Category: 2024 season

Dennis Allen shoots down report about Saints’ Michael Penix Jr. trade talks

Dennis Allen shot down a report about Saints’ Michael Penix Jr. trade talks: ‘It was never discussed that we would move up for a quarterback’

The Atlanta Falcons put themselves in the middle of controversy to kick off the 2024 NFL draft by picking Michael Penix Jr. just one month after they signed quarterback Kirk Cousins to a landmark free agent contract — and New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen wants it known that’s a landmine his team wasn’t about to step on.

Dueling reports have said the Saints were among teams looking to trade up into the top 10 picks, targeting Penix, while local outlets have said those conversations never happened. When asked whether they had explored that trade, as had been reported, Allen responded with a flat “No.”

“It was never discussed that we would move up for a quarterback,” Allen continued. “I think any time there’s a quarterback that you think has a chance to be your future quarterback, it’s always something that you’re going to consider. I had heard that report, it was brought to my attention (Thursday) night, but there was zero effort on our part to move up for a quarterback. There’s always discussions about trading up or trading back, but none of those were in an attempt to get a quarterback.”

Allen acknowledged that the quarterback is the most important position on the field, though he noted that the team is happy with the quarterbacks that they have. They didn’t feel a compulsion to chase another quarterback early in this draft, and they didn’t discuss any of this year’s prospects with the 14th pick. It’ll be Derek Carr starting with Jake Haener fighting off Nathan Peterman and Kellen Mond behind him this summer.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]

Grading the Bears’ selection of OT Kiran Amegadjie in third round

The Bears shored up their offensive line with the addition of Kiran Amegadjie. Here’s how we graded the pick.

The Chicago Bears shored up their offensive line with the selection of Yale tackle Kiran Amegadjie with the 75th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Amegadjie has a nice blend of size, athleticism and length, but he’s a project that will need time to develop. Luckily, he’ll get to work with one of the best offensive line coaches in Chris Morgan, who helped get the most out of two-going-on-three-year starting left tackle Braxton Jones.

Amegadjie has the versatility to play multiple positions, having played both tackle and guard during his collegiate career. He started his first 10 games at left guard before switching to left tackle for his final 14.

While Jones figures to the starter for a third straight year, perhaps Amegadjie can help push Jones, who has plenty to prove heading into 2024.

Chicago has used all three draft picks, so far, on offense. After landing their quarterback in Caleb Williams at first overall, they added a new weapon in receiver Rome Odunze (No. 9) and now an offensive lineman in Amegadjie (No. 75).

When all is said and done, the Bears added a potential future starter in Amegadjie, who’s a versatile lineman with the physical traits to develop into a significant contributor down the line. The Hinsdale native also grew up a Bears fan, which general manager Ryan Poles loves. Plus, it’s never a bad thing to add more protection for your shiny new franchise quarterback.

Grade: B+

Bears select OT Kiran Amegadjie with 75th overall pick in 2024 NFL draft

The Bears shored up their offensive line with the selection of OT Kiran Amegadjie with the No. 75 pick.

The Chicago Bears have selected Yale offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie with the 75th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Amegadjie started all 24 games he played in during three seasons at Yale. But he missed the final six games of the 2023 season with a quad injury that required surgery.

Amegadjie has the versatility to play guard, having played multiple positions along the offensive line during his collegiate career. He started his first 10 games at left guard before switching to left tackle for his final 14 games.

Amegadjie has a nice blend of size, athleticism and length, but he needs time to develop. Perhaps Amegadjie can push starting left tackle Braxton Jones, who has plenty to prove heading into his third season.

We know general manager Ryan Poles loves his local guys, and Amegadjie hails from Hinsdale. He was brought in to Halas Hall for a Top 30 visit during the pre-draft process.

Chicago has gone all offense with their first three draft picks. After selecting quarterback Caleb Williams at first overall, the Bears have been building around him with the additions of wide receiver Rome Odunze (No. 9) and now Amegadjie.

Follow along with our live blog with live updates and picks during Rounds 2 and 3.

Here’s where Tyler Guyton fits on Cowboys depth chart

Where does first-round pick Tyler Guyton fit on the depth chart of the Dallas Cowboys? | From @cdpiglet

The Dallas Cowboys, after trading down and picking up a third-round selection, used pick No. 29 to draft offensive tackle Tyler Guyton from Oklahoma. Guyton, a formidable presence at just under 6-foot-8 and over 320 pounds, with 34-inch arms, perfectly aligns with the Cowboys’ standards for the offensive tackle position. The team’s reliance on superior athleticism further solidified Guyton’s selection, given his top-notch relative athletic score (RAS).

Guyton’s overall RAS score was 9.73 out of 10, ranking him 38th out of 1,377 offensive tackles graded since 1987. He had a great rating in height, weight, vertical, 10-yard split, and 3-cone ranking by the RAS metrics. Dallas believes in drafting prospects with these traits and having their coaches develop them to their highest potential. But where will he play?

Dallas seems intent on keeping Tyler Smith at left guard, and they recently paid a big contract to right tackle, Terence Steele. Guyton will get a chance to start at left tackle first.

He would start as a rookie at possibly the most critical position on the team that isn’t quarterback, and Brock Hoffman and T.J. Bass would battle it out for the center position.

If the move from right tackle to left tackle is too much for Guyton to handle, then one other possibility is Smith moving from LG out to LT, Bass playing at LG, Hoffman starting at center, Zack Martin at right guard, and Guyton battles Steele for the RT spot.

If Steele bounces back after struggling in 2023, then Guyton gets a season to develop as a backup tackle behind Smith or Steele. If Steele continues to struggle, then Guyton could start at his natural position in college.

The rest of the 2024 draft could also impact the offensive line. If Dallas drafts a center or guard, it could change Guyton’s fate, but for now, he will get his start at LT for the Cowboys.

Rome Odunze was shocked to learn the Bears receiving record

In an interview on 670 The Score, Rome Odunze learned about the Bears’ dismal receiving record and he could not believe it.

Wide receiver Rome Odunze has only been a member of the Chicago Bears for a day, but he’s already learning about the team’s history and records. It’s safe to say he wasn’t prepared for how low some of them are.

In an interview on 670 The Score’s Parkins & Spiegel Show, Odunze learned who the team’s all-time leading receiver was and how many yards they had. The 21-year-old receiver guessed it was Brandon Marshall, who spent three years in Chicago and is No. 13 on the list. It’s safe to say he didn’t expect the answer to be Johnny Morris with 5,059 yards.

“In the career?!” Odunze exclaimed as he and the hosts laughed. He immediately took that as a challenge, though. “I hope I’ll go break that record and hopefully add a few thousand to that… 5,000 is the goal, then. Let’s get after it.”

For Bears fans, it’s no secret that the team has struggled to develop and maintain prolific wide receivers. Productive players like Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, and Allen Robinson were only around for a few years, and former Bears receiver Muhsin Muhammad infamously said that Chicago was where receivers go to die. Morris played in the 1950s and 1960s, and his receiving record is the lowest of any all-time team leader in the league.

Odunze was shocked at the ineptitude of the position but is prepared to change and make history within the organization. Here’s hoping he’s around long enough to break the record and provide the Bears offense with a consistent and dangerous receiving threat for many years to come.

WATCH: WR Rome Odunze gets the draft call from the Bears

The Bears made the call to Rome Odunze and they couldn’t be happier about landing the stud wide receiver.

The Chicago Bears knew they were going to be making a call to quarterback Caleb Williams during the 2024 NFL Draft. They weren’t as certain they would be doing the same to wide receiver Rome Odunze, but everyone seemed excited that they were able to make it happen.

Chicago made Odunze their choice at No. 9 overall, pairing him with Williams to give the offense two new cornerstones as they enter a new era of football. When the call was made to Odunze, general manager Ryan Poles, head coach Matt Eberflus, and team president Kevin Warren all spoke to their newest player.

Poles kicked things off with a simple question: “You ready to roll?” he asked Odunze. “Oh yeah, let’s do it,” Odunze said. Poles says it’s going to be fun, and it’s hard to disagree with him.

When the phone got passed to Eberflus, he still seemed shocked that the Bears were able to land Odunze. “Can you believe this, man?” he said with a smile. “I could not believe that it worked out exactly like we said it would.” Eberflus mentioned how difficult it’s going to be for opposing defenses to stop him, DJ Moore, and Keenan Allen at the receiver position. “The trio of us? Oh, we’re going to make it happen now,” Odunze said.

Eberflus confirmed what Poles had said during Thursday night’s press conference: This was the plan all along. The Bears had a vision of pairing Williams and Odunze, and the plan worked to perfection. It wasn’t a surprise twist or a smokescreen. They wanted the top quarterback and one of the top wide receivers, something this organization hasn’t prioritized throughout its history.

Odunze is clearly excited to work with Williams and the other veteran wide receivers. This phone call is hopefully just the beginning of a long and prosperous career in Chicago.

When the Bears be picking on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL draft

The Bears have just one pick on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL draft. Here’s when they’ll be picking on Friday night:

The 2024 NFL draft is upon us, and the Chicago Bears are gearing up for the second day of action following a busy and thrilling first night.

The Bears overhauled their offense with the additions of quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receiver Rome Odunze in the top 10, adding to what’s already a loaded offensive group. There’s no denying the future is bright.

[afflinkbutton text=”Pre-order Caleb Williams Bears jersey” link=”https://fanatics.93n6tx.net/y2N7PG”]

Now, Chicago has just two draft picks remaining — in the third and fourth round — entering an important Day 2. With some big names still on the board — including defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton and center Jackson Powers-Johnson — could we see the Bears perhaps trade up?

If not, here’s where Chicago will be picking on Day 2:

  • Round 3, Pick 75

Assuming the Bears stay put at No. 75, they should be on the clock around 9 p.m. CT.

Chicago has just one draft pick on Day 3 — No. 122 in the fourth round, acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles in the Robert Quinn trade. The Bears sent their own fourth-round selection to the Los Angeles Chargers for wide receiver Keenan Allen. Chicago previously traded away their own fifth rounder (for Ryan Bates), sixth rounder (for Dan Feeney) and seventh rounder (for N’Keal Harry).

[afflinkbutton text=”Pre-order Rome Odunze Bears jersey” link=”https://fanatics.93n6tx.net/Wqo1nA”]

General manager Ryan Poles still has some work ahead of him, as there are still needs along the defensive line and offensive line.

Then there’s always the prospect of a trade back scenario, something we’ve seen from Poles in the past. But he’s also made it clear that he’s comfortable with just four picks this year given how the roster has shaken out.

The 2024 NFL draft continues tonight at 6 p.m. CT and Saturday at 11 a.m. CT.

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. Bears Wire operates independently, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

‘This is a sexy pick:’ Cowboys see sky-high potential in Tyler Guyton as left tackle

From @ToddBrock24f7: Guyton projects to learn left tackle in Dallas and play alongside Tyler Smith. The Cowboys brass raved about his size and work ethic.

The Cowboys were happy to come out of the first round of the draft with one more draft pick than they went in with. But picking up an extra third-round selection after doing a deal with Detroit was just icing.

The cake was dropping five spots and still claiming Oklahoma tackle Tyler Guyton. And talking about the 6-foot-8-inch 322-pound Texas native and childhood Cowboys fan who’ll be coming back home to start his pro career, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was practically salivating with excitement.

“It’s hard to do with offensive lineman,” Jones said Thursday night after taking Guyton 29th overall, “but you would hope to have a little sexiness to this pick, using your first-round pick. And I actually thought we had that with Tyler Smith two years ago. I think we got it here; this is a sexy pick for the offensive line. It’s got a lot of upside.”

The reference to Smith, the club’s 2022 first-round star, is apropos, because the two Tylers will be joined at the hip on Sundays. The Guyton pick likely means Smith will remain at left guard, where he played this past season and earned a Pro Bowl nod and second-team All-Pro honors; Guyton is expected to become the team’s new left tackle.

It will still require an adjustment, given that Guyton played right tackle in college.

“I think we all understand,” head coach Mike McCarthy explained, “they have a left-handed quarterback at Oklahoma, so he is the backside tackle. It will definitely be an easy transition for him as far as the responsibility of playing the backside of the quarterback. It’s footwork, and there’s going to be things that are new anyway. But God, what a great pick for us.”

The Cowboys have had a good track record of successfully shifting offensive linemen to new positions, as executive vice president Stephen Jones pointed out.

“To get a left tackle is a big, big deal,” he said. “We had these same discussions with Larry Allen when he was here, because he would have been a great left tackle: All-Pro, Hall of Famer at left tackle or left guard. Certainly, Tyler [Smith] played, really, at a high, high, elite-type level at guard. This certainly allows him to kind of entrench there.”

Vice president of player personnel Will McClay agreed.

“When you build an offensive lineman, you look for athleticism, the feet,” he told reporters. “We’ve got a history of having guys that do things at a high level at that position. There are some traits that definitely showed us that that was there.”

The front office admitted that they had several top options open to them when Detroit made a late phone call to trade up for the 24th pick. Sliding back five spots, they felt, would still give them an excellent chance at getting one of them. Stephen revealed that the room was looking hard at Duke lineman Graham Barton (who, coincidentally, would have also been asked to move positions, to center).

Barton went to Tampa Bay with the 26th pick, but the team nevertheless landed a prized big body, one that occupies a rare place even within McCarthy’s extensive coaching career.

“I haven’t had too many tackles over six-five, six-six,” he marveled.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Guyton’s size is impressive. But it took more than that to convince the team to look past a relative lack of experience playing football. He grew up focused on basketball and shifted to the gridiron so late that he got next to no scholarship offers. Even once he got to college, it took a while to find a position; his first start came at TCU as an H-back/tight end.

It wasn’t until he transferred to Oklahoma that he became a true offensive lineman, and then over his two years in Norman, he made just a handful of starts.

No, it’s Guyton’s sky-high ceiling that made him a first-round draft pick.

“As a coach, we’re excited about all the promise that he has in front of him,” McCarthy explained. “The 14 starts, to me, is a positive. It’s not a knock against him. It just shows: all these kids- more than ever, with the NIL and the portal- more than ever, these players take different paths and different courses and there’s different thresholds and directions that they go. So I think it’s important for us to look at the potential.”

McClay added: “And if they’re athletic, have the work ethic that you need, and they’re willing to learn, that’s an opportunity to grow and improve.”

And having Tyler Guyton get that opportunity to grow and improve right next to Tyler Smith had his new head coach so excited, McCarthy has already come up with a new nickname for the explosive duo who’ll be protecting Dak Prescott’s blindside.

“TNT, man. You heard it here first.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

[mm-video type=video id=01hwdbc7177ytqpgctgw playlist_id=01eqbwens7sctqdrqg player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01hwdbc7177ytqpgctgw/01hwdbc7177ytqpgctgw-d9b345d4532249f08fce9bcb0ae17fa9.jpg]

[lawrence-newsletter]

Fishing for a spot: Tyler Guyton pick may mean Bass is out of starting opportunity

The addition of Tyler Guyton has repercussions down the roster with this Cowboys player likely to lose a starting opportunity. | From @ReidDHanson

The dominos are starting to fall. For months no one knew whether the Cowboys were going to address center first or left tackle first. Center would indicate Tyler Smith was on his way to LT while drafting a LT would indicate Smith is staying at left guard.

Smith was going to start in either situation but the players filling in the gaps around him didn’t face the same level of assuredness in 2024. Smith moving to LT would bump T.J. Bass to the top of depth chart at LG. Bass had a standout season in spot duty as a rookie and appears to have starting potential in the NFL.

But with Smith staying at LG, those starting lineup dreams get put on the backburner. There’s no better guard duo in the league than Zack Martin and Smith and unless Bass throws his hat into the ring at center, he’s likely to be a reserve lineman in 2024.

Bass may not have to wait long to get a starting opportunity back. Minus the void years, Martin is playing on the last year of his deal, and at age 35 may be ready to retire in 2025. Bass, 25, would then be the favorite to replace him.

Bass, a second-year player out of Oregon, has been just the latest success story of undrafted gems the Cowboys have found. His size, movement and strength make him future starting material, and his ability to play both sides make him presently the ideal reserve.

In a parallel universe the Cowboys would have drafted Graham Barton at 24 and handed the starting LG gig to Bass. But the timeline in the here and now has different plans for Bass. Guyton’s addition likely means Bass’s dreams of starting will have to wait another year. He’s one of the first dominos to fall into place but he won’t be the last.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

WATCH: QB Caleb Williams gets the draft call from the Bears

Caleb Williams and Ryan Poles could not contain their excitement when the draft call was finally made.

There’s nothing like that one phone call at the NFL Draft that changes a player’s life forever. For quarterback Caleb Williams, he knew for a while that the call was going to come from the Chicago Bears at No. 1 overall.

The worst-kept secret in the NFL finally became a reality on Thursday when the Bears made Williams their top selection in the draft. The USC star becomes the next franchise quarterback of the Bears, and he is set to usher in a new era of football in the Windy City.

The team made sure to show how the call went between Williams and general manager Ryan Poles, head coach Matt Eberflus, and team president Kevin Warren. Poles didn’t hide his excitement about how long he’s been waiting to make this call.

“Who is this?” Poles joked with Williams as they both laughed. “They told me to hold it for five minutes. I told everyone I’ve been holding it for a month.” Williams commented that he had been waiting longer than that. “Five months,” he said with a smile.

Eberflus couldn’t hold back his excitement either. “This day is going to go down as an iconic day in Bears history, my friend,” he said to Williams. He even told his new quarterback that he loved him.

Warren then made sure to acknowledge that he and the Bears are going to cross a few more items off Williams’ list that he has on his phone. “You can mark this next one off your list that you have; the next one we got to do is win a championship.”

All throughout the call, Williams couldn’t stop smiling and biting his lip as to what the next chapter of his life was about to be like. The newest Bears quarterback is excited for what’s to come, and his journey is just beginning.