year, is the highest-paid guard, so expect Smith, who just made the Pro Bowl, in that same ballpark.

Smith has been the hope for Chicago Bears fans for months. He’d fit in perfectly on Chicago’s offensive line next to right tackle Danrell Wright, who was his teammate with the Tennessee Volunteers for two years.

The Chiefs would want him back, but right now, they don’t have the cap space. They’d need to do a lot — and I mean a lot — of roster shuffling to find the money to pay Smith, but if that somehow happens, or if he chooses to go elsewhere, who is your plan B free agent for the Bears?

I asked our team that question, and here’s who we’d like the Bears to target if Trey Smith isn’t an option.

Josh Sunderbruch: While playing for Ben Johnson himself in Detroit, Kevin Zeitler has only 11 blown blocks on 1007 snaps, which is a better rate than Smith’s 24 on 1038 blocks; the margin favors him even more with only 7 block blocks on 558 pass reps compared to 30 on 660 pass reps for Smith. Zeitler is a little long in the tooth, but he probably has at least a year or two of tread left on the tires.

Mongo Peanut: If the Bears don’t get Trey Smith, they have to get another established veteran on the OL interior, so I would go with Will Fries. However, he had a season ending injury last season, so if his physical is cloudy, then I would go after Kevin Zeitler. So you asked for a Plan B, and I gave you B & C.

Aaron Leming: Right now, objectives No. 1, 2, and 3 need to be figuring out the interior offensive line. Similar to the Bears head coaching search, it wouldn’t be wise for anyone to pigeonhole their thought process by zeroing in with a single player. With that in mind, if Smith doesn’t end up in Chicago, Plan B should be simple: Go out and get the next best guard. For me, that’s either Will Fries or Mekhi Becton.

TJ Starman: Drew Dalman. The Bears obviously need to lay the groundwork to solidify both sides of the line of scrimmage this offseason, and while everyone is right to eye Smith as the main interior OL prize, I think adding Dalman as a veteran Center could also satisfy a certain amount of leadership in that o-line room.

Erik Duerrwaechter: In terms of top target? I’d go with Baltimore Ravens left tackle Ronnie Staley, as he’s set to hit the market as well, and would provide for a real upgrade over Braxton Jones. My plan B for guard would be Mekhi Becton.

Bryan Orenchuk: This is easy for me as my Plan B simply slides into my Plan A which would be Drew Dalman, Center from Atlanta. Center is arguably more of a need than G and Dalman is young enough to grow with Caleb and the offense for years to come.

Ryan Droste: It’s all about interior OL for the Bears this offseason, followed closely by the DL. Through some combination of the draft and FA, we have to get the interior figured out, and with Ben Johnson coming in, I’m starting on offense. So, if I’m looking at the best available Guard or Center in FA after Trey Smith, I’m looking at Drew Dalman from Atlanta. I think it’s more likely the Bears will get an immediate starter at Guard in the draft than a Center, so I’m rolling with Dalman, who is just 26 years old, to fill a need that the Bears have seemingly had ever since Olin retired.

Jacob Infante: Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Milton Williams. I would love for the Bears to make some sort of splash signing in the trenches, and Williams brings a tremendous combination of production, athleticism, pass-rushing value up the middle, and a young age that indicates his best football is still ahead of him. I’d anticipate his salary range would be similar to what Smith ends up with.

Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.: I’ve been so fixated on offensive line, I never thought the Bears could pivot their huge free agent offer to defense, but that could be fun. However, that said, if Trey Smith isn’t a viable option, then the Bears should go after Drew Dalman. Much oiks Smith’s market, Dalman could end up the top paid center after he signs his contract.

Now it’s your turn. If the Chiefs figure out their cap, or if Trey Smith chooses to go elsewhere, who is your plan B top choice for the Bears?

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...ith-who-is-your-plan-b-drew-dalman-will-fries

 

[Chicago Bears]

The Bear’s Den, February 18, 2025

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Here’s all the news that’s fit to print about the Chicago Bears today

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

DENMASTER KEN’S VIDEO GRAB BAG

BEARRRSSSS​

Bears O-line earns shockingly high end-of-year ranking from Pro Football Focus - SI - Despite the negative narrative around the Chicago Bears offensive line, analytics powerhouse Pro Football Focus didn’t rank them at the bottom of the NFL.

PFF builds Chicago Bears’ perfect offseason featuring two stud offensive linemen - SI - The Chicago Bears can double down on their biggest position of need by signing the top free-agent guard and using their first-round pick on the top offensive lineman in the NFL Draft

Sports News & Rumors | 670 The Score Chicago - 670 - Get the latest Chicago sports news, rumors, opinions and highlights from the top sports writers of 670 The Score Chicago.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Source: Steelers never called Jaguars about Trevor Lawrence - NBC Sports - Now that it's out there, will some other team make the call?

A defamation lawsuit from Richie Incognito would likely go nowhere - NBC Sports - Something very strange is happening on Twitter today.

Report: Raiders, assistant G.M. Champ Kelly part ways - NBC Sports - The Raiders and assistant General Manager Champ Kelly have mutually agreed to part ways, Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports.

Potential NFL salary-cap cuts for all 32 teams: From Cooper Kupp to Davante Adams and more - The Athletic - Which players could be salary-cap casualties this offseason? The Athletic's beat writers make picks for every NFL team.

Trevor Lawrence: "I'm not going to Pittsburgh" - NBC Sports - Last week, a rumor popped up that Pittsburgh had inquired about potentially trading for Jacksonville's Trevor Lawrence.

Seahawks G.M. John Schneider: You can't just throw money at something to fix it - NBC Sports - Seahawks General Manager John Schneider said on Seattle Sports 710 last week that the team is aware of its deficiencies as they head into the offseason and that they have a plan to address them.

Report: Bengals seek long-term extension with Tee Higgins but "likely" use tag if needed - NBC Sports - The tag deadline is March 4, so the Bengals are working on getting a deal completed before then.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON​

NFL Free Agency: If the Bears can’t land Trey Smith, who is your Plan B? - Windy City Gridiron - We’re kicking off a 4 part WCG roundtable about free agency.

Ten Greatest Defensive Coordinators in NFL History - Windy City Gridiron - With Vic Fangio winning a Super Bowl, where does he rank among the greats?

Top 10 Greater Expectations - #6 - Braxton Jones - Windy City Gridiron - In this series, we will look at which Chicago Bears players need to step up their play to match their pay in 2025.

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2nd City Gridiron Podcast Channel which includes Bears Banter hosted by Bill Zimmerman, Bear & Balanced from Jeff Berckes and Lester A. Wiltfong Jr., Bears Over Beers featuring a rotating host line-up of Ryan Droste, Khari Thompson, Jacob Infante, and Bryan Orenchuk, Making Monsters with Taylor Doll, Bear Bones from Dr. Mason West, and an occasional T Formation Conversation from Lester; Steven’s Streaming Twitch Channel from Steven Schweickert is another fun one.

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A few of us are also over at Bluesky.​

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...poles-offseason-draft-ben-johnson-free-agency

 

[Chicago Bears]

Chicago Bears 2025 Roster Turnover: How will the receiver depth stack up?

Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images

In this 13-part series, we’ll take an in-depth look at each position group for the Chicago Bears with an eye toward the 2025 season. We’ll speculate on who stays, who goes, and some potential additions we’d like to see general manager Ryan Poles make.

Last offseason, there were a lot of positive vibes around the Chicago Bears. Drafting Caleb Williams energized the fanbase, the offense — and head coach — received a makeover, Hard Knocks created a buzz, and they had three wideouts talking about a race to a thousand yards receiving. But the offense started slow, stalled out after the bye, and then limped to the finish line. The race to a thousand never picked up any stream, and none hit the mark.

Enter new head coach Ben Johnson, who brings his play-calling expertise to the Bears after a highly productive time with the Detroit Lions, where he saw their numbers increase each year as offensive coordinator. Johnson will design his new offense around Williams and the talent, but in 2024, Johnson’s Detroit offense had two wide receivers go over a thousand yards.

A race to a thousand may actually materialize with the Bears’ wideouts in 2025.

Here’s how Chicago’s receiver room shapes up.

DJ Moore - Signed through 2029 - Moore had a down season... while catching a career-high 98 passes. However, he only had 966 receiving yards for a career-low 9.9 yards per reception. Moore should be more productive in the new offense because Johnson knows how to scheme touches for his playmakers, and DJ had the sixth most yards after catch in 2024.

Keenan Allen - Free agent - The six-time Pro Bowler didn’t have the type of impact the Bears were hoping for when they sent a fourth-round pick to the Chargers for him. Allen said the door is open for a return to the Bears, but if that happens, he’ll be the WR3 and make substantially less than last year’s $20M. I am curious how his plantar fasciitis may have affected his season prep because he missed weeks two and three and was more productive in the second half of the year.

At this stage in his career, I would assume Allen is looking for the best chance to win a ring.

Rome Odunze - Signed through 2027* - There were high expectations on the ninth over draft pick, but as the WR3 behind Moore and Allen, the odds of him cracking a thousand yards were always slim. Of all the 2024 rookie wideouts who surpassed Odunze’s 54 receptions, each was their team's respective number-one receiver. Odeunze has a WR1 skill set, and it wouldn’t surprise me if Odunze ends up as the most targeted receiver for the Bears this season.

Between Rome and DJ, Johnson will be able to move them around the offense to get the matchups that benefit the Bears.

*Bears have the fifth-year option available in 2028​

Tyler Scott - Signed through 2026 - With Allen and Odunze added last year, that pushed Scott down the depth chart, so he never had a chance to build off his 17-catch, 168-yard rookie campaign. He’s a 4.4 forty guy and was known for his run-after-catch ability in college at Cincinnati. This will be a big offseason for him to hone his receiving skills.

Collin Johnson - Free agent - Johnson had some buzz around him after his preseason and Hard Knocks appearance, but an injury stalled his momentum. He did play in nine games, but mostly on special teams.

DeAndre Carter - Free agent - The 31-year-old Carter, who ended last year on IR, still has value as a return specialist. He had a career-best 31.9 kickoff return average (second best in the league) in the first year of the NFL’s dynamic kickoff. He ended the season on IR.

Nsimba Webster- Free agent - Webster has been with the Bears since 2O21, but he spent all of last year on injured reserve.

Maurice Alexander - Signed through 2025** - Alexander may be an option to replace Carter as a returner, plus his familiarity with Ben Johnson (he was with the Lions from 2022 through 2024) could give him an inside track at sticking around in some capacity. He’s been a practice squadder most of his career, but he has appeared in seven games, with one reception for seven yards, four punt returns for 42 yards, and six kickoff returns for 146 yards.

Samori Toure - Signed through 2025** - Toure spent last year on the Bears practice squad.

**Restricted free agents in 2026​

John Jackson - Signed through 2025*** - Jackson’s good friend, Caleb Williams, probably had something to do with him getting a camp spot last year, and that could have helped him stick around as a practice squadder. However, in the 2024 preseason, he had two receptions, one rushing attempt, and two kickoff returns.

***Exclusive rights free agent in 2026​

2025 OUTLOOK - Not gonna lie; I’d be fine if Allen returned (at the right price) because Ben Johnson would use him appropriately. He’d be a zone beater, he’d be used on rub routes and used as a sure-handed option for Caleb Wiliams. Allen was asked to do too much downfield early last season, and that’s not his game. That said, I don’t think he’s coming back.

I think they’re more likely to sign a veteran to compete for a bottom-of-the-depth chart spot than look for an established (and pricy) receiver. However, if the Bears do target a free agent, Detroit’s Tim Patrick could make sense if he’s looking to follow Ben Johnson to the Windy City. He wouldn't break the bank on a short deal, he’d be another veteran for the room, and he’d bring an understanding of Johnsion’s verbiage.

If they add via the draft, I’d imagine they’d target a burner in the mid to late rounds. Virginia’s Chris Tyree, Georgia’s Arian Smith, Baylor’s Monaray Baldwin, and Texas’ Agiye Hall are a few guys to keep an eye on at the NFL Combine.

What do you think will happen at wideout this offseason?

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...pth-chart-stack-up-rome-odunze-dj-moore-draft

 

[Chicago Bears]

Chicago Bears Open Thread Question of the Day: Is Braxton Jones Underrated?

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

The Bears OL has been rightfully criticized over the last few seasons - but should we throw the baby (Braxton Jones) out with the bath water?

There is a broad and resounding consensus that the Chicago Bears have to invest in their offensive line. There should be no questioning that.

There is also consistency in calling for a new IOL across the board. The play at RG and Center and health concerns at LG should leave no doubt that upgrades ought to be made.

Right Tackle Darnell Wright has also shown to be an above average RT in his first two seasons in the league. Of all of the positions along the OL his is most secure.

That brings us to the biggest question mark along the offensive line - Left Tackle Braxton Jones.

During Ryan Poles’ three year tenure with the Bears, no player has been held up more often than Jones as a reason to trust Poles’ talent evaluation chops. Finding an average LT in the 5th round of your first draft is a huge win for a GM who spoke highly of his ability to evaluate OL.

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

After three seasons as the starting LT, Braxton Jones’ 2024 stats are as follows:

• 2024: 12 Games, 7 Penalties, 5 Sacks Allowed, 77.4 PFF grade
• 2023: 11 Games, 9 Penalties, 2 Sacks Allowed, 68.7 PFF grade
• 2022: 17 Games, 12 Penalties, 7 Sacks Allowed, 75.4 PFF grade

Jones has been imperfect during his tenure, as evidenced by his missing 11 games in the last two seasons and his 28 penalties since entering the league. However, his overall grade of 77.4 ranked 20th among 141 qualifying tackles and his pass blocking grade of 80.8 ranked 17th - so this begs the question:

Are we underrating Braxton Jones? ​

I think it’s very possible we are. Here are my primary reasons:

• Braxton Jones entered the league as a 5th round rookie out of Southern Utah and has consistently shown he belongs despite playing in a much higher level of competition.
• He has ideal measurements at 6’5”, 310 lbs, and 35.37” arms.
• He has shown an elite ability of getting to the second level and blocking.
• This is all despite having a coach that was consistently thought of as below average in Chris Morgan and a lack of consistency at LG.

Braxton Jones is still just 25 years old and has been a league average LT despite sub par coaching and having a revolving door of Left Guards next to him. It’s obvious that he still needs to improve his anchor as he is prone to the bull rush, and that he still gets called for too many penalties. However, given the vast needs at the IOL, and the lack of true LT talent in the draft or FA, I think Jones might remain the best option going into next season. I also think that good coaching and a better talent at LG could go a long way in raising his game.

Now it’s your turn - do you think Braxton Jones is underrated by Bears fans? Sound off in the comments!

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...the-day-is-braxton-jones-underrated-nfl-draft

 

[Chicago Bears]

Topps may have produced the greatest football card of all time

Take all my money!

I haven’t collected football cards in a long time, but I may get back in the game for a chance to find this magnificent Caleb Williams card from Topps.

This is a fun video from @Topps featuring Caleb Williams and Jim McMahon, but they better release this autograph card . #Bears #NFL #Packers https://t.co/Wok3Yq3Q7g pic.twitter.com/wvHdrUold9

— Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. (@wiltfongjr) February 19, 2025​

Topps, by the way, did confirm the card is actually in the product.

So you can have your 1935 National Chicle Bronko Nagurski Rookie Card, your 1948 Leaf Sid Luckman Rookie Card, your 1962 Topps Mike Ditka Rookie Card, your 1976 Topps Walter Payton Rookie Card, or your 1985 Bears McDonald’s set, the new Holy Grail of Chicago Bears football cards is the 2024 Topps Chrome “Green Bay Sucks” Caleb Williams 18 autograph.

Topps produced a fun video with Jim McMahon where a few other cards were signed.

While we’re here, if you are a collector, share your favorite bit of sports memorabilia in the comment section.

I wish I still had my collection, but I sold it all off back in the day when the market was really down. I look at what some of the cards I had are going for now, and I can only shake my head.

So, here's a bit of advice: hold on to your cards for as long as possible!

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...o-bears-green-bay-packers-suck-caleb-williams

 

[Chicago Bears]

Chicago Bears 2025 Roster Turnover: When will they take center seriously?

Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images

In this 13-part series, we’ll take an in-depth look at each position group for the Chicago Bears with an eye toward the 2025 season. We’ll speculate on who stays, who goes, and some potential additions we’d like to see general manager Ryan Poles make.

The Chicago Bears have been looking for a long-term answer at center since Olin Kreutz last snapped it for them in 2010. Roberto Garza took over for Kreutz and hung on for four years, but he was in his 30s when he moved over to center. Cody Whitehair had a few solid seasons at center, but even when he was racking up starts, the Bears kept trying to move him to guard. The Sam Mustipher era was forgettable.

There have been draft options in the last few years, but the only center picked in the previous eight years was a sixth-rounder in 2022.

Last year's plan was the trade for Ryan Bates, but a training camp injury opened the door for Coleman Shelton to start the season, and then two more Bates injuries kept Shelton in the lineup all 17 weeks.

The Bears have had opportunities to draft a center in the last few years, but they elected to go with veteran stopgaps like Bates, Shelton, and Lucas Patrick.

Eventually, general manager Ryan Poles will need to spend some real money on a veteran free agent center or draft one before day three so that they can develop into a long-term answer.

Here are the Bears’ current centers.

Coleman Shelton - Free agent - Shelton probably played better than you think he did in 2024. There were some early mishaps that set the narrative for him, but he settled in and finished fairly decently. SB Nation has Shelton as their third-best center on the market, although they wonder if a reserve job is best for him.

Pro Football Focus ranks Shelton as the third-best free agent center as well.

Shelton catches flak for the occasional tough rep where he can lose to a bull rush, but over the course of the full 2024 season, he provided stability and guidance for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams while doing a lot of the work pre-snap and barely missing a play all year. For two years in a row, Shelton has almost never come off the field. He has some positional flexibility between the tackles, as well — all admirable traits in a free-agent offensive lineman.

Ryan Bates - Signed through 2025 - I’m curious to see what Ben Johnson thinks about Bates. He offers position flexibility, is only 28, and only counts $4 million on the cap, which isn’t bad for a reserve.

Doug Kramer Jr. - Restricted free agent - Kramer has bounced back and forth between the practice squad and the active roster, so I doubt he’ll be tendered an offer. He may return, but it won’t be on an RFA deal.

Ricky Stromberg - Signed through 2025* - I would love for Stromberg, a 2023 third-round pick of the Washington Commanders, to come back from his injury and put a stranglehold on this position for the next 10 years, but that’s not something the Bears can count on. He’ll be in the mix for a roster spot, and he did play some guard during his time in Washington, so he adds some positional flexibility.

*He’ll be a restricted free agent in 2026.​

2025 OUTLOOK - I could see the Bears targeting both guard openings in free agency and signing Shelton back while drafting a center. Bates could also be back in the mix at center, but we’ll have to wait and see how the new regime views his best position.

The sweet spot for the draft could be the third round, but North Dakota State tackle Grey Zabel did show the ability to play center at the Senior Bowl and could be an option in the second round. As for the pure centers, Texas’ Jake Majors, Ohio State’s Seth McLaughlin, Georgia’s Jared Wilson, and USC’s Jonah Monheim, who has played all five positions on the offensive line and is a former teammate of Caleb Wiliams, could be third round options.

If they do look to upgrade center in free agency, the Falcons’ Drew Dalman could reset the market, and the Colts’ Ryan Kelly would provide veteran leadership, but both are coming off 2024 injuries.

What do you think will happen at center this offseason?

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...yan-bates-nfl-draft-coleman-shelton-stromberg