News Bears Team Notes

[Chicago Bears]

Bears Building Block or Not: Defensive Line

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

We’ve reached the final part of the building block series. How does the defensive line shape up?

We’ve reached the final part of our Chicago Bears building block series, and we’ve reached the defensive line. After going through the roster, we’ve found nine building blocks on the current roster: Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze, DJ Moore, Cole Kmet, Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, Darnell Wright, Kyler Gordon, and Jaylon Johnson.

Now is the time to remind you what we are looking at in terms of building blocks. We have defined a building block by the following factors: age, contract, ability, position, and projection.

Let’s dive into the defensive line and see if there are any names to add to the list.

Dominique Robinson​

It’s tough when you go through a position group this large and have 11 names to do that, I have to commit any words to certain players, but here we are. Robinson shouldn’t have been on the roster last year, and he shouldn't be on the roster this year. It was worth the swing in the draft in round five, but the experiment didn’t work out. Time to move on.

No Block.

Zacch Pickens​

See Robinson, Dominique. It’ll be interesting to see if a new coaching staff can squeeze anything out of Pickens, who hasn’t succeeded in any way at this point. Pickens will not be successful at this level, barring some miraculous work by Dennis Allen and the new coaching staff. I think Pickens probably keeps his roster spot or maybe lives on the practice squad this year (who’s guaranteeing him a spot on a 53 at this point?), but the Pickens ship has sailed.

No Block.

Jonathan Ford​

It’s not great when the Bears pick up a player off the Green Bay Packers' practice squad and he immediately jumps multiple people in the depth chart, but that’s what happened last year. Don’t mistake that statement that Ford is some diamond in the rough. Ford did a decent job for Chicago, but his success was more about how poorly others were playing.

Ford has a chance to stick this year as a rotational defensive tackle, but it wouldn’t be shocking if he didn’t make the team either. Ford made a handful of nice plays last year for Chicago, but there isn’t a high ceiling here either.

No Block.

Daniel Hardy​

I think a lot of Bears fans thought that Hardy was a UDFA rookie last year, but not quite. Hardy was a 7th-round pick of the LA Rams a few years ago and spent 2023 on the Bears' practice squad. Hardy had an opportunity in training camp and made the roster, and turned in a solid season.

Hardy’s success was on special teams, where he made some big plays throughout the season, including the blocked punt against the Tennessee Titans that Jonathan Owens returned for a touchdown. Hardy played 85% of the team’s special teams snaps but only played a handful on defense, and in those limited snaps, he didn’t make a significant impact.

Hardy is another one of the Bears’ core special teams players and will most likely make the 2025 roster because of that, but he isn’t a key part of the defense and shouldn’t expect to be in the future.

No Block.

Chris Williams​

This trade always confused me. Williams turned in a decent season, and it’s not like the Bears gave up a huge draft pick, but I never understood why you want to give up any capital at all for this player.

Williams will be the Bears’ fourth or fifth DT this year, depending on what they do in the NFL Draft. Williams showed a little bit as an interior pass rusher but really struggled against the run. He should make the 53 again this year, but there’s no reason to think he will be a part of the Bears' long-term plans.

No Block.

Austin Booker​

Alright, now that we have those five out of the way, let’s dive into the key six players currently a part of the Bears’ defensive front. I have a feeling I’m going to grade these players a little too tough for many fans' liking, but feel free to disagree in the comments.

Booker needs to be the Bears’ fourth edge this year, where he can get some defensive snaps and see how he develops, but not the third edge that will see significant snaps and is relied upon. If the Bears don’t draft an edge in round one or two this year, they’ll need to sign a veteran edge later to bump Booker down on the depth chart.

Booker flashed a little in the pass rush, but he has a long way to go in terms of stopping the run. Teams targeted Booker when he was on the field and a run was called, and teams had a lot of success doing so.

Booker is a fifth-round pick for a reason; he absolutely could develop into a pass-rushing specialist, but there wasn’t enough flashed during his rookie season to count on it this season. This one could be wrong, but for now, this is how we see it.

No Block.

Andrew Billings​

I’ve said this in articles before and on multiple podcasts. What a great signing this was by Ryan Poles, and the affordable extension was also a great move. Billings has become a key part of the Bears' defensive line, but what I keep stressing is that, if Billings goes down with an injury, he cannot be the reason your entire defensive line collapses. He’s not that good.

Billings is a solid nose tackle that can eat up space and can collapse the pocket if need be on pass rushing downs. Billings will even split a double team and hit the offense with a TFL from time to time as well.

But we need to speak truthfully about Billings. He missed half of last season with a torn pec and is now on the other side of 30. Players like Billings can play until their 33 or 34, but those last few seasons are usually as a team’s NT2 that eat up space and don’t get moved off the line of scrimmage, but don’t impact a game.

Billings might turn in another solid season, which could result in another short-term extension, but I can’t see Billings as a key piece of this defensive line moving forward.

No Block.

Gervon Dexter​

Dexter took several steps forward last season, especially in his pass-rushing skills. He tailed off and didn’t have as much of an impact towards the end of the season that he did during the first half, but there’s plenty to work with here.

Dexter needs to improve his anchor and his ability to make plays in the run game, but he was better as the season went on last year, and there’s no reason to think that Dexter won’t continue to improve.

I think we are starting to see the ceiling on Dexter. He isn’t going to become a dominant 3-Tech in my mind, but I do think he’s going to become a capable player that will make a handful of impact plays per game. Dexter should remain with this team.

Block.

Grady Jarrett​

This one is tough. I like the signing and I think Jarrett is going to add some much-needed leadership to the defensive front, but how much is left in the tank?

From 2017 to 2020, Jarrett averaged over 5 sacks a season. From 2021 to the present, he’s averaged less than 3 sacks per season. From 2017 to 2020, Jarrett’s TFLs were almost 11 per season; since then, those numbers have dropped to 6.5 per season.

Jarrett is still good, but he isn’t the game wrecker he once was. But the Bears are playing for a good player, not a game wrecker, so they know the skills have eroded a little.

Jarrett will be 32 at the end of April, and I just have a hard time not seeing Jarrett’s skills erode a little more over the next couple of years. Jarrett will be helpful when he’s here, but I don’t think that lasts more than a couple of seasons before they part ways.

No Block.

Dayo Odeyingbo​

This one is going to sound like I’m talking out of both sides of my mouth. I wasn’t a huge fan of the Dayo signing. The price wasn’t terrible but I just don’t see a huge upside on his pass rushing ability.

To me, he’s a younger version of Demarcus Walker. He’s shown no consistency in his pass rush and has never had double-digit TFLs in three full seasons of playing full time. Let’s compare Walker’s last three seasons to Dayo’s.

Dayo had 16 sacks, 96 pressures, 21 TFLs, and 100 tackles in 1885 snaps.

Walker had 14 sacks, 118 pressures, 26 TFLs, and 109 tackles in 1878 snaps.

Dayo is five years younger, and that goes a long way. But for fans who were disappointed in Walker’s production in Chicago, have the Bears improved or just gotten younger at a position? And the price to do that is an additional $9 million per season.

Sure, Dayo is young and should improve some, but is it reasonable to expect him to become a truly impact player at his position?

I just spent all that time telling you why Dayo shouldn’t be expected to become some huge addition, but at the same time, Dayo’s production is solid, just not game changing. Dayo is the type of guy that if he continues to play at this level or improves slightly and manages to do it over 4+ years, that’s the type of guy the Bears can rely on moving forward.

Block.

Montez Sweat​

Let’s stir up some controversy. Who is Montez Sweat? Is Montez Sweat the man we saw in 2023 who turned in career highs in sacks, TFLs, pressures, and tackles?

Or is Sweat the man we’ve seen in other seasons that has never turned in another double-digit sack season and has been a very good player, but not the game wrecker he was in 2023?

I think when you see a player show who they are consistently, that’s probably the player they are. I understand that Sweat was banged up last year and that may have contributed to the decrease in impact play, but again, at this point, I tend to think that 2023 was a bit of an anomaly and that his other seasons are closer to the player he is.

But Sweat was paid to be the 2023 version, not the version from the other years. When you also keep in mind that Sweat is going to be 29 when this season kicks off, it’s fair to question if Sweat is going to truly be the elite edge defender the Bears expect him to be.

Sweat is very good and is a strong defender of the run, but if Odeyingbo doesn’t develop into a more dominant pass rusher and Sweat isn’t one either, the Bears are going to struggle getting significant pressure off the edges.

If Sweat doesn’t return to his 2023 form, it would not surprise me at all to see Sweat here in 2025 and 2026, and the Bears part ways with him at that point.

No Block.

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That concludes our series in which we’ve found 11 building blocks in Chicago. That’s a decent place to start. The Bears do need some more top-end talent (blue chip), but this is a solid place to start as long as the team drafts well moving forward.

It will also be interesting to see if this new coaching staff develops players at other positions than the previous coaching regime. That’s not to say that Matt Eberflus and his staff didn’t develop anyone; they did a great job with the secondary, but we just haven’t seen pieces develop in other position groups like the Bears needed.

Was that issue coaching, or was that issue due to the front office not identifying quality talent outside of the top 60? That’s something we will learn over the next couple of years.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...ne-montez-sweat-gervon-dexter-andrew-billings

 

[Chicago Bears]

Bears least successful team over last 10 NFL Drafts, according to FTN

Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Chicago has the distinction of the most top-10 picks with the least amount of production.

The NFL Draft very often makes or breaks teams.

Teams that draft well generally do better than those that do not. And the first round is typically held to the highest standard among the picks because they are the highest and supposed to be, the most talented players.

I don’t think I’m sharing anything too crazy here by saying that the Chicago Bears don’t have a ton of success in the draft over the past 10 years.

FTN Fantasy writer Daniel Kelley decided to look at the past ten years of first round picks for each team and rank them best to worst.

He used a simple criterion: you picked a player, how did they do? And in that, how did they do, he’s looking at only their production for the team originally picking them. No measure of trade-ups or downs, no measure against a player they could’ve selected.

The Bears lacked a first round pick in three of the last ten years (2019 and 2020 due to the Khalil Mack trade and 2022 due to the trade up for Justin Fields). That hurt them but beside that, the players they did take just didn’t perform well.

Average pick: 7.1 (No. 32)

Percentage of games: 42.4% (No. 32)

They’re the only team averaging a pick better than 10th, and the team averaging 10th is the famously eff-them-picks Rams, who either pick early or don’t bother. When they have picked (the Bears didn’t select in the first round in 2019, 2020 or 2022), the Bears haven’t drafted worse than 11th since 2014, outside our sample. Despite that, the Bears have gotten less playing time from those first-rounders than any other...

Ouch.

Let’s break this down. The Bears have picked inside the top 10 in seven of the past 10 years, including six of the seven years they had a first round pick. The only year they were outside the top 10 was the Fields pick.

And the games played by those picks for Chicago is absurdly low, too.

Kevin White - 14 games

Leonard Floyd - 54 games

Mitchell Trubisky - 51 games

Roquan Smith - 69 games

Justin Fields - 40 games

Darnell Wright - 33 games

Caleb Williams - 17 games

Rome Odunze - 17 games

The Bears got about four seasons worth of production from Roquan Smith before he was traded and roughly three seasons worth from Trubisky and Floyd. Granted, Wright has missed just one game and Williams and Odunze played in all of theirs, but these three are still early in their evaluations.

The three missing picks hurt the overall numbers because they have fewer players in the sample size logging games.

Other teams with a similar percentage of game scores had more picks: Tennessee (11) and Las Vegas (12). While New England had the same number of picks as the Bears but a tad higher percentage of games (43.3).

Make sure you give the entire article a look because it’s interesting to see some teams with recent success, struggle in the first round too (Buffalo, Miami, Seattle and San Francisco).

Tomorrow, he’ll look at the teams with the most first round success.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...l-drafts-kevin-white-mitchell-trubisky-fields

 

[Chicago Bears]

My Top 10 Running Backs in the ‘25 NFL Draft: #5 Kaleb Johnson

Photo by John Rivera/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The RB class is elite this year. Here are Bryan’s takes on the top ten, who he would compare their running styles to, and if he thinks they’re a fit for Chicago.

#5: Kaleb Johnson - ALL-AROUND​

Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images
Kaleb Johnson exploded on the scene as a Senior, shining against four of the top 12 run defenses in the nation, including the national champion Ohio State Buckeyes.

Kaleb Johnson was the entire offense for the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2024, and still posted elite production in the B1G TEN, which included the number 3, 6, 8, and 12th-ranked run defenses in the country. Not only did he total over 1,500 rush yards and 23 TDs (2 receiving), Johnson busted off nine “chunk” runs of at least 25 yards and also had a 72-yard TD reception. Johnson also ranked 4th nationally in yards after contact per rush and 4th most touches (out of more than 700 backs) without a fumble. Zero fumbles the entire season and only 1 lost fumble his entire three year career at Iowa in 508 carries. Ball security is job security, right? The fact that he saw so many stacked fronts and still exposed his opponents and gashed them on the ground was extremely impressive, but concerns about only one productive year and lack of elite speed are some concerns leading up to the NFL Draft.

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Pro Comp: Arian Foster​

Johnson: 6’1”, 224, 33” arms, 9.5/8” hands, 4.57, 1.62 (10yd split)

Foster: 6’1”, 226, 33.1/8” arms, 9.7/8” hands, 4.69, 1.62

Nearly identical in size, these two big backs also have similar strides with a slight forward ”relaxed” lean, which can be seen throughout their tape as they routinely make one cut and are off to the races with their deceptive speed and “gliding” nature. Arian Foster was undrafted due to his subpar senior season, the opposite of Johnson. While Foster had more ball security issues, it didn’t prevent him from becoming a 3-time All-Pro and 4-time Pro Bowler. Both backs possess exceptional vision and enough speed for a bigger back, and both produced in top conferences at the collegiate level, though Foster had a forgettable Senior season while Johnson had his best season as a Senior. While Foster went undrafted, I expect Kaleb Johnson to be a late day 2 or early day 3 pick and expect him to produce early as a pro, though perhaps not quite as early as Arian Foster who made All Pro in just his second season.

Kaleb Johnson

When we are looking for examples of why he is special.

This is one of the better plays I’ve seen from him. pic.twitter.com/px3mbY3Xks

— Elite Drafters (@Elite_Drafters) March 22, 2025​

Prime Arian Foster was a MENACE on the football field.

First-team All-Pro (2010)
Second-team All-Pro (2011)
4x Pro Bowler
2x NFL rushing touchdowns leader
NFL rushing yards leader (2010)
6,527 rushing yards
54 rush TDs

DAWG.
pic.twitter.com/I2dMKnNU3j

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) March 22, 2025​

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Fit for Bears? Yes​

Kaleb Johnson, to this point in the rankings, might be the best fit of all the backs listed. With his vision, stride and ability to make defenders miss, Johnson would be a terrific fit for what is rumored to be an outside zone running scheme. I would be thrilled if he landed on the Chicago Bears.

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What about you? Did Johnson’s 40 yard dash scare you away? Would you like to see him in Chicago? What do you think about the Arian Foster comp?​

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Bchuk44’s Top 10 Running Backs

10. Jaydon Blue (Texas)

9. Ollie Gordon II (Oklahoma State)

8. Cam Skattebo (Arizona State)

7. Bhayshul Tuten (Virginia Tech)

6. RJ Harvey (UCF)

5. Kaleb Johnson (Iowa)

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...raft-5-kaleb-johnson-arian-foster-ben-johnson

 

[Chicago Bears]

With the 10th pick in the 2025 SB Nation Mock Draft, the Chicago Bears...

Photo by Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images

The Annual SB Nation Writers’ Mock Draft is underway!

The 2025 SB Nation Writers’ Mock Draft has been chugging along behind the scenes among our 32 teams' sites for a while now, and the general consensus from many of our writers has been to trade back. In the first round, almost everyone has floated a willingness to make a trade, but so far, only one Mock GM has been able to pull off a deal, and that was me!

I sent the 10th overall selection to the Denver Broncos for their 2025 first-round pick (20th overall), their 2025 second-round pick (51st), and their 2026 fifth-round pick. Shout out to Denver’s Mock GM Scotty Payne, Senior Writer at Mile High Report, for making the deal.

I took a slight point loss according to the old standard Jimmy Johnson draft trade value chart, but I won by a bit according to the Rich Hill chart. Could I have squeezed Scotty for a 2026 fourth to “win” the trade? Maybe. But I made the deal on Sunday from my couch while watching TV, and wanted to get a deal agreed to as soon as possible to keep our mock moving.

Here's how the first nine picks went.

1. Tennessee Titans - Cam Ward, QB, Miami
2. Cleveland Browns - Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
3. New York Giants - Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
4. New England Patriots - Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
5. Jacksonville Jaguars - Will Campbell, OT, LSU
6. Las Vegas Raiders - Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
7. New York Jets - Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
8. Carolina Panthers - Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
9. New Orleans Saints - Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

And with the 10th pick in the 2025 SB Nation Mock Draft, the Denver Broncos (via the Bears) select...

10. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State​

We’ve heard draft analysts say the strength of this draft lies late in the first round and on through day two, so I wanted to get in that range while adding a third second-round pick. I was tempted to take Jeanty, because I think he’ll be a fantastic pro, but I feel there will be other opportunities to get a running back later.

Stay tuned to see what I do at pick 20 soon.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...cago-bears-denver-broncos-ashton-jeanty-trade

 

[Chicago Bears]

NFL Executives Discuss the Chicago Bears’ Offseason

Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

The Athletic’s Mike Sando spoke with several NFL executives to get their anonymous thoughts on what the 32 teams have done so far this offseason.

A recent two-part series from The Athletic’s Mike Sando featured his annual check-in with league executives who anonymously shared their thoughts on how clubs’ offseasons have gone thus far. He didn’t waste any time mentioning the Navy and Orange.

“The once-sleepy Chicago Bears might have won the offseason, drawing positive reviews,” Sando wrote in his NFC breakdown.

Head coach Ben Johnson was Chicago’s big coup, but on the player side of things, the Bears have added several starter upgrades, while suffering minimal losses.

Offensive linemen Drew Dalman, Joe Thuney, and Jonah Jackson, and defensive linemen Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo were their key additions, which contributed to their eleventh-highest average per year salary of $50.9 M added. They lost an average of $24.2M (22nd), for a differential of $26.7M (8th).

Here’s what some of the NFL executives said about the Bears.

“I like what Chicago has done,” one exec said. “They have gotten better. I do not know how much we will see it in their record. If they win eight games, is that progress?”

Eight wins would be a three-game improvement over 2024, but that would be a disappointment with so much buzz surrounding Ben Johnson, Caleb Williams, and the new look Bears.

“I applaud them for doing it the way they are doing it,” another exec said. “You get two proven commodities at guard, and the head coach (Ben Johnson) knows Jonah Jackson from Detroit. It’s an overpay for the center, but they have a chance to address left tackle in the draft and come away with a pretty formidable group.”

Dalman’s $14 million per year average is currently the second highest at center, but as we’ve seen time and time again, the market is reset each offseason. Plus, salaries go up each year, and it’s just a matter of time before another center or two pass his average.

It’s been reported that the Bears want to incorporate a wide zone running scheme, which likely played a role in acquiring the athletic Dalman.

“Detroit did a lot of that, but with the keeper element that Caleb Williams enables, your cutback is going to be there,” this exec said. “Time will tell if their guard play enables the gap-scheme element as a complement. I do think the integrity of the pocket, with that center, will be compromised in dropback situations. I’d imagine they are planning on staying out of those situations as much as they can.”

One exec was split on Chicago’s two new defensive linemen.

“The guy they signed from Indy (Odeyingbo) has the upside to get 8-10 sacks as an interior rusher,” an exec said. “He was hurt coming out of college and never fit in with what the Indy was doing. That is a good signing. Jarrett is just a run defender at this point.”

Chicago’s roster construction makes me believe they’ll add a defensive end and defensive tackle in the draft to go along with their veterans. Odeyingbo was signed to play on the edge, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Bears move him all over the d-line.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...w-dalman-grady-jarrett-dayo-ben-johnson-caleb

 

[Chicago Bears]

2025 Bears mock draft: Run the damn ball!

Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images

WCG’s lead draft analyst shares his latest Bears mock draft for 2025.

With the 2025 NFL Draft just a few weeks away, anticipation grows around Chicagoland in regards to what the Bears will do with the No. 10 overall pick.

The consensus seems to be that a certain few prospects would be slam-dunk picks for the Chicago Bears in the first round. While there’s no guarantee any of them will make it to that point — a scenario I’ll explore in another mock leading up to the draft — it’s good to have an understanding of what a class could look like with different top prospects at No. 10.

After a free agency period that saw Ryan Poles aggressively attack the trenches, the Bears find themselves in a much more flexible position with their early-round picks, though the offensive and defensive line will likely continue to be upgraded in some capacity.

Here is my latest 2025 seven-round Bears mock draft.

Round 1: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State​

There’s smoke surrounding Ashton Jeanty as a target for the Raiders at No. 6, and it’s entirely possible the All-American running back goes that high. Should Las Vegas pass on him for a quarterback or a different blue-chip prospect, Jeanty could end up in the Windy City.

An intelligent, powerful runner with breakaway speed and quick feet, Jeanty is an all-around talented running back who can do it all, both as a downhill runner and out in space. The video game numbers he put up in 2024 aren’t just reflective of Mountain West competition; it reflects just how dominant of a player he is. Behind a retooled Bears offensive line, Jeanty could immediately be one of the most productive backs in the NFL.

Round 2: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan​

The Bears have a young stud at defensive tackle in Gervon Dexter, but he’s been inconsistent against the run. They have two solid veteran defenders along the interior in Grady Jarrett and Andrew Billings, but both are above 30 years old. All that to say, they could use a young run-stuffer up the middle.

Kenneth Grant is a stout, physical 1-technique defensive tackle with a powerful anchor. He packs a mean punch at the point of attack and eats up gaps well with a flexible lower half and refined hands. On passing downs, he’s a work in progress but has impressive quickness and agility for a man over 330 pounds. He would be a valuable run defender to start, with upside to become a three-down player for Chicago.

Round 2: Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss​

The Bears figure to go forward with the defensive end tandem of Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo in 2025, but they need depth and potential insurance in case the latter player doesn’t take the next step Chicago is expecting of him.

With 25.5 career sacks and 40 tackles for a loss, Princely Umanmielen is a productive pass-rusher who’s been tested against the best college football has to offer. He brings ideal acceleration, length and effort on a consistent basis. As he continues to improve his power game, he would thrive in a rotation like the Bears’ early on. He has the tools to develop into a quality starter at the NFL level.

Round 3: Jonah Savaiinaea, OG, Arizona​

The Bears’ new guard tandem of Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson should be significantly better than what they had in 2024. With Thuney being 32 and Jackson coming off a down year, though, it would be smart to invest in the offensive line with an early pick.

Jonah Savaiinaea has found himself falling into third-round conversations, which I honestly don’t understand. There are more athletic linemen in the class, but there are few with his play strength, stout anchor and tackle-guard versatility. He’s a top-50 player in the class for me, still. I think he becomes a solid starter in the league, which is a tremendous get in Round 3.

Round 5: Nohl Williams, CB, California​

Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has been prone to liking size at the cornerback position, and Nohl Williams fits the bill at 6-foot-0 and 200 pounds. He’s an intelligent defensive back with fluid hips and an aggressive mentality attacking the ball, and while his athletic ceiling isn’t insanely high, he projects as a high-end backup with spot starter upside.

Round 7: Thomas Fidone II, TE, Nebraska​

The Bears haven’t drafted a tight end on Day 3 since Evan Rodriguez in 2012. The lack of home-grown depth at the position has seen their front offices overpay such underwhelming veteran TE2 types as Gerald Everett, Robert Tonyan, Jimmy Graham and Dion Sims. Thomas Fidone would be a great developmental type, as he doesn’t have the production or blocking ability to warrant early-round consideration. That said, he’s a tremendous athlete with impressive body control who brings serious pass-catching potential.

Round 7: Carson Bruener, LB, Washington​

With the departure of Jack Sanborn in free agency, the Bears could stand to improve their linebacker depth. Carson Bruener is a quick processor at the second level who takes precise angles in pursuit and put together strong testing at the Combine.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...n-poles-kenneth-grant-princely-umanmielen-nfl

 

[Chicago Bears]

NFL Draft: Who are the top Notre Dame Prospects?

Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images

Taylor Doll talks with Ryan Roberts, who covers college football and the NFL Draft for A to Z Sports, about some of the top Notre Dame prospects available in the draft.

On her latest Making Monsters podcast on our 2nd City Gridiron channel, Taylor Doll is joined by Ryan Roberts, who covers college football and the NFL Draft for A to Z Sports, about some of the top Notre Dame prospects in the draft.

The two most prominent Golden Domers are cornerback Benjamin Morrison and safety Xavier Watts, and the second round is the likely sweet spot for both. Corner may not be an option for the Chicago Bears that early, but safety is a sneaky need for them, with their entire group only signed through the 2025 season.

The Bears have picks 39 and 41 in the second round, and depending on their board, taking the versatile Watts may be an option.

Watts was recruited as a wide out/defensive back, so he was moved around a bit at Notre Dame.

“So, he went from wide receiver to nickel, to wide receiver, to safety, to wide receiver, to eventually they were just like, okay, you’re just gonna play safety,” Roberts said about Watts’ start in South Bend. “That’s what you’re gonna be, right? So, eventually, they did that, and lo and behold, he has 13 interceptions the last two years because he has tremendous ball skills, a wide receiver background I just mentioned, but he’s really, really smart and instinctive.”

Check out her show in either of the embeds below.

Podcast version:​

Video version:​

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...cts-nfl-benjamin-morrison-safety-xavier-watts

 

[Chicago Bears]

Safeties for Bears to consider in 2025 NFL Draft

Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

WCG’s lead draft analyst looks at some intriguing draft prospects at another underrated need for the Bears.

The focus of the Bears’ offseason to this point has been the trenches. Because of their aggressive approach in free agency, their options in the 2025 NFL Draft have significantly opened up.

Over the weekend, I posted on Twitter/X that I anticipate the Bears to have needs at both linebacker and safety in the 2026 offseason.

I anticipate two of the #Bears’ biggest needs in 2026 to be safety and linebacker.

Wouldn’t be surprised if Ryan Poles tries to get ahead of that with a draft pick at either (or both) this year.

I’d be cool with a depth safety or linebacker in Round 3 who could start next year.

— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) April 4, 2025​

Chicago’s primary starters at both positions feel locked in for the 2025 season, with T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds at linebacker, and the team of Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker at safety.

Both Byard and Brisker are slated to hit free agency at the end of 2025. Byard turns 32 in August, and Brisker has a significant injury history that could make a long-term, big-money investment a little bit dicey. In fact, heading into 2026, there are no safeties that the Bears are currently slated to have under contract.

I’ve already broken down potential linebackers the Bears could consider in the 2025 NFL Draft. Now, it’s time to look at some potential safeties in this year’s class.

Xavier Watts, Notre Dame​

Grade: Round 2

A two-time All-American with 13 interceptions in his last two seasons at Notre Dame, Watts has top-notch ball skills, a high football IQ, and the fluidity needed to cover a considerable amount of space in coverage and make a play on the ball.

The only thing holding Watts back from the first round is a lack of tackling consistency, and even then, I’d argue he wouldn’t look too out of place in Round 1. He has a very high floor in the NFL and a higher ceiling than many give him credit for.

Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State​

Grade: Round 3

With 99th-percentile PFF grades in coverage and 99th-percentile grades in run support in 2023, Winston put together a tremendous season. He’s a physical, big-bodied safety who’s a sharp processor in coverage and has a high motor in run support.

As a one-year starter who only played in three games in 2024 due to injury, Winston is a bit too high-hipped to be in top-50 consideration. That said, he has the tools to eventually become a solid starter at strong safety.

Andrew Mukuba, Texas​

Grade: Round 3

From his stints at Texas and Clemson, Mukuba showed that he’s a rangy safety with great ball-tracking skills and quick processing abilities in coverage. He exploded with five interceptions in 2024, showing off his range and intelligence on the back end.

Though Mukuba isn’t all that physical as a tackler or taking on blocks, he’s a quality coverage defensive back who has starting upside and the potential to be a reliable contributor in an NFL secondary.

Jaylen Reed, Penn State​

Grade: Round 3-4

Don’t let Winston’s presence fool you; he’s not the only standout safety in Penn State’s secondary. Reed has the size and physicality to thrive as a downhill defender. He’s quick out of his backpedal, has good straight-line speed and packs some pop in his pads when he tackles.

His agility in coverage out of the slot can improve a bit, and there are some inconsistencies with him as a processor. That said, he has the physical tools and the toughness to serve as a big nickel/big dime defensive back with eventual starting upside.

Jonas Sanker, Virginia​

Grade: Round 4-5

At 6-foot-0 and 206 pounds, Sanker is a well-built defensive back who was a two-time first-team All-ACC safety over his time in Virginia. He’s a hard hitter who’s a willing tackler in run support who’s a fluid, intelligent processor on the back end.

Inconsistent angles in pursuit and average range in coverage can hurt Sanker’s upside a bit, but he should be a very good special teamer and a high-end backup at the next level.

Maxen Hook, Toledo​

Grade: Round 5-6

Hook had seven interceptions between his final three seasons at Toledo, showcasing his physicality as a tackler and his precise angles in pursuit. He also has good coverage instincts and nice closing speed in space.

He’s primarily been a box defender in college, and he’ll need to prove he has the range and athleticism to make them jump from the Group of 5 level to the NFL. That said, Hook should be a reliable depth piece who can thrive in punt and kickoff coverage in the pros.

Kitan Crawford, Nevada​

Grade: Round 6-7

A top performer at the Combine, Crawford ran a 4.41 40-yard dash with elite testing numbers in the vertical and broad jumps, as well as the shuttle and three-cone drills. That athleticism shows on tape, as he’s an agile defender with impressive range as a deep safety and a high motor.

Crawford isn’t a super physical safety, and he doesn’t always break down super well as a tackler. That said, he’s a top-notch athlete in the secondary who’s versatile and can play all across the defense. He’s definitely worth a late-round flier.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2025/4/7/24401624/2025-nfl-draft-safeties-chicago-bears-prospects

 

[Chicago Bears]

Chicago Bears sign 4 Exclusive Rights Free Agents and 1 Restricted Free Agent

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Bears announced their returning ERFAs and RFA have signed their one year contracts.

While the Chicago Bears tendered offers to these five players weeks ago, today the team officially announced the contracts have been signed.

Returning to the Windy City are restricted free agent defensive tackle Chris Williams, and exclusive rights free agent defensive tackle Jonathan Ford, defensive end Daniel Hardy, cornerback Ameer Speed, and offensive lineman Bill Murray.

Williams’ contract is a one-year deal worth $3,263,000, and the four ERFAs are inked to one-year contracts for $1,030,000. There are no guarantees on the deals, so each will have a battle to make the 53-man roster.

Hardy was a key member of the special teams unit, having played in their most third-phase snaps in 2024 while tying for the team lead with 11 special teams tackles. Williams also played in all 17 games (with one start), setting career highs across the board with 23 tackles, three TFLs, three sacks, and 7 QB hits.

In case you missed any of the free agent acquisitions by the Bears or missed out on which players were signed away, you can get caught up on our transition tracker here.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...-1-restricted-chris-williams-ford-speed-hardy

 

[Chicago Bears]

Schefter: Don’t count out OL for Bears at No. 10

Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

WCG’s lead draft analyst spoke exclusively with ESPN’s senior NFL insider.

As he prepares for the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft, ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter is also prioritizing something else very important to him: Type 1 diabetes awareness.

Leading up to T1D Day on April 15, Schefter is partnering with Sanofi to promote the organization’s Screen For Type 1 initiative.

“Well, it’s a great partnership, and I’m really happy that Sanofi has engaged me for this,” Schefter explained to Windy City Gridiron. “Because I believe it’s an important message to raise awareness around the importance of screening for Type 1 diabetes.

“My wife, Sharri, is Type 1. I know what it’s like for her to go through that every single day, and so I am all for people having more time to prepare to make a difference, going for screening, meeting with their doctors, talking to their doctors about Type 1 diabetes and what can come out of screening, which is why we want them, if it’s possible, to visit screenfortype1.com to learn more.”

In discussing his passion for the cause, Schefter emphasized the importance of self-monitoring potential symptoms and getting screened by medical professionals.

“I think that the most important thing that [people] could do is meeting with their doctor about Type 1 and asking them about screening,” he elaborated. “I defer to the doctors, and that’s the best path of action. Let the doctors handle it, talk to your doctor about Type 1, and ask them about the screening.”

With both T1D Day and the NFL Draft right around the corner, now is a busy time of year for Schefter. In the relationships he has formed around the league, he understands that the 2025 NFL Draft should be vastly different from how the 2024 edition went.

“Last year’s [draft] had a lot of excitement around those quarterbacks [drafted in the first round],” he said. “If we look at the draft this year, we haven’t seen a team trade out of its first-round pick yet...you don’t normally see that into April, where every team is in possession of their own first-round pick. There’s your first change right there. No teams are all geared up to get out there to try to trade up for a quarterback. I think the Browns and Giants would like to trade up for Cam Ward, but I don’t think the Titans will do that.”

Ward, the star quarterback for Miami (FL), is widely considered to be the No. 1 pick in the draft, which the Titans are in possession of. Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders also figures to be a first-round pick, and the possibility of Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart or Alabama’s Jalen Milroe sneaking into Round 1 is one that looms over the class.

“Most people think three {quarterbacks go in Round 1], but I won’t be surprised if it’s two.” Schefter said. “I’m not going to make a prediction. I’ll just say most people think three, I won’t be surprised if it’s two. I don’t know whether it’d be two or three, but that’s kind of where we’re at.”

What the 2025 NFL Draft may lack in high-end quarterback value, it makes up for in talent at the running back position. Though Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty is the consensus top player at the position, Schefter believes a few other backs could potentially go off the board in Round 1.

“I know the amount of yards that [Jeanty] has gained after contact is crazy. The guy bounces off people and keeps racking up yards. That’s number one. I think this draft class in general, we’re going to see at least two running backs go in the first round, maybe more.

“When you talk to teams, there are multiple running backs that could be taken in the first round. They probably won’t be, but they’re first-round caliber talents. Omarion Hampton in North Carolina is one, and of the two Ohio State running backs [Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson]. Kaleb Johnson [from Iowa] is another. I know that front offices are really fired up over the running backs in this draft class.”

Another top offensive prospect is LSU left tackle Will Campbell, who was a consensus All-American with tremendous tape but below-average arm length for an NFL tackle prospect. At this stage, Schefter believes that NFL teams will start him off at tackle.

“I think the arm length has come up,” he detailed. “I think it is a question. I think he’s starting out a tackle, and if somehow it doesn’t work — and I don’t think teams think that. I think that they think he’s going to be a really good left tackle — they can always move him to guard if it doesn’t work out. Look, we’ve seen other offensive linemen with short arms that were moved inside. He wouldn’t be the first guy. But I don’t think that teams are thinking that of him going into the draft, and I do think that they believe he’s gonna be great player.

“I don’t think he’s even on the board very long. New England is a logical fit at No. 4. We can make the argument for three or four other teams in the top 10: the Panthers, the Jets, others.”

Among those other teams, Schefter explained, could be the Bears. Though he doesn’t expect Campbell will be available for their No. 10 overall pick, he would be surprised if they pass on him, were he to be available.

“First of all, [the Bears] gave up 68 sacks last year,” Schefter mentioned. “They’ve led the league in sacks allowed the last three years, I believe. They have gone out and traded for Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson, and added Drew Dalman, so they’ve solidified the interior part of their offensive line. If somehow Will Campbell slid to No. 10 — which I don’t expect — to me, it’s a no-brainer. You take Campbell, you’re slotting him in, you’re protecting your quarterback, and you move forward like that. That’s an easy [pick]. That’s why I just can’t imagine Will Campbell getting out of the [top 10], because at the very worst, Chicago, I would think, would have to take that guy if he were there at 10, and I don’t think he’s going to be there.”

Though Schefter would clarify he was speaking purely in hypotheticals regarding what the Bears could do if they were to select Campbell, he mentioned that, if they were to take him, they could slide him right into their left tackle position. This would, in theory, make incumbent starter Braxton Jones a potential trade piece.

“If you’re taking Campbell at pick 10, I think there’s reasonable chance to think he might start. Braxton Jones is in the last year of his contract, and so maybe — I’m making this up — to take Will Campbell, maybe, all of a sudden, on Day 2 or 3, we see a Braxton Jones trade. if some team likes him. Again, nobody’s mentioned that to me. I’m just coming up with that now.

“If they were fortunate enough to hypothetically have Will Campbell slide to 10...you’re never gonna have enough offensive line depth. You’re never gonna have enough tackles. Worst-case scenario, and you wanted to, then go try to trade Braxton Jones, maybe somebody would give you something back for him.”

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...ears-nfl-draft-2025-interview-type-1-diabetes

 

[Chicago Bears]

Do you think the Chicago Bears will go over or under 8.5 wins?

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Our partners at FanDuel Sportsbook have the 2025 over/under season win totals out, and the NFC North is bunched up more than I figured it’d be.

Here’s how they currently list it.

Detroit Lions - 10.5

Green Bay Packers - 9.5

Minnesota Vikings - 8.5

Chicago Bears - 8.5

As a reminder, last season the Lions won the division with a (15-2) record, followed by Minnesota (14-3), the Packers (11-6), and the Bears bringing up the rear at (5-12). Interesting that their oddsmakers expect a fall-off from the first three while expecting the Bears to improve.

In this week’s Reacts survey questions, let us know if you think the Bears will be over or under FanDuel’s 8.5 win total, and also where you think the Bears will finish in the NFC North.

I like the Bears to go over 8.5 in what should be one of the tougher divisions in the NFL, and I think a third-place finish (and a Wild Card spot) is in the cards for 2025.

---

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.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...-or-under-8-5-wins-packers-lions-vikings-odds

 

[Chicago Bears]

2025 NFL Draft: Who is the best day 3 fit for the Chicago Bears?

Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

With the Chicago Bears having four of the top 72 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, we’ve spent a lot of time discussing the first three rounds of the draft. But there’s plenty of talent that can be had on day three. Rounds four through seven are where teams’ boards can be more flexible, as need and potential can cause clubs to go in surprising directions.

Pro Football Focus recently gave their best fits for each team on day three, and here’s what they had for the Bears.

Prospect to target: DI Tonka Hemingway, South Carolina

Chicago attempted to address its interior by adding Grady Jarrett in free agency, but the front office could allocate more attention to the position in the draft’s later rounds. Hemingway profiles as a rotational interior pass rusher, and while his overall metrics are middling, he dominated the Shrine Bowl with a 91.3 PFF pass-rush grade across practice and the game.

Even if the Bears get a defensive tackle earlier, doubling down in such a deep class works for me. Plus, Hemingway (6’3’’, 284) has played defensive end in the past, so he could provide depth along the d-line in Dennis Allen’s scheme. In high school, he was an All-State basketball player, and he was his team’s punter.

Here’s a day three scenario that hasn’t been talked about much. What if the Bears embrace the trenches early and save running back for the later rounds?

This is a string running back class after all.

Or, perhaps, the Bears take advantage of this class and double-dip at this position as well.

How would a speedster like Texas’ Jaydon Blue fit in Ben Johnson’s offense? His 4.38 speed shows up on tape, and he’s a good receiver out of the backfield. He’ll need to clean up his ball security in the NFL and work on his pass protection, but there’s some juice to his game.

Now it’s your turn. Give us a day three prospect you think would look good in Navy and Orange.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...rs-tonka-hemingway-south-carolina-jaydon-blue

 

[Chicago Bears]

The Bear’s Den, April 10, 2025

Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Bears continue workouts as draft approaches

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​

Tremaine Edmunds says Bears are in win-now mode - NBC Sports - The Bears are not a rebuilding team, according to one of their defensive captains.

Indiana Bears bill nears the end zone with Senate approval - The Indiana legislature moved a bill aimed at attracting the Chicago Bears to Northwest Indiana just yards from the end zone, with final approval by the Senate Tuesday.

Ranking the top 4 Chicago Bears picks if they could take anyone in the 2025 NFL Draft - SI - The 2025 NFL Draft is the most unpredictable Chicago Bears draft in many years. But four prospects stand above the rest if GM Ryan Poles could have his choice of anyone.

Bears Mock Draft: How ESPN Fills Big Holes WIth Day 2 Picks - BN - ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. fills some notable holes for the Chicago Bears in his latest NFL Mock Draft.

Bears’ Darnell Wright has plenty to prove in his 3rd season - 670 - The Bears are counting on right tackle Darnell Wright, a potential franchise cornerstone, to take another step forward in his third NFL season.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Louis Riddick doesn’t think Shedeur Sanders wants to be taken by the teams in the top three - NBC Sports - Publicly, quarterback Shedeur Sanders and those close to him are saying they’re fine with Sanders being drafted by any team at any time.

Justin Fields on Jets drafting a QB: Willing to teach, not interested in speculation - NBC Sports - Justin Fields signed a two-year contract with the Jets as a free agent last month and he’s guaranteed $30 million under the terms of that deal, but Fields’s history as a starter with the Bears and Steelers hasn’t been successful enough for many to be sold that he’s the long-term solution at the position.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON​

NFL Draft: Texas Longhorns who make sense for the Chicago Bears - Windy City Gridiron - Taylor Doll talks with CJ Vogel, who covers the Texas Longhorns for On Texas Football, about the top Texas prospects.

2025 NFL Draft: Who is the best day 3 fit for the Chicago Bears? - Windy City Gridiron - With the Chicago Bears having four of the top 72 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, we’ve spent a lot of time discussing the first three rounds of the draft. But there’s plenty of talent that can be had...

Mocking a Bears Trade Down: Examining three scenarios to make a deal - Windy City Gridiron - The 2025 NFL Draft is just 15 days away. With the Top of the first round a jumbled mess of projections, would it be in the Bears’ best interest to trade down? We’ll investigate three potential options and what the expected return could be.

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2nd City Gridiron is our video home! So hit the link and help us grow that brand!

THE RULES

Windy City Gridiron Community Guidelines - SBNation.com - We strive to make our communities open and inclusive to sports fans of all backgrounds. The following are not permitted in comments. No personal attacks, politics, gender-based insults of any kind, racial insults, etc.

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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Click on our names to follow us on Twitter: Jeff Berckes; Dr. Patti Curl; Ryan Droste; Eric Christopher Duerrwaechter; Dan Durkin; Taylor Doll; Kev H; Sam Householder; Jacob Infante; Aaron Lemming; Dr. Ken Mitchell; Danny Meehan; Bryan Orenchuk; Jack R Salo; Khari Thompson; Steven Schweickert; Jack Silverstein; Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; T.J. Starman; Khari Thompson; Dr. Mason West; Bill Zimmerman; 2nd City Gridiron; Like WCG on Facebook; Like 2nd City Gridiron on Facebook.

A few of us are also over at Bluesky.​

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...-poles-offseason-draft-ben-johnson-halas-hall

 

[Chicago Bears]

Bear Bones: Chicago Bears Mock Draft 4.0

Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Join our Bear Bones LIVE at 5:30 (CT) on the 2nd City Gridiron YouTube channel as we continue our mock draft series!

Dr. Mason West is up to version 4.0 on his bi-weekly Chicago Bears mock draft podcast/video series, and this time he’ll be joined by Danny Meehan and our lead draft analyst, Jacob Infante.

This will be their final mock before they have a special interactive War Room on April 17, where you guys get to help drive the selections.

One thing to remember for all these Bear Bones mocks is that they’ll select different players and go through various scenarios each time to learn more about the process and prospects. That makes for a more enjoyable and educational show than mock drafting the same basic way over and over.

Watch the latest Bear Bones in the video below at 5:30 p.m. CT, or visit our YouTube channel and hang out with the fellas!

Once the podcast version is available, we’ll share it here:

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.

---

Here’s how the fellas mocked it, and remember, they’re purposefully taking each mock version in a different direction to learn about as many prospects as possible before the real draft.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...cago-bears-mock-draft-4-0-nfl-player-prospect

 

[Chicago Bears]

The Bear’s Den, April 11, 2025

Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Bears fans have another day living large in the 2025 Season of the Mocks

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​

Chicago Bears Q&A: Under-the-radar possibilities at No. 10? - Chicago Tribune - Is there an option for the Chicago Bears with the No. 10 NFL draft pick that hasn’t been overanalyzed? Brad Biggs answers your Bears questions weekly.

Ashton Jeanty, Tyler Warren, Will Campbell? Bears NFL Draft takeaways from ‘The Beast’ - The Athletic - After sifting through some rankings and scouting reports in “The Beast,” what can it tell us about the Bears’ options in the draft?

Insider Has Bears Loading Up On Linemen in New 2025 NFL Mock Draft - BN - It seems as if there is a consensus building around the Bears focusing on linemen in the upcoming NFL Draft.

DBB’s Three Favorite Players in 2025 Draft: #1, Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State - Da Bears Blog - The best player in this draft.

Matt Bowen breaks down best NFL Draft options for Bears - 670 - On Score Middays, the crew picked the brain of ESPN analyst Matt Bowen for his favorite prospects whom the Bears should target in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Mock draft: Predicting the Bears’ pick — and the rest of the top 10 - Chicago Sun-Times - With the No. 10 overall pick on April 24, the Bears could justify picking a prospect who plays offensive or defensive line, tight end, running back or even cornerback.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Jason Licht thinks fewer teams will try to trade up in this year's draft - NBC Sports - The 2025 draft features, among other things, the ever-present possibility of teams trading up.

Jason Licht doesn't rule out drafting a WR in the first round - NBC Sports - The Buccaneers' needs are obvious: Defense!

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON​

Bear Bones: Chicago Bears Mock Draft 4.0 - Windy City Gridiron - Join our Bear Bones LIVE at 5:30 (CT) on the 2nd City Gridiron YouTube channel as we continue our mock draft series!

Mocking a Bears Trade Up: Examining 7 Trade Up Partners and the Cost - Windy City Gridiron - As a follow up to our previous installment of trade downs, we’ll take a look at what it would cost the Chicago Bears to trade up in the 2025 NFL Draft. With a lack of blue-chip talent at the top, it could be a "buyer’s market".

2025 NFL Draft: Offensive linemen for Bears to consider in Round 2 - Windy City Gridiron - WCG’s lead draft analyst looks at a few offensive linemen the Bears would be wise to consider with one of their second-round picks.

Courtney Cronin: Look out for a LT at 10 for Chicago Bears - Windy City Gridiron - Courtney Cronin joins the Bears Banter Podcast!

Which running back do you want the Chicago Bears to draft? - Windy City Gridiron - We kick off another WCG roundtable by asking our team to give the running back they hope the Bears draft.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE PAGE

2nd City Gridiron is our video home! So hit the link and help us grow that brand!

THE RULES

Windy City Gridiron Community Guidelines - SBNation.com - We strive to make our communities open and inclusive to sports fans of all backgrounds. The following are not permitted in comments. No personal attacks, politics, gender-based insults of any kind, racial insults, etc.

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.

Powered by RedCircle

Click on our names to follow us on Twitter: Jeff Berckes; Dr. Patti Curl; Ryan Droste; Eric Christopher Duerrwaechter; Dan Durkin; Taylor Doll; Kev H; Sam Householder; Jacob Infante; Aaron Lemming; Dr. Ken Mitchell; Danny Meehan; Bryan Orenchuk; Jack R Salo; Khari Thompson; Steven Schweickert; Jack Silverstein; Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; T.J. Starman; Khari Thompson; Dr. Mason West; Bill Zimmerman; 2nd City Gridiron; Like WCG on Facebook; Like 2nd City Gridiron on Facebook.

A few of us are also over at Bluesky.​

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...-ryan-poles-offseason-draft-ben-johnson-mocks

 

[Chicago Bears]

Pros and cons of early-round RB prospects for Bears

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

WCG’s lead draft analyst compares the early-round running back options for the Bears in the 2025 NFL Draft.

The Chicago Bears find themselves in a position of need at running back heading into the 2025 NFL Draft.

Though D’Andre Swift had his moments in 2024, he didn’t live up to expectations upon signing with Chicago in free agency. With the addition of Ben Johnson as the team’s head coach — who saw significant success with backfield duos as the Lions’ offensive coordinator — it seems likely the Bears will look to follow suit.

It doesn’t hurt to mention that Swift overlapped previously with Johnson in Detroit in 2022, during which the former served as a rotational back in the latter’s committee. When you combine that with the fact that the 2025 draft figures to be one of the best running back classes in recent memory, it makes sense for the Bears to upgrade the position.

With four picks in the top 75 and three picks in the top 50 selections, the Bears are in a great position to add a highly-touted running back prospect early in the draft. Which one should they target, though?

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of the Bears taking each of the top running back prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Ashton Jeanty, Boise State​

Pros

Jeanty is the consensus top running back prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft. To put it lightly, his performance at Boise State last year will be talked about for years to come. He is an extremely well-rounded back with the speed, agility, vision, power and contact balance to instantly be an impact player at his position. The chance to select a blue-chip player at a position of need could be too enticing for the Bears to pass up, if he’s available.

Cons

There’s a pretty good chance Jeanty doesn’t fall to the Bears at No. 10. Even if he does, the pick will have its doubters. The main objection used is that he is a non-Power 4 player who plays a position that doesn’t necessarily have tremendous value. There have only been six running backs selected in the top ten in the last ten drafts, and only two of them spent more than five seasons with the team that drafted them. That’s a bold investment to make in Round 1.

Omarion Hampton, North Carolina​

Pros

With his combination of size, power and speed, Hampton might just be the most physically-gifted running back in the 2025 draft. He’s an aggressive downhill runner with a well-built frame and very good contact balance. In addition to that, he’s a 4.4 athlete with great burst hitting the open running lanes. He also brings considerable upside on passing downs, as he’s creative after the catch and is a high-effort pass protector out of the backfield.

Cons

You’ll face the same “running back in Round 1” arguments with Hampton that I mentioned with Jeanty. Adding to that, Hampton would generally be seen as more of a reach due to his inferior agility and vision to Jeanty. You could theoretically trade back for Hampton, but in a weaker draft class, it’s going to be tough for the Bears to find teams willing to give up high-end capital to move up to No. 10.

Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State​

Pros

There’s a lot to like with Judkins’ physical attributes. An explosive runner who’s quick out of the backfield with a well-built frame, he combines breakaway speed with raw power and good contact balance. I anticipate he goes Round 2 and would argue that drafting him at Nos. 39 or 41 would be much better value than Hampton at No. 10. For my money, he’s my top choice for the Bears as an early-round option, even if he’s not my top running back.

Cons

Though Judkins is a talented prospect, he’s admittedly a bit high-hipped for the running back position. He’s more of a running back who will run over defenders than run around them, which could provide for some durability concerns in the long run as he takes more hits than the average back.

TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State​

Pros

In my opinion, Henderson is one of the most explosive players in this draft class overall. He’s an athletic running back with great acceleration out of the backfield and impressive lateral quickness with the ball in his hands. His creativity in space makes him a valuable home-run threat, as well.

Cons

Henderson is a bit undersized, and he’s not a very powerful back with ideal aggressiveness in the trenches. The fear with him for the Bears is that he’s arguably too similar to what they currently have in D’Andre Swift. He’s a talented back, but Chicago might need a player who can bring a more diverse skill set to their backfield.

Kaleb Johnson, Iowa​

Pros

If the Bears want a true power back to add to their backfield, Johnson fits the bill perfectly. He’s a big runner with tremendous play strength and the contact balance needed to plow over defenders in between the tackles. His ball-carrier vision as a downhill runner is some of the best in this class, too.

Cons

Out of the consensus top running backs, Johnson is the slowest of the bunch, both in terms of Combine testing and in his game tape. He doesn’t have elite breakaway speed, and he’s a bit stiff in the hips. That could limit his big-play potential at the NFL level.

Best of the rest​

Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech​

Tuten had fumble issues in college, but he’s a 4.32 athlete with elite speed and really good contact balance, especially for a player who’s not all that big.

Dylan Sampson, Tennessee​

A shifty running back who can make defenders miss in the open field, Sampson is a smaller back who doesn’t have ideal physicality but could be a high-end rotational back in the pros.

Cam Skattebo, Arizona State​

For what Skattebo lacks in breakaway speed — which limits his NFL upside — he makes up for with vision and elite balance. Whether that translates to the pros remains to be seen.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...fl-draft-running-back-prospects-ashton-jeanty

 

[Chicago Bears]

NFL Draft: Which Wolverines are fits for the Chicago Bears?

Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Taylor Doll talks with former NFL offensive lineman and current Michigan analyst Jon Jansen about the top Wolverine prospects.

Long-time NFL offensive lineman Jon Jansen joined Taylor Doll’s latest Making Monsters podcast to break down the top Michigan Wolverines prospects and how they could fit with the Chicago Bears. Jansen is the analyst for Wolverines football games, so he knows the team well. They talk about defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, tight end Colston Loveland, and more.

At 6’1”, 249, edge Josaiah Stewart is a little smaller than the types of defensive ends that Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen usually targets, but he plays much bigger than his size.

“He could fit in a lot of different defenses, Jansen said on the show. “The thing about Josaiah, he’s always battled the ‘He’s too small to play against the run,’ and again, I tell everybody, just go turn on the film. He showed throughout his time at Coastal Carolina and again at Michigan that he can hold up on his own against some of his big offensive linemen. Turn the Rose Bowl [tape] on and fourth down, game on the line, he puts a 330-pound offensive tackle in the quarterback’s lap and ends the game.”

Jansen lauds tight end Loveland’s ability to “just find holes in defenses,” as a sixth sense. “Colston has great awareness of defenses. He does a great job of reading the defense post-snap and pre-snap, and I think it really adds to his value of being able to do that.”

It was a fantastic conversation as Jansen not only broke down the Wolverines, but he also pulled from his decade of experience in the NFL to discuss the new Bears coaching staff. He does know the Bears well because he also covers the Detroit Lions, so they spend some time talking about Ben Johnson and Chicago’s new look offense.

Check out her show in either of the embeds below.

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Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...enneth-grant-colston-loveland-josaiah-stewart

 

[Chicago Bears]

Tom Brady Calls Caleb Williams On Facetime After Pulling Rare Card

Photo by Michael Simon/Getty Images for CardVault by Tom Brady

The legendary QB called Williams after he pulled one of his autographed cards.

Bears QB Caleb Williams received an interesting call on Facetime on Friday night.

Former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Bucs QB Tom Brady called Williams after pulling a rare football card. The card in question? An autographed Caleb Williams Topps card, of course.

Check out the video below.

Tom Brady calls Caleb Williams on FaceTime… pic.twitter.com/2lMsZRQOMx

— Topps (@Topps) April 12, 2025​

Of note, Brady asked Williams if the card was “gonna be worth more or less after this coming season?”

Williams responded, “A lot f——— more.”

Ah, music to this Bears fan’s ears.

Brady responded, “Good, that’s what I want to hear.”

Williams and Brady appear to have a friendship brewing, which is only good news for Bears fans. If the Bears’ second year quarterback can get an inside track to advice from one of the greatest of all time, how can we complain?

Brady has been more and more involved in the booming sports card market, opening CardVault stores all over the country. He was in East Rutherford, New Jersey for the opening of his latest store when he made the call to Williams.

Williams was all smiles on the call, looking to be having a great Friday night.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...-williams-on-facetime-after-pulling-rare-card

 

[Chicago Bears]

Most Chicago Bears fans expect a winning season in 2025

Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Earlier this week, we asked you guys to predict if the Chicago Bears would go over the FanDuel Sportsbook win total of 8.5 games, and 79% of you believe they will. A four-game improvement would be a significant jump, especially in the tough NFC North, but head coach Ben Johnson has much of our fan base amped up.

I understand the cautiously optimistic fans, because we’ve dealt with a lot of false starts over the last several years. Offseasons spent with loads of hope, only to watch the Bears disappoint us time and time again.

But this one feels different, because not only do we finally have the number one head coaching candidate, but this team has made massive upgrades in the trenches in free agency. The draft will no doubt bolster Johnson’s squad. Caleb Williams will look to build off his rookie year with skill players DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, and Cole Kmet. On the defensive side, new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen runs a proven scheme, and he’ll get the best out of his talent.

You can count me among the 79% who went over 8.5 wins.

We also asked you guys to predict where the Bears will finish in the NFC North in 2025, and more than half of you feel second place is in the cards.

Last year, they ended up in last place (5-12), with the Detroit Lions atop the division at (15-2), followed by the Minnesota Vikings in second (14-3), and the Green Bay Packers (11-6) in third.

FanDuel set the over/under win total for the other three NFC North teams all lower than where they ended up a season ago, with Detroit at 10.5, the Packers at 9.5, and the Vikings at the same 8.5 as the Bears.

SB Nation Reacts is a survey of fans across the NFL, and throughout the year, we’ll 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.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...packers-lions-vikings-fanduel-odds-over-under

 

[Chicago Bears]

Bears sign Kyler Gordon to three-year, $40 million extension

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

This marks the first of Ryan Poles’ draft picks to earn a contract extension past their rookie deal.

The Bears have signed cornerback Kyler Gordon to a three-year contract extension worth $40 million, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Sunday. The deal will kick in after the 2025 season, tying Gordon to the organization until 2028 and making him the highest-paid nickel cornerback in the league.

With an average of $13.3 million per year, Gordon becomes the 21st-highest paid cornerback in the NFL. The 25-year-old was the first draft pick that Ryan Poles made as the Bears’ general manager in 2022.

Through his first three seasons, in the NFL, Gordon has played in 42 games, starting in 34. He has a total of five interceptions and 17 pass deflections in his time as Chicago’s primary slot cornerback.

With his instincts in coverage and his willingness to lower the shoulder in run support, Gordon has grown into becoming one of the league’s top nickel cornerbacks in the NFL. Both he and Jaylon Johnson remain locked down under contract for the last few years, giving the Bears a reliable tandem at cornerback for the foreseeable future.

Poles indicated late in March that extending Gordon would be a priority for the Bears, telling the media at NFL owners meetings that they were working through it.

“That will still be a priority,” he said. “For me, in our exit meetings at the end of last season, I told all the guys in terms of future, if it was contracts, coming back, anything like that, the important thing is I’ve got to get with our new coaching staff and kind of see how the different players fit based on the scheme.

“We’ve been able to have those conversations and I know Kyler is a guy that we want to be a part of this moving forward. So, the timing of that, I’m not sure how that all is going work out, but that is a priority.”

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...rs-kyler-gordon-contract-extension-ryan-poles