Tag: bears news

Dane Brugler believes that Bears will consider Byron Murphy at No. 9

If the top-three receivers are off the board at No. 9, Dane Brugler believes the Bears could have eyes for DT Byron Murphy II.

The Chicago Bears are preparing for a franchise-defining 2024 NFL draft. While there’s no question what they’ll do with the first overall pick (hello, Caleb Williams), they have a big decision to make with the ninth overall selection.

Will they take a player to add depth on defense or will they give Williams more help?

The Athletic‘s Dane Brugler shared his thoughts on what he believes could happen at No. 9. Assuming the top three wide receivers — Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze — are off the board, he thinks Chicago could target Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”5375″ ]

Brugler noted that Murphy would fit in well with Matt Eberflus’s scheme, giving them the disruptive three-tech they’re missing.

This could be a great move for the Bears if it happened. They already traded for Montez Sweat last year and it turned their play on defense around. If they added someone like Murphy, they would solidify their pass rush in a big way.

During his pre-draft press conference, general manager Ryan Poles said an interior pass rusher, like Murphy, is “probably a preference when you have an outside guy.” And we know the Bears already have that guy in Sweat.

This is a very big draft for Poles. If Williams and whoever they take at nine turns into studs, Chicago could prosper for a long time. Brugler’s scenario makes a lot of sense for the organization.

Follow The Bears Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

Drafting Joe Alt would be smart for Bears if he fell to No. 9

If Joe Alt were to somehow fall to the Bears at No. 9, Ryan Poles shouldn’t hesitate to draft him.

The Chicago Bears are gearing up for the 2024 NFL draft, where they’ll officially welcome new quarterback Caleb Williams to the fold.

Outside of the No. 1 pick, the Bears also have the No. 9 pick, where there are no shortage of options depending on how the board falls. While unlikely, could Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt fall to Chicago?

Keeping Williams upright is one of the biggest keys for the Bears as they try to turn the franchise around. While Braxton Jones has been solid in two years, Alt could be the long-term answer at left tackle.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”5375″ ]

Darnell Wright is already one of the best right tackles in the NFL, and it might be wise to keep him there. With Teven Jenkins and a few others able to move around a little bit, the addition of Alt would be amazing.

If the Bears were able to add a left tackle like Alt, they could be building an offensive line that they have together for about a decade or more. That could be a key to this team finally developing a quarterback and winning a Super Bowl. It’s an exciting idea.

Alt is a big boy (6’9″, 321 lbs) who will be a force in the NFL. Drafting a lineman with that type of size and skill is important in this league, and one team is going to be very happy with him.

The only problem with Alt is that there is very little chance that the Bears can get him. It would be stunning if he fell to No. 9 in the draft. They are using the No. 1 pick on Williams and Alt going 2-8 is very likely. However, if the impossible happened and he fell to them at nine, general manager Ryan Poles likely wouldn’t hesitate to make the move.

Follow The Bears Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

Trading down for Jackson Powers-Johnson might be smart for the Bears

If the Bears opt to trade back from No. 9, targeting center Jackson Powers-Johnson should be a consideration.

The Chicago Bears are almost certainly going to select quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick (courtesy of the Carolina Panthers) in the 2024 NFL draft.

But the Bears also have the ninth overall selection, which offers plenty more intrigue (and options).

There are going to be some really good players on the board for them to consider at No. 9, and there’s certainly an allure of landing two blue chip players in the top 10. But there’s also a possibility of them trading back to get even more selections in the draft, considering they currently have just four picks.

One player they might consider trading down for is Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson, who could be an immediate contributor. To get him, you don’t need to be picking super high in the first round, but you probably can’t drop far below 20.

If the Bears could find a suitor that desperately wants to come up to No. 9 — and makes a generous offer — it’s something for them to think about. If any of the top quarterbacks, wide receivers or offensive tackles fell to that spot, there would certainly be interest from teams to move up. The possibilities are endless.

Chicago hasn’t had an answer at the center position in a long time. They’re starting to put together a good offensive line — they added two options in Ryan Bates and Coleman Shelton, who are currently expected to compete for the starting job. But there isn’t a center there that you are going into the season with full confidence.

Powers-Johnson might be able to bring that to this group. Putting him with = Williams while both are rookies means that they could grow together, which is important. They also have PAC-12 connections, which is something that could bond them.

General manager Ryan Poles would also be adding other draft picks in 2024 or 2025 with a move like this, as well. We’ve seen desperate teams give up a lot to move up a handful of spots, and the Bears could be on the other side of that this time. Powers-Johnson makes a compelling case in a trade back scenario.

Follow The Bears Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

Why the NFC North could be a problem for the Bears in 2024

The NFC North is shaping up to be a top division in 2024, which will challenge an ascending Bears team this season.

Every year, there are a few divisions in the NFL that are just better than the others from top to bottom. In 2024, there is a chance that the NFC North will be in that division.

Last season, the NFC North had a good showing, as well. The AFC North is the only other NFL division that didn’t have a single team with fewer than seven wins (the Cincinnati Bengals were one win away from making it where all four teams had 10 wins).

The Detroit Lions (12-5) and Green Bay Packers (9-8) both made the playoffs in 2023. They also each won a postseason game. It was a great year for them both. Detroit made it the farthest, eventually losing in the NFC championship game to the San Francisco 49ers.

The Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings each went 7-10. The Vikings had the tie-breaker, so they came in third place while the Bears had another last-place finish. It wound up working out for the Bears, who got a higher draft pick.

Coming into this 2024 season, all four teams are going to be thinking about making it to the playoffs. The Vikings aren’t going to have Kirk Cousins anymore but they are almost certainly thinking about drafting their next franchise QB. We already saw what the Packers and Lions were able to do with Jordan Love and Jared Goff, respectively.

As for the Bears, they are 99.99% going to draft Caleb Williams and have him as their franchise QB going forward. If he’s good, the team will be even more improved than they were last year.

Although the expectations will be high for the Bears this season, someone has to come in last. That could be the biggest hurdle for them to climb this year with a good young team. They have proven that they can overcome the Vikings and the Lions, but they haven’t beaten the Packers in five years. If they can’t get over that hump, it might be another tough year. They absolutely cannot let the division be their biggest weakness.

Follow The Bears Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

Kirk Herbstreit: ‘Get ready because the Bears are coming’

Analyst Kirk Herbstreit believes the Bears are going to be a very good team in short order.

The Chicago Bears are one of the most intriguing teams this offseason. They have already made some big moves via trade and free agenc,y but now it’s time to start thinking about the 2024 NFL draft.

If they do well with their four selections (all in the first four rounds), they could be a very good team next year and beyond. They are going to begin the draft on night one with Caleb Williams as the number one overall pick and then they will make another selection at number nine.

Ryan Poles has been a master at this since taking over as general manager in 2022, but this is the offseason that he can define his legacy. If Poles does well, he will be known as a top GM in franchise history. If he doesn’t, he will be just another in a long list of disappointments.

One popular football commenter, Kirk Herbstreit, seems to think that the Bears are going to be a very good team in short order.

“You better get on the Chicago Bears right now,” Herbstreit said Monday on the Pat McAfee Show. “Get ready because the Bears are coming.”

One of the biggest takeaways from his segment were his comments on head coach Matt Eberflus. Herbstreit sees the players on this team playing hard for the head coach despite the narrative that surrounds him. That is something that could help them win in the near future.

Herbstreit also had high praise for Chicago’s defense following the trade for edge rusher Montez Sweat, which means that a new quarterback playing well could mean good things for the team as a whole. If the defense is supplemented by a good offense, they will in turn win more football games.

It’s refreshing to see the media’s positive praise about the Bears. While Chicago still has work to do, they aren’t a laughing stock right now, which is different than the last couple of years. If Chicago becomes a top team, they could be a big focus in overall NFL conversation because of how important they are to the league.

Follow The Bears Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

Bears GM Ryan Poles calls out RGIII’s comments about Caleb Williams

Ryan Poles didn’t like RGIII suggesting Caleb Williams refuse to play for the Bears.

The Chicago Bears (most likely) are going to draft Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL draft. The hope is the former Heisman Trophy winner develops into the franchise quarterback Chicago has been yearning for.

Earlier this month, former NFL quarterback and current analyst Robert Griffin III insinuated Williams should refuse to play for Chicago, ala Eli Manning many years ago.

RGIII made some good points about the Bears organization not being able to develop a quarterback in the past, but this feels different with general manager Ryan Poles and his staff in place. It also wasn’t a very classy thing to say as the current Bears deserve to try their hands at selecting a potential generational talent. They made a blockbuster trade last offseason to put themselves in this position, and now they get to benefit.

On Tuesday, Poles appeared on The Pat McAfee Show, where he was asked about RGIII’s comments. And, just like Bears fans, Poles didn’t take kindly to them.

“It pisses me off a little bit to be honest with you because we were brought in to break a cycle,” Poles said. “I really believe we are about to break that cycle.”

Poles, Matt Eberflus, and the rest of the staff have things feeling differently. Now, it is time for them to try their hand at developing their own quarterback that they scouted and selected. It is good to hear that Poles doesn’t like hearing these comments because he has nothing to do with the “old Bears.” It’s time for change, and he is the beacon of said change.

Poles believes in what this organization is doing. The confidence radiates off him in a way that we’ve never seen from a Bears executive. Poles is going to go out there, draft Williams, and attempt to bring success to an organization and fanbase that desperately wants it.

Follow The Bears Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

Former Bears RB D’Onta Foreman signs with Browns

Former Bears running back D’Onta Foreman has found a new home with the Browns.

Former Chicago Bears running back D’Onta Foreman has signed with the Cleveland Browns, according to numerous NFL insiders.

Foreman, who’s spent time with the Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, and Carolina Panthers, played for the Bears in 2023. He served as a key reserve in running back committee, but also stepped into a starting role due to injuries to Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson.

In nine games, including eight starts, Foreman totaled 109 rushes for 425 yards and four touchdowns. He added 11 receptions for 77 yards and a score. Foreman wasn’t the number one guy on the team by any means, as evidenced by him being a healthy scratch in the final stretch, but he accepted his role and executed it.

Now, with D’Andre Swift joining the room with Herbert and Johnson, the expectation is Foreman wouldn’t return. Now, he’s found a new home with the Browns.

It will be interesting to see how Foreman fits in that running back room with Nick Chub and Jerome Ford. He is their third back right now but we’ll see what that means for him and his production.

Chubb was injured for most of the season after suffering a gruesome injury, so Foreman might be needed early on. Hopefully, he finds success with his new NFL team.

How Keenan Allen trade impacts Bears’ draft plans

The Bears made a splash trading for receiver Keenan Allen. Here’s why the move shouldn’t impact their draft plans.

The Chicago Bears now have one of the NFL’s best wide receiver tandems with DJ Moore and Keenan Allen, who were both acquired via trade over the past two offseasons.

Receiver was one of the team’s biggest remaining needs this offseason, and general manager Ryan Poles addressed it in a huge way.

So how does the Allen trade impact Chicago’s plans in the 2024 NFL draft?

Well, it shouldn’t necessarily change their plans so much as it serves as insurance. The dropoff after Moore and Allen on the depth chart is large. If one of the “big three” — Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., Washington’s Rome Odunze and LSU’s Malik Nabers — were to fall to the Bears at No. 9, they should absolutely draft him.

Harrison is a lock to go in the top five. Now, with the loss of Allen, the Chargers should be in the market for a receiver at No. 5. The third one could fall to pick No. 9, but it’s less likely.

But this is a loaded receiver class where there will be other top options on Day 2. Chicago should not be out on any of them just because they traded for Allen. He’s 31 years old and not a long-term answer. 

With that said, getting a WR2 is no longer the biggest need on the offense either. If there is a player at a different position that they like more than the top available receiver, they should do that at ninth overall. It is a matter of where they are in the draft and who is on the board.

Poles is a smart guy. He isn’t going to make poor draft choices because of the “win now” trades that he’s made. At this point, it is hard to question any plan that he may have.

Highlights of new Bears S Jonathan Owens

The Bears have signed safety Jonathan Owens. Here are some highlights of Chicago’s newest defensive back.

The Chicago Bears signed veteran safety Jonathan Owens to a two-year deal on Tuesday.

Owens comes to Chicago after spending one year with the Green Bay Packers, where he had a pretty good year. He totaled 84 tackles, including two for a loss, one sack, one forced fumble, and three pass breakups.

Before his one-year stint in Green Bay, he spent the first four years of his career with the Houston Texans.

This is a fun move for some people who know he’s the husband of Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles. She is one of the greatest American Olympians of all time, and now her husband is coming to Chicago.

In terms of football, Owens is going to be a great addition to the = Bears secondary. With some of the things they are doing on the defensive side of the ball, it is clear that they are going to have a very strong unit in 2024. Getting him out of Green Bay is a plus, as well.

These are some of the best Owens highlights:

Owens joins a safety room also featuring Jaquan Brisker, newly-signed Kevin Byard and Elijah Hicks.

Bears should consider signing All-Pro safety Justin Simmons

The Broncos released All-Pro Justin Simmons, who joins a loaded free-agent safety class. Will the Bears target him?

The Chicago Bears are trying hard to become a powerhouse in the NFL. They are rebuilding from scratch under general manager Ryan Poles, who inherited a mess from the regime before him. Part of their recent climb is the good play of their defense, which has made strides over the last two years.

Now, they have a chance to make more upgrades during a franchise-altering offseason. A lot of people are focused on what they are doing with their offense, and rightfully so. However, there should be plenty of attention on the defense this offseason.

There have been some big veteran salary cap casualties ahead of free agency, but the most surprising has been the Denver Broncos cutting ties with All-Pro safety Justin Simmons. They cleared up $14.5 million in salary cap space. Now, Simmons will be a hot commodity in what’s turning out to be a loaded safety group for free agency.

The former All-Pro safety would be a great addition for the Bears secondary, which is already pretty good at cornerback and with third-year safety Jaquan Brisker. Following Eddie Jackson’s release earlier this offseason, Chicago has a hole to fill at that free safety position.

Since making his NFL debut in 206, no player has had more interceptions than Simmons with 30. He has been truly one of the best. A player like that would do wonders for everyone around him. The secondary and linebackers are already good and they are going to improve the pass rush through the draft and free agency. Doing all of that plus adding a ball hawk like Simmons would be very wise.