Did the Bears tip their hand for the No. 1 pick by interviewing surprise coach?

The Chicago Bears might have tipped their hand for the No. 1 pick by interviewing a surprise coach

One of the presumed stories of the NFL draft cycle was going to be placed on the No. 1 overall pick held by the Chicago Bears. Would Chicago stick with their young playmaking quarterback in Justin Fields? Or would they move forward with one of the best young quarterbacks to come out of the draft in years with USC’s Caleb Williams?

On Friday, the Bears are expected to interview former Arizona Cardinals head coach and USC senior offensive analyst Kliff Kingsbury for their offensive coordinator job. This comes out of nowhere and lands as a bit of a surprise given Kingsbury’s track record with the Arizona Cardinals, and really only makes sense should the Bears be heavily favoring drafting the USC stud with the number one overall pick.

Though the possibility of Chicago simply wanting to find a unique coordinator for their current unique quarterback remains, it seems far more likely for them to target Kingsbury for his familiarity in a system that Williams dominated in and the familiarity with the young quarterback in general. While nothing is set in stone it is certainly a proverbial tipping of the hand to make a move like this heading into draft season, and one that could fire off a rapid domino effect for the following two draft selections.

Undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent wins the Bears backup QB job

Undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent from D-II Shepherd wins the Bears backup QB job

It’s been an impressive summer for a lot of the quarterbacks in the NFL draft class of 2023. From Bryce Young in Carolina to Aidan O’Connell in Las Vegas, Dorian Thompson-Robinson in Cleveland and others in between, the QBs selected in April’s draft are off to a strong start in the preseason.

The early success extends beyond the drafted quarterbacks, too. In Chicago, undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent performed well enough throughout training camp and the preseason to win the Bears’ backup QB spot behind Justin Fields. Bagent, from D-II powerhouse Shepherd, beat out veteran P.J. Walker for the No. 2 spot.

It’s an impressive rise for Bagent, who had a mixed bag of a Senior Bowl week that likely kept him from being drafted in the late rounds. He completed 20 of his 29 passes for 156 yards and one INT in Chicago’s three preseason games, also running for two touchdowns.

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Draft reaction: Bears select CB Tyrique Stevenson No. 56 overall

Draft reaction to the Bears selecting Miami CB Tyrique Stevenson No. 56 overall

The Chicago Bears add a solid talent to their cornerback room with their second pick of the round in Miami CB Tyrique Stevenson.

With ideal height, weight, speed at the position, Stevenson was able to turn his physical ability into production after he transferred to Miami in 2021. During his two seasons as a Hurricane, Stevenson put up solid numbers with nine passes defended, as well as three interceptions. In coverage he allowed a solid quarterback rating of 73.0 when thrown at during that span.

Without a ton of depth on the roster, Stevenson will be expected to start right away, and will have ample opportunity to maximize his skillset as a press man corner. Veteran Jaylon Johnson should be the number one corner, so Stevenson will be tested early, and will need to avoid the typical rookie stumbles to retain his starting spot throughout the season.

Bears 1st-rounder Darnell Wright starting at right tackle from Day 1 of OTAs

The Bears installed the No. 10 overall pick into the starting lineup right away, as they should

The Chicago Bears drafted Tennessee offensive tackle Darnell Wright at No. 10 overall for good reason. Wright is already rolling with the starting lineup to start the OTA sessions for Chicago.

Wright was the Bears’ starting right tackle to kick off the offseason program. It’s not unexpected; Chicago’s offensive line was substandard in 2022 and Wright is coming off a fantastic final season for the Volunteers. Even so, it’s not uncommon for NFL teams to make rookies “earn” the spot over a returning veteran.

The Bears dispensed with that protocol, immediately inserting Wright into the lineup over Larry Borom, who started nine games at right tackle for Chicago in 2022. Good on coach Matt Eberflus for avoiding the charade.

How would Bears fans feel about this surprising 7-round mock draft?

If the Chicago Bears made this pick in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft, fans would have strong reactions all over the board

The Chicago Bears obviously hold the keys to the 2023 NFL draft, sitting pretty with the No. 1 overall pick, and without the need for a franchise quarterback.

Most expect the Bears to trade down from that spot, as they look to build a strong supporting cast around Justin Fields. If that happens, the Bears could load up on additional draft picks to aid in their rebuild.

Most mock drafts have targeted a few specific positions of need for Chicago, but what happens if a shocking prospect falls into their lap at a surprising position?

Draft Wire editor Luke Easterling recently went through a seven-round mock draft exercise with Bryan Perez on the Bears Talk podcast, and you won’t believe who landed with the Bears in the second round:

Why the Bears trading Justin Fields would make absolutely no sense

The idea that the Bears would trade Justin Fields, and take his replacement at No. 1, is the first massive plume of smokescreen season

Once the Chicago Bears secured the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, thanks to a dramatic comeback win by the Houston Texans in the last week of the regular season, it didn’t take long for speculation to swirl.

Now that the Bears had the top spot, would they use it on a quarterback, and ship Justin Fields elsewhere?

Let’s talk about why that’s a ridiculous idea:

NFL Scoreboard, Predictions, Lines, How To Watch: Week 14

NFL predictions, schedule, game previews, lines, how to watch, and TV listings for Week 14 of the 2022 season

NFL predictions, schedule, lines, how to watch, and TV listings for Week 14 of the 2022 season highlighted by Dolphins at Chargers, Eagles at Giants, Vikings at Lions, Jets at Bills


NFL Schedule, Predictions, Lines, How To Watch: Week 14

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Results So Far
SU: 65-36-1, ATS: 53-46-3, Point Total: 63-38-1

Thursday, December 8, 2022

Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Rams

Prediction: Los Angeles 24, Las Vegas 23
Line: Raiders -6.5, o/u: 42.5
Final Score: Los Angeles Rams 17, Las Vegas 16

Expert Picks Week 14 NFL | Bowls 16-19

Saturday, December 11, 2022

New York Jets at Buffalo Bills

Prediction: Buffalo 24, New York Jets 17
Line: Buffalo -10, o/u: 43.5
Final Score: Buffalo 20, New York Jets 12

Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals

Prediction: Cincinnati 26, Cleveland 20
Line: Cincinnati -5.5, o/u: 46.5
Final Score: Cincinnati 23, Cleveland 10

Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys

Prediction: Dallas 30, Houston 16
Line: Dallas -17, o/u: 44
Final Score: Dallas 27, Houston 23

Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions

Prediction: Minnesota 27, Detroit 24
Line: Detroit -2, o/u: 51.5
Final Score: Detroit 43, Minnesota 23

Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans

Prediction: Tennessee 24, Jacksonville 17
Line: Tennessee -3.5, o/u: 41
Final Score: Jacksonville 36, Tennessee 22

Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants

Prediction: Philadelphia 26, New York Giants 20
Line: Philadelphia -7, o/u: 45
Final Score: Philadelphia 48, New York Giants 22

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers

Prediction: Baltimore 16, Pittsburgh 13
Line: Pittsburgh -1.5, o/u: 36.5
Final Score: Baltimore 16, Pittsburgh 14

Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos

Prediction: Kansas City 27, Denver 16
Line: Kansas City -9.5, o/u: 43.5
Final Score: Kansas City 34, Denver 28

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at San Francisco 49ers

Prediction: San Francisco 23, Tampa Bay 16
Line: San Francisco -3.5, o/u: 37
Final Score: San Francisco 35, Tampa Bay 7

Carolina Panthers at Seattle Seahawks

Prediction: Seattle 26, Carolina 20
Line: Seattle -3.5, o/u: 44.5
Final Score: Carolina 30, Seattle 24

Miami Dolphins at Los Angeles Chargers

Prediction: Miami 30, Los Angeles 27
Line: Miami -3.5, o/u: 53.5
Final Score: Los Angeles Chargers 23, Miami 17

Monday, December 12, 2022

New England Patriots at Arizona Cardinals

8:15 ESPN
Line: New England -1.5, o/u: 43.5
Final Score: COMING

NFL Teams on Bye: Atlanta, Chicago, Green Bay, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Washington

Expert Picks Week 14 NFL | Bowls 16-19

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CFN Predictions & Game Previews

Packers vs Bears Prediction Game Preview

Packers vs Bears game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the game on Sunday, December 4

Packers vs Bears prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch, Sunday, December 4


Packers vs Bears Prediction Game Preview

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Packers vs Packers How To Watch

Date: Sunday, December 4
Game Time: 1:00 ET
Venue: Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
How To Watch: FOX
Record: Packers (3-9), Packers (4-8)
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Why Packers Will Win

There’s a chance we get a Nathan Peterman sighting.

Aaron Rodgers is expected to go with his array of injures, and Justin Fields is supposed to play through his separated shoulder. However, if Fields gets hurt more and gets knocked out, it’s Peterman’s offense to run with backup Trevor Siemian out for the season.

Even with AJ Dillon hurting, the Packers will rely on the ground game that will pound and pound some more on a Chicago defense that’s getting hammered hard by everyone.

Green Bay ran for over 200 yards in the first meeting – a 27-10 win – and it should get there again. The formula will be easy. Run and keep running, and then use Rodgers to hit the deep shot against the NFL’s worst defense at allowing big yards – it gives up over seven yards per attempt.

Week 13 CFN NFL Expert Picks

Why Bears Will Win

Fields is back.

It’s still a question whether or not he’ll be able to rip off big runs like he normally does – the shoulder injury is still a problem – but that might not matter.

This is a far cry from the 2021 Packers that rolled to the No. 1 seed. Counting the resting final week loss to the Lions and the home playoff gack to the 49ers, they’re 4-11 in their last five games with two of the wins in overtime.

The offense is bad, the run defense worse, and even if Fields isn’t quite himself, there should be decent enough production from David Montgomery and the rest of the parts in the backfield to pound away.

However …

What’s Going To Happen

Running well hasn’t exactly equaled wins for Chicago.

It’s still Aaron Rodgers, they’re still the Chicago Bears. There will be a late Fields interception here, and a heartbreaking big pass play from 12 there, and it’ll be a close, tough fight between two bad teams.

It’ll be entertaining.

Packers vs Bears Prediction, Line

Green Bay 24, Chicago 20
Line: Green Bay -3.5, o/u: 44.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
Packers vs Bears Must See Rating: 3

Bowl Predictions

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Bowl Projections | Rankings

Bears should hibernate now, because they can be contenders in 2023

It’s been a rough year for the Chicago Bears, but they’ve got all the resources to bounce back in a big way next season

Right now, the Chicago Bears might not look like much.

At 3-9, they have one of the worst records in the NFL, and it doesn’t look like things are going to get better at any point this season.

That’s why it’s time for them to turn their attention to 2023, when they could quickly bounce back and make a worst-to-first run in the NFC North.

They’ve already traded away two of their best defenders in linebacker Roquan Smith and pass rusher Robert Quinn, and they just lost wide receiver Darnell Mooney and safety Eddie Jackson for the rest of the season due to injury.

Justin Fields, their budding franchise quarterback, is dealing with a shoulder injury, and it’s hard to imagine he’ll be back to full strength before the season’s over.

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

It’s time for the Bears to shut down Fields for the rest of the year, and focus on what they can build around him next year.

For starters, Chicago is projected to have a whopping $116 million in salary cap space this offseason, almost twice as much as the next team on the list (via Spotrac). If the season ended today, they’d also own the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft.

The Bears will be loaded with the resources they need to address the biggest holes on their roster. The offensive line needs a ton of help, Field needs another blue-chip playmaker in the passing game (yes, even after trading for Chase Claypool), and they’re desperate for an influx of talent in the defensive trenches.

If the Bears end up picking as high as No. 2 overall next year, they could spend that selection on an elite defender like Alabama’s Will Anderson or Georgia’s Jalen Carter, or command a king’s ransom from a quarterback-needy team trying to move up the board for a top passer.

While his first offseason proved that Ryan Poles doesn’t appear to be the kind of general manager who will just throw a bunch of money at the top free agents on the market, he should still be able to address most (if not all) of those needs with veteran additions who could quickly turn their fortunes around on both sides of the ball.

Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports

There’s plenty of young talent on the roster to keep developing, too. Mooney, Claypool and Cole Kmet are still trending upward, and even if David Montgomery isn’t re-signed, Khalil Herbert has been a revelation in the backfield. Jack Sanborn appears to be a gem at linebacker, and the secondary is in good hands with young playmakers like Jaquan Brisker.

Most importantly, the Bears know they have a potential superstar at quarterback in Fields, with two more years (and a fifth-year option) left on his rookie contract.

It’s been a rough year for Bears fans, but the immediate future is bright. The rest of this season should be about preparing for the next one.

There’s every reason to believe that this team can go from being one of the league’s worst, to contending for a division title and making a playoff run in 2023 and beyond.

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NFL Schedule, Predictions, Lines, How To Watch: Week 10

NFL predictions, schedule, game previews, lines, how to watch, and TV listings for Week 10 of the 2022 season

NFL predictions, schedule, lines, how to watch, and TV listings for Week 10 of the 2022 season highlighted by Seattle at Tampa Bay, Dallas at Green Bay, Washington at Philadelphia


NFL Schedule, Predictions, Lines, How To Watch: Week 10

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Results So Far
SU: 64-36-1, ATS: 52-46-3, Point Total: 62-38-1

Week 10 NFL Expert Picks

Thursday, November 10, 2022

Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers

8:15 Prime Video
Prediction: COMING
Line: Atlanta -3, o/u: 42.5

Sunday, November 13, 2022

Seattle Seahawks vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

9:30 NFL Network
Prediction: COMING
Line: Tampa Bay -3, o/u: 44.5

Minnesota Vikings at Buffalo Bills

1:00 FOX
Prediction: COMING
Line: Buffalo -3.5, o/u: 43.5

Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears

1:00 FOX
Prediction: COMING
Line: Chicago -3, o/u: 48.5

Denver Broncos at Tennessee Titans

1:00 CBS
Prediction: COMING
Line: Tennessee -2.5, o/u: 38

Jacksonville Jaguars at Kansas City Chiefs

1:00 CBS
Prediction: COMING
Line: Kansas City -9.5, o/u: 50.5

Cleveland Browns at Miami Dolphins

1:00 CBS
Prediction: COMING
Line: Miami -3.5, o/u: 48.5

Houston Texans at New York Giants

1:00 CBS
Prediction: COMING
Line: New York Giants -5, o/u: 40.5

New Orleans at Pittsburgh Steelers

1:00 FOX
Prediction: COMING
Line: New Orleans -2.5, o/u: 40

Indianapolis Colts at Las Vegas Raiders

4:05 CBS
Prediction: COMING
Line: Las Vegas -6, o/u: 42.5

Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers

4:25 FOX
Prediction: COMING
Line: Dallas -4.5, o/u: 43

Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams

4:25 FOX
Prediction: COMING
Line: Los Angeles Rams -3, o/u: 43.5

Los Angeles Chargers at San Francisco 49ers

8:20 NBC
Prediction: COMING
Line: San Francisco -7, o/u: 45.5

Monday, November 14, 2022

Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles

8:15 ESPN
Prediction: COMING
Line: Philadelphia -11, o/u: 44

Bye Week: Baltimore, Cincinnati, New England, New York Jets

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CFN Predictions & Game Previews