The Bears’ offensive line is not in a good place, and yet, one of the five best available linemen might not even start on Sunday against the Raiders.

Let’s review:

• Left tackle Braxton Jones remains on IR with a neck injury. 

• Left guard Teven Jenkins is now getting reps at right guard.

• Center Cody Whitehair was benched last week and is now getting reps at left guard, where he started the season.

• Lucas Patrick appears to be back at center.

• Right guard Nate Davis has a high ankle sprain and won’t be playing anytime soon.

• Backup right guard Ja’Tyre Carter is apparently still a backup.

• Right tackle Darnell Wright has a shoulder injury and did not practice Thursday.

• Backup backup center/guard Dan Feeney suffered a knee injury this week. 

Got all that? Me neither. And I wrote it. 

Assuming Wright will be good to go by Sunday, there’s a good chance the O-line will look like this from left to right: Borom, Whitehair, Patrick, Jenkins, Wright.

At least, that’s what Adam Jahns reported on Hoge & Jahns Thursday.

That means Carter, despite playing well in relief multiple times this season, will still be relegated to backup duty — unless he’s called upon to play tackle for Wright. Personally, I’m surprised the Bears wouldn’t start Carter at right guard, essentially choosing to move Jenkins to right guard to keep Whitehair in the lineup. 

Regardless of the combination, I know this: the communication up front has to be much, much better. Especially with an undrafted Division II quarterback making his first NFL start Sunday. The hope is that by putting Patrick back in the center spot, that communication will improve. As shown in these two plays last week against the Vikings, it’s been a major problem

As for what I expect from Tyson Bagent? I expect him to get the ball out quickly and surprise folks with a few accurate intermediate throws. But given all the issues up front, and Bagent’s inexperience, I’d be surprised if the Bears don’t turn the ball over at least twice. It’s just what happens when rookies play quarterback in the NFL.

My prediction: Raiders 20, Bears 16. See all of the above for reasoning. 

Up Next: The CHGO Bears Podcast will give you an in-depth preview of this game at Noon CT today. And don’t forget, another one of our amazing CHGO Bears tailgates is happening Sunday morning. Get your tickets and join us! 

Sometimes it’s not about who you play, but when you play them. 

That seems relevant this week with the Bears hosting the Vikings at Soldier Field on Sunday. The Bears appear to be trending up, while the Vikings are trending down. And while both teams are dealing with injuries, the Bears are actually getting a number of key players back this week, while the Vikings lost star wide receiver Justin Jefferson.

Nickelback Kyler Gordon and cornerback Jaylon Johnson are expected to return Sunday. Safety Eddie Jackson could also return, but his status is unclear. Regardless, that matchup — the Bears’ secondary vs the Vikings’ wide receivers — looked much more daunting just five days ago. 

Of course, I’m not here to completely dismiss the Vikings. Last year, they won 13 games with a team with 9-win talent. I’m not sure they’re much different this year. Now they’re a 1-4 team with 9-win talent (maybe seven wins without Jefferson). But, theoretically, isn’t that what the Bears are supposed to be right now?

We’ll certainly learn more about the Bears this week. Are they really a team that could improve as the season goes on? Will Justin Fields continue improving as he has the last two weeks? The answer to those questions should be yes. And if they are, the Bears should probably win this game, despite being 2.5-point home underdogs.

My prediction: Bears 31, Vikings 21. 

Up Next: The CHGO Bears Podcast will give you an in-depth preview of this game at Noon CT today, as Mark Carman joins Nicholas Moreano. I’ll continue to provide coverage from Halas Hall today. And don’t forget, another one of our amazing CHGO Bears tailgates is happening Sunday morning. Get your tickets and join us! 

But the reality was that the team’s health had taken another hit less than an hour earlier. Safety Jaquan Brisker “tweaked his hamstring” in Wednesday’s practice, Eberflus later confirmed, which means the Bears could be without four members of their starting secondary tonight. 

Eddie Jackson, Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon (IR) are already confirmed to be out.

Eberflus started Wednesday’s press conference with a nearly two-minute opening statement praising his team’s mental and physical preparation on a short week in which they had “a ton of walk-throughs” and plenty of meetings. He wants everyone to be assured — once again — that everything is going well during his team’s 14-game losing streak. 

Meanwhile, Eberflus’ odds to be the first head coach fired this year are now just 1/2 (-200), a stunning number considering the Bears have never fired a head coach during the season. 

That history, plus general manager Ryan Poles’ constant praise for Eberflus as a head coach has me very skeptical that a loss tonight would lead to a head coaching change tomorrow. Just 14 days ago, on the heels of Alan Williams’ sudden resignation, Poles said he had “a ton of faith in Flus as a leader. He’s done a great job.”

Of course, the Bears have suffered two bad losses in the last 14 days and could have a third tonight. Not to mention that first-year team president Kevin Warren might view things differently. I find it hard to believe he was impressed with how Eberflus bungled back-to-back press conferences this week while answering questions about Chase Claypool’s absence from the team. 

Eberflus was asked on Wednesday if he has received assurances from ownership or Warren that they “see where this team is going and that they buy into this?”

Eberflus’ response: “Yeah I feel the support. I haven’t talked to anybody about any of those things. I feel the support and we’re just focused on Washington.”

Not exactly convincing.

Let’s see how things play out tonight. As we’ve seen time and time again over the first four weeks of this season — it can definitely get worse. And if that’s the case, Friday could be a very interesting day at Halas Hall.

My prediction: Commanders 24, Bears 20. 

Up Next: Tonight’s pregame coverage on CHGO starts at 6 p.m. CT with postgame immediately following the game. Corey Wootton will join us on both shows to give us his thoughts on the game.

The Bears are about to play two games in five days and this seems like a crucial stretch for head coach Matt Eberflus. 

Perhaps this will be the swing the Bears need to get the rebuild back on track. Two wins in five days would go a long way. Or it could just be two more losses leading into a mini-bye that might feel like months. 

Unlike last week, when the Bears faced the defending Super Bowl champions in the midst of chaos, this time they face a team that gave up 70 points against the Miami Dolphins.

Seems like a “get right” game … right?

On the other hand, the Bears are definitely not the Dolphins, and the Broncos are sitting in Denver having similar thoughts — “Hey, at least we’re facing the only team that might be worse than us.”

And here’s the thing: The Broncos’ offense isn’t terrible. Russell Wilson has actually been pretty good through three weeks. If the Bears continue to fail at getting to the quarterback and/or can’t force turnovers, the Broncos should have plenty of offensive success at Soldier Field. 

Meanwhile — theoretically — the Bears should also be able to have offensive success against the Broncos. But their offense is in a much different place, ranking 31st in offensive DVOA through three weeks (the Broncos are 14th). If I were Luke Getsy, I would put Justin Fields’ “development” on hold for a week, commit to the run and do everything I can to squeak out even the ugliest of wins. No one needs a win more than the Bears do right now. 

Unfortunately, I don’t have much trust that that is going to happen. Neither of these teams is very good right now, but the Broncos have the better offense and that will be the difference. 

My prediction: Broncos 24, Bears 20. 

Up Next: Win or lose, we’re going to have a great tailgate Sunday morning. Even if you’re not going to the game, you can (and should) come out and join us at Cermak and Wabash. In the meantime, Will DeWitt and Nicholas Moreano will have you covered with a full preview episode of The CHGO Bears Podcast today at Noon CT. Sunday, our pregame coverage starts at 11 a.m. CT with postgame immediately following the game.

It’s been a remarkable 17 days for the Chicago Bears. The last time they took the field at Soldier Field, there was an incredible amount of optimism. 

Today, it seems like the organization is headed down a familiar path, with changes inevitable. 

How did we get here? I spent Tuesday looking at obvious red flags. To be honest, I found a bunch, but the biggest one was staring right at me on Jan. 10, 2022 when Bears chairman George McCaskey announced his search committee to find the next general manager and head coach for the organization.

While announcing that search committee, McCaskey revealed that the new general manager would report directly to him, and not to then-CEO Ted Phillips — either an admission he had lost faith in Phillips or an acknowledgment that Phillips was headed towards retirement, which had long been assumed.

And yet, Phillips was still on the search committee to find the next GM.

Naturally, I pressed McCaskey on why Phillips was still involved.

“Because I trust Ted implicitly,” McCaskey responded. “Because I have great respect for his judgment, his analytical skills, and his instincts when it comes to the people that we’re interviewing.”

Less than eight months later, the Bears announced Phillips was set to retire. And yet, Phillips was still able to hire his fourth GM and sixth head coach since he was named team president in 1998. 

A few months later, McCaskey hired Kevin Warren to replace Phillips. 

So here are the Backwards Bears, with a new team president that inherited a GM he didn’t hire, and a GM that inherited a quarterback he didn’t draft. 

Remarkably, three-fifths of the search committee that landed Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus was gone within a year of the search. While Phillips retired, Lamar ‘Soup’ Campbell was ironically fired by the guy he helped hire, as Poles let him go in July 2022. Bill Polian, meanwhile, came and went as consultants do. Only McCaskey and senior vice president diversity, equity and inclusion Tanesha Wade remain.

And we’re supposed to be surprised that the Backwards Bears are back in a familiar place? 

As usual, it starts at the top.

PS — Brian Baldinger will be on the CHGO Bears show today at noon with Nicholas Moreano checking in from Halas Hall, where Justin Fields and Matt Eberflus will be talking with the media. Also, make sure you get your tickets to this Sunday’s tailgate before the Broncos game. Why not guarantee yourself at least one high point for the day?

We made it to another Friday. And what a week it has been. If it’s OK with you, I’d love to just talk some football in today’s Bears Things newsletter.

Obviously much was made this week of Justin Fields’ comments on his own play and how it has been impacted by coaching. I maintain that what Fields said was healthy and it honestly made me excited to see how he plays differently Sunday in Kansas City. 

“Different” is a keyword in this discussion. Will Fields play “freely” in a more instinctual way on game day, or will there be concrete mechanical differences that were ironed out during the week? 

I hope it’s the former. The last thing Fields needs is more mechanics to worry about.

That said, I did wonder about possible footwork changes.

Here’s why:

Before Luke Getsy arrived last year, Fields always played with his right foot forward in the shotgun. Getsy flipped that footwork, and it’s something Fields has had to adjust to. Earlier this week on CHGO, Tim Jenkins — whose full time job is coaching quarterbacks at Jenkins Elite — questioned Fields’ footwork and explained why it matters. 

“It’s so frustrating because I think Justin is talented, but at some point you have to sit there and you go, hey we forced this kid, who we’re trying to get to speed up, to now play with uncomfortable footwork and we’re wondering why he’s playing slower,” Jenkins said. “I’m just like, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist.”

Thursday, I asked Getsy if he would consider changing Fields’ footwork back to how it used to be. His answer was interesting:

“I would never do that,” Getsy said. “If you look at Nate Peterman, he tried it, didn’t like it, so he’s right-foot forward. Justin loves it. He loves the timing, the rhythm of it all. So … that’s not something you reflect on and say that’s the issue or whatever you want to say. Because he loves the timing, the rhythm. His feet lead him to each progression to the throw.”

I’ll be honest: I hadn’t noticed that Peterman’s footwork was the opposite of Fields’. That’s a loaf on my part. For what’s worth, Tyson Bagent has his left foot forward now, which is a change from college. His Shepard film shows that he used to have his right foot forward. 

Here’s how it looked for the three quarterbacks in the preseason:

Personally, I loved Getsy’s answer, because it, A) He’s not going to force a quarterback to use his preferred methods if they aren’t comfortable with it, and B) Fields evidently is comfortable with the current footwork. 

“I believe in left foot forward, but if it stopped a player from feeling they can play at the best level of their ability, then I would never force somebody into a technique or style I believe in that didn’t match who they are or what they are,” Getsy said. 

Jenkins responded to Getsy’s comments Thursday with this:

I greatly respect Jenkins’ input on the subject (he definitely knows more about quarterback footwork than I do), but I also think this is somewhat of a lose-lose situation for a coach. Either the coach isn’t willing to conform to his players’ talents or he’s sacrificing his own beliefs

The reality is that football isn’t black and white. You have to live in the gray as a coach. 

The same can be said for quarterback play. You can draw it up in black and white in the playbook and run it in practice, but that’s not what it looks like in a game. 

For Justin Fields, he needs to go back to playing in the gray. He needs to trust his own instincts and amazing God-given talents. If he can do that, the results should be much better than they’ve been through two weeks of this season. 

Up Next: Hopefully some entertaining football. Will DeWitt and Nicholas Moreano will break down this Bears-Chiefs game on today’s CHGO Bears Podcast at Noon CT. Our pregame coverage starts at 2:30 p.m. CT on Sunday and we’ll be there for postgame as soon as the game ends. Apparently the message this week is “shock the world.” That would be a heck of an ending to a tumultuous week

Let’s get straight to business on this Tuesday morning…

With Matt Eberflus insisting that the Bears got better from Week 1 to Week 2, I spent most of my Monday searching the film for evidence of improvement.

On one hand, it’s easy to roll your eyes at the notion — after all, the Bears were so bad in Week 1 against the Packers that it would have been very hard to be worse against the Bucs. On the other hand, it is a long season and this is still a very young team.

So what did I find on the film?

The Bears generated more pressure. They just didn’t finish. With defensive coordinator Alan Williams out for personal reasons, it was interesting to see Eberflus get more creative with the pressure, frequently sending slot corner Greg Stroman on blitzes. At one point, giant nose tackle Andrew Billings even dropped into coverage. Flus mixed it up and generated more pressure on Baker Mayfield, but the Bears still finished with zero sacks. Yannick Ngakoue has to be better, finishing off sacks when given the chance. Still, with improved technique — Eberflus said every quarterback has a different strike zone — the sack numbers should improve as the season goes along.

Ball! Man, there were opportunities to grab the football. And it probably would have been a different game had Jaquan Brisker not dropped a pick-6 opportunity on the second play of the game. Down 13-10, Jaylon Johnson “peanut punched” tight end David Wells (not former pitcher David Wells) and the ball bounced inches away from Rasheem Greene, who was slow to react. The very next play was a 32-yard touchdown to Mike Evans. It was probably the biggest moment in the game. You could even argue that the Bears missed a scoop-and-score opportunity on the blocked field goal. If Jaylon Jones simply uses his speed to outrun the holder and kicker to the ball (instead of trying to cut them off, which caused him to fall down) perhaps that’s a touchdown. Instead, the offense went three-and-out with the Bears holding a 7-3 lead. 

Chase Claypool’s effort was much better. But that doesn’t mean he had a good game. The blocking was still inconsistent. And he ran at least two wrong routes. I still think the Bears are asking him to do things he’s not great at. Equanimeous St. Brown is simply a better blocker and more trustworthy wide receiver, even if he’s not as dynamic. The Bears need more from all wide receivers not named DJ Moore. Hopefully that improvement comes. 

The quarterback was hard to evaluate. The good was a lot better than Week 1. Unfortunately, the bad was worse than Week 1. The panic over Fields’ development is warranted. I maintain that the floor should be much higher than it is right now. There’s already plenty of evidence on his NFL tape that he’s better than we’ve seen these first two weeks. In my opinion, it’s mostly on the coaching staff to raise that floor right now, much like they did with their in-season adjustments last year. From there, it’s on Fields to play better.

The offensive line was pretty good. Despite an ugly stretch in the middle of the game. Left tackle Braxton Jones was on an island a lot and won those battles consistently. Through two games, Darnell Wright looks like a stud at right tackle. There have been some rookie moments, but there’s no question the kid can play. And on the inside, the Bears did a pretty good job against Vita Vea. Lucas Patrick played much better, although the snaps can still be more consistent. Now, if they can just clean up the penalties.

The kicking game is strong. Cairo Santos and Trenton Gill have been lights out. Other than the one long punt return allowed against the Packers, the Bears have been very good on special teams. The kicking game can swing games quickly and it’s good to know this unit should continue to be solid while the offense and defense does its part to improve.

So is the glass half full or half empty? If you’re Eberflus, you have no choice but to look at it as half full and work to improve each week, as he insisted they’d do on Monday. But if you’re general manager Ryan Poles, it’s probably more wise to look at the empty part of the glass and try to fill it. 

It will be very hard to leave Kansas City this week with a win, but it is possible to come home feeling more confident about the rest of the season. And of course, that starts with the quarterback. 

Up Next: We have a big week at CHGO. Quarterback guru Tim Jenkins will join us today at Noon CT to tell us what Justin Fields can and cannot fix. Wednesday, Brian Baldinger will begin weekly appearances on the show throughout the season. And we have a big surprise to reveal later in the week. Hang with us, Bears fans. We’ll see you at Noon CT on The CHGO Bears Podcast.    

Well, we made it to Friday during what feels like the longest Week 2 ever. Can you believe it’s been 22 years since the Buccaneers were in the NFC Central? This trip to Tampa Bay is obviously crucial for a Bears team that needs to turn things around in a hurry.

With that in mind, here are the biggest Bears Things I am focused on this weekend:

Who will be the Bears’ new nickel back? With Kyler Gordon headed to injured reserve until at least Week 6, the defense is already missing a key piece of the puzzle. And the depth has taken a hit too. Backup Josh Blackwell would be the next man up, but he suffered a hamstring injury this week and did not practice Thursday. If he can’t play, Greg Stroman Jr., who was elevated from the practice squad Thursday, could be the likely option. Jaylon Johnson said Thursday that Stroman has received practice reps with the starters. 

Another possible option is rookie Terrell Smith. The problem with Smith is that he was primarily an outside corner at Minnesota and has limited experience in the slot. On the flip side, he might be the best defensive back available to get on the field. 

One option I would not consider? Moving Tyrique Stevenson inside. That could be a possibility if they determine that Smith should be on the field, but only on the outside. The Bears tried the inside-outside thing with Gordon last year and it proved to be too much for the then-rookie. Perhaps Stevenson can handle it better, but personally, I would leave him on the outside so he can continue to play fast.

Easy special teams fix. In the aftermath of the Bears allowing a 35-yard punt return to Packers returner Jayden Reed last week, special teams coordinator Richard Hightower detailed four factors that can go wrong to allow a long return: 

1. Gunners not being a factor.
2. Bad hang-to-distance ratio on the kick.
3. Guys stacked in coverage (not spread out in their lanes).
4. Missed tackles.

If any one of those factors is a problem, a long return can happen. In this case, three things went wrong, as Hightower said the hang-to-distance ratio on Trenton Gill’s punt was fine. Unfortunately, both gunners (Jaylon Jones and Josh Blackwell) were doubled and unable to get downfield fast enough (Blackwell ended up being blocked by a third blocker). Multiple players were stacked, while Travis Homer failed to force the ball back inside and Khari Blasingame failed to keep contain. Both players missed opportunities to make the tackle, too. 

Somewhat of a worst-case scenario on that play (besides allowing a touchdown), but it also shouldn’t be too hard to correct. All of those players mentioned are good special teamers.

X-factor against the Bucs: DJ Moore. Typically I wouldn’t put this designation on a player as obvious as Moore, but given that he only received two targets in Week 1, Moore’s involvement in the offense could literally decide this game. His chemistry with Fields was what led to excitement about this offense in the preseason. So, naturally, his lack of involvement led to disastrous results against the Packers. This is a week to force Moore the football. 

Prediction: Bears 24, Bucs 21. I’m giving this team one more week before full panic sets in. This game has Week 1 overreaction/Week 2 correction written all over it. The Bucs are not as good as they showed in Minnesota last week (although the defense probably is) and the Bears are not as bad as they showed against the Packers. 

Up Next: The Bears close out the practice week today with a red/gold zone Friday before traveling to Tampa on Saturday. Will DeWitt and Nicholas Moreano will have you covered with a full preview episode of The CHGO Bears Podcast today at Noon CT. Sunday, our pregame coverage starts at 11 a.m. CT with postgame immediately following the game.   

Well, after two days of watching tape of the Bears’ stunning blowout loss to the Packers, I’m left with more questions than answers. Hopefully Matt Eberflus and Co. provide some of those answers quickly, starting today at Halas Hall. 

In the meantime, I have some ideas to get the Bears back on track this weekend in Tampa Bay:

Get back to what works for Justin Fields. In all the lead-up to Bears-Packers — months’ worth — it never occurred to me that the Bears would run the type of offense they did Sunday. Almost zero designed runs for Fields, “11” personnel nearly the entire game, and less outside-zone than normal. Perhaps Luke Getsy thought he would catch the Packers off guard, but he put his quarterback in an unfair situation. Get back to what Fields does well and what has already proven to work in this system. Then slowly add to it while he’s comfortable and playing confident.

Be more creative on defense. If the Bears think they will consistently get pressure with just four rushers, they are in for a long season. Right now, they lack the penetrating 3-technique they need, so Alan Williams will have to get more creative with blitzes. I realize that’s not necessarily this unit’s preferred style of play, but players like Jaquan Brisker and Jack Sanborn have shown a knack for getting to the quarterback when blitzing. Dial up more pressure.

Send a message to Chase Claypool. His effort and play Sunday did not match the HITS principle. The coaches might be preaching HITS, but it doesn’t mean anything if you don’t hold the players accountable. I remember Lovie Smith benching cornerback Tim Jennings late in the 2011 season and Jennings will be the first to tell you it worked. He was a second-team All Pro the following season. 

Up Next: Wednesday promises to be an interesting day as players return to Halas Hall for their first practice of the week. We’ll have you covered a Noon CT edition of The CHGO Bears Podcast and check in with Nicholas Moreano, who will be in Lake Forest.  

OK, let’s focus on the Packers first. 

Here are the biggest Bears Things I’m focused on going into this Week 1 matchup against Green Bay:

It’s not looking good for Christian Watson. The Packers’ young No. 1 wide receiver hasn’t practiced the last two days because of a hamstring injury and, at this point, you have to assume he’ll at least be limited Sunday — if he even plays. In my opinion, the Bears’ secondary already had an advantage against the Packers’ young receiving corps, but if Watson doesn’t play, it’s hard to imagine Jordan Love having a big day through the air.

What’s up with Nate Davis? Unfortunately, this question lingers, as the new right guard’s ongoing personal issue kept him out of practice Thursday. Still, there doesn’t seem to be any indication that Davis will miss Sunday’s game. If he doesn’t play for some reason, the Bears would likely go with second-year guard Ja’Tyre Carter, although newcomer Dan Feeney could be an option too. The Bears are already without starting left guard Teven Jenkins in this game.

Who will be the Bears’ kick returner? We know newcomer Trent Taylor will be the punt returner, but special teams coordinator Richard Hightower didn’t want to reveal his kick returner Thursday. Ultimately, this is probably more of an offensive decision between Velus Jones Jr, Tyler Scott and Equanimeous St. Brown. Personally, I’ll be shocked if Jones isn’t active. He’s still the team’s best kick returner and I suspect the Bears still have high hopes for his offensive contributions. My guess is that Scott is inactive. 

My X-factor against the Packers: Rookie cornerback Tyrique Stevenson. We know a couple of things about Stevenson: 1) He’s going to be really fun to watch and 2) He’s probably going to make some early mistakes. If he can avoid those mistakes and play steady, don’t be surprised if he picks off a pass and makes a big impact on the game. 

Prediction: Bears 23, Packers 13. Compared to last season, I believe the Bears’ defense is trending up and the Packers’ offense is trending down. Meanwhile, there should be enough Justin Fields-DJ Moore fireworks to score enough to win. 

Up Next: Gameday is almost here, but our pregame coverage is far from over. Will DeWitt and Nicholas Moreano will continue to break down the matchup on today’s CHGO Bears Podcast, while our CHGO Bears Pregame Show will be LIVE Sunday at 2:30 CT and we’ll also have a live watch along with the CHGO Sports during the game .

And if you’re going to the game Sunday — or even if you’re not — you can still buy tickets and join us at the official CHGO Bears tailgate!  

And welcome to a free edition of my Bears Things newsletter. These usually arrive in the inboxes of CHGO Diehards regularly, but with our special Diehard sale ending today, we’re making this one free to everyone.

If you’d like to get more of these emails this season, you’ll want to sign up to become a Diehard immediately. Today is the last day of our special $60 sale. If you wait until tomorrow, the price goes back to its regular position at $79.99

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Ok, onto the newsletter …

The Bears’ initial 53-man roster dropped Tuesday afternoon, but it figures to change in the next few hours. The first round of waiver claims will be finalized by 11 a.m. CT today and practice squads will be established by 1 p.m. CT. 

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some lingering questions:

Will the Bears add another veteran quarterback? As it stands now, the Bears appear to be headed into the season with Justin Fields as the starter, undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent as the backup and veteran Nathan Peterman on the practice squad. But Peterman doesn’t exactly give you a realistic shot to win if Fields misses a start, so the Bears must figure out if they trust Bagent to play if needed. 

On Tuesday, Eberflus seemed to endorse the idea of adding another veteran, but options are limited. Colt McCoy? Carson Wentz? Frankly, Bagent is probably better already.

Who goes on injured reserved? With the Bears keeping 10 offensive linemen after the trade for Dan Feeney, it seems likely that Teven Jenkins lands on IR Wednesday. That would mean he misses the first four games of the season. On the contrary, the Bears only keeping five linebackers suggests that Noah Sewell might be healthy enough to avoid IR. He was injured in Saturday’s preseason finale. 

Did the Bears make a mistake by cutting Trevis Gipson? We knew a hard cut was going to be made on the defensive line and Gipson ended up as the odd man out. My understanding is that Gipson never requested a trade, but the Bears gave his camp permission to seek one because they were prepared to move on. Gipson still has talent and could land in a favorable position elsewhere. It will be interesting to see if he is claimed on waivers. 

Who ends up on the practice squad? Linebacker Micah Baskerville is the only player the Bears might be sweating over clearing waivers. Defensive lineman D’Anthony Jones is another player who might garner some interest elsewhere. Remember, players don’t have to sign to the Bears’ practice squad if they clear waivers. They can sign with another team’s practice squad, but of course, that means starting over with a new coaching staff and scheme. 

Players like tight end Stephen Carlson, safety Bralen Trahan, safety Kendall Williamson, cornerback Greg Stroman and wide receiver Nsimba Webster are among the players to expect back on the team’s practice squad. 

Will the Bears use their No. 1 waiver order priority? You’d imagine the Bears claim at least one player off waivers. Last year, they claimed six, although their roster was in a much different position. GM Ryan Poles has the No. 1 waiver spot for the first three weeks of the season and that is an asset worth using. But remember, claiming a player means cutting another on the 53-man roster. 

Up Next: While the Bears sort out the back end of their roster, the team will practice at Noon CT today. General manager Ryan Poles and assistant general manager Ian Cunningham will then hold a press conference at 2 p.m. CT to discuss the roster. We’ll have you covered with a full recap of the day’s events on The CHGO Bears Podcast at 4 p.m. CT.!

Don’t forget to become a Diehard!

Watch yesterday’s show on YouTube

Also back? Justin Fields. After a one-week preseason hiatus, Fields will play in Saturday’s game against the Bills. How much, exactly, is unclear. Matt Eberflus said a meeting was scheduled for Thursday afternoon to determine the exact playing time of his starters. 

But this jives with what Eberflus hinted at last week when he decided to sit Fields and the starters against the Colts. That was mainly due to the joint practices in Indianapolis. This week, they’ve been simulating an actual regular season game week (game planning, using scout teams, etc.) so it would make sense that they end the week by playing in the actual game. 

Last year, Fields played the entire first half in the final preseason game, although I get the sense the Bears might limit him a little more this time. Eberflus seems somewhat concerned about how much to expose Fields behind this banged up offensive line. He admitted that health will play a big factor in Saturday’s playing time. 

As for who QB2 will be against the Bills…

“I’m not going to answer that,” Eberflus said. “That’s still a competition though, as we’ve said all along, and we’re open to that. That’s exciting. And that was created. It wasn’t like we created it — when I say we, the coaching staff. That was created by pure competition.”

Personally, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Tyson Bagent take the field after Justin Fields on Saturday.

“If you keep an open mind and you let things play out, then good things will happen,” Eberflus said.

Well, if the coaches are letting this thing play out, then that would mean they are rewarding what they’ve seen so far — and so far, Bagent has out-played PJ Walker. 

It’s common for the final preseason game to determine very tight position battles in training camp. And that appears to be what’s happening with the Bears’ backup quarterback competition.

Up Next: The Bears will have a walk-through Friday before playing the Bills at Noon CT on Saturday. Make sure you tune into Friday’s edition of The CHGO Bears Podcast for the full preview of the game. Saturday, our CHGO Bears Pregame Show starts at 11 a.m. CT with the postgame show to follow immediately after the game.  

The much-celebrated 2021 quarterback class is down to three.

And I’d call it more like 2.5. 

If you remember, five quarterbacks were selected in the first round of that NFL Draft:

No. 1 – Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
No. 2 – Zach Wilson, New York Jets
No. 3 – Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers
No. 11 – Justin Fields, Chicago Bears
No. 15 – Mac Jones, New England Patriots

Wilson was already benched last year and now there’s word that the 49ers are shopping Trey Lance after just 102 passing attempts in two seasons (by the way, if I’m the Vikings and Lions, I’m interested). Other quarterbacks selected in that same draft have also fizzled out, with Kyle Trask and Davis Mills being relegated to backup duty and the Vikings dumping Kellen Mond after just one season. 

That leaves Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields and Mac Jones. 

And let’s be honest, the race to superstardom is really down to Lawrence and Fields. Jones is just a guy.

Even the most biased Bears fan would have to admit Lawrence has accomplished more through two seasons, but it’s hard to ignore the fact that their peers ranked Fields No. 86 on the NFL 100, 10 spots ahead of Lawrence. 

The fact that Fields is still in this conversation is foreign territory for the Bears, and frankly, something to be celebrated. 

Now they just have to keep him healthy.

So, about that offensive line… 

Up Next: The Bears have their last practice today before facing the Bills in the preseason finale on Saturday. I’ll be at Halas Hall today and will join The CHGO Bears Podcast with updates from Lake Forest. The show airs live on YouTube at noon CT.

Monday was a newsy day for the Chicago Bears, but I feel like it distracted from what’s most important this week …

Lost in all the Tyson Bagent hype and offensive line shuffle is that Justin Fields still needs more work before the regular season begins. These next five days are the last opportunity for that to happen before the Week 1 opener against the Packers. 

Both general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus hinted that the starters would receive playing time against the Bills Saturday after sitting last week against the Colts. The Bears are doing their best to simulate a regular season game week and one would think that would end with, well, the starters playing in the actual game. 

To this point in the preseason, Fields has played just seven snaps, with three passing attempts — all of which came behind the line of scrimmage. I, for one, would like to see Fields end the preseason with some tape that resembled what Bagent did in this offense against the Colts — pre-snap reads, quick decisions post-snap and strong accurate throws downfield. 

Overall, I remain bullish on this offense, despite some of the turmoil up front. But the Packers’ defense isn’t exactly a pushover, and they’ll provide Fields with a tough test in Week 1. On one hand, you could justify the offensive line concerns as a good reason not to trot out Fields this weekend. On the other hand, if he’s working with a new center — as Nicholas Moreano detailed Monday — then that’s even more reason why they need to play together against the Bills. Lucas Patrick was supposed to be the starting center for Fields last year, but he ended up only playing 10 snaps at the position all season. 

Changing centers this late in the preseason isn’t exactly ideal. The Bears have some work to do this week. 

Up Next: The Bears practice at Noon CT Tuesday. The CHGO Bears Podcast also airs live on YouTube at Noon, with Nicholas Moreano providing a live report from Halas Hall. 

Matt Eberflus announced the decision Thursday night following the Bears’ second joint practice against the Colts, and the reasoning makes sense. Fields got plenty of reps against an opponent in practice the last couple of days and took a few unnecessary shots along the way. Enough was accomplished this week to avoid the risk of injury Saturday night.

But has Fields accomplished enough this month to hold him out of next week’s preseason finale against Buffalo?

Eberflus kept the door open to Fields playing against the Bills next week, and that would be wise. If he doesn’t play next week, it would mean that he wouldn’t get any live game reps for almost exactly a month before facing off against the Packers in Week 1. Remember, he only threw three passes against the Titans last week, all of which were behind the line of scrimmage. 

For what it’s worth, Fields played the entire first half in the preseason finale last year, going 14-for-16 with 156 passing yards and three touchdowns against the Browns. If the reasoning for him not playing this week is because he got two padded practices against the Colts, it would stand to reason that Fields would play next week when there aren’t any joint practices. 

If Fields’ preseason is done, that means he only received seven total game snaps and didn’t throw a single pass beyond the line of scrimmage. In my opinion, that is too reminiscent of Matt Nagy not giving Mitch Trubisky any preseason snaps in 2019 — Trubisky, like Fields, was his third NFL season.

Since Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus got here, they’ve made smart, common-sense decisions in situations like this. I understand why Fields isn’t playing Saturday after joint practices, but my guess he plays a decent amount against the Bills next week. 

Up Next: The Bears and Colts will play Saturday night at 6 p.m. in Indianapolis and there’s still plenty to pay attention to, even if Fields and some of the starters don’t play. We’ll have you covered with a 5 p.m. CT pregame show and wrap it all up with a postgame show after the game. 

Apparently, that’s what they did in the cornfields north of Indianapolis. Grand Park is an enormous sports complex with what seems like 100s of football, soccer and baseball fields. The surrounding community is being built up with nice homes and the complex now hosts training camp for the Indianapolis Colts. There’s even a Starbucks being built down the road — so you know they’ve made it.

On Wednesday evening, Grand Park also hosted the Bears and it was a beautiful night for joint practices between the two teams. There were legitimate Field of Dreams vibes — the football version, at least — as the sun set over fresh-cut grass. It’s not quite the cornfields of Iowa, but the players even emerge from a small forest of trees as they enter the practice fields. 

For me, Wednesday’s practice brought back memories of Bears training camp in Bourbonnais — although Grand Park is more like Olivet Nazarene University on steroids. There’s something to be said for getting away for training camp, and Wednesday’s practice felt more like a true training camp practice. The added intensity of practicing against a real opponent added to the vibes.

Don’t get me wrong — the Bears have done a really nice job with their new(ish) training camp setup at Halas Hall. And, technically, Grand Park is a lot closer to Lucas Oil Stadium than Halas Hall is to Soldier Field. But anyone who was out at practice in Westfield — and there were a ton of Bears fans who showed up in force — knows what I’m talking about. 

It was just a beautiful setting for August football. And practice was a lot of fun. For our full recap, check out our CHGO Bears Podcast from last night. I promise we had as much fun as the players on the field.

Up Next: The Bears and Colts link up for another practice Thursday night at 5 p.m. CT and our entire CHGO Bears team will be there with a recap show later Thursday night.

Dive deeper: Nicholas Moreano’s notes from the combined practice

Let’s check in on some old friends on this Bears travel day…

Episode 2 of Hard Knocks drops tonight at 9 p.m. CT on HBO and Max. And while I suspect there are plenty of Aaron Rodgers detractors reading this newsletter, I have to say … Episode 1 was pretty entertaining.

Did it sometimes seem like an Aaron Rodgers infomercial? Yes. But showing Rodgers’ acclimation in New Jersey is still interesting, and the production was on par with last year’s highly entertaining season on the Detroit Lions. The cameo from narrator Liev Schreiber was a bonus.

I’ve always referred to Rodgers as “good Jay Cutler.” He’s not well-liked by everyone, but plenty of people (and teammates) still love the guy. Rodgers’ dry sense of humor has its moments, but his obvious narcissism boiled over to the point that even the most loyal Packer fan is not missing him — yet.

And shit, he can sling the football. The reactions from Jets players and coaches — including defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich — are downright hilarious. They know Rodgers is much different than the long list of failed quarterbacks that have come through New York.

Rodgers will soon be joined by another familiar face from the NFC North, as former Vikings running back Dalvin Cook is signing a one-year contract worth up to $8.6 million with the Jets. 

I was skeptical this season of Hard Knocks would live up to the hype, but Episode 1 was a good start. And Bears fans can tune in knowing they don’t have to worry about Rodgers or Cook this season.

Well, at least until the Super Bowl, of course.

Up Next: The Bears will travel down to Indianapolis today for joint practices against the Colts. The first practice is Wednesday at 5 p.m. CT. and our full CHGO Bears team will be down there with a recap show late Wednesday night.

Hope you were able to enjoy the Bears’ first preseason game over the weekend. 

I was especially excited to get my hands on the end zone film from Saturday’s win over the Titans to watch first-round pick Darnell Wright a little closer. He only played seven snaps, but the right tackle held his own and passed his first NFL test. 

I saw two plays in particular that Wright should feel good about, and one that needs to be cleaned up… 

Play #1: On Khalil Herbert’s 11-yard run, Wright showed his quick feet and movement skills, easily kicking out in the flat to reach his block on the nickel corner. In fact, he actually had to slow down at the last second to get his shoulder on defensive back Armani Marsh, before also getting a small piece of linebacker Jack Gibbens. The 2-for-1 block sprung Herbert to the sideline for 11 yards.

Play #2: There was definitely a missed assignment when edge rusher Rashad Weaver went untouched into the backfield and tackled Herbert for a one-yard loss. Wright and wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. both went to block Marsh on the outside, while left guard Ja’Tyre Carter climbed to the linebacker. That allowed Weaver to go free into the backfield and I suspect he was Wright’s man.

Play #3: Wright did his job securing the backside on the 56-yard screen pass to Herbert. Nothing too fancy — just won his 1-on-1 block on Weaver, which mattered because Justin Fields had to hold up briefly and pump fake the blitzer that came through the middle. We won’t talk about the fact that Cody Whitehair and Carter were probably illegally downfield when Fields let go of the ball. 

It was a small sample size, but Wright can feel pretty good about his first NFL preseason game, even if it came against the Titans’ backups. I’m a little surprised he only played seven snaps, but it’s a sign the Bears feel confident in their rookie right tackle. By comparison, Carter — who started in place of Nate Davis at right guard — played 39 snaps. 

This week should be a good test for Wright, who will get two padded practices against the Colts’ starters in Indianapolis and — presumably — will play more in the second preseason game.

Up Next: The Bears have a practice at Halas Hall today before heading down to Indianapolis for joint practices against the Colts. We’ll have you covered with a CHGO Bears practice recap show at 3 p.m. CT before heading down to Indy later in the week for some remote shows.

The Bears play football in almost 48 hours. 

In tomorrow’s newsletter, we’ll take a look at three not-so-obvious players to watch in Saturday’s preseason game against the Titans.

But today, we’re going to acknowledge three obvious players: 

QB Justin Fields — Though minor, I’m surprised there’s any pushback to Fields playing Saturday. He’s far from polished and the same can be said about the offense. I’m still bullish on this unit in 2023, but they’re experimenting with a lot of cadences and we’re seeing plenty of mistakes in practice as a result. Fields and the offense could use one or two (mostly) clean drives Saturday afternoon. 

RT Darnell Wright — See above with the cadences. Wright is in a shockingly different offensive system than he was in at Tennessee, so the difficulty of any natural rookie adjustments has been increased. It’s been an up-and-down camp, but his greatest success might come in the run game, which we’ll finally get to see with live tackling on Saturday. 

CB Tyrique Stevenson — He’s long, feisty and hasn’t backed down from tough competition from DJ Moore and Chase Claypool. I can’t imagine DeAndre Hopkins plays much for the Titans on Saturday, but perhaps Stevenson will see some good reps against former first-round pick Treylon Burks. 

These three players should capture your attention for at least the first quarter, if not longer. Tomorrow we’ll look at a few players who are more likely to play deep into the game and give you a reason to keep watching in the second half.

Up Next: The Bears are back on the practice field Thursday morning at 10 a.m. We’ll have you covered with another training camp recap show at 4 p.m. CT — NOTE the different time today!

Join us at the CHGO Kickoff Classic at Cog Hill!

Let’s talk some depth…

The Bears released their unofficial official depth chart yesterday, which is always fun, but mostly meaningless. I like to call it that because it’s the team’s “official” depth chart, but it’s also unofficial because it almost certainly doesn’t represent what we’ll likely see Week 1, or even how we’ll see players deployed in Saturday’s preseason opener against the Titans at Soldier Field.

Regardless, I have a few takeaways…

Trevis Gipson and Kindle Vildor — It’s hard to ignore the fact that both players were listed at the bottom of their respective positions. Both players are Ryan Pace draft picks and have struggled to maintain starting positions in Alan Williams’ defense. It appears the clock is ticking on their time with the Bears.

Safety A.J. Thomas — This is a name you might want to get familiar with. Thomas was an undrafted rookie last year who saw some playing time late in the year and now appears to be a viable backup option at safety. With both Eddie Jackson and Jaquan Brisker out of practice Tuesday, Thomas had a nice practice with the starters alongside Elijah Hicks. 

Velus Jones Jr. — The Bears believe Jones is more comfortable catching punts, so the return job is his to lose. He needs to have a completely clean preseason. Any muffed punts will be magnified.

ICYMI: Tuesday’s practice recap show can be found here. You can check out Nicholas Moreano’s notes from yesterday’s practice here.

Up Next: The Bears are back on the practice field Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. We’ll have you covered with another training camp recap show at 3 p.m.

The Bears are off today, but the #BearsThings newsletter is not.

So let’s get feisty on a Monday…

The Bears and Packers both held their family fest practices at their respective stadiums this weekend, which naturally led to the always fun viral photo comparison of the crowd sizes. Spoiler alert: The Packers won again. 

Of course, Bears fans understandably fought back. Herb Lawrence, my fellow White Sox sufferee at CHGO, submitted this response:

A few things from me on this:

1. Herb is, of course, right about all that.

2. Legitimate respect to Packers fans for filling their stadium for a practice. They do it every year and it’s impressive.

3. I’m not sure why any of this matters. When the games are played, both teams fill their stadiums and have unbelievably loyal fan bases.

As Allen Iverson would say, “We’re talking about practice.”

But hey, this is what makes rivalries fun. Remember what Bears defensive tackle Justin Jones said back in June?

The good news is that we only have 34 more days until the Bears and Packers meet at Soldier Field to kick off the 2023 season. 

Justin Fields vs. Jordan Love.

No doubt Soldier Field will be packed on Sept. 10. Can’t wait.

ICYMI: The CHGO Bears crew recapped Family Fest Sunday afternoon with special guest Herb Howard. Watch it here!

Up Next: The Bears are off Monday, but return Tuesday for their next “stack” of three practices at Halas Hall. We’ll have you covered with training camp recap shows at 3 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday. 

If you went to bed early, you might be waking up to the news that Yannick Ngakoue is now a Chicago Bear. 

Bears fans were hyped last night, and rightfully so. If you missed it, make sure you check out the CHGO Bears emergency podcast we recorded right after the news broke. 

In the meantime, let’s talk about exactly what Ngakoue is and is not — and why this signing makes so much sense:

What Ngakoue is: He is immediately the best pass rusher on the team. Remember, safety Jaquan Brisker led the Bears in sacks last season with four. Linebacker Roquan Smith was third on the team with 2.5 sacks and he only played in eight games before getting traded. Overall, Bears defensive ends had a total of 6.5 sacks last season. Ngakoue had 9.5 himself with the Colts in 2022. Amazingly, Ngakoue has racked up at least eight sacks in all seven of his NFL seasons — and he’s one of only five players in the NFL who can say they’ve done that. This guy knows how to sack the quarterback.

What Ngakoue isn’t: A three-down player. The pass-rushing accolades are undeniable, but there’s a reason why the Bears are Ngakoue’s fifth team in the last four seasons. He’s not particularly consistent against the run. 

The money here can’t be ignored. A one-year, $10.5 million deal with $10 million guaranteed is a significant investment for a player who hadn’t found a home yet. But the Bears were the perfect landing spot for several reasons. In many ways, he’s the missing piece on a defense that is trending up. The linebackers and secondary are pretty good, but they needed someone to get to the quarterback. The Bears also had plenty of cap space — not to mention a cash floor they need to reach. 

This is yet another move by Bears general manager Ryan Poles that helps the team immediately without hurting the future. 

Up Next: We’ll see if Poles addresses the signing of Ngakoue at some point on Friday. Regardless, the Bears practice at 10 a.m. CT and it promises to be a spirited session after the defense dominated the offense on Wednesday. I’m very interested to see how Justin Fields responds. The CHGO Bears crew will have you covered all day long and we’ll recap the practice at 3 p.m. CT LIVE on YouTube. 

Further reading
• Nicholas Moreano dives deep on the Ngakoue signing
• Greg Braggs Jr. checks in with a review of Bears camp to this point

Join us at the CHGO Kickoff Classic at Cog Hill!

Boy, yesterday was a chippy day at Halas Hall and the offense certainly experienced some struggles.

But on the flip side…

The Bears’ secondary is making a big impression. Second-year cornerback Kyler Gordon has had as strong a training camp as anyone, and that’s a massive development considering he was general manager Ryan Poles’ first-ever draft pick. Now focused only on the nickel corner position, Gordon’s versatility is shining. In one team period yesterday, Gordon delivered an interception, a tackle for loss and a sack in a matter of minutes. I guess those are the “Spidey senses” the coaches have been talking about.

Meanwhile, second-year safety Jaquan Brisker is also having a strong camp and there’s a fun, competitive battle between rookies Tyrique Stevenson and Terrell Smith for the No. 2 cornerback spot. Add in veteran safety Eddie Jackson and cornerback Jaylon Johnson, and I don’t view the secondary as a weakness at all. 

In fact, it might be one of the team’s strengths. 

What’s interesting is that is not how the unit is being viewed nationally. Pro Football Focus ranked the Bears’ secondary 20th overall this offseason, although they did say they “expect much better play from this unit in 2023.” Sharp Football Analysis ranks the unit 23rd. 

A lot of that is based on last year’s play, which wasn’t great, but this unit has a good mix of youth with veteran savvy and is pointed in the right direction. Most of the chirping coming from the defense in Wednesday’s spirited practice came from the secondary. They aren’t afraid to let receivers know when they’ve won a rep. 

“Every little thing they do well, the DBs are always hyping stuff up,” quarterback Justin Fields said. “They’re always ‘ahhhhh,’ and that just gets the whole defense going. I told the offense today that we just need to have that same juice as the defense.”

Up Next: The Bears have an off day Thursday and the CHGO Bears crew will take one as well. I, for one, can’t wait to see how the offense responds on Friday. We’ll have you covered at Halas Hall Friday morning and recap it for you live at 3 p.m. CT on the CHGO Bears Podcast. 

Join us for the CHGO Kickoff Classic at Cog Hill!

Look, the special teams period of practice might not be as entertaining as seeing Justin Fields face the Bears’ defense, but it has a major impact on the ultimate makeup of the 53-man roster. 

Frankly, special teams periods can be chaotic. With a 90-man roster in training camp, there are a lot of players and only so many reps that can be fit into a short period of time. But when tough roster decisions need to be made in about a month, a player’s special teams value can be what puts them over the edge.

This can be tough for some rookies to accept, especially because many of them don’t have a lot of special teams experience. The 70th guy on the Bears’ roster right now might have been the best player on his college team, which means he might not have been used on special teams.

But now it might be the biggest thing that player needs to focus on to stay in the NFL. 

So how does Bears special teams coordinator Richard Hightower get these young players to buy into the idea of embracing special teams? I asked him that question Monday, while bringing up players like Sherrick McManis and DeAndre Houston-Carson, who made a nice career on special teams for the Bears.

“We show examples, not only of guys you’re talking about, Sherrick or DHC or any of those guys,” Hightower said, referencing players he has coached like Fred Warner, Emmanuel Moseley, D.J. Reed and Matt Brieda, saying it’s “like we got a farm system.”

But the special teams coordinator also likes to show tape of Adam Thielen, who went from a special teamer to starting wide receiver, and Davante Adams, who played on punt return before becoming one of the best receivers in the league. 

Perhaps the best example? Terrell Davis. 

“(He) was a sixth-round draft choice and went down, flew down and made a kickoff tackle and knocked the crap out of somebody, and they said, ‘Hey, let’s put him in on offense.’ Now he’s a Hall of Fame running back.”

Given that special teams can often mean survival in the NFL, Hightower said he has “never felt like it’s been a tough sell.”

“They come in, we develop them, and then they go on to bigger roles. That’s probably what I’m most proud of as a coach,” Hightower said. “So I think you have to show them examples, over and over, of how they can help the football team and in turn maybe down the line help themselves.”

Cornerback Josh Blackwell is an example of a player who the Bears claimed off of waivers and stuck last season because of his special teams ability. Fourth-round rookie wide receiver Tyler Scott is trying to add punt return duties to his plate to help secure his spot as an active player on game days. Second-year returner Velus Jones Jr.’s return ability is buying him time while he tries to contribute more on offense. Cornerback Jaylon Jones is another player who might be kept around because of his special teams ability. 

So when preseason games come around, don’t ignore the special teams plays. Those plays will have a big impact on the final roster.

Up Next: Pads! Finally. The pads go on this morning at 10 a.m. and we’ll have you covered all day on @CHGO_Bears and AllCHGO.com.

Join us for our CHGO Kickoff Classic at Cog Hill!

We’re two practices into training camp and I continue to be bullish about the Bears’ offense.

Here’s one reason why:

While Justin Fields continued a strong start to training camp Thursday, the offense as a whole was sloppier with a handful of false starts and a few drops.

There was, however, at least a fair explanation for the pre-snap penalties:

“That’s part of this process and we’re in that phase of challenging our guys with cadence,” Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy said. “So we’re not going to just try to get through practice and make it clean. We’re going to challenge our guys with a bunch of different stuff like that. Sometimes that happens. We’ve got to stick with it and hopefully as we continue to go, all that stuff will get better and get cleaned up.”

This is always the tricky part of training camp. When players struggle, the coaches typically say it’s because they’re throwing a lot at them. It’s true, but it also makes you think about when Matt Nagy said he was challenging Mitch Trubisky with version “202” of the offense in 2019.

The important thing to note here, however, is it’s not the quarterback who’s struggling. I pointed out to Getsy that I remembered them using a lot of cadences early in training camp last year, only to see them parsed down once the regular season was underway.

“I think it starts with quarterback-center and how much they want to do and how much they’re capable of doing,” Getsy said. “If you can remember, Lucas (Patrick) was the (center last year) and then he got hurt, and then it was Sam (Mustipher) and all that stuff.”

Veteran Cody Whitehair is now the unquestioned center, and Fields appears to be more comfortable handling a wider array of cadences to keep defenses on their heels. The false starts Thursday came from left tackle Braxton Jones, left guard Teven Jenkins and right guard Nate Davis. The coaching staff seems confident in Fields’ ability to handle more complexity and now it’s up to the rest of the offense to catch on during camp — which is how it should work.

“I think the comfortability that Justin has with everything — and then P.J. (Walker) and Nate (Peterman) and Tyson (Bagent) the same thing — they’re now hearing Justin do it a certain way and they’re trying to mimic that as well,” Getsy said. “So I think that when we can get all of those guys doing it the same way it allows you to do more.”

So far, these are normal growing pains in training camp. We’ll see if they persist or get cleaned up in the coming days. For now, I remain more encouraged by Getsy’s confidence in expanding the offense than discouraged by a few mistakes in practice.

It shows confidence in Justin Fields.

Up Next: The Bears are back at practice this morning at 10 a.m. and I expect to see more situational football than we saw on Thursday.

Final Days of our up to 50 percent off Summer Sale!

Here’s what I saw and heard:

The good: It was a very good first practice for Justin Fields and the offense on Wednesday. There were very few balls on the ground and the strong connection with DJ Moore continued. Fields hit Moore on a beautiful deep touchdown pass to the front pylon, while Moore used his veteran savvy to create just enough space on the sideline against rookie cornerback Tyrique Stevenson. Head coach Matt Eberflus pointed out that the first day can often be sloppy for the offense, but it really wasn’t. It was a mostly clean day, with one exception I’ll get to below…

The bad: The weather. Any pre-practice excitement was ruined by the area’s poor air quality that pushed practice inside before a massive lightning storm hit the area. As for practice itself, I didn’t like seeing wide receivers Joe Reed and Nsimba Webster put the ball on the ground after making red zone catches. If there’s anything to improve on in Day 2, it’s that.

The rest: 

• Cole Kmet’s four-year, $50 million contract extension is a win for both sides. His value to the Bears goes well beyond his stats, which are good enough on their own. My comp for Kmet has always been Kyle Rudolph, and he’s well on his way to a similar career. Rudolph was also the No. 43 overall pick in the draft and spent 10 years with the Vikings before moving on to the Giants and Bucs. Kmet is going to be a Bear for a long time. 
  
• Darnell Mooney revealed that he was headed toward tightrope surgery on his left ankle last year anyway — breaking the ankle just ended his season early and made the recovery tougher. Mooney looked pretty good during Wednesday’s practice, as he received limited reps in 7-on-7 periods. 
  
• Chase Claypool also looked pretty comfortable in Wednesday’s practice, despite a brief stint on the PUP list earlier in the week. His press conference with us was very interesting, as he fought back against any criticism of his work ethic, saying: “It’s the biggest year of my life, and I understand that. If anybody thinks my work ethic isn’t matching that, they’re deeply mistaken.”

For more on the Claypool conversation, we discussed it on Wednesday’s practice recap show on CHGO.

Up Next: The Bears are back on the practice field this morning at 10 a.m. and it will feel more like training camp with fans in the stands and hot, humid temperatures. You won’t hear any complaints from me!

Check out our big Summer Sale at the CHGO Locker!

It’s weird to actually type that out in words.

While Justin Fields still has some work to do as a passer, what he accomplished last year was enough to earn the respect from his peers and land him at No. 86 in the NFL Top 100. I’m not surprised to see Fields make the list, because it is voted on by the players. The more conversations I had with players and friends around the league in the offseason, it was pretty obvious Fields had earned a ton of respect from opponents in 2022. 

One of those conversations was with now-Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards before he played in the Super Bowl with the Eagles in February. 

“He’s definitely special,” Edwards told CHGO. “With what he can do with his legs and how strong his arm is, I think he’s a guy who is going to gain confidence as time goes and is truly going to be a special player for sure.”

Again, that was before Edwards became a Bear in March when he signed on as the team’s weak-side linebacker. 

“Honestly, the one thing that surprised me was — obviously he’s fast as anything — but he’s a lot bigger than people think as well,” Edwards said. “A guy that big that can move like that, it’s a tough task for a defense, so he definitely creates a little headache for you.”

While Fields deserves to be on the list, it’s still a little surprising to see him ranked ahead of Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who came in at No. 96 despite throwing for 4,113 yards, 25 touchdowns and only eight interceptions last year before winning a playoff game.

But again, it’s Fields’ elite running ability that has defenders terrified of him right now, so you can understand why he might have earned a few more votes from his peers. 

The Fields-Lawrence debates have raged since they were both in high school, and Fields has experienced his fair share of head-to-head victories, even if Lawrence was drafted 10 spots higher than Fields in 2021. 

But imagine if Fields can also throw for 4,000 yards like Lawrence did last year?

“A Bears quarterback hasn’t done it yet, so that would be cool,” Fields said Tuesday. “With the help of this guy, hopefully I can get there.”

By “this guy,” Fields was referring to new wide receiver DJ Moore, who was sitting next to him at Tuesday’s press conference. Today, they’ll take the field for the first time in training camp, the first step in a possible march to 4,000 yards.

And if Fields actually gets to 4,000, well, he’ll be a lot higher on the NFL Top 100 list next year.

Adam Hoge

Our football-less summer weeks are officially over. The Chicago Bears report to training camp in Lake Forest today and our CHGO Bears team has big plans to bring you the best coverage in the city over the next six weeks. 

Part of that coverage includes this Diehards-only newsletter, which I’m happy to report will now be dropping in your inbox daily (Monday-Friday) during training camp. If you don’t already know, you can reply directly to me on this email if you ever have any questions or ideas for the newsletter.

Report day isn’t what it once was when the team practiced in Bourbonnais. And from the stories I’ve heard, it was even more eventful during the Platteville days. Remember Jay Cutler showing up to Olivet Nazarene University in a conversion van in 2014? Or Brandon Marshall riding a Segway in 2013? Believe it or not, it’s already been four years since the Bears’ last training camp in Bourbonnais. That was when Tarik Cohen rolled up in a Slingshot, did some donuts, and got scolded by Matt Nagy. 

Perhaps it’s for the best, as none of those seasons ended well for the Bears. Now that they train back in Lake Forest, report day is much less of an event and more about football. We’ll hear from general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus today as they set proper expectations for the preseason. Hopefully there will be some clarification on Chase Claypool ending up on the PUP list. Players will go through physicals and a conditioning test. Assuming all goes well, everyone will take the field on Wednesday for the first practice. 

Every day the Bears are on the practice field, CHGO will be there too. We’ll have practice recap shows every weekday, so make sure you are subscribed to the CHGO YouTube channel and hit the notifications button so you know when we go live. The times may vary over the next few weeks depending on the practice schedule.

I hope you’re ready for football season. I know I am. This is Year 13 for me on the Bears beat and I feel as energized as ever. Here’s to hoping it’s a fun, entertaining season!

Adam Hoge

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That’s exactly what happened Tuesday when Bears defensive tackle Justin Jones very clearly stated…

“(Packers) fans are really shitty.”

And…

“Half of them don’t even know football.”

Of course, that’s not all Jones said. Those comments were part of a longer answer about wishing Aaron Rodgers was still on the Packers. In short, Jones wanted Rodgers to be there when they (presumably) beat Green Bay this year. 

“I’m just ready to get back out there and play and I want to go out there and I want to beat the hell out of them on their field and I want to hear the boos then. That’s what I look forward to,” Jones said.

Consider the rivalry back on. Packers fans (not surprisingly) objected to Jones’ comments. Bears fans loved it. 

Jones will have to wait until Week 18 to get a chance to win at Lambeau Field, but he won’t have to wait long to play them at Soldier Field. Thanks to the NFL’s schedule makers, the Bears and Packers play in Week 1.

My take? I love it. The reality is that this rivalry hasn’t really been a rivalry for most my 13 years covering the bears. It’s been incredibly one-sided.

You can bet Jones’ comments will resonate in Green Bay. The Bears are actually -2.5 point favorites in Week 1, and suddenly there’s some extra juice to a matchup that will no longer include Rodgers. 

ICYMI: Cole Kmet joined me for a conversation on the CHGO Bears Podcast yesterday. You can watch the full interview here, as well as our recap episode of Day 1 of Bears minicamp here.

Up Next: Mandatory veteran minicamp continues Wednesday and we’ll once again have you covered on social media throughout the day and with a recap show at 4 p.m. CT. Looking forward to talking to you all then.

The Justin Fields-D.J. Moore chemistry is real. There’s a world in which Fields could still be struggling, with Moore slowly working his way into a new offense on a new team. That’s not the world we’ve witnessed the last three weeks. Fields has consistently hit his new No. 1 wide receiver early and often — frankly, in ways we haven’t seen since Jay Cutler favored Brandon Marshall. 

The reviews inside Halas Hall are strong:

“They got that chemistry going very fast. Earlier than I expected. They look like they’re best friends. Justin is definitely throwing him the ball. No. 2 is getting the ball for sure, no doubt.” — Safety Jaquan Brisker

“Justin has the confidence in (Moore) to get open and he’ll find him. (Moore) has made some plays for us this spring. Quite a bit of plays for us this spring.” — Wide receivers coach Tyke Tolbert

“You see what (Moore) does just on the field in routes versus air, and just how he moves, that he’s going to be a big impact player for us. For the tight end room, it’s big. You’ve got a guy that can threaten vertically and can do those things and open up zones and holes for us.” — Cole Kmet

We’re a long way away from Week 1, but my biggest conclusion on Fields through OTAs is this: When I see Fields look Moore’s way, I see a quarterback throwing timing routes on time and on the money. When he targets other options (and keep in mind that Darnell Mooney is still not practicing), it’s a little more inconsistent.

Tremaine Edmunds is worth getting excited about. He looks like a defensive lineman with running back speed playing linebacker. It stands out every single practice and fans will get to see it for themselves when training camp starts.

Trust me, the impact on the players around Edmunds will be noticeable. 

“With that much speed … we can let him do everything underneath and we’ve got everything over the top,” Brisker said. “So it makes us play deeper and sit back there and let him roam around … It just makes it easier for us to get our eyes back on the quarterback and just go get the ball.”

Plenty of boxes were checked the last few weeks. Jaylon Johnson is back in the building. Eddie Jackson is back on the practice field. And Matt Eberflus said Wednesday that Darnell Mooney should be ready for training camp. Other than the pass rush, what’s there to be worried about? This is the time of year when you’re just trying to check boxes and avoid any unnecessary drama. The Bears seem to be accomplishing that. 

Can the roster still be upgraded in certain areas? Sure. And I suspect it will be. Remarkably, the Bears still have the most cap space available in the NFL. And it won’t shock me if someone like Yannick Ngakoue is rolling into Halas Hall come August. 

Up Next: Mandatory veteran minicamp kicks off on Tuesday and we’ll have you covered with recap shows all next week. In the meantime, we have plenty left over from Wednesday’s OTA practice to discuss on today’s CHGO Bears Podcast at Noon CT. Looking forward to talking to you all then. 

To be honest, the most important thing I focus on is recharging my batteries. From the first day of training camp in late July until the NFL Draft in late April, it’s a grind. It’s an incredibly fun grind, but exhausting nonetheless. The five weeks between veteran minicamp and training camp are very special days for me. My wife and kids sacrifice a lot during the football season so it’s time I can give back to them and enjoy these beautiful summer days in Chicago.

But before we get there, OTAs and minicamp can be very valuable if you focus on the right things. OTAs are the first time we get to see all the old and new players on the field at the same time together. While the pads aren’t on, there are plenty of clues to uncover for the upcoming season. The first thing I focus on is the depth chart — which defensive coordinator Alan Williams wisely called the “rep chart” last week. I take a ton of notes on the reps because you can get an early idea of where players — especially rookies — stand going into training camp.

The same can be said about scheme. If you pay close attention, you can spot new concepts to file away for September.

Due to the reporting guidelines we agree to in order to be permitted to watch practices, many of these details cannot be shared this time of year. It can be tricky, but as I enter my 13th season on the Bears beat, I’ve definitely learned to be more patient. When you’re a young reporter, you want to blurt out every piece of information the moment you get it. I’ve learned to accumulate more intel over the years to build deeper stories and share more informed opinions. Almost everything you hear me say or write on CHGO comes with the background of some conversation or intel I’ve gathered.

The summer is a great time to build a library of information for the upcoming season. In addition to the six offseason practices we get to watch, I’ll also find time to watch tape from last season and have as many conversations with people around the league before things get crazy during training camp. 

And yes, I’ll also mix in plenty of time on a body of water with a Goose Island in my hand.

Up Next: Wednesday’s OTA practice is open to the media and we’ll break it all down on our recap show at 4 p.m. CT. We also have a new edition of Bears After Dark tonight at 8 p.m. CT. If you’d like to submit a question for a future Bears Things newsletter, hit me up on on the CHGO Discord Lounge!

When Robert Quinn didn’t show up to OTAs last year — or even mandatory veteran minicamp for that matter — no one really blinked an eye. Quinn was a veteran player with one job: go get the quarterback. He also clearly wasn’t in the Bears’ long term plans. 

On the other hand, cornerback Jaylon Johnson not being at OTAs this year matters — at least on the surface. He’s a good, young player entering a contract year. It suggests a holdout could be a possibility. 

Or maybe not. 

Bears defensive passing game coordinator Jon Hoke told CHGO Wednesday that Johnson — who lives elsewhere with his family in the offseason — has been involved in meetings via Zoom and watches the team’s practice film, sometimes texting Hoke with questions.

That doesn’t exactly sound like a holdout. 

“I think he’ll be here sooner than later,” Hoke said.

Meanwhile, new right guard Nate Davis not being at OTAs is an interesting one. Newly signed players typically show up to get acclimated to their new teams and schemes. But as Cody Whitehair pointed out, Davis has plenty of experience in this scheme having played his first four seasons in Tennessee. 

You can probably live without your right guard at OTAs. It’s not like he’s your quarterback. Imagine being in Baltimore when Lamar Jackson — fresh off a new contract that made him the highest-paid player in NFL history — didn’t show up to the first day of OTAs. With the Ravens installing a new offense, that was a head scratcher. The Ravens weren’t happy, but Jackson showed up the next day.

Even Aaron Rodgers is at Jets OTAs. Rodgers didn’t attend Packers OTAs the last two seasons, and despite defending that decision in a story via The Athletic this week, it stands to reason that Green Bay’s young group of receivers may have developed faster last season had their quarterback been around in the offseason. 

So yes, OTAs are “voluntary.”

But that doesn’t mean that all absences are viewed equally. 

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Last week at the spring meetings in Minneapolis, NFL owners voted to approve fair catches on kickoffs on a one-year trial basis. On a kickoff fair catch, the ball will be placed at the 25-yard line. 

The Bears were one of six teams that voted against the new rule, with head coach Matt Eberflus sharing these thoughts last week:

“I think it will change tactically what teams are going to do, because the rule is in now — there’s nothing you can do about it. But it will change,” Eberflus said. “I think we’ll get more squib kicks, I think you’ll get more drop kicks, more drive kicks, those types of things, and make guys return it. I suspect you’ll see more returns than less. That’s just what I’m thinking right now, but we’ll see what happens.”

More returns? He might be right. And here’s why…

First off, talk to any football coach at any level and they’ll tell you about the importance of field position. Every team tracks its own data, but one team that shared data with me showed that starting a drive inside their own 20-yard-line only resulted in points 3 percent of the time. Getting to the 40-yard line increased the chances of scoring points to 33 percent. And getting to the opponent’s 40-yard-line increased those chances to over 50 percent. 

This is exactly why teams would prefer to attempt a kick return instead of settling for the 25-yard-line. The NFL has become a game of explosive plays and kick returns give teams a good shot at an explosive play to start every drive.

But kickoffs are also dangerous plays because there are more players running a longer distance at full speed. This is why the NFL has changed the rules on the kickoffs many times in the last decade.

First, they moved the kickoff from the 30-yard-line to the 35-yard-line to get more touchbacks. Teams found they still averaged better field position by taking returns out of the end zone. Then the NFL moved the field position on touchbacks from the 20-yard-line to 25-yard-line. Once again, there was an adjustment made by coaches. Teams with good kickers found that they could kick high and deep into the corners to force a return and pin teams inside the 25. 

Meanwhile, according to NFL data, concussions on kick returns continued to rise. Thus, the latest rule was passed last week. 

But will the rule really make a difference? The NFL says there were 19 concussions on kickoffs in 2022 and the new rule will reduce that number by 15%. So all this for 2.85 fewer concussions? 

Certainly a reduction in concussions is a good thing, but 2.85 isn’t exactly a large number — especially if Eberflus is right, and there ends up being more kick returns as a result of the new rule. 

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NFL owners had themselves a hell of a week at the spring league meeting in Minneapolis, passing two items on a one-year trial-basis despite extreme opposition. One of those items now allows the flexing of some Thursday night games. The other rule change now allows teams to fair catch kickoffs inside the 25-yard-line and automatically get the ball at the 25. You literally can’t find an NFL coach that supports the new kickoff rule, but whatever, that’s a topic we’ll attack on another day.

As for the flexing of Thursday night games, I’ll admit the league found a decent compromise. It only impacts five weeks of the season (Weeks 13-17), and other scheduling policies/complications severely limit the inventory of games that can actually be flexed. For example, the Bears won’t be flexed to an additional Thursday game in 2023 because they already have Thursday games in Week 5 and Week 10 and are not permitted to play three Thursday games in the same season. 

The NFL has a lot of money at stake with its Thursday night contract with Amazon Prime and there is always pressure from rights holders for better matchups that lead to better ratings. The quality of TNF games hasn’t always been great, but I’m a firm believer that the quality of the matchups is a bigger problem than the lack of rest. No one was complaining about the Chiefs-Chargers (a.k.a Patrick Mahomes-Justin Herbert) matchup in Week 2 last year. 

The constraints on the new flexing rule make it somewhat unlikely a game will actually be flexed to Thursday night in 2023 — and if it does happen, it will happen with 28 days notice. 

The other thing to consider here is that players and coaches don’t hate Thursday games as much as you think they do. I’m not arguing that they love them, but they definitely enjoy the long weekend off after playing on Thursday. The same goes for coaches. It’s not easy to game plan in just three days, but both teams are on equal rest and have plenty of advanced scouting resources available to make it happen. They then get a “mini-bye” on the back-end to make more significant big-picture adjustments that can’t always be accomplished during a normal game week. 

As it turns out, the Bears are actually a great example to make this point. They are one of the teams that has to play two Thursday games on short rest this season, but head coach Matt Eberflus seemed genuinely happy when I asked him for his reaction.

“You look at two Thursday games that are Game 5 and Game 10, so you really have two mini-byes, and I think that’s a real big positive for us. Gives us a little break after five games and after 10 games,” Eberflus said. “We got our real bye at Week 13. Then you finish with five games at the end … I think it’s good and I think we have some good rest in there so we can rest and recover and get refreshed to play our best football.”

Indeed, the Bears will have a total of nearly two weeks more rest than their opponents in 2023, according to ESPN’s Brian Burke. That’s the most in the league. 

Taking advantage of the mini-byes is relevant to the conversation too, especially considering the Bears completely revamped their offensive approach during a mini-bye last season. After a Week 6 loss to the Washington Commanders on Thursday night, the Bears surprised the Patriots with a convincing 33-14 win in Foxboro after shifting to an approach that utilized Justin Fields’ legs more. It resulted in a month-long run in which the Bears — yes, the Chicago Bears — actually led the league in scoring. 

So you can understand why Eberflus isn’t too bummed about having to play two Thursday night games in 2023. 

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The truth is, I love OTAs. There’s nothing better than being back on the football field after a cold Chicago winter.

The weather at Halas Hall on Tuesday was outstanding — and the football wasn’t bad either. I’ve covered my share of offseason practices in which the Bears’ offense looks disjointed and out of sync, so it’s within reason for fans to feel good about what transpired between Justin Fields and DJ Moore during Tuesday’s open OTA practice. They connected early and often, with the play of the day being a diving catch Moore made on a deep shot from Fields.

“You can see good execution, that they’re on the same page. You can just feel that rep after rep,” Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said after practice. “It’s the consistency of it. It’s not just one time, it’s pretty much every time.”

Look, the Bears have only been on the field for two team practices — and no one here is claiming the Fields-Moore connection is one of the best in the NFL yet. But Tuesday’s positive practice certainly beats the alternative.

Eberflus’ comments carry some extra weight considering we could see the success with our own eyes. Remember: The media isn’t allowed to watch practice during the regular season.

Flus went on to say that the football should never hit the ground in 7-on-7 drills “and we’re not there yet,” which was backed up by a near interception on a pass intended to Moore and another deep ball that was thrown well out of bounds.

But it’s also OK to be excited about some early chemistry between Fields and Moore, so I asked Fields if Tuesday just happened to be a good day or if it was representative of what the two have already built.

“It was a little bit more than yesterday,” Fields responded. “I feel like the plays we had in yesterday, most of them weren’t going to him. So we had a lot of 1-on-1 backside stuff to him, so that was good to get on that same page. Even if we do have a concept on the front side and then 1-on-1 backside, I’m going to of course work him more just to get those reps in right now. So when the season rolls around we’re on the same page, and we have that connection going.”

Fields wasn’t shy about calling Moore the No. 1 receiver and confirmed that his new No. 1 will be playing the X-position. That stability should help the rest of the receivers find their roles, although it’s worth noting that Darnell Mooney is still recovering from his late-season ankle injury.

Still, it all starts with Fields and Moore, and if Tuesday’s practice is any indication, the Bears’ offense appears headed in the right direction.

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Yes, after months of work, we are finally revealing our CHGO Bears 100 — a comprehensive draft board that was specifically curated for the Chicago Bears’ needs and schemes.

The entire CHGO Bears 100 database can be viewed and analyzed by CHGO Diehards here or Diehards can just opt for one easy-to-read page with notes on all 100 players.

I want to begin this week’s Bears Things newsletter by explaining how we landed on our top 10 players:

1. EDGE Will Anderson Jr., Alabama — Not much suspense here and pretty much zero chance he’ll be a Bear. Jalen Carter was in the running for the top spot, but his off-the-field issues knocked him down the board. Anderson ended up as our unanimous choice atop the CHGO Bears 100.

2. OT Peter Skoronski, Northwestern — You can debate if he’s a tackle or a guard, but there’s no question he’s our No. 1 offensive lineman in the draft. 

3. IDL Jalen Carter, Georgia — Carter was not a unanimous choice as our top interior defensive lineman. Despite the off-the-field concerns, the CHGO crew decided we’re comfortable with the Bears drafting him if he’s still available at No. 9. 

4. EDGE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech — Wilson is EDGE2 on our board and it’s not really that close. The next closest pass rusher is Myles Murphy, who landed at No. 12 overall. 

5. RB Bijan Robinson, Texas — Yes, he’s a running back. No, you can’t deny his talent. This would be a luxury pick, but also take the Bears’ offense to the next level and immediately help Justin Fields. 

6. CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon — The size gives Gonzalez a slight advantage over the next guy…  

7. CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois — The entire CHGO crew loves both of these cornerbacks and only one point separated them in our ranking process. 

8. IDL Calijah Kancey, Pitt — Surprised to see Kancey this high? I am. But Corey Wootton and Nicholas Moreano love him. Wootton even has him higher than Carter. I can’t wait to debate this one over the next few days with Woot.

9. OT Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State — It is fitting Johnson Jr. ended up at No. 9 because his length and athleticism make him the perfect Ryan Poles pick. 

10. OT Darnell Wright, Tennessee — Interestingly, both Wootton and I had Wright ranked ahead of Paris Johnson Jr. 

So there’s a quick look at our top 10, but you can view the entire CHGO Bears 100 — which includes scouting reports, video breakdowns, highlights and more for every single player — right here. Not a Diehard yet? Today might be the best day to sign up.

Thank you for supporting this major project and I look forward to debating the names with you over the next few days. We’ll talk about the entire CHGO Bears 100 on today’s CHGO Bears Podcast, which will be live on YouTube at noon.

Join Us At Joe’s on Weed on Thursday and Friday!

Annual Bold Predictions

This is an exercise I always have fun with and sometimes actually get right. Jordan Love getting drafted by the Packers in 2020 is probably the best example. So here are a few bold predictions for the weekend, including a similar vibe with the first one:

1. One of the NFC North teams makes a big move Thursday for a quarterback. And no, I’m not talking about the Bears. I’m just not convinced the Lions are really going to roll with Jared Goff for the foreseeable future. And I’m not convinced second-year Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is going to keep running it back with Kirk Cousins instead of landing his own guy. And you already know I’m not convinced the Packers really love Jordan Love. Maybe one of them ends up with Hendon Hooker? I’m looking at you, Vikings. 

2. Only three quarterbacks get drafted before the Bears’ pick at No. 9. I just don’t view this as a special quarterback group. And yes, teams get desperate, but usually one of the QBs fall. Just ask Justin Fields, who fell to No. 11 after three quarterbacks were drafted ahead of him. Maybe it’s Will Levis or maybe it’s C.J. Stroud, but one will fall out of the top eight and that could put the Bears in position to trade back. 

3. OK, here it is: The Bears draft Darnell Wright. Maybe it’s at No. 9 or maybe it’s after a trade back, but this is ultimately the selection I’ve landed on. For one, I think there’s a decent chance Peter Skoronski and Paris Johnson Jr. are gone before No. 9. And if you haven’t noticed, there are not a ton of great offensive tackle options out there. I’m not as high on Broderick Jones as most are, and Wright has grown on me throughout the draft process. He would be an immediate upgrade at right tackle and allow Braxton Jones to continue to develop on the left side.

H.I.T.S. Fits

While compiling and writing out 100 draft profiles over the last few months, I made a point of identifying certain players who appear to fit Bears head coach Matt Eberflus’ H.I.T.S. principle, as well as the front office’s emphasis on length and athleticism. 

Here are three names to keep an eye on, specifically in Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday night:

CB Darius Rush, South Carolina (No. 37 on CHGO Bears 100) — Rush has ideal speed and length and posted the fifth-highest Relative Athletic Score (RAS) among cornerbacks in the draft. He has great character and coaches love him. He doesn’t commit penalties and he started taking the ball away at a higher rate in 2022. A name to watch. 

EDGE Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame (No. 51 on CHGO Bears 100) — Another player with a high RAS score, Foskey put up enormous production at Notre Dame and embodies the HITS principle with his relentlessness. 

S Ji’Ayir Brown, Penn State (No. 69 on CHGO Bears 100) — If the Bears liked Jaquan Brisker last year, they will like Brown this year. Brown and Brisker are actually very close friends after playing together both in junior college and at Penn State. But Brown took over Brisker’s leadership role in 2022 and plays a lot like him, despite being a little smaller. He has great hands to intercept the football and great return ability after the catch. Safety isn’t exactly the biggest need for the Bears, but they could probably land Brown in the third round and immediately play him on special teams with an eye on pairing him with Brisker in the future. 

I hope you enjoyed this (FREE) pre-draft edition of my Bears Things newsletter. Next week’s annual post-draft breakdown will be available for CHGO Diehards only, so please consider purchasing a membership if you haven’t already. Plus, doing so will get you a discount on attending our draft shows this week at Joe’s Bar on Weed St, a free t-shirt and much more!

We have so much planned for you this weekend. Make sure you’re subscribed to the CHGO Sports YouTube channel so you don’t miss a thing!

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You’re looking at the result: The CHGO Bears 100 is a comprehensive list curated specifically for the needs and schemes of the Chicago Bears. Continue reading for looks at our top 100 players with notes from Adam Hoge, Nicholas Moreano, Will DeWitt and Mark Carman

KEY
 = Hoge’s favorites
 = Medical/injury issue to monitor
 = Significant red flag
= Bears H.I.T.S. fit

To access our complete database with more film notes, highlights and video analysis, click here.

1. Will Anderson — Alabama EDGE
6-3 1/2, 253 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: You won’t find a more decorated and productive prospect in this draft than Will Anderson, who started all 41 games over the last three seasons and delivered 34.5 sacks and 62 TFLs over that time. Went from Freshman All-American to unianimous All-American x2. Explosive, twitchy rusher who can bend and win with leverage. Motor is always running, almost to a fault because he has a tendency to overpursue and miss tackles. Anderson is a technician who studies and is always looking to add moves to his arsenal. Perhaps doesn’t have the ideal build for a 4-3 defensive end, but Anderson is crafty enough to fit any scheme. Worthy of being the No. 1 overall selection in the draft

2. Peter Skoronski — Northwestern OT
6-4, 315 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Peter Skoronski’s tape is as consistent as it comes. Three-year starter at left tackle, including as a true freshman in 2020. Skoronski has outstanding vision and instincts to read and react to stunts/games quickly. Concerns about his arm length could mean an eventual switch to guard, but it would be irresponsible not to try him at tackle first. He’s too good of a tackle not to give him a chance. Skoronski has the best tape and highest floor of any prospect in the entire draft.

3. Jalen Carter — Georgia IDL
6-3, 314 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Probably the most dominant prospect in the draft, but off-the-field questions are forcing teams to dive deep into Carter’s background. Even before the legal situation arose, there were legitimate questions in NFL circles about Carter’s focus on football, maturity and ability to co-exist in an NFL locker room. The motor runs hot when it’s running, but it shorts out too much. Is that desire or a conditioning issue? Injuries have been an issue. Regardless, there’s no questioning Carter’s talent. His tape is a joy to watch. He moves like a linebacker in a defensive tackle’s body. If he arrives to the NFL with a desire to be the best defensive tackle in the league, there’s no doubt he can be. In a perfect world, he’s exactly what the Bears need. Georgia used him as a blocker in goal-line situations and he blocked 3 kicks in college too. Plus, he can punt!

4. Tyree Wilson — Texas Tech EDGE
6-5 5/8, 271 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Built like an ideal 4-3 defensive end with long arms. Went from a rarely used bench piece at Texas A&M to a player who kept getting better all 3 years at Texas Tech. Still just scratching the surface of his ability. Will need to win with more power than bend at the next level. Missed final 3 games, Senior Bowl and Combine because of a right foot injury that required surgery and a screw. Huge ceiling, but will need to time to develop into a star with the right coaching. Motor runs hot, but instincts are questionable. How did he not bat down a single pass with his size/length at the line of scrimmage?

5. Bijan Robinson — Texas RB
5-11, 215 lbs

Hoge’s Notes: Full package at running back. Can reach top speed in the open field and run away. Elusive and powerful. Only complaint is that he could run angrier. Pass pro adjustment in the NFL might be the only issue early on. Should be a fantasy football star from Day 1.

6. Christian Gonzalez — Oregon CB
6-1 3/8, 197

Hoge’s Notes: Played two years at Colorado before following his DBs coach to Oregon. Ball skills blossomed with the Ducks (11 PD, 4 INT). Dangerous after the INT. Plenty special teams experience. Good work ethic reputation. Better in man than zone. Only 3 PI calls in 3 years.

7. Devon Witherspoon — Illinois CB
5-11 1/2, 181 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Went from not recruited to junior college to starting at Illinois in a matter of months. Outstanding instincts and vision to read QBs and make plays on the ball. Willing, aggressive tackler. Light and might not be able to carry more weight. Dealt with a hamstring at the Combine and didn’t work out. Better in man than zone.

8. Calijah Kancey — Pitt IDL
6-1, 281 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: A prototypical, penetrating three-technique who is a pass-rushing nightmare. Uses his smaller stature to gain leverage and get upfield. The big question is how he’ll hold up against the run at the next level. Double teams will be a problem unless he gets much stronger. Very unlikely he would fall to the Bears at No. 53. Arms are extremely short.

9. Paris Johnson Jr. — Ohio State OT
6-6, 313 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Top-end athlete with elite length at the position. Prototypical left tackle on paper, but only played there for one season at Ohio State. Johnson moves his feet easily to get in proper position and his lower-half technique is strong. Upper-half strength and hands need to get better. Got away with plenty of bear hugs in the Big Ten that will get called at the next level. Gave up a sack in the Peach Bowl. Should be a good NFL player, but is not a slam dunk. Film simply isn’t as good/consistent as Skoronski’s. Johnson has the higher ceiling as a tackle, but a lower floor overall because Skoronski’s floor as a guard is enormous.

10. Darnell Wright — Tennessee OT
6-5 1/8, 335 pounds

Hoge’s notes: Great hands. If he locks on, you’re done. Was inconsistent and somewhatdisappointing during Senior Bowl practices, but had a better game. Best tape came against Alabama’s Will Anderson, which matters. Doesn’t have a ton of experience in zone-based schemes, but can’t rule it out if he’s playing right tackle. Not the most athletic of the top OTs. Lack of fit in Bears’ scheme is concerning though. Somewhat of a one-year wonder at Tennessee after being highly recruited out of high school. GREAT run blocker. Played right tackle in 2022 and looked a lot better than he did at left tackle in 2021.

11. Jaxon Smith-Njigba — Ohio State WR
6-0 5/8, 197 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Easily the most skilled route runner in the NFL Draft. He might not have elite burner speed, but his short-area quickness is unmatched. Frequently runs routes and gets open over the middle of the field. Hamstring injury limited him to 3 games in 2022, but he broke the single-season Big Ten receiving yards record in 2021 and put him 347 yards in the Rose Bowl. Will be best in the slot at the next level. Caught 10 passes for 49 yards and 1 TD from Justin Fields in 2020.

12. Myles Murphy — Clemson EDGE
6-4 3/4, 268 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Looks the part and is physically gifted, but production at Clemson was a a tad underwhelming and he never seemed to get better. Murphy is still raw with his skill set and is going to need time to develop as a rookie. Could get by as a low-end starter on his talents alone, but will need to put in a lot of work if he wants to live up to a possible first-round selection. Dealt with a hamstring injury at the Combine, but ran at his pro day.

13. Zay Flowers — Boston College WR
5-9 1/4, 182 pounds

Hoge’s notes: On the smaller end size-wise, but plays bigger than he is. Short arms are a legitimate concerns when it comes to catch radius. Quick, crafty route-runner who will compete to the end of every rep. Very willing blocker. BC coaches love him and opposing coaches respect the hell out of him. Tons of experience and never missed a game.

14. Joey Porter, Jr. — Penn State CB
6-2 1/2, 193 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Size, length and NFL bloodlines are intriguing. Porter was extremely fun to watch at Penn State because of his length and aggressiveness. Penalty prone. Dropped INTs were a problem. Only 1 career INT in 4 years at Penn State (21 PBUs). Doesn’t have a ton of zone experience, but could adapt and it might actually put him in a better position to succeed. That’s a risky projection though.

15. Broderick Jones — Georgia OT
6-5, 311 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Big, inexperienced prospect that plays with power and nastiness. Loves to finish plays and it shows up on tape. There’s some Teven Jenkins to his game. Technique needs to get better, as do his hands, which are massive. Probably needs some development time before he’ll be consistent at the NFL level. Could be a very good guard if it doesn’t work out on the outside.

16. Nolan Smith — Georgia LB
6-2 1/4, 238 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: After a really strong NFL Combine (including a 4.39 40-time), it’s hard to figure out what to do with Nolan Smith. His production doesn’t match the athleticism and his tape shows a pass rusher who lacks a plan and defined moves. Perhaps that can be taught with good coaching at the NFL level, but it could also be a warning sign that he’ll struggle as an edge rusher. When he’s farther off the ball, Smith makes plays with his speed and athleticism, which makes me wonder if he could be an elite WILL linebacker in the Bears’ 4-3 defense. Otherwise, he’s probably a better fit as a 3-4 EDGE. Pectoral tear ended his senior year after 8 games. Didn’t lift at the Combine. Coaches love this kid and he was very impressive with his interviews in Indy.

17. Dalton Kincaid — Utah TE
6-3, 246 pounds

Moreano’s Film Notes: Dalton Kincaid had his highest-rated game against USC last season (93.6), according to PFF. Kincaid finished with 16 receptions for 234 yards and a touchdown. Kincaid showed everything you want to see out of a tight end in this 43-42 win over the Trojans. Starting with his blocking. Utah had him cross the formation or go in motion and fit the edge defender and Kincaid did that with force. Plenty of blocks that had some ‘Pop’ to them. (Curious to see how he would hold up as a blocker at the next level.) As a receiver, Kincaid can turn a simple 5-yard hitch route to an explosive play. Against the Trojans, he constantly turned upfield after securing the catch. He also used his 6-foot-3 frame to high point the football over the middle of the field and along the sideline. Big-time playmaker and HUGE reason why the Utes upset the Trojans.

18. Lukas Van Ness — Iowa EDGE
6-5, 272 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Ideal size and length to play 4-3 defensive end. Elite bull rusher that caused problems for both Paris Johnson Jr. and Peter Skoronski. Two blocked punts against Iowa State in 2022. Can kick inside on sub-packages if necessary. Already very good against the run, Van Ness needs some coaching/seasoning on his pass rush moves and he should really take off at the next level. The Bears are an ideal scheme fit.

19. Jahmyr Gibbs — Alabama RB
5-9, 199 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Electric Swiss Army knife. Can be an explosive weapon out of the backfield, in the slot and as a kick returner. Bigger version of Tarik Cohen with much better vision/understanding of blocking. Willing and aggressive in pass pro. More than capable of playing on every down, but will need to prove that his workload can hold up. He was never a workhorse in college and he doesn’t have the same mass as Bijan Robinson.

20. Emmanuel Forbes — Mississippi State CB
6-0 3/4, 166 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Incredible playmaker who constantly finds the football. Insane production with 35 PBUs, 14 INTs and 6 INTs for TDs (4 over 59 yards) in 36 college games. Despite wiry frame, Forbes only missed one game in college. He’s only 166 pounds and hasn’t proven he can carry more weight, but that is really his only blemish.

21. John Michael Schmitz — Minnesota IOL
6-3 3/8, 301 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Big center who can pull and move easily in an outside zone scheme. Physical. Four-time All-B1G Academic Team. Might be the top center in the draft. Average athlete.

22. Keeanu Benton — Wisconsin IDL
6-3 1/2, 312 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Versatile interior defensive lineman who can fit multiple schemes. Absolutely dominated Senior Bowl practices. Will dominate the run while also providing impactful pass rush ability. Average athlete, but plays with a high motor and can change direction. Possible comp: Chris Jones.

23. Adetomiwa Adebawore — Northwestern IDL
6-1 5/8, 280 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: One of the most fascinating prospects ever. Tape and production at Northwestern were just average, but Adebawore tested better than any 3-technique in the history of the NFL Combine. A few months ago, some NFL teams had undraftable grades on him — now he looks like a lock for the second round. Adebawore’s elite explosiveness makes him a perfect NFL 3-tech, but he needs to be coached up on technique and hand-usage. Still, flashes on tape make you drool. Against Ohio State, he drew a hold on the first play and registered a pressure against a triple-team. Given his work ethic, coachability and academic prowess, there’s no reason to think Adebawore won’t keep getting better at the next level.

24. Brian Branch — Alabama S
6-0, 193 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Doesn’t have ideal size or length. Small frame might not hold up at safety. Still, production can’t be argued. Finds the football and makes tackles. Dangerous blitzer with 14 TDLs and 3 sacks in 2022. Might be best suited as a slot CB in Bears defense.

25. Quentin Johnston — TCU WR
6-2 3/4, 208 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Looks like he was built in a video game to play outside in the NFL. Has every physical trait you would want in a true X-receiver. Unfortunately, he doesn’t always play the part. Lack of physicality in his game is concerning considering he should over power every college corner. Tracks the ball well downfield and will make the flashy catch. Team captain with zero character concerns. More drops than TDs last season is concerning. Hasn’t run the full route tree and will need development time as a rookie.

26. Jordan Addison — USC WR
5-11 1/8, 173 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Twitchy, experienced slot option that won the Biletnikoff Award at Pitt in 2021. Smaller than JSN and won’t play with the same strength to break tackles. Big time player in the end zone (a ridiculous 17 TDs at Pitt in 2021). Production went down at USC, but so did his drop rate. Punt return experience. RAS score was disappointing.

27. O’Cyrus Torrance — Florida IOL
6-4 7/8, 330 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Very consistent, reliable player who has been a guard his entire college career. Went to Louisiana-Lafayette before transferring to Florida in 2022. Never allowed a sack in college. Probably a plug-and-play starter for some team, but lack of foot-quickness might not make him the best fit for the Bears.

28. Joe Tippman — Wisconsin IOL
6-6, 317 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Two-year starter at center at Wisconsin. Moves extremely well, getting to the second-level with ease. Can pull with no problem. Not a ton of outside-zone experience, but should be fine at center in the Bears’ scheme. Much better athlete than John Michael Schmitz, which gives him versatility to potentially play guard. Slightly longer arms than JMS, but much bigger hands at 10 3/4 inches.

29. Darnell Washington — Georgia TE
6-6 5/8, 264 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Strong, massive tight end with an extremely long wingspan. Washington was used more as a blocker at Georgia, partially because of his size and partially because the Bulldogs also had Brock Bowers. Washington is a unique player, but should be able to find the field in a variety of ways, first as a blocker and eventually as a talented pass catcher.

30. Luke Musgrave — Oregon State TE
6-5, 253 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Has a chance to be top tight end drafted. Natural hands and pass-catching ability. Runs smooth routes. More work needed on blocking ability. Missed most of 2022 with an injury. Medical check at the NFL Combine will be interesting.

31. Michael Mayer — Notre Dame TE
6-4, 252 pounds

Moreano’s Film Notes: Mayer had his highest-rated game again BYU last season (92.5), according to PFF. Mayer caught 11 passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns against BYU in the 28-20 victory. His two touchdown receptions displayed a tight end who understands how to run precise routes and also someone who will extends his arms to catch the football away from his body. He also made several catches with defenders all over him. As a blocker, Mayer was inconsistent. At times, he would have a good base and play with good leverage to secure the edge. Other times he lower his head and missed on blocks. (Saw way too many times where he just tried to lead with the shoulder and whiffed.)

32. Bryan Bresee — Clemson IDL
6-5, 305 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Hype out-weighs the productivity. Injuries are a concern as he tore his ACL in 2021 and dealt with a shoulder last year. Probably best suited as a five-technique in a 3-4 defense, so might not be the best fit for the Bears. 15-year-old sister died of cancer in Sept. 2022. Adversity of torn ACL and passing of his sister cannot be ignored.

33. B.J. Ojulari — LSU EDGE
6-2 3/8, 248 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Slightly undersized with average arm length, Ojulari makes up for it with a relentless motor and polished pass rush moves. Effort stands out constantly and results in pressures even when he doesn’t get the sacks. Coaches love him and he’d be a great culture fit for the Bears. Dealt with a knee injury in 2021 and couldn’t do Combine drills because of a hamstring issue. Might be penciled in as a 3-4 EDGE guy, but he has the versatility and will to play in any scheme.

34. Steve Avila — TCU IOL
6-3 1/8, 332 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Surprisingly agile for his size. Played every position at some point in college, but most of his experience came at center and guard (played left guard all of 2022). Mostly an inside-zone player, but has the versatility to work in multiple schemes.

35. Cody Mauch — North Dakota State IOL
6-4, 302 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Gained 82 pounds while at North Dakota State, transforming from a tight end to a left tackle — and maintained his athleticism the entire time. Mauch played OT at North Dakota State, but short arms could mean a switch to guard in the NFL. He’s one of the more athletic offensive linemen in this entire draft class and should be a scheme-fit for the Bears, even with limited outside-zone work at NDSU. Moves easily and plays with a nastiness, always finishing blocks. The concerns? He’s an older prospect at 24, still needs to get better in pass protection and will need an adjustment period at guard.

36. Dawand Jones — Ohio State OT
6-8 1/8, 374 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Massive player who is a right tackle only. Feet are incredible for his size. Questionable decision to sit out the last two Senior Bowl practices after dominating Day 1. It’s easy to wonder if pass rushers would have adjusted and attacked him differently, but we’ll never know. Can handle power with ease, but susceptible to change of direction moves (i.e. spin move). If the Bears want to put a wall up at right tackle, this could be their guy. Jones might not test like an elite athlete because he’s so damn big, but he’s surprisingly mobile on tape and has outside-zone experience while blocking for a mobile quarterback.

37. Darius Rush — South Carolina CB
6-1 7/8, 198 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Very intriguing combination of speed and length. Covers with great route recognition. Looks like a former WR (because he was one). Flags were never a problem. Wears a size 15 shoe! Voted practice player of the week (among CBs) at Senior Bowl. Great character and coaches love him. Late-bloomer who didn’t take off until he was moved to CB in 2021. Might be a better fit in man than zone.

38. Clark Phillips III — Utah CB
5-9, 184 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Lacks ideal speed and length, but he makes up for it with his instincts, twitch and closing speed. Team captain who puts in constant preparation. Ball skills and production are very impressive with four pick-6s.

39. Rashee Rice — SMU WR
6-0 5/8, 204 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Not the fastest guy, but coaches rave about how professional he is. Production took off in 2022 when he moved outside. Broke Emmanuel Sanders’ single-season receiving record at SMU. Crafty at creating space and winning jump balls. Tough. Played and practiced through injuries. Absolutely loves football. Embraces blocking. Fit for Getsy’s offense. Too many drops. Needs to be more consistent.

40. Derick Hall — Auburn EDGE
6-2 3/4, 252 pounds

Will and Nick’s notes: Explosive and strong combo: can get off the snap and get after QBs – but also known for his strength where he can set the edge and defend the run -> and he knows how to tap into leverage to turn his speed and explosiveness into true power. People raved about his violent hands during the Senior Bowl week. Needs to work on his rush plan and develop more counter moves. Is he best suited as a standup OLB more than a hand in the dirt DE?

41. Mazi Smith — Michigan IDL
6-3, 323 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Massive, powerful interior d-lineman who has done well to reshape his body and dominate the weight room. Durable. More of a 1-technique than 3-technique.

42. Anton Harrison — Oklahoma OT
6-4, 315 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: “Good-enough” athlete, but not special enough for the first round, in my opinion. Tackle only. Has improved each season, which is promising. Needs to add strength and get better as a run-blocker. Probably not a Day 1 starter.

43. Jalin Hyatt — Tennessee WR
6-0 1/8, 176 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Vertical threat with more straight-line speed than JSN and Jordan Addison. Goes up and attacks the football. Can block, but isn’t elite at it. 5 TDs vs Alabama. One-year wonder at Tennessee who was slot-only. Limited route tree. Can be a home run hitter at the next level, but won’t be an overall seasoned wide receiver as a rookie. Slender frame. Suffered hamstring tightness at the NFL Combine. Eight pounds lighter at Combine than Pro Day.

44. Tyler Scott — Cincinnati WR
5-9 7/8, 177 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Smaller receiver, but has very good speed and separation. Changes gear easily. Deep ball catcher, which would be very intriguing with Justin Fields. Tracks the ball downfield very well. Durable and a great gunner on punt. Physicality and blocking need work. Didn’t play WR in high school and is still ascending at the position.

45. Kelee Ringo — Georgia CB
6-1 3/4, 207 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Big and fast with outstanding hands. Plenty of ball production that gets you excited. Questionable instincts and awareness that might always be an issue, but the highlights are there.

46. Deonte Banks — Maryland CB
6-0 1/8, 197 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Great size and athleticism (with top vertical among CBs). Better in man than zone. Good tape vs Marvin Harrison Jr. Penalties were a problem. Production lacking.

47. Felix Anudike-Uzomah — Kansas State EDGE
6-3 1/8, 255 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Fun player with a high motor and a chip on his shoulder. After being under-recruited and having to walk-on at Kansas State, FAU was immediately productive once made a starter in 2021. Durable, never missing a game, but didn’t work out at the Combine because of a right foot injury. Needs a change up to his fastball. Average get-off. Ideally your No. 2 pass rusher, not No. 1.’

48. Josh Downs — North Carolina WR
5-8 3/4, 171 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Uncle is Dre Bly (current Lions DBs coach). Reception magnet (led ACC in 2021 and 2022). Very athletic and a good route runner. Small and inexperienced vs press. Needs to play in slot, but can be a dynamic weapon there.

49. Will McDonald IV — Iowa State EDGE
6-3 1/2, 241 pounds

Will and Nick’s Notes: Fast off the snap, that quick first step is a problem for opposing tackles. Good natural length and high-motor. Needs to add more strength to improve defending the run and to be better at the point of attack, where he doesn’t win as often as you’d like.

50. Keion White — Georgia Tech EDGE
6-4 3/8, 280 pounds

Will and Nick’s notes: Edge guy who can be hand in dirt OR standup rusher. Plus – can bounce inside and collapse the pocket from the interior and pressure QBs., Another red hot motor guy. Stronger than he looks. Can walk OL back with leg power and strength. Still learning the position and a little bit raw – like Dominique Robinson, and the Bears should weigh that as he may need time to season.

51. Isaiah Foskey — Notre Dame EDGE
6-5 1/8, 264 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Good production with 24.5 TFL and 22 sacks in 25 total games the last two years (broke Justin Tuck’s ND sack record with 26.5 total). 7 career forced fumbles. Team captain. Embodies the HITS principle with his relentlessness. Good size and strength with room to add more. Needs to be better against the run. Pass rush moves need polishing. Struggled against Paris Johnson Jr. and Dawand Jones in 2022. 3 career blocked punts. Lost to Bryce Young (Mater Dei) in the 2018 California state championship game. Father was in the Navy and a police officer.

52. Matthew Bergeron — Syracuse OT
6-4 7/8, 318 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Better pass protector than run blocker. Good eyes, processing and passing off stunts. Experience on both sides. Arms are on shorter end. Just a solid player who would be a good pick in the third round.

53. Jayden Reed — Michigan State WR
5-10 3/4, 191 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Great route running. Impressive releases. Concerns about speed, but timed as the fastest player on the field on Day 1 at Senior Bowl. Looked comfortable catching punts.

54. Karl Brooks — Bowling Green IDL
6-3 3/8, 303 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Had a great week at the Senior Bowl. Intriguing prospect to keep an eye on.

55. Gervon Dexter — Florida IDL
6-5 5/8, 310 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Big, athletic and extremely durable. Lack of production is concerning, especially considering how many snaps he played. Still developing. 2 INTs!

56. Cedric Tillman — Tennessee WR
6-3, 215 pounds

Carm’s notes: Started six games (37-417-11.3, three TDs) because of a left ankle injury that required surgery. He opted out of Vols bowl game. Not a burner … physical.

57. Tank Dell — Houston WR
5-8 3/8, 163 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Smaller receiver, but outstanding quickness and route running ability. Dangerous with the ball in his hands. Can stop on a dime and redirect. 4.49 40-time was a little disappointing, but Dell’s came is more about short-area quickness than straight-line speed.

58. Sam LaPorta — Iowa TE
6-3, 245 pounds

Moreano’s Film Notes: Sam LaPorta had his highest-graded game against Minnesota last season (91.3 grade), according to PFF. LaPorta had four receptions for 95 yards. First play of the game was a well-designed tight slip screen to the middle of the field. LaPorta took that pass for 58 yards. Iowa lined him out wide several times throughout the game, including on a third-and-6 that he converted on a slant route. LaPorta adjusted to a low ball by the quarterback on that play. He did a good job blocking in this game as well, sealing on the edge and make a block on a linebacker at the second level. He did tear his meniscus in this game and played a snap after the injury, making a block. Only played the first half, but did return four weeks later to play in Music City Bowl.

59. DJ Turner — Michigan CB
5-11 1/4, 178 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Speedy, undersized corner with decent ball production despite having limited length. Will struggle against big receivers at the next level, but shows desired toughness. Probably a slot corner in the NFL. Source: “He is a solid all-around player (physically, athletically, and under the hood) likely under many radars.”

60. Tucker Kraft — South Dakota State TE
6-4 3/4, 254 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Moves very well for his size. Adjusts to the ball easily and makes tough catches. YAC ability is there. More drops (12) than TDs (9). Needs to prove himself as a blocker against tougher competition.

61. Devon Achane — Texas A&M RB
5-8, 188 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Elite speedster who was an All-American track star at A&M too. Outstanding character and work ethic. Dangerous kick returner. Lacks ideal size and needs to get better in pass protection. Can catch the football but isn’t necessarily a polished route runner yet.

62. Tyjae Spears – Tulane RB
5-9, 201 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Thick, quick running back who easily runs through arm tackles. One of the more electric players at the Senior Bowl. Outstanding bowl game against USC. Really fun player. Combination of vision and instincts make him a perfect fit in Bears’ scheme. Lives in the end zone (19 TDs in 2022).

63. Cam Mitchell — Northwestern CB
5-10 3/4, 191 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Made an instant impact filling in for Greg Newsome in 2020. Picked off Justin Fields in the 2020 Big Ten Championship Game. Overall, INTs were lacking in coverage, but PBUs were there. He reads and reacts well and would be a very good fit in the Bears’ defense.

64. Drew Sanders — Arkansas LB
6-4 3/8, 235 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: After two years at Alabama, transferred to Arkansas and became their MIKE linebacker. Rangy and athletic enough to play multiple spots. Non-stop motor, but guilty of over-pursuing. Coach’s son.

65. Trenton Simpson — Clemson LB
6-2 3/8, 235 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Played WILL and SAM in Clemson’s 4-3 defense, moving all over the defense. Never had an INT in college.

66. Siaki Ika — Baylor IDL
6-2 7/8, 335 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Began his college career at LSU before transferring to Baylor (followed Dave Aranda). Pulled out of the Senior Bowl. Production disappeared in 2022. Nose tackle.

67. Antonio Johnson — Texas A&M S
6-1, 198 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Box safety who plays well near the line of scrimmage, especially against the run. Experienced on punt/punt return. Missed tackles are noticeable. Only 8 bench press reps is alarming.

68. Cam Smith — South Carolina CB
6-0 3/4, 180 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Wiry, explosive athlete who plays well downhill. Was much better in 2021 than 2022. Penalties were a major problem. Looks like a downhill, zone corner.

69. Ji’Ayir Brown — Penn State S
5-11 3/8, 203 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Two-year starter at Penn State with outstanding production (10 INT, 19 PBUs). Team captain who coaches absolutely loved coaching. Instincts take him to the football and he has great hands to catch it. Return ability after the catch. Not twitched up, but plenty athletic enough for next level. Wasn’t recruited out of high school because of grades. Very close with Jaquan Brisker, who he played with at Lackawanna JC and Penn State. Can play on punt/special teams immediately. Good fit with HITS.

70. Tuli Tuipulotu — USC EDGE
6-3, 266 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Fun, relentless player that uses his instincts to find the football. Motor always runs hot, which led to a 22 TFL/13.5 sack season in 2022. Fits the HITS principle, but might not be an ideal 4-3 DE. Cousin is 49ers’ Talanoa Hufanga (and he plays like him). Didn’t test at Combine or Pro Day because of right hamstring injury.

71. Zach Harrison — Ohio State EDGE
6-5 1/2, 274 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Outstanding size and incredible length (longest wingspan among all D-linemen in the draft). Production at Ohio State was underwhelming, but tape shows more disruption than the numbers. Grew up as a Bears fan in Ohio.

72. YaYa Diaby — Louisville EDGE
6-3 1/4, 264 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: About to turn 24 and was a one-year wonder in terms of production at Louisville. Height/weight/speed/explosion is all there, but why did it take so long to turn into a big 14 TFL/9 sack season?

73. Chandler Zavala — North Carolina State IOL
6-5, 325 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Played left guard at North Carolina State and fits zone-based scheme. 24 years old already. Back surgery in 2021 and missed the last 7 games. Needs to be checked out.

74. Tyrique Stevenson — Miami CB
6-0 3/8, 198 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Feisty corner known for getting under WRs skin (watch Florida State game). Started his career at Georgia, but they wanted him to move to safety. Arrest for disorderly conduct in Athens. Severe shoulder injury in 2021.

75. Julius Brents — Kansas State CB
6-2 3/4, 198 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Played 3 years at Iowa before career took off at Kansas State. Long, extremely athletic corner with below-average ball skills.

76. Daiyan Henley — Washington State LB
6-0 7/8, 230 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Former QB turned WR turned S turned LB. Spent 5 seasons at Nevada before transferring to Washington State. Played WILL for WSU and projects to be a solid backup/core special teamer with upside to become a starter.

77. Nick Herbig — Wisconsin LB
6-2 1/8, 240 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Very productive edge rusher in Badgers’ 3-4 defense. Lived in the backfield with 36 TFL and 21 sacks in just 31 games. Instant starter as a freshman who is wired to play ball wherever they put him. Too small to be a 4-3 defensive end, but talented enough to develop as a 4-3 off-the-ball LB.

78. Marvin Mims Jr. — Oklahoma WR
5-10 7/8, 183 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Home run hitter who averaged 19.5 yards per catch in college and caught 20 TDs in 37 games. Speedy, vertical route runner who can play inside and out. Route running tree was limited at OU and his size/play strength will always be limited at the next level. Good punt returner, but had 2 muffs and 0 TDs.

79. Jonathan Mingo — Mississippi WR
6-1 3/4, 220 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Not a twitchy receiver, but has good long speed and will win downfield. Big catch radius with near-40-inch vertical and will make spectacular one-handed catches. More drops (13) than TDs (12). There’s some Allen Robinson in his game.

80. Zacch Pickens — South Carolina IDL
6-3 5/8, 300 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Looks the part with size and length. Durable, coachable and a team captain. Lack of production is alarming considering how many snaps he played. Probably played out of position at South Carolina (too much A-gap) and could be better utilized as a primary 3-technique.

81. Corey Trice Jr. —Purdue CB
6-3 3/8, 206 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Looks the part with size and length. Durable, coachable and a team captain. Lack of production is alarming considering how many snaps he played. Probably played out of position at South Carolina (too much A-gap) and could be better utilized as a primary 3-technique.

82. Isaiah McGuire — Missouri EDGE
6-4 3/8, 268 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Long, powerful pass rusher who would fit the Bears’ scheme. Uses hands well while having a rushing plan. Team captain. Right shoulder limited him during pre-draft process.

83. Jordan Battle — Alabama S
6-1, 209 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Very experienced player (44 starts in 54 games) with average production. Disciplined with zero penalties last season. Dangerous returner when he gets the ball in his hands (6 INTs, 3 pick 6s). Team captain. Special teams warrior. Durable. Limited speed and athleticism. Should have a long NFL career as a special teamer and reliable backup.

84. Quan Martin — Illinois S
5-11, 194 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Extremely twitchy, athletic inside player with an insane 44-inch vertical. Instincts and football IQ are really good, allowing him to get to the football. Ball tracking in the air is a weakness. Undersized at safety, so might be limited to the slot at the next level. Team captain.

85. Luke Schoonmaker — Michigan TE
6-5 1/4, 251 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Size and speed isn’t backed up by a lot of production. When he makes plays, you wonder why he isn’t targeted more. Two shoulder injuries last season and right leg injury at his Pro Day. Turns 25 in September.

86. Jack Campbell — Iowa LB
6-4 5/8, 249 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Will very likely be a good starting MIKE for some team, but hard to envision Bears drafting a MIKE-only in the Top 64 after signing Tremaine Edmunds. UCL issue to monitor.

87. Zach Charbonnet — UCLA RB
6-0, 214 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Similar to David Montgomery, Charbonnet runs with great contract balance and is hard to tackle. He’ll pick up the tough yards and move the chains. Doesn’t have elite quickness or speed though. Not a home run hitter.

88. Marte Mapu — Sacramento State LB
6-2 5/8, 217 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Late add to the Senior Bowl after great performance at NFLPA game. Good in coverage. Hunts the football. Back-to-back plays on the ball (including a Peanut Punch) got the attention of Luke Getsy at the Senior Bowl. HITS fit. Wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine.

89. Tyler Steen — Alabama OT
6-5 1/2, 325 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Three-year starter at left tackle with one year at right tackle. Played at Vanderbilt his first four seasons before transferring to Alabama in 2022. Can get on the move despite his bigger size. Far from perfect as a tackle, allowing 10 sacks over his last three seasons. Projects as a swing-tackle or possible starter at guard at the next level, but might not be the best scheme fit for what the Bears do.

90. Trey Palmer — Nebraska WR
6-0 1/4, 192 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: One of the fastest players in the draft, Palmer failed to find success in three years at LSU before following Mickey Joseph to Nebraska, where he put up massive production in 2022 (71 catches, 1,043 yards, 9 TDs). Maddening drops, even in 2022. More drops (18) than TDs (12). No vertical. Palmer can be an electric returner and gadget player in the right offense, but it’s hard to see him being an every-down No. 1 or even No. 2 receiver.

91. A.T. Perry — Wake Forest WR
6-3 1/2, 298 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Looks the part with great size and wingspan. Details show up in his route running with good foot quickness. Sets up DBs well with gear change while the football is in the air. GREAT production in both 2021 and 2022. Limited special teams experience. Both his parents were in the Navy.

92. Henry To’oto’o — Alabama LB
6-1, 227 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Four-year starter with an incredible amount of experience (50 starts in 51 games). Played first two seasons at Tennessee before transferring to Alabama. Not the biggest or longest LB (which matters to the Bears). Smart, instinctual player who projects as the QB of a defense at the MIKE position.

93. DeMarvion Overshown — Texas LB
6-2 5/8, 229 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Former safety with questions about how he will hold up at LB.

94. Nick Saldiveri — Old Dominion OT
6-6 1/4, 318 pounds

95. Tre Tucker — Cincinnati WR
5-8 7/8, 187 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Smaller slot receiver with elite quickness. Tough to cover in tight spaces. Tarik Cohen-esque.

96. Chase Brown — Illinois RB
5-9 1/2, 215 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Strong, compact RB with a great competitive streak. Holds up well in pass protection, giving him a shot to get on the field early in the NFL.

97. Xavier Hutchinson — Iowa State WR
6-1 7/8, 203 pound

Hoge’s Notes: A ton of experience (36 starts, 37 games) and production (254, 2929 yards, 15 TDs) at Iowa State. Doesn’t wow you with any specific traits, but has a little bit of everything. Likely a possession receiver in the NFL. Both parents were in the Navy. Started with 2 years of JUCO because of grades before 3 years at Iowa State

98. Emil Ekiyor, Jr. — Alabama IOL
6-2 1/2, 314 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Experienced, durable and tough, Ekiyor was Alabama’s starting right guard the last three seasons. He’s very good at processing what’s in front of him and handling stunts and games. Finisher. Got better as a senior.

99. Deuce Vaughn — Kansas State RB
5-5, 179 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Fun player that was very productive for Kansas State both in the running and passing game. Short, but strong and uses leverage to his advantage. Rarely fumbles. Team captain. Very durable. Lacks top-end speed for his lack of size.

100. Eric Gray — Oklahoma RB
5-9 1/2, 210 pounds

Hoge’s Notes: Smaller back that lacks elite speed. Doesn’t have top gear, but consistently hits doubles. Good vision to make smart cut-backs, making him a good fit in Bears’ scheme. Good hands as a pass catcher, but isn’t a polished route runner. Played two years at Tennessee before transferring to Oklahoma. No special teams experience.

Enter the 2023 CHGO Bears NFL Draft Database! This valuable resource was created specifically for our Diehards to help you stay up-to-date for one of the most important drafts in Chicago Bears history!

Adam Hoge, Will DeWitt, Nicholas Moreano and Mark Carman have been working on this guide since Week 17 to not only inform their own coverage but to make sure you have as much information as possible by draft night!

This is a living guide we’ve worked on daily as we did our research on this year’s free draft class. As it’s only available to Diehards, we wanted to give you exclusive access and a look behind the curtain as we compile our notes on these players.

So, head on over to our 2023 CHGO Bears NFL Draft Database to enjoy this extra perk of being a Diehard. We are confident that it will help you stay informed and ahead of the curve when it comes to the Bears’ offseason.

Thanks for being a Diehard and a part of our growing community!

With just 16 days remaining until the first day of the NFL Draft, we’re overdue for another Bears Mock Draft. This time, let’s hope Bears GM Ryan Poles doesn’t trade the first-round pick just hours after this publishes (hey, at least we nailed the trade back to No. 9 in Bears Mock Draft 2.0).

But before we dive into the mock, make sure you are signed up as a CHGO Diehard to receive access to our ever-evolving CHGO Bears Offseason Database. It’s our internal database that we are using to prepare for our draft coverage and all of our Diehards now have access to it as we constantly update it. 

We also want to see you at our big draft parties at Joe’s Bar on Weed St. on the first two nights of the NFL Draft. We’ll be doing our live shows from the bar and breaking down every big move the Bears make. It should be a lot of fun. 

Buy tickets now!

OK, let’s jump into Bears Mock Draft 3.0:

First round, No. 9 overall (via CAR) – DE Lukas Van Ness, Iowa (6-5, 272)

Lukas Van Ness is a big, long defensive end that is an ideal fit in the Bears’ 4-3 defense. As important as the three-technique is, the Bears are also in desperate need of a defensive end that can consistently pressure the quarterback. Van Ness has a powerful bull rush that shows up all over his tape and is already a dominant player against the run. His pass rush moves just need a little seasoning and the sky’s the limit. He also has the ability to kick inside in sub-packages.

Second round, No. 53 overall – C Joe Tippman, Wisconsin (6-6, 317)

Our top interior offensive lineman on the CHGO Bears Big Board, Joe Tippman is a massive center that would be a great fit in the Bears’ outside zone run scheme. He moves extremely well, getting to the second-level with ease, and can pull with no problem. Tippman is a much better athlete than Minnesota’s John Michael Schmitz, which gives him versatility to potentially play guard if necessary. 

Second round, No. 61 overall – RB Tyjae Spears, Tulane (5-9 5/8, 204)

A second-round running back from Tulane? Spears is built differently than former Bear Matt Forte, but he might have similar quick success in the NFL. Spears is a thick, quick running back who easily runs through arm tackles. He was one of the more electric players at the Senior Bowl and had an outstanding bowl game against USC. He’s a really fun player to watch and one of my favorite prospects in the draft.

Third round, No. 64 overall – OT Matthew Bergeron, Syracuse (6-4 7/8, 318)

A Canadian whose first language is French, Bergeron is one of the more interesting prospects in the draft. He was a durable four-year starter at Syracuse who played both left and right tackle. He has good eyes in pass protection, processing and passing off stunts with ease. His arms are on the shorter end, but still check the boxes. Bergeron is just a solid player who would be a good pick in the third round.

Fourth round, No. 103 overall – CB Tre’Vius Tomlinson, TCU (5-7 5/8, 178)

If the name looks familiar, it’s because “Tre” is the nephew of former NFL running back (and TCU great) LaDainian Tomlinson. Twitchy, but very small, Tomlinson is a fun cornerback who constantly makes plays downhill. That makes him an intriguing fit in the Bears’ zone-based scheme.

Fourth round, No. 133 overall – DI Jalen Redmond, Oklahoma (6-2 3/8, 291)

I’m going to go ahead and bet on the traits here. Redmond is an extremely athletic defensive tackle whose tape was underwhelming at times. He also comes with health/injury questions and is 24 years old. But Redmond has the tools to be a good run-stuffing one-technique or project at three-technique who can emerge as a weapon if his pass rush is improved. 

Fifth round, No. 136 overall – S Brandon Joseph, Notre Dame (6-0 3/8, 202)

The former Northwestern All-American is a great zone coverage safety with elite ball tracking ability in center field. That led to 10 career interceptions in college, the best of which came against Justin Fields in the 2020 Big Ten Championship Game. Joseph also has extensive special teams experience. 

Fifth round, No. 148 overall – OG McClendon Curtis, Chattanooga (6-5 3/4, 331)

Curtis is an intriguing developmental option if he falls to the later rounds. He has top-end length for a tackle, let alone a guard. His big, strong hands overpowered lesser competition, but his weaknesses in technique showed up against better opponents. Curtis has traits to work with though and is a project worth looking at. 

Seventh round, No. 218 overall – LB SirVocea Dennis, Pitt (6-0 1/2, 226)

Dennis is a fun linebacker with a fun name who can cover and make plays on the ball. He showed off his instincts with a great interception in Senior Bowl practice and should at least be a productive special teamer.

Seventh round, No. 258 overall – WR Jalen Wayne, South Alabama (6-1 5/8, 210)

The cousin of former Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne, Jalen Wayne has the size that many receivers in this class lack, but he’s going to have to prove he can gain separation at the next level. Still, Wayne’s production at South Alabama was impressive and he has the ability to run after the catch. His extensive special teams experience could allow him to stick on the 53-man roster as a rookie. 

That’s where things stand with 16 days to go until the NFL Draft. If you missed it, we’ve been breaking down our top 5 prospects at every position on The CHGO Bears Podcast. And make sure you come out to our NFL Draft party at Joe’s Bar on Weed St. on April 27 and 28!

After spending a year tearing down the roster he inherited, Poles took the No. 1 overall pick and a boatload of cap space and went to work the last five days.

The pieces he’s added since include:

WR DJ Moore
LB Tremaine Edmunds
LB T.J. Edwards
OG Nate Davis
DL DeMarcus Walker
2023 second-round pick
2024 first-round pick
2025 second-round pick

Those three draft picks came via the Carolina Panthers after trading back to No. 9 overall. That move back puts the Bears in a position to take a long look at a key offensive lineman, which we’ll discuss later in this newsletter after attending Northwestern’s Pro Day Tuesday.

But first, we’ll start with sorting out a free agent haul that leaves questions about who is playing where. After many conversations with league sources over the last 36 hours, here are my takeaways on all four of the Bears’ key free agent signings:

(All contract information courtesy Spotrac.)

LB Tremaine Edmunds: 4 years, $72 million ($36.8 million fully guaranteed)

While I believe Edmunds could make a transition to the WILL linebacker position, the expectation is that he will be the Bears’ middle linebacker in 2023. Edmunds’ size, athleticism and coverage ability make him a perfect fit for the MIKE in Matt Eberflus’ defense. There’s a reason Edmunds was compared to Brian Urlacher coming out of college, but if the 24-year-old linebacker is going to take the next leap in his career, he needs to be more effective at the point of attack when playing downhill and he needs to make more plays on the football. Still, Edmunds is a really fun player to watch and should have a huge impact on a defense that fell apart last season after Roquan Smith was traded. It’s also worth noting that Edmunds’ contract is built in a way where the Bears can easily get out of it after the 2024 season (which is when a big Justin Fields contract could be hitting the books). 

LB T.J. Edwards: 3 years, $19.5 million ($7.9 million fully guaranteed)

So if Edmunds is at the MIKE, that means T.J. Edwards will be moving over to the WILL. This is a projection the Bears are making after the linebacker played multiple different spots for the Eagles over the last four seasons. Edwards might not be the fastest linebacker, but he does have really good instincts and a knack for getting to the football. Keep in mind that the Bears typically stack their WILL behind the 3-technique, theoretically allowing the linebacker to run free to the hit. This is likely part of the calculus of moving Jack Sanborn back to the SAM, where he can use his physicality and instincts to take on fullback/H-back types to the 1-technique side.

OG Nate Davis: 3 years, $30 million ($17.5 million fully guaranteed)

An affordable addition to the offensive line, Davis is a strong run blocker who fits the Bears’ outside zone scheme. Though he has played exclusively at right guard in the NFL, expect the Bears to let Davis and Teven Jenkins sort that out during OTAs and training camp. That could mean a move to left guard for Jenkins. In the meantime, I do not expect the Bears to release Cody Whitehair. There’s really no need to let him go. He’s a team captain and the Bears don’t need to free up any salary cap space. In fact, it’s very possible (perhaps likely) he moves back to center, where he has logged 3,870 snaps in his career. 

DL DeMarcus Walker: 3 years, $21 million ($10.5 million fully guaranteed)

After being somewhat of a journeyman, Walker had a breakout season (seven sacks) with the Titans last year and now cashes in with the Bears. While Walker will probably sit on the depth chart as the starting left defensive end, the Titans had success moving him inside-and-out on the defensive line and I expect the Bears to do the same. Walker has been working with independent pash rush coach Aaron Day this offseason and perhaps the second-round pick out of Florida State is a late bloomer. Walker and Justin Jones are decent pieces on the defensive line, but both would benefit from a true multiplier at the 3-technique. Remember, Walker had defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons in Tennessee. 

Bears invade Northwestern Pro Day

The Bears made quite an impression in Evanston on Tuesday morning at Northwestern’s Pro Day with a large contingent of scouts and coaches. General manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus were on hand to watch while co-directors of player personnel Jeff King and Trey Koziol ran most of the event. Offensive line coach Chris Morgan worked out the offensive linemen, which included projected first-round pick Peter Skoronski, who is in play for the Bears with the No. 9 overall pick. 

Depending on who you talk to, Skoronski’s arm length (32 1/4) could be an issue at the next level, but the overwhelming consensus is that it’s overblown. Skoronski walked over to Northwestern from Maine South during a disjointed COVID year and started at left tackle from Day 1. He never missed a practice or a game in three years. Almost everyone I’ve consulted believes Skoronski is going to be a very good NFL offensive lineman and I’d be surprised if the team that drafts him doesn’t start him at tackle first. He’s been too good and too consistent at left tackle to abandon that position without an NFL opportunity.

“Whatever,” Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald said with a laugh when asked about Skoronski’s arm length Tuesday. “I mean, football is football, right? This is the over-analyze everything era and I think you pop on the tape and he’s played against the best defensive linemen in the country for three years and it’s never been a problem. Just watch the tape.”

If anything, the arm length will just determine where Skoronski goes in the first round. Is he the Bears’ top offensive tackle or No. 2 or No. 3? That’s the big question we probably won’t know until draft night. But Fitzgerald, a lifelong Bears fan, made it clear where he wants to see his left tackle end up:

“I think he’d look really good in a Chicago Bears uniform. I’ll just throw it out there as a Bear fan. When I saw the trade (back to No. 9), I said, ‘Skoronski to the Bears! Let’s go.’”

Meanwhile, Adetomiwa Adebawore followed up his record-setting Combine with an impressive Pro Day and the reality is that NFL teams are scratching their heads right now. When Northwestern’s disappointing 1-11 season ended in November, some teams viewed Adebawore as an undrafted free agent and wanted him to go back to school for another year to get more experience — specifically as a 3-technique. A few months later, you could argue that no prospect in the country has had a more impressive pre-draft climb than Adebawore, who checks every character and athleticism box there is to check in the evaluations. He’s literally testing better than any 3-technique ever has before the draft.

So why doesn’t the tape live up to what Adebawore has shown since January? Excuse or not, the reality is that he didn’t have a lot of help on Northwestern’s defense this year and the Wildcats were forced to move him around to play many roles and create more favorable matchups for their most athletic lineman. 

Many teams believe Adebawore is strictly a 3-technique and with the information gathered Tuesday, I believe there is a chance he’ll still be available when the Bears select at No. 53 in the second round. 

In case you missed it, Adebawore surprised us with an appearance on Tuesday’s CHGO Bears Podcast. Check that out here and make sure you’re glued to CHGO for all of our free agency coverage this week!

I have to admit, it’s been fun playing with some of these trade scenarios involving the Chicago Bears’ No. 1 overall draft pick. And with the NFL Combine behind us, it’s time for another Bears Mock Draft. 

After a trade back to No. 4 in Bears Mock Draft 1.0, this time we examine the possibility of a double trade back. 

Trades: Bears trade back to No. 9, then No. 11

The first trade looks like this… 

Chicago Bears receive: No. 9 overall pick, No. 39 overall pick, 2024 first round pick, 2025 first round pick

Carolina Panthers receive: No. 1 overall pick

This is the big haul Bears fans are clearly craving. It’s been talked about enough, so let’s roll with it in this simulation of the draft. But let’s take it one step forward. I’m moving back again.

Chicago Bears receive: No. 12 overall pick,  No. 65 overall

Houston Texans receive: No. 9 overall pick

It has been suggested that the Houston Texans could pass on taking a quarterback at No. 2 overall and instead secure the rights to Alabama pass rusher Will Anderson. I could see that happening, but I would still be surprised if they didn’t grab a quarterback in the first round. Remember, they also hold the No. 12 overall pick and there’s usually one quarterback that falls — even in strong quarterback classes. The Bears know a little something about that, as Justin Fields fell to No. 11 in 2021.

So if one of the top QBs is still available at No. 9, I could see the Texans using the No. 65 overall pick to move up and grab their guy. If that happens, this is what the Bears’ new draft capital would like after a double trade back:

First round, No. 12 overall (via HOU/CLE)

Second round, No. 39 overall (via CAR)

Second round, No. 53 overall (via BAL)

Third round, No. 64 overall
Third round, No. 65 overall (via HOU)

Fourth round, No. 103

Fourth round, No. 133 (from PHI)

Fifth round, No. 137

Fifth round, No. 150 (via BAL)

Seventh round, No. 220
Seventh round, No. 258 (supplemental compensatory)

2024 first round pick (CAR)

2025 first round pick (CAR)

Suddenly, the Bears have five picks in the top 65 this year and an extra first round pick in the next two drafts. With that in mind, let’s jump into the draft:

First round, No. 12 overall (via HOU/CLE) – WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State (6-1, 196)

This is all about giving Justin Fields some legitimate receiver help. Fields’ former teammate actually out-produced Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson in 2021 and is a very dangerous slot option, which would make life a lot easier on Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool. Smith-Njigba only played one season with Fields at Ohio State, but the two have a relationship and the existing chemistry could yield early results from the rookie. 

Second round, No. 39 overall (via CAR) – DL Adetomiwa Adebawore, Northwestern (6-1 5/8, 282)

General managers will tell you to pay attention to the outliers at the NFL Combine. Adetomiwa Adebawore was one of those outliers, as he ran a 4.49 40-yard dash at 282. That’s just ridiculous. Perhaps more importantly, Adebawore’s Relative Athletic Score (RAS) — which the Bears put weight on — was the highest among all defensive linemen and edge players at the NFL Combine. This is a three-technique who could — and should — be in play for the Bears on Day 2.

Second round, No. 53 overall (via BAL) – OT Cody Mauch, North Dakota State (6-4 7/8, 302)

Cody Mauch continues to check boxes, following up a strong Senior Bowl with a good Combine. Mauch has a chance to be a good offensive tackle, but could be even better as a dominant guard. Either way, this is good value for one of my favorite prospects in the second round. 

Third round, No. 64 overall – TE Zack Kuntz, Old Dominion (6-7, 255)

Another NFL Combine winner, Kuntz posted the highest RAS score among tight ends, despite being 6-7. The former Penn State tight end is an exciting prospect, but his tape is inconsistent and he’s relatively inexperienced with only 15 starts, which is why I don’t think he’ll go earlier than this.

Third round, No. 65 overall (via HOU) – WR Tank Dell, Houston(5-8 3/8, 165)

Dell is a smaller receiver, but has outstanding quickness and route running ability. Once you get the ball in his hands, he’s dangerous because he can stop on a dime and redirect. The 4.49 40-time was slightly disappointing, but Dell’s game is not about straight-line speed. The quickness is there. And he’s also a dangerous punt returner, which the Bears need.

Fourth round, No. 103 – LB Marte Mapu, Sacramento State (6-2 5/8, 217)

One of the biggest Combine snubs looked great at the Senior Bowl in January. Mapu is somewhat of a tweener between safety and linebacker, but he showed impressive instincts and coverage ability in Mobile. He hunts the football and projects as a WILL linebacker in my opinion.

Fourth round, No. 133 (from PHI) – CB Kei’Trel Clark, Louisville (5-10, 181)

Clark is a fast, quick slot corner who is a willing tackler in the run game. At minimum, the Bears could use depth at the position. 

Fifth round, No. 137 – QB Jaren Hall, BYU (6-0 1/8, 210)

Hall is an older, mature QB who could be an ideal backup to Justin Fields. He can move in and outside the pocket and showed surprising touch on some throws over the middle at the Senior Bowl. 

Fifth round, No. 149 (via BAL) – RB Jordan Mims, Fresno State (6-0, 205)

Mims was a player I circled watching the East-West Shrine Game. He’s a great receiver out of the backfield, is built well with good contact balance, but still has wiggle in the open field. 

Seventh round, No. 219 – OT Earl Bostick Jr., Kansas (6-6, 309)

While the tape is very inconsistent, Bostick posted the second best RAS score among OTs. In the seventh round, it’s OK to bet on traits. Bostick will need to add more strength to his lower half, but is an interesting developmental option.

For more analysis, make sure you check out the video edition of Bears Mock Draft 2.0, as well as our CHGO Bears Offseason Database, which is available to all CHGO Diehards. 

Seventh round, No. 258 – EDGE Jose Ramirez, Eastern Michigan (6-2, 242)

Ramirez caught my eye in the East-West Game with impressive speed and bend around the edge. The broadcast showed that he got up to 11 miles per hour in just three seconds with a quick get-off. He projects as a 4-3 defensive end and delivered impressive production the last two seasons with 31.5 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks. 

OK, maybe it’s not a problem. But it’s at least a little bit of bad luck. And that’s where we start this edition of the Bears Things newsletter:

The Lead: An uninspiring free agent class

One thing became abundantly clear while in Indianapolis for the NFL Combine: The overwhelming consensus in NFL circles is that this year’s free agent class is underwhelming. 

That’s not ideal when you have the most cap space available in the league. And a cash floor you must reach. The Bears literally need to spend money.

This will force Bears general manager Ryan Poles to get creative — and stay disciplined. Players who reach free agency simply because their contracts expire are typically not the best ones to throw a lot of money at. Teams don’t let good players reach free agency unless they are forced to because of tough salary cap decisions. With that in mind, trading for a player with one year left on their contract and extending them is an option worth exploring. 

Another rule to remember: Free agency is fluid. More players will be cut loose as others are signed. There will be another wave after the NFL Draft. Being patient often pays off. Remember when the Bears signed Jason Peters and Alec Ogletree during training camp in 2021? Those moves provided a ton of value.

The guess here is that Poles will make at least one big splash early next week. I wouldn’t be surprised to see at least one significant trade too. But I also expect Poles to show considerable patience during the process. 

Some advice: If you’re frustrated that multiple starters haven’t agreed to deals by this time next week, just keep in mind that going nuts on the first few days of free agency usually isn’t the best way to build a championship football team. 

Emptying the Combine notebook (on both free agency and the draft)

• So who could be the big splash for the Bears? Keep an eye on Broncos defensive tackle Dre’Mont Jones. He just recently turned 26 and is still ascending. That’s the type of player you spend big money on.
  
• Falcons right tackle Kaleb McGary makes a lot of sense for the Bears. He’s 28, is a fit for the scheme, and was with Bears offensive line coach Chris Morgan in Atlanta. He should also come cheaper than Mike McGlinchey.
  
• If the Bears pulled off one giant trade, it should be for Bucs center Ryan Jensen. He’s older (31), but damn, he’d be good for that offensive line. 

• Perhaps more realistically, two free agent center names to keep an eye on: Minnesota’s Garrett Bradberry and Cleveland’s Ethan Pocic. Bradberry is a good athlete and was much better under Kevin O’Connell last year. Pocic had a great year with the Browns in 2022 before dealing with a knee injury. He also happens to be from Lemont. 
  
• Orlando Brown Jr. and Jawann Taylor are both interesting offensive tackle options, but smarter offensive line evaluators than me have questioned the fit within Getsy’s offense. In a perfect world, I’d put Brown back at right tackle and keep Braxton Jones on the left side, but are you really going to give $100-plus million to a right tackle who prefers to be playing left? Probably not. 

• Five players I’d have no problem with the Bears signing: Patriots wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, Saints edge rusher Marcus Davenport, Colts edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue, Colts linebacker Bobby Okereke, and Eagles linebacker T.J. Edwards. 
  
• One depth player I heard the Bears have kicked the tires on is former Northwestern defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo, who spent most of last season with the Colts. 
  
• Coming out of the NFL Combine, my QB1 in the NFL Draft is CJ Stroud. And it’s not really close. 

• When it comes to Anthony Richardson, keep an eye on the Raiders. I don’t think he gets past Vegas, and they might have to trade up to get him. 
  
• The consensus leaving Indianapolis is that the Packers are done with Aaron Rodgers. There hasn’t been much communication (if any) between the two sides since the season ended. As I write this, Rodgers is reportedly meeting with the Jets in California. The Nathaniel Hackett connection is strong there, but Rodgers is also said to hold Jets head coach Robert Saleh in high regard too. 

Make sure you are following all of our NFL free agency coverage on our CHGO YouTube channel and by following @CHGO_Bears on Twitter. CHGO Diehards get access to our in-house free agency and NFL Draft databases, which are constantly getting updated with more information! 

“There’s some shit there.”

“That’s a difficult one.”

“Incredibly talented, but not going to be easy.”

Then the bombshell dropped Wednesday morning. There was an arrest warrant out for Carter on charges of reckless driving and racing in the fatal accident that killed a teammate and UGA staff member on Jan. 15. Carter turned himself into Athens Georgia police late last night.

The fallout will be interesting to say the least. Carter’s tape makes him worthy of being the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, even as a defensive tackle. But his exact role in a car crash that left two people dead could end up costing him millions of dollars.

Prior to Wednesday morning, my conclusion on Carter was that he’s a player who comes with baggage, but his talent and productivity are enough for an NFL team to make it work. Ndamukong Suh was one comp I heard. 

The latest news changes that equation. While there’s still plenty to be learned, my gut feeling is that drafting Carter high in the first round would be way too risky. Perhaps drafting him later in the first round after trading back could still be on the table. On the other hand, no one could blame any NFL team for simply crossing Jalen Carter off their draft board right now. 

What a turn of events this has been for such an extremely talented player.

What about Will Anderson?

The Bears’ evaluation of Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. will be fascinating. Unlike Carter, Anderson is said to be a perfect teammate with zero red flags. He’s a very safe pick. The question is, can he still dominate as a 4-3 defensive end when he’s built more like a 3-4 outside linebacker? 

“I feel like football is all about embracing change,” Anderson said Wednesday. “So no matter what type of defense I get in, I’m going to adapt to it and be able to embrace the change and embrace the challenge and learn the lessons that come with it.”

It seems notable that Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said Tuesday he wants “big, long and fast” defensive lineman. Anderson’s size isn’t necessarily one of his strengths. On the other hand, Alabama actually lined him up inside quite a bit and Anderson showed he can be versatile and dominate from multiple spots along the line. That’s a strong indication that he might be able to adapt to being a 4-3 defensive end without much problem. 

Other things I’m hearing from the NFL Combine… 

• Despite all the chatter on your television about the Bears possibly trading Justin Fields, I haven’t found a single person at the NFL Combine who actually thinks that will happen. 

• Don’t be surprised if a Bears trade back involves receiving a veteran player in return. Or if draft capital received in the trade is quickly flipped for a veteran player. 

• The Packers seem to be fed up with dealing with Aaron Rodgers’ antics and I’m convinced their preference is to move in a different direction. The problem? Rodgers still holds all the cards. So if Rodgers wants to play in Green Bay in 2023, he’ll still play in Green Bay.

Make sure you are following all of our NFL Combine coverage on the CHGO YouTube channel and by following @CHGO_Bears on Twitter. There’s plenty more to come this week!

CHGO Diehard subscriber perk — NFL Offseason Database

And I’m going to start by immediately taking them off the clock. Trades have never been a part of these mock drafts, but this year is different. I try to remind everyone that this is more of an exercise in learning about prospects that fit the Bears rather than predictions of who the team will actually draft. That said, the Bears need more picks and it appears likely they will indeed trade out of the No. 1 spot. 

So we’ll start Bears Mock Draft 1.0 with one trade scenario, and probably follow up with other scenarios in future editions. Also, please keep in mind that 1.0 is usually heavy on standout Senior Bowl players and Big Ten players because those are the ones I know best at this stage of the process. 

For more analysis, make sure you check out my first-ever video edition of Bears Mock Draft 1.0 and make sure you’re subscribed to our YouTube channel.

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OK, let’s get into Mock Draft 1.0 …

Trade: Bears trade back to No. 4

Bears receive: No. 4 overall pick, No. 35 overall pick, 2024 first round pick
Colts receive: No. 1 overall pick

I’m not ruling out a larger haul, but let’s just start out with a realistic trade that makes sense for both teams. 

First round, No. 4 overall — DT Jalen Carter, Georgia (6-3, 300)

It’s possible Carter could go to the Cardinals at No. 3 overall, but they also need to replace J.J. Watt’s pass rush ability. With that in mind, they take Will Anderson in this mock. That should make the decision easy for Bears general manager Ryan Poles. Matt Eberflus referred to the three-technique as “the engine that makes everything go.” There’s no reason to overthink this. Carter can be that engine. A diesel engine.

Second round, No. 35 overall — C John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota (6-3 3/8, 306)

Maybe this is an overdraft, but I really liked what I saw from John Michael Schmitz at the Senior Bowl. I’m not in love with any of the tackle prospects in this range and the Homewood-Flossmoor product should be a plug-and-play starter at the center position. 

Second round, No. 54 overall (via BAL) — EDGE Keion White, Georgia Tech (6-4 3/8, 280)

White didn’t blow me away like I hoped at the Senior Bowl, but he’s explosive and will likely test off the charts at the NFL Combine. Consider this an upside pick here after taking Carter early.

Third round, No. 65 overall — DT Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin (6-3 1/2, 312)

Yes, my token Wisconsin guy. But they usually work out… so why not actually draft them? Before you question double-dipping at defensive tackle, please consider how much help the Bears actually need on the defensive line. Benton can dominate the 1-technique position and flex to the 3-technique when necessary. He dominated the Senior Bowl, so he’s still available early in the third round, the Bears would be silly to pass him up.

Fourth round, No. 103 – WR Jayden Reed, Michigan State (5-10 3/4, 191)

It’s early February and it’s still hard to gauge where these guys will go. Reed was great in Mobile, but his speed is a question mark so his 40-time will be important. I believe he plays faster than he times, which is more important. He’s a good route runner with impressive releases off the line of scrimmage. Has punt return ability too.

Fourth round, No. 134 (from PHI) – CB Riley Moss, Iowa (6-0 3/8, 192)

Moss is fast and athletic. Some teams will try to turn him into a safety, but there’s no reason he can’t play corner at the next level. He’s a ballhawk, which makes him a fit for Eberflus’ defense. He had 11 career interceptions at Iowa, including two pick-6s in one game. 

Fifth round, No. 136 – TE Josh Whyle, Cincinnati (6-6 1/2, 260)

Tight end might not be the Bears’ biggest need, but this is a very good tight end class and I wouldn’t want to miss out on one. Whyle is big, very athletic and a natural pass catcher. Cincinnati has been pumping out pro talent recently and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him rise. 

Fifth round, No. 149 (via BAL) – OT Tyler Steen, Alabama

Steen transferred from Vanderbilt to Alabama and didn’t skip a beat, playing left tackle for the Tide. He has a lot of playing experience and only got better in a bigger program. It wouldn’t surprise me if Poles looks for bigger upside in the fifth round, but I think Steen provides a lot of value if he’s still available here. 

Seventh round, No. 220 – WR Puka Nacua, BYU (6-1 1/4, 206)

In a wide receiver class that trends small, Nacua has good size and showed at the Senior Bowl that he can get open on his own. 

That’s going to do it for Bears Mock Draft 1.0. Remember, we’re still very early in the process. We’ll learn a lot more about these prospects during the NFL Combine and their pro days. We’ll also learn a lot more about the Bears’ needs after they spend a lot of money during free agency. 

Until then, I hope you learned something about these nine NFL Draft prospects. Bears Mock Draft 2.0 will drop after the Combine.