Tag: bears news

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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Quarterback evaluation is most important thing for Bears this offseason

Quarterback should be the Bears’ top priority this offseason.

The Chicago Bears are in a tough spot with their quarterback position.

Are they going to roll forward with Justin Fields? He’s a tremendous athlete who can make some big-time plays using his arm. However, we have not seen him take enough of a step as a passer to think that he is good enough to be an impactful NFL winner.

There are a few flashes of brilliance that they can look to as a positive, but they should not be convinced in the long-term. The Bears have the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, which they could use on a quarterback if they determine that Fields is not the guy.

The most likely option is USC quarterback Caleb Williams, the projected No. 1 pick. Plenty of scouts have their doubts, but some think he is generational. It will be a long time before we know the truth, but Williams may be worth taking a chance on. This is the biggest decision in general manager Ryan Poles’ young career.

If Chicago doesn’t hit on this decision, they are going to continue being a bad franchise. You don’t win in the NFL with bad quarterback play. Having good quarterback play doesn’t guarantee you anything, but bad quarterback play is nearly impossible to overcome.

When watching the playoffs this year, it was hard not to notice that all of the top teams had great quarterbacks. The Super Bowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs have the best of them all in Patrick Mahomes. You may not find that again in a generation, but you don’t even have a chance of competing with Kansas City if your guy isn’t good at all.

For the Bears, having the fourth best quarterback in the NFC North is a very bad start. That starts Chicago off on the wrong foot every season. Hopefully, Poles sees the opportunity in front of him as he can address this issue on draft night. Until the Bears get that type of quarterback that can lead this team the way it needs to be led, they’ll keep trying and trying again.

Why Lance Briggs should be the next Bears Hall of Famer

Making the case for Lance Briggs to be the next Bears player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Chicago Bears saw a few of their all-time greats make it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame last week — Devin Hester, Steve McMichael and Julius Peppers. The Bears were the first team to have three players (at least four years with the team) who made the Hall of Fame in the same year since the San Francisco 49ers in 2000.

These guys will be celebrated and rightfully so. It will also drive the conversation about who from the Bears’ storied history deserves to make it to Canton. A few really good candidates come to mind, but linebacker Lance Briggs is at the top of the list.

Briggs spent a lot of incredible years as a linebacker for the Bears after they drafted him in the third round of the 2003 NFL draft. From that moment on, he became a franchise legend. He should be in the Hall of Fame based on all of his accomplishments.

Was he as good as Brian Urlacher? No, he was not. Playing the same position at the same time as Urlacher might make some people question his legitimacy as a Hall of Fame candidate but it shouldn’t. Two elite players can play together at the same time. Just because one was slightly better doesn’t mean that the other should be punished.

There are a few numbers to support Briggs as a Hall of Famer with or without Urlacher around. For one, Urlacher missed the entire 2009 season after suffering an injury in Week 1. Briggs went on to lead Chicago in tackles with 118 that year. That effort earned him a trip to the Pro Bowl.

Briggs is a three-time All-Pro, seven-time Pro Bowler and among the 100 greatest Bears of All-Time.

He also had a total of six career defensive touchdowns, which are the third most in team history. Five of those were interceptions, which is the second most interception touchdown returns for any Bear ever. He had one in each of his first three NFL seasons, which are the most ever. There is no doubt that this guy was as impactful as anyone during his time.

We don’t know when Briggs’ time is going to come, but it should be soon. He’s been among the original 100-plus nominees, but he hasn’t yet made it to the semifinalist stage. Briggs is one of the best linebackers from his era and deserves to be recognized as such.

Chargers hire former Bears HC Marc Trestman as senior offensive assistant

Former Bears head coach Marc Trestman has found a new home on the Chargers coaching staff.

The Chicago Bears didn’t have a lot of success with Marc Trestman as their head coach, and he’s considered one of the team’s worst coaches in franchise history.

Now, Trestman has found his way back to the NFL a decade after being fired by Chicago.

Trestman is joining the Los Angeles Chargers coaching staff under new head coach Jim Harbaugh. Trestman will serve as a senior offensive assistant. That is a bold move for the Chargers as they look to take their team in a new direction.

Trestman lasted just two years in Chicago, where he had a 13-19 record and never had a winning season. In 2013, they went a disappointing 8-8. The following year, they went a disastrous 5-11. The Bears fired him after that season, and he hasn’t been a head coach in the NFL since. Trestman was, however, the offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens from 2015-16, but he hasn’t been in the NFL since.

Getting quarterback Justin Herbert the right tools around him is the biggest need for the Chargers franchise under Harbaugh. Herbert has been mostly elite, and they are going to try and turn that into wins. We will see if Trestman will be able to help them reach that goal. Most Bears fans won’t be confident.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Chris Olave state their case for Bears drafting Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 1

The Chicago Bears may think about drafting Marvin Harrison Jr. Two prominent young receivers think they would regret not doing it.

Everyone in the football world has an opinion on the ongoing discussion involving the Chicago Bears’ quarterback decision. That includes star players from around the NFL.

Last week at the Super Bowl, Seattle Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and New Orleans Saints receiver Chris Olave shared their opinions on what Chicago should do with the No. 1 pick. You can probably guess that both of them advocated for the Bears to keep Justin Fields and draft receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. All of them went to Ohio State, so you know that they all believe in each other.

“I think that’s the best move for Chicago in my eyes,” Smith-Njigba said, via NBC Sports Chicago. “If you want a dynamic receiver, a dominant receiver right now, a person that’s on an island that’s going to catch every single ball, that’s going to move the chains, that’s going to score you touchdowns, that’s going to show people and be a leader, I say you go with Marvin Harrison.”

Harrison is most likely going to be the highest-drafted one out of all of them. He is an incredible young receiver who is going to be a superstar in the NFL.

Smith-Njigba and Olave are somewhat biased with their opinion coming from the same college, but they’re not necessarily wrong. Harrison is going to help an NFL team take a huge step offensively right when he gets there.

No matter what team Harrison ends up with, he is going to be must-see TV. We’ll see if the Bears are a team that ends up doing what they can to get him. If they ultimately decide to keep Fields instead of drafting quarterback Caleb Williams, perhaps Harrison would be in the cards.