Tag: Bears rumors

Why Leonard Fournette isn’t a good option for the Bears

While Leonard Fournette still might have some left in the tank, the Bears don’t make sense as a landing spot for the free agent RB.

NFL veteran running back Lenoard Fournette is looking for his next NFL home, according to ESPN insider Adam Schefter. He intends to sign with a team before the season, claiming that he’s in the best shape of his career. We’ve all heard the famous line before.

While the Chicago Bears are always looking to improve at every position, they need to stay away from a signing like this right now. With newcomer D’Andre Swift on board and the returns of Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson, there is no reason to consider spending money on a running back. That is especially true for a running back currently in the situation that Fournette is in.

“Leonard’s in the best shape of his career and I expect he will have a new home soon,” Fournette’s agent Ari Nissim told Schefter.

Fournette played the first three years of his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars before spending the next three years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With the Bucs, he was a big part of winning the Super Bowl alongside Tom Brady. That’s some nice experience to bring to the table, but it isn’t worth it for Chicago.

Last year, Fournette appeared in two games with the Buffalo Bills. He totaled 12 carries for 40 yards and never found his way into the endzone. It isn’t the most promising situation of all time.

While Fournette still might have some left in the tank, the Bears don’t make sense as a landing spot, especially considering their focus should be adding another pass rusher to the roster.

Will Bears rookie Rome Odunze serve as punt returner in 2024?

Bears rookie Rome Odunze is in contention to be the team’s primary punt returner this season.

There are a lot of things to like about Chicago Bears rookie Rome Odunze. The ninth overall pick is a great receiver that the team hopes can be another great weapon for the offense. 

Of course, a lot of the discourse surrounding Odunze revolves around how he’ll play with fellow rookie Caleb Williams on the offensive side of the ball. With Keenan Allen, DJ Moore, Cole Kmet, and D’Andre Swift around him, he should be able to hit the ground running. Scoring points should be no problem in 2024, as long as Williams does his job well. 

There is another aspect of Odunze’s game that could also help the Bears: his punt return ability, which he showcased briefly during his time at Washington.

“Rome is an every-down player,” Bears special teams coordinator Richard Hightower said. “Rome’s a first-down player, a second-down player, a third-down player and a fourth-down player. He had three returns on the books and one of those three returns was a house call.”

Despite not having primarily served as a punt returner in college, Odunze is in contention to serve as Chicago’s primary punt returner. Hightower wouldn’t say that Odunze is the favorite for the job, but he’s in the mix. It wouldn’t be shocking at all to see him win that job. 

“He’s in contention, just like everybody else,” Hightower said. “Best man will win, cream rises to the top.”

Odunze isn’t a veteran receiver who is above returning kicks, which would give him chances to make plays and help the team get good field position. If he does that, the confidence could improve his game as a receiver, as well. 

This job, if won, would not be Odunze’s main purpose on the team. They didn’t draft a punt returner ninth overall, they drafted a dynamic receiver, and he figures to benefit working alongside Moore and Allen. However, if Odunze can help the team do both, he would prove to be even more valuable.

Bears OC Shane Waldron talks Caleb Williams’ transition taking snaps under center

Caleb Williams was exclusively a shotgun quarterback in college. Shane Waldron talked about the Bears rookie QB’s transition under center.

The Chicago Bears have a lot of faith in quarterback Caleb Williams. They drafted him with the first overall pick for a reason. There are going to be some adjustments for him in the NFL, but he has all of the talent he needs to get the job done.

One of those adjustments will be taking snaps under center from time to time. Williams will have to get the timing, cadence, and footwork down perfectly before the time comes for games.

When Williams was at USC (and Oklahoma), he was exclusively a shotgun quarterback. Most guys in college can say the same. However, Bears offensive coordinator Shane Waldron runs an offense that has his guy under center a lot. Williams will have to be ready for that, but Waldron believes he is already ahead of schedule.

“I think the one thing Caleb has shown is that he can be in all sorts of backfield alignments,” Waldron said. “He did a great job at his pro day, he’s played quarterback his whole life, so I think the biggest thing will be just the footwork and really mastering that first step from under center, something that he’s taken pride in already and really gotten a jump on in this rookie minicamp. But he’s played the position his whole life, just like these other guys have, so I think there’s a good, natural transition. It wasn’t something where Caleb was starting from total scratch with the drops and his footwork.”

We already know that Williams has gotten off to a head start with just about everything else, and this is no different. He will be ready for this transition in no time. With the talent he has at the quarterback position, Williams could probably just jump in and play from under center right now if he wanted. Luckily, he’ll have plenty of practice between now and the start of the regular season.

Waldron is very complimentary of Williams already, which is great. These two are going to lead what promises to be a good offense in year one with Williams as the guy. With all of the weapons around them, it should be a joy to watch.

Bears QB coach Kerry Joseph explains how Caleb Williams’ head start has paid off

Bears QB coach Kerry Joseph said Caleb Williams was “light years ahead” going into rookie minicamp.

The Chicago Bears are hoping that Caleb Williams is committed to being the best version of himself for the team. Everybody knows that the team isn’t going anywhere unless he turns out to be the star they believe he is. That’s a lot of pressure, but he is a good enough player to make sure he is productive.

So far, it sounds like Williams’ dedication is already there. He showed up to Bears rookie minicamp with the knowledge that nobody expected him to have the way that he did. Williams quickly got into learning the fundamentals of Chicago’s offensive scheme with a head start.

Bears quarterbacks coach Kerry Joseph talked about how Williams learning the cadences, drops and verbiage of the offense has helped him get off to a head start in his rookie season.

“Coming into this minicamp, he was light years ahead of the information that he already had,” Joseph said, via Courtney Cronin.

Williams looks to be a fresh air compared to past quarterbacks, and his level of commitment has been impressive. The fact that he knows some of this stuff already is going to serve him well.

When Chicago starts to get it going with guys like Rome Odunze, Keenan Allen and DJ Moore, among others, they are going to click well because of the work that Williams is putting in. If he can call and operate an offense at a high level early as a rookie, it should lead to more wins and success.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Highlights of new Bears RB D’Andre Swift

The Bears are expected to sign RB D’Andre Swift in free agency. Their running back situation just got better for 2024.

The Chicago Bears are making a splash early in free agency. They agreed to terms with former Philadelphia Eagles running back D’Andre Swift to a three-year deal worth $24.5 million, including $15.3 million guaranteed.

This is a big move for the Bears as they bring him in to lead their running back room. After spending the first three years of his career with the Detroit Lions, he had a career year with the Philadelphia Eagles last season.

In his Pro Bowl season, Swift rushed for 1,049 yards with 4.6 yards per carry and five touchdowns in 16 games. He added 39 receptions for 214 yards and a score.

On the Bears, he should be fed a lot. With rookie quarterback Caleb Williams likely to be joining Chicago next month, having a good running back is very important.

When you sign a guy like Swift, it’s clear that the Bears are trying to make some noise in 2024. After going 7-10 in 2023 and having two top-10 picks, they mean business now.

Watching Swift is very fun, and you can see that in some of his highlights:

As you can see by some of these highlights, this man knows how to run. He can make explosive plays and he can score when given the ball near the end zone.

Bears considered ‘serious suitors’ for RB Saquon Barkley in free agency

According to Jordan Raanan of ESPN, the Bears continue to be linked to running back Saquon Barkley as free agency draws closer.

We’re just hours away from the unofficial beginning of NFL free agency, and dots are starting to be connected when it comes to player interest and possible fits across the league. When it comes to the Chicago Bears, one player has continued to be linked as a possible option, and that is New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley. That continued on Sunday morning with an eye-opening report.

According to Jordan Raanan of ESPN, the Bears are considered to be “serious suitors” for Barkley’s services. He also lists the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers in that same category.

“The Los Angeles Chargers, Baltimore Ravens and Chicago Bears are believed to be serious suitors. The rival Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys have interest, but aren’t expected to reach Barkley’s price point. Still, they shouldn’t be completely counted out because they are, at the very least, involved.”

Raanan’s report comes a few days after Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News had the Bears tied to Barkley as well. This year’s crop of free agent running backs is as deep as ever, and Barkley is widely considered to be the best of the bunch in a list that includes Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, Austin Ekeler, Tony Pollard, and D’Andre Swift. Raanan writes that the price for Barkley will be around $10 million per season, according to numerous NFL executives.

Bears general manager Ryan Poles hasn’t indicated he would be willing to pay top dollar for a veteran running back, but Barkley is a player who can be a game changer in the backfield. The 27-year-old running back is coming off a modest season in which he rushed for 962 yards and six touchdowns in 14 games. He also added 41 receptions for 280 yards and four touchdowns as the Giants’ most consistent offensive player in an otherwise dreadful season.

With over $60 million in free cap space, the Bears could feasibly make a run at Barkley to improve their running game. Though Chicago was second last year in rushing yards per game (141.1), much of that production had to do with quarterback Justin Fields. The Bears would benefit from adding a player of Barkley’s caliber.