Tag: bears news

JJ McCarthy on playing for hometown Bears: ‘It’s been one of my dreams’

JJ McCarthy has dreamed of playing for his hometown Bears – or against them.

The Chicago Bears have an important decision to make at quarterback this offseason where choosing between keeping Justin Fields or drafting Caleb Williams with the first overall pick will define general manager Ryan Poles’ tenure.

This is a deep quarterback class, where some even believe four quarterbacks could go in the top 13. While Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels headline the group, there could be some wild cards in the mix.

That includes Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy, who welcomed the idea of playing for his hometown Bears.

“It’s been one of my dreams,” he said at the NFL Scouting Combine, “whether that’s playing for the Bears or against them.”

McCarthy, who confirmed he met with the Bears at the combine, grew up in LaGrange Park, Ill. He acknowledged that it would be special to play at Soldier Field, where he grew up going to games, whether it was as a Bear or an opposing player. That makes sense for any kid coming from the Chicagoland area.

But it’s unlikely that the Bears select him. Chicago will likely choose between the big three in Williams, Maye or Daniels. But there will be quarterback-needy teams who could turn to McCarthy in the first round. Chicago will likely choose between the big three in Williams, Maye or Daniels.

McCarthy has proven that he can win on the big stage. He led Michigan to a National Championship this season, but the NFL is an entirely different animal. He’s going to have to prove that he can be an impactful player. And some team will take a chance on him. Just probably not the Bears.

Rome Odunze says playing with Caleb Williams would be ‘something special’

Rome Odunze loves the idea of being paired with Caleb Williams in Chicago.

The Chicago Bears could very well have a lot of good options with the ninth overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

They could pass rusher, offensive lineman or wide receiver if one of the big three falls to them there. One of those elite wideouts is Washington’s Rome Odunze, who touched on the potential of playing for the Bears.

At the NFL Scouting Combine, Odunze was asked about potentially playing with Caleb Williams in the pros. The Bears are expected to select the USC star QB with the first overall pick. That means that Odunze would be catching his passes if they were both drafted by Chicago.

“I got to see Caleb first hand,” Odunze said. “I got to see his talents and abilities.”

Odunze went on to say that being paired with Williams would be “something special.”

It is good to know that he would enjoy playing with Williams. There needs to be chemistry if things are going to work. With guys like DJ Moore and Cole Kmet already in the mix, the Bears could have a breakout offense.

Odunze is right there with Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. and LSU’s Malik Nabers at the top of the receiver class. As confident as Odunze is in Williams, he is in himself. Odunze believes that he is the best receiver in the class despite being the third-ranked one on most people’s boards.

“Me… I’ve shown the skills that can transfer to the NFL,” he said, via Matt Zahn.

If the Bears decide to draft both of these guys, they can only hope that the confidence spills onto the football field. Williams playing well would impact the career of Odunze if they were paired together. If he is as good of a wide receiver as he claims, that could be a lethal combo for years to come.

Tyler Nubin says it would be a ‘dream’ to play for hometown Bears

The Bears are in the market for a new safety. Could hometown product Tyler Nubin be a fit?

The Chicago Bears are looking to make their team better ahead of the 2024 season. They went 7-10 in 2023, which was a great improvement over the 3-14 season that they had in 2022. If Chicago has a good draft and is smart in free agency, they should be in a position to compete for a playoff spot in 2024.

One player who has noticed what they are building is Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin. He’s a safety who should be drafted within the first couple of rounds of the 2024 NFL draft. At the NFL Scouting Combine, Nubin talked about potentially being a Chicago Bear.

Nubin, a self-described “Chicago boy,” would love to play for his hometown team. Out of all the teams he interviewed with, he said that the Bears stuck out for him. Being from St. Charles, Ill., he loved this team growing up and would enjoy the chance to play for them.

If being a Bear is his “dream,” they should consider it if he is available at a time when they are on the clock. After all, we know how general manager Ryan Poles loves local products and Chicago has a pressing need at safety following Eddie Jackson’s release.

Nubin also fits what they’re doing with Matt Eberflus’ defense so it makes sense from a tactical standpoint. It might be something to consider from that perspective.

The fact that players want to play for the Bears these days is refreshing. Hopefully, that trend continues through the draft and with future free agents.

Caleb Williams reveals what he wants to still learn about Bears

What does Caleb Williams want to learn about the Bears this pre-draft process? His answer was simple and to the point.

The Chicago Bears are considering selecting USC star quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. That could be a career-defining decision by general manager Ryan Poles and his staff. If it works, he could be in that GM chair for a very long time.

If Williams came to Chicago and performed well, he’d be a legend for the rest of his life (something he aspires to be). This organization is starving for a winner and will embrace anyone who gives them what they need at the quarterback position.

Williams is the type of person who wants to know that he is going to a good situation where he’s drafted. Some people might not like that, but we’ve seen so many quarterbacks drafted high to teams that don’t give them what they need. The Bears are included on that list.

As the pre-draft process continues with pro days and Top 30 visits, Williams said there was one thing he still wants to learn about the Bears: “Do you want to win?”

It is fair for someone on the outside to wonder if the team wants to win. They haven’t done much of it in the last two decades. We can only hope that they can show they want to win through their steady improvement since Poles took over. Williams also has to know that he would be the X-factor on Chicago getting over the hump.

“I don’t play for fame. I don’t play for money. I don’t play for jewels and stuff like that,” Williams said, via Chris Emma. “It’s to go out there and win as many games as possible.”

Dan Orlovsky believes Bears should draft Jayden Daniels at No. 1

Not everyone believes Caleb Williams is the consensus No. 1 pick for the Bears.

The Chicago Bears are the center of the hottest draft debate in the streets right now. Should they keep Justin Fields and trade the No. 1 pick? Should they draft USC star Caleb Williams and move on from Fields? Only general manager Ryan Poles knows which direction he is leaning.

ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky, who is known for giving hot takes, made a bold statement on the situation. Orlovsky believes neither of those two scenarios is the right answer for the Bears. He thinks they should go off script with their selection.

Orlovsky thinks the Bears should draft last year’s Heisman winner, LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels at first overall. That would leave the presumptive top two prospects in Williams and North Carolina’s Drake Maye on the board.

“Jayden Daniels should be the guy,” Orlovsky said. “If I were the Chicago Bears right now I would take Jayden Daniels out of LSU.”

If the Bears listened to Orlovsky and took Daniels, Poles would automatically be on the hot seat in town before the season even started. Taking Daniels instead of Williams (or even Maye) would cause chaos in the Chicago community. Going against the grain might not be the best option here.

Orlovsky believes what he is saying is right, but he doesn’t exactly have the best track record either. Ultimately, it’s Poles who has the final say. And he’ll be  listening to the staff that he has in place and then ultimately doing what he thinks is right.

Bears great Robbie Gould has a new football job

Robbie Gould has found a new job in the Chicagoland area after his retirement from the NFL.

The Chicago Bears had some legendary moments with Robbie Gould, one of the best kickers in NFL history. When Gould was released in 2015, he left as the team’s all-time leading scorer. It was an incredible tenure for him.

Gould played in Chicago for 11 seasons (2005-15), one year with the New York Giants (2016) and six seasons with the San Francisco 49ers (2017-22). In that span, Gould connected on 86.5% of field goal tries and 97.5% of extra point attempts.

Gould made 447 field goals on 517 attempts. He made 620 extra points on 636 attempts. Thirty-six of those field goals were from 50-plus yards. There is no doubt that he was consistently one of the best.

In retirement, Gould found a new job in football. It’s not in the NFL or college football, however. Instead, he is back to Chicagoland to become the head coach at Rolling Meadows High School, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

This is a great move — one of the most beloved Bears is back in Chicago and coaching a local high school. He has many ties to this area, as he met his wife and raised his family after becoming a resident of the northwest suburbs.

Gould played a few seasons with Jimmy Garoppolo, who attended Rolling Meadows. Now, Gould gets to coach at Garoppolo’s former school. The connections there are strong. You never know if Jimmy G will come back to coach with Gould once his playing career ends.

It’s always nice when former Chicago athletes come back around after they are done playing. It always felt like it was going to happen with Gould at some point, and here we are. Don’t be surprised if he has Rolling Meadows winning state titles in the not-so-distant future.

C.J. Stroud says Bears would be ‘smart’ to keep Justin Fields

Add C.J. Stroud to the list of people who believe the Bears should stick with Justin Fields at QB.

Everyone has an opinion on the Justin Fields vs. Caleb Williams debate as the Chicago Bears face a franchise-altering decision at quarterback.

That includes both current and former NFL players as we’ve seen since the beginning of the offseason. General manager Ryan Poles is the one with the final say, but it’s interesting to hear what others think, especially those who are successful in the league.

One player people might enjoy hearing from is C.J. Stroud, last year’s No. 2 overall pick who thrived as a rookie en route to being named Offensive Rookie of the Year. At this point, there are only a few quarterbacks you’d rather have right now over him.

He is going to be one of the most impactful NFL players for a long time. For that reason, people are always going to care what he thinks about things. That was especially true when he sounded off on the Fields-Williams debate during an interview with USA Today Sports at the Super Bowl. And his answer should come as no surprise.

“Caleb Williams? I don’t know. Who has the first pick?” Stroud asked.

“The Bears. You think they’re gonna keep Justin [Fields]?” USA Today asked.

“They should if they’re smart. But … you know,” Stroud said.

“It’s the Bears,” USA Today said.

“You said it, not me,” Stroud said.

Stroud, who succeeded Fields at Ohio State, made his opinion very clear. It is unclear how serious to consider what he’s saying. There is a good chance he is just standing by his former college teammate. Stroud might believe in Fields, which is great, but he doesn’t have the best interest of the Bears in mind when commenting on it.

It is very interesting to see all of the people making comments about Fields’ future. It is one of the hot topics in the football world and will be until a resolution is reached.

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Why Bears should consider adding WR Mike Evans this offseason

It sounds like Mike Evans is trending toward hitting the free agent market, where the Bears would be wise to consider signing him.

For a very long time now, Tampa Bay Buccaneers stud Mike Evans has been one of the best (most consistent) receivers in the entire NFL. He has become everything that Tampa Bay needed him to be and more since selecting him seventh overall in the 2014 NFL draft.

Now, according to Bleacher Report insider Jordan Schultz, it sounds like the Buccaneers and Evans are far apart on an extension. It is trending towards Evans becoming an unrestricted free agent next month, which would make the wide receiver market even more interesting.

Talks are going to continue, but nothing is guaranteed at this point. Evans has accomplished a lot in his career. He brings a lot of catches, yards, and Super Bowl-winning experience to the table. Being in a huddle with Tom Brady is certainly a nice thing to have in his back pocket, as well. Lots of teams are going to come calling if he is truly available.

One team that should be all over this is the Chicago Bears. If they don’t opt to draft one of Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, or Rome Odunze in the first round, they’ll have to add another solid wideout opposite DJ Moore in free agency to give Justin Fields, or a rookie quarterback, a solid receiving duo.

The options on offense will be unlimited if a receiver like Evans comes to town, along with Moore. Chicago’s offensive unit has been underwhelming for a long time now, but this could be their chance to turn that around.

General manager Ryan Poles has a lot of options at every position this offseason. It is fair to assume that he is going to make the decision that he feels is best for the team in the long run. Evans, 31, might not be a long-term answer, but he’d be great for helping this team take a step offensively in 2024.

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Bears should be all-in on DT Chris Jones, if available

If Chiefs stud DT Chris Jones somehow hits the free agent market, the Bears should make him a priority.

The Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl for the second year in a row last week. It was also their third championship since making Patrick Mahomes their full-time starter in 2018. They are approaching dynasty territory at this point.

One player who was there for it all was defensive tackle Chris Jones, a former second-round pick 2016, who turned into the best player on their defense. He was there for all three Super Bowls won in the Mahomes era.

Jones is a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro. Right now, he is on a trajectory that would get him into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The 2024 season is going to be Jones’ age-30 season. He also doesn’t know what team he is going to be playing for right now. The Chiefs picked up his option, but that does not come with an extension. It does give them a chance to franchise tag him, though, with the window opening Tuesday.

If they do make that decision, Jones is going to get a lot of money with it. It would be a $32.16 million tag. That is a lot of money against the cap for one defensive player. If Kasnas City ends up tagging Jones, he’d be getting a lot of money and become a free agent in 2025, if the two sides can’t come to a long-term agreement by mid-July. The Chiefs would like to get him extended before that ends up happening.

Kansas City played a similar game with wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who they later traded to the Miami Dolphins. Since then, the Chiefs have won the Super Bowl twice. They believe that they can let guys go if needed and find ways to replace them. It may be harder with a defensive player, but they have done a good job filling in the cracks as the years go on.

If nothing gets done with him in Kansas City, the Chicago Bears should be all in on Jones. Whether it is trading for him or signing him, the defense would take another step forward if they added a stud like him.

Chicago has a lot of salary cap space right now — $67 million — so they can afford a guy like Jones, who’s a game-breaking type of player who has proven it time and time again. With what the Bears have already built on the defensive side of the ball, he’d be a great complement.

Guys like Julius Peppers and Khalil Mack are defensive players who came to the Bears in the middle of their prime and succeded. Jones would be put in a good spot if he came to Chicago. If they could ever get the quarterback position right, it would truly be a great place to play.

If Jones truly became available, tons of teams would come calling for him during free agency. He is one of the best defensive players in the NFL, year in and year out. General manager Ryan Poles is not afraid to go after guys like him, especially with Kansas City ties.

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Michael Vick made his opinion of the Justin Fields situation clear

Bears QB Justin Fields has Michael Vick’s endorsement.

The Chicago Bears have a looming quarterback decision that has the whole NFL world talking. Are they going to stick with Justin Fields or are they going to draft a rookie, likely Caleb Williams, with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft? There are compelling arguments for both sides of the ledger.

Michael Vick, a former NFL quarterback who had a ton of success in the league, made his opinion known as many former players have. He seems to think that Fields can be the guy for the Bears.

During a recent appearance on “The Green Light with Chris Long,” Vick shared his thoughts and expectations for Fields heading into 2024.

“I really want him to take that next step,” Vick said. “I think he is more than capable. And I know you can only go as far as what your offensive coordinator give to you. But there is times when you can go outside of that. He is so skilled, they should be in the playoffs or competing to be in the playoffs towards the end of the season.”

Fields plays a very similar style to Vick. He was a pure pocket passer at Ohio State, but he became an athletic mobile quarterback in the NFL with the Bears. Vick, of course, was one of the best to ever play the position like that. You’d think that he knows a thing or two about what it takes to be successful in the spot.

The problem is that Fields hasn’t taken steps as a passer to complement his running game. Vick knows that is important, too, but he still thinks he can lead the Bears to the playoffs. If that is the decision that general manager Ryan Poles comes to, we can only hope that a guy like Vick ends up being right. Or perhaps Fields will find success outside of Chicago.

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