Tag: Robert Tonyan

Ranking the best Bears offseason acquisitions

We looked at every Bears offseason acquisition made by Ryan Poles to determine which ones were the best.

When the Chicago Bears take the field for the first training camp practice later this month, there will be plenty of new faces to see. General manager Ryan Poles was busy this offseason, overhauling areas of the Bears in hopes of improving upon a league-worst 3-14 record.

But with premium draft capital and the most available cap space of any team in the league, Poles made plenty of moves to bring in new players that should help the Bears rebound. Some moves were flashy signings that took place at the start of free agency. Others were late-round draft picks who could turn out to be steals. But which ones were the best?

Here is our ranking of the best Bears offseason moves thus far in 2023.

30 Most Important Bears of 2023: No. 28 Robert Tonyan

Up next in our 30 Most Important Bears is Robert Tonyan, who gives the Bears the reliable No. 2 TE option they lacked last season.

The Chicago Bears are gearing up for the 2023 NFL season, which features plenty of new and returning faces within the organization. There are a number of players, coaches and front office members that are crucial to the team’s success this season.

Every day from now until the start of training camp, we’re counting down our 30 Most Important Bears for the 2023 season. We’ll recap their 2022 season, look ahead to 2023 and tackle the biggest question facing them this year.

At No. 28 is tight end Robert Tonyan, who gives the Bears the reliable No. 2 option they lacked last season.

Where Bears’ offensive supporting cast ranks among rest of NFL

How does the Bears’ offensive supporting cast compare to the rest of the NFL?

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The Chicago Bears upgraded their supporting cast this offseason in an effort to build around quarterback Justin Fields and help get the passing attack on track.

That included the additions of some big names, most notably wide receiver DJ Moore, as well as receiver Tyler Scott, running backs Roschon Johnson and D’Onta Foreman and tight end Robert Tonyan. They join an offensive group that also includes receivers Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool, running back Khalil Herbert and tight end Cole Kmet.

But how does the Bears’ offensive supporting cast compare to the rest of the NFL?

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell ranked all 32 teams based on their offensive supportive casts — running backs, wide receivers and tight ends. The Bears landed at No. 17, which is a huge jump after ranking 31st and 26th in the previous two seasons. Moore is obviously a big reason why.

Operation “Get Justin Fields a Top Wide Receiver” landed a legitimate No. 1 this offseason in former Carolina star DJ Moore. Moore has stayed healthy and productive, outside of a curious aversion to touchdowns, despite subpar quarterback play. He’s coming off arguably his worst season as a pro, as he played virtually every snap and managed only 888 receiving yards, but he is still just 26. Moore was the best wideout the Bears could have added this offseason, and he’ll be a major help for Fields in 2023.

Chicago had the league’s best rushing attack last season, led by Fields and Herbert. Now, they add Johnson and Foreman to the mix. But while the run game should once again be a strength, it’s the passing game that’s the focal point this season.

The Bears had the worst passing attack in the NFL, which wasn’t helped by Fields’ lack of a supporting cast and pass protection. Now, those areas have been addressed putting Chicago in a position to make a splash in the passing game.

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Bears should consider signing TE Marcedes Lewis ahead of training camp

The Bears could still use a blocking tight end and Marcedes Lewis is looking for a home. Here’s why the two would be a good match.

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There’s still about a month to go before the Chicago Bears return to Halas Hall for the start of training camp but there are roster upgrades that can still be made before practices begin. While the talk of improving the roster at this point in the offseason has centered around the edge rusher position, there are other areas that could benefit from a signing or two. One of them is tight end where an aging, but excellent blocking specialist is still looking for a home.

Free agent tight end Marcedes Lewis, one of the oldest players in the NFL, is still looking for a place to call home for the 2023 season and the Bears are a logical landing spot for his services. Lewis was drafted in 2006 by the Jacksonville Jaguars but spent the last five years with the Green Bay Packers as a blocking tight end and has shown to still be effective well into his late 30s. He seemed destined to follow his former quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets but it doesn’t appear a reunion is in the cards, leaving Lewis to ponder where he might wind up.

In a recent interview with Mark Long of the Associated Press, Lewis says a few teams have called and still has confidence in his abilities. “My agent is in talks with a handful of teams, but it’s just small talk. I guess teams are trying to figure out their rosters and what they need,” Lewis said. “But if you just look at my film from the last three years, there’s no decline in what I’m able to do. I’m the best blocking tight end out there.”

Being a key blocking tight end has kept Lewis in the league for the last few years and it’s something the Bears could still use. They lost last year’s blocking specialist Trevon Wesco in free agency to the Jets and haven’t exactly filled his vacancy yet.

The team’s key move at the position this offseason was signing Robert Tonyan in free agency, a former teammate of Lewis’ in Green Bay. Tonyan will back up and compliment Cole Kmet, but his blocking leaves a lot to be desired. Behind the two of them are Chase Allen, Stephen Carlson, and Jake Tonges, all of whom will be battling for a spot on the team when camp begins.

Having a player like Lewis to fill that role would be a welcome addition for a team that relied on extra tight ends as blockers. Kmet will rarely leave the field and will be relied on as both a blocker and receiver. But Wesco played around 20 snaps per game last year and made key blocks that sprung long runs for the Bears, helping them gain the most yards on the ground in team history.

Lewis played that role the last few years for the Packers and helped elevate their rushing attack. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF) via Dairyland Express, Lewis earned the seventh-highest run-blocking grade among 84 tight ends last season.

The 39-year old also would have some familiarity with the offense and certain personnel. Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy spent three years with him in Green Bay while Tonyan was his teammate at the position for the last five years. In fact, Tonyan developed a bond with Lewis during their time in Green Bay and the two grew very close.

“He cares about me and I know that,” Tonyan said about Lewis last August on the “Bussin’ With the Boys” podcast via Packer Report. “For what we talk about and what he’s done for me on and off the field, showing me things I’ve never experienced from a little small farm town in Illinois and he’s from LA. He just made sure I experienced stuff that I wouldn’t get to experience in the right way, and that is the most influential person with football that I’ve ever been around for me.”

A player like Lewis isn’t going to make or break the Bears offense, but having an extra tight end to create running lanes for the running backs as well as quarterback Justin Fields is never a bad thing. His former teammates also laud his leadership on and off the field. We’ll see how the position shakes out as camp approaches but Lewis makes sense for the Bears.

Bears TE Robert Tonyan says NFC North is ‘wide open’

New Bears TE Robert Tonyan is excited to play in a “wide open” NFC North.

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When Bears general manager Ryan Poles was hired last year, he made a vow that Chicago would “take the (NFC) North and never give it back.”

While it didn’t go to plan in the first season of his rebuild, the division certainly appears up for grabs now.

Aaron Rodgers is with the Jets and the Packers are transitioning. The Lions are ascending and the favorites in the division. The Vikings have talent but are due for regression. The Bears overhauled their roster and are poised for a jump. Simply put, the division is ripe for the taking.

“It’s wide open,” Bears tight end Robert Tonyan said. “That’s the best part. Everyone is young. Everyone is new. You have good players on every team. That’s the thing. There is no favorite. And it’s wide open. And that’s exactly where you want to be.”

Still, the perception is that it’s a two-team race for the division between the Lions and Vikings. The Bears are the underdogs, and Tonyan wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I love where we are at. Overlooked, underrated, whatever you want to call it,” Tonyan said. “But they still gotta step on the field because they’ve got to see us. I’m excited.”

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Bears have new swagger heading into 2023 season

The Bears only won 3 games last season, but they slammed a door on 2022. “This is the 2023 Chicago Bears. We got a whole new identity.”

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The Chicago Bears only won three games last season, but there’s plenty of optimism surrounding this team heading into 2023. And that starts with the mindset inside the locker room.

One thing that’s been evident this offseason is that there’s a new swagger about this 2023 Bears squad, which is confident, passionate and ready to prove doubters wrong.

“The energy is just so intense out there right now,” safety Eddie Jackson said. “When you get a bunch of guys like that, you’re going to create something special. … The type of guys we have in the locker room, real leaders, guys who really care about football.”

The Bears have some new veteran faces on the roster, including defensive lineman DeMarcus Walker, who have contributed to the culture.

When asked about his awareness of the team’s struggles last season, which included losing their final 10 games, Walker slammed a door on 2022.

“This is the 2023 Chicago Bears,” he said. “We got a whole new identity, whole new offense, whole new defense, whole new group of guys. Honestly, f–k that s–t.”

Not only do the Bears have a new-look roster, but the NFC North is wide open and ripe for the taking following Aaron Rodgers’ departure to the New York Jets. New tight end Robert Tonyan likes the Bears’ chances in the divison.

“I love where we are at,” he said. “Overlooked, underrated. Whatever you want to call it. They still have to step on the field and beat us.”

The Bears will have to prove it on the field when the season kicks off Sept. 10. But if last season is any indication — where Matt Eberflus kept his team competitive in most games despite having arguably the league’s worst roster — Chicago could go from worst to first.

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WATCH: Justin Fields finds Robert Tonyan for one-handed touchdown at Bears minicamp

The Bears wrapped up their mandatory minicamp on Thursday, but gave fans a parting gift as they left Halas Hall.

The Chicago Bears wrapped up their mandatory minicamp on Thursday, but gave fans a parting gift as they left Halas Hall. Following the final practice, the Bears posted video of a highlight that took place featuring quarterback Justin Fields and tight end Robert Tonyan.

The highlight was a dart thrown by Fields to Tonyan in the end zone, who made a one-handed grab to secure the touchdown. The ball was thrown just over linebacker T.J. Edwards’ hand and Tonyan was covered by safety Elijah Hicks.

The talk of the offseason has been the Bears’ addition of wide receiver D.J. Moore, but Tonyan is another new face in this offense and Fields is finding ways to get him the ball. Tonyan signed a one-year deal in free agency back in March after spending the last six seasons with the Green Bay Packers. Playing alongside Cole Kmet, Tonyan should see plenty of opportunities as a complimentary player in the offense.

This highlight might be the last one fans see for a while as the team is off until training camp later next month, but it has many of them pumped for what’s to come.

Bears TE Robert Tonyan reacts to Justin Jones’ comments about Packers fans

After DT Justin Jones slammed Packers fans, former Packer and new Bears TE Robert Tonyan shared his reaction.

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Tight end Robert Tonyan is well versed in the Bears-Packers rivalry. Not only did he grow up rooting for the Bears, but he played on the opposite side — the wrong side, if you will — with the Packers before signing with Chicago this offseason.

So after defensive tackle Justin Jones slammed Packers fans for being
“s—y,” “obnoxious” and how “half of them don’t even know football,” Tonyan was the person to go with a reaction.

Tonyan, who spent the last six years in Green Bay, told reporters Jones’ comments on the Packers were “funny.”

“JJ is a little opinionated on that and I like that,” Tonyan said. “…but you could say anything about any fanbase.”

Following Aaron Rodgers’ departure to the Jets, it’s a new-look NFC North that’s ripe for the taking.

“I love where we are at. Overlooked, underrated,” Tonyan said. “Whatever you want to call it. They still have to step on the field and beat us.”

Tonyan, who grew up in McHenry, Ill., will get to face off against his former team twice this season, including to open the 2023 season at Soldier Field.

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Bears 2023 NFL draft preview: Where does Chicago stand at TE?

Next up in our Bears NFL draft preview series is tight end, which already looks improved with Robert Tonyan joining Cole Kmet.

The Chicago Bears have had a busy offseason, working to improve the team following their historic 3-14 run during the 2022 season during general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus’ first year with the team. Now going into Year 2, Poles and Eberflus are working to get the Bears back to relevancy and build a foundation that will eventually lead to postseason success.

Following their free agency frenzy, the Bears are setting their sights towards the 2023 NFL draft, which is quickly approaching. After initially winding up with the No. 1 overall pick, the Bears moved down to No. 9 following a lucrative trade with the Carolina Panthers. They will look to shore up certain positions such as offensive tackle and defensive line that still have glaring holes.

Here at Bears Wire, we’re going position by position to break down where Chicago stands entering the NFL draft. Up next is tight end, which has a pair of capable pass catchers at the top of the depth chart.

2023 Bears free agency: Contract details for new players

Here’s a look at the basic contracts for the Bears’ new additions through the first wave of free agency.

The first couple of weeks of free agency are in the books, and the Chicago Bears have added a handful of new players to the roster.

While Bears general manager Ryan Poles invested a lot into the linebacker position, he also negotiated some bargain contracts for starters and depth pieces.

Still, the Bears are sitting in a great position with the salary cap. They still have around $38 million in available cap space — most in the league — to make additional moves in the later waves of free agency and for the upcoming rookie draft class.

Here’s a look at the basic contracts for the Bears’ new additions during the first wave of free agency:

Note: New details will be added as they become available.