Drafting For a Dynasty, Find the Rookies, Madden Tips, and Other Bears Bullets

Maybe it’s just me, but breakfast is better when (1) I cook it for someone else or (2) someone cooks it for me. But when I cook it for myself, I often find myself wondering how I could’ve made it better. That constant pursuit of perfection doesn’t end, does it?

  • Do you remember when the Madden games were good? I do. And I know they haven’t been the same since they got rid of mini-camp drills:
  • EA Sports is right. If it’s in the game, it’s in the game. And just as it is the case that football is better when you do the simple stuff better, I bet Madden’s NFL game would be an improved product if it followed that bit of instruction. Doing the little things better will make for a great game. Here’s hoping some folks at Madden get around to seeing this section of Bullets. Bonus points if they want to throw in a PS5 and a game my way. My DMs are open!
  • Part of me is looking forward to playing Madden when it drops with friends because the Bears offense might be usable for a change. Justin Fields should have arm strength, speed, and elusiveness ratings rise after his 2022 season. Adding DJ Moore as a go-to receiver should make a difference. And if you’re someone like me who loves working the intermediate routes because their friends do everything to take the deep ball away, Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool working underneath routes could do damage. I can’t believe I’m looking forward to a Madden release. Weird.
  • I’m not sure what to make of the Bears’ defense (at least when it comes to the next Madden game). Traditionally, Chicago’s defense has long been playable in video games. The only teams that could keep video game Mike Vick in check were ones that had Brian Urlacher patrolling the middle. But that defense isn’t walking through the door this year. Is it better than the group we last saw take the field in early January? It sure looks that way. But we don’t quite know how these new puzzle pieces will fit. Then again, I’m not too worried about it. We’re in May, after all.
  • Jadeveon Clowney’s name is one of the high-profile names still hanging around on the free agent market. And while I’ve begun talking myself into him as a possible Bears fit, there’s been no movement on that front. For what it’s worth, Clowney seems to have an interest in returning to the Texans:
  • Clowney has been alternating good years with bad as of late. Last year was a down year, so I think we can guess what is coming next. With that in mind, shouldn’t teams be jumping through hoops to bring him on board for a one-year “prove it” deal? At least, that’s how I’d see it.
  • Can you spot the Bears rookies?
  • Over at BN’s NFL wing, Patrick dives into more rookie talk and asks who should be taken with the first pick in a dynasty super-flex rookie draft:
  • Yours truly has the Nos. 3 and 10 picks at his disposal after a year of tanking, so I found this relevant to my interests. And while my draft won’t come until August, I’ve seen that some people are doing drafts as early as now. For me, it’s too early to be neck-deep in fantasy draft discussions. However, it is never too early to be knowledgeable. Presuming Falcons RB Bijan Robinson goes first overall, maybe I’ll roll the dice on Colts QB Anthony Richardson and Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba if possible. Keeping tabs on Vikings WR Jordan Addison and Ravens WR Zay Flowers for later picks makes sense, too. It feels like last year’s key to my two championship-winning teams last year at Yahoo! and ESPN was stockpiling RBs and WRs. Maybe I’ll apply that thinking to this other league.
  • P.S.: I just want to let you know that I hate that I’m tanking while I have Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. However, the rest of the team I inherited two years ago is a bloody mess. Guess I’ll follow the Ryan Poles plan and build through the draft.
  • Carolina’s hockey team was doomed as soon as The Athletic’s Mark Lazerus hit send on this tweet:
  • Can we get him to bang the drum before all Carolina Panthers home games? That would be one way to re-pay the Bears franchise that gave him $18 million to masquerade as a starting QB for a few weeks in 2017.
  • Saturday’s Cubs-Phillies game felt over before the bottom of the first could come to an end. But hey, that gave our friends at BN Cubs some time to round up some much-needed prospect highlights.
  • Eli has a scary offseason thought (as if there are any other kinds right now). (BN Bulls)
  • written by

    Luis C. Medina, who you can find on Twitter at lcm1986, has been covering the Chicago Bears at Bleacher Nation since 2017. Since then, he has written about 3 head coaches, 5 play-callers, and 11 starting quarterbacks. Previously, Luis wrote about the Cubs and MLB at BN (2015-16) and worked in the Chicago Tribune sports department (2011-16). He also co-hosted a Cubs postgame show, Outside the Ivy, in 2019.

    more bears news

    Take a Look at the New Chicago Bears Stadium Renderings

    The Chicago Bears unveiled plans for their downtown lakefront stadium proposal on Wednesday. And as you might expect, it is very kind on the eyes: https://twitter.com/ChicagoBears/status/1783185834490888461 The Bears even gave the project a code name — The Burnham Park Project: The...

    Amon-Ra St. Brown Signs MASSIVE Extention With Lions

    We have a new highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL! According to a report from NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, the Lions have made Amon-Ra St. Brown the richest wideout in the NFL with a four-year, $120 million contract extension...

    Chicago Bears 2024 NFL Draft Fits: Offensive Linemen

    The 2024 NFL Draft begins Thursday. Chicago Bears General Manager Ryan Poles, Assistant GM Ian Cunningham, Head Coach Matt Eberflus, and others will put their heads together to come up with a winning plan for the team’s four picks (Nos....

    Stadium Stuff, Rome and Caleb, New Bears Hires, and Other Bears Bullets

    The 2024 NFL Draft is just one day away. Soon, we'll get to hear those magic words: "The Chicago Bears are on the clock." And they'll mean something! ICYMI: The Bears, who are set to have a press conference at...

    Ian Cunningham is Getting an Extension From the Bears

    Ian Cunningham is set to stick around for a little while longer. The Chicago Bears assistant general manager is getting some years tacked on to his contract, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. No details on how many more years are...

    The Bears Are Expected to Ask For Some Public Money For New Stadium

    If you have followed pro sports stadium projects in the past, then you probably are aware that taxpayers tend to end up footing a hearty chunk of the bill. And while the Chicago Bears have not yet made public their...

    Bears GM Ryan Poles Isn’t Necessarily Looking to Trade For More Draft Picks

    Ryan Poles has done well in creating a bevy of picks in each of his first two NFL Draft classes as Chicago Bears general manager. And even though the Bears have a league-low four picks in this week's NFL Draft,...

    Chicago Bears 7-Round Mock Draft: 4.0

    We’re just over 24 hours from the NFL Draft, and all I can say is finally. Finally, we’re done with the speculation. I’ll never forget the Bears Twitter Civil War of 2024 centered around the Caleb Williams vs. Justin Fields...

    There is a Growing Consensus on How Bears Will Use the No. 9 Pick

    As part of his latest NFL Draft notebook, CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones shares what he has heard about the Chicago Bears plan on doing with the No. 9 pick. "Sources around the league seem to believe the Chicago...

    Things You Love to See: Rome Odunze and Caleb Williams are Already Getting Along

    Caleb Williams will be the starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears next season. We've known that for some time, and it will become official on Thursday. The only question that remains is who's joining him? There's a strong chance that...

    Latest News

    Cubs Outfield Prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong Coming Up

    With Cody Bellinger headed to the Injured List with a rib fracture, the Cubs are in need of another outfielder: center field prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong is coming back up to the big leagues for the second time. https://twitter.com/670TheScore/status/1783217891195625709 Crow-Armstrong, 22,...

    Jonas Valančiūnas Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Thunder – NBA Playoffs Game 2, Wednesday, April 24, 2024

    The New Orleans Pelicans play the Oklahoma City Thunder at 9:30 PM ET on Wednesday, in Game 2 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, and one of the 3-pointer props available for this matchup requires just one trey...

    CRAAAAAP: Cody Bellinger to the Injured List (UPDATES)

    So much for all those words of optimism and negative X-rays. After colliding with the outfield wall last night, Cody Bellinger fractured his rib and will hit the injured list today. Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell just said as much...

    San Jose Sharks Fire Head Coach David Quinn

    When you finish with the worst record in the NHL, it's hard to keep your job. Even when the front office strips your roster to the bare bones, apparently. And on Wednesday, David Quinn found out the San Jose Sharks...

    Take a Look at the New Chicago Bears Stadium Renderings

    The Chicago Bears unveiled plans for their downtown lakefront stadium proposal on Wednesday. And as you might expect, it is very kind on the eyes: https://twitter.com/ChicagoBears/status/1783185834490888461 The Bears even gave the project a code name — The Burnham Park Project: The...

    CJ McCollum Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Thunder – NBA Playoffs Game 2, Wednesday, April 24, 2024

    CJ McCollum's New Orleans Pelicans play the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday at 9:30 PM ET in Game 2 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, and to beat his 3-point prop, he must make four from downtown.CJ McCollum's...

    Brandon Ingram Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Thunder – NBA Playoffs Game 2, Wednesday, April 24, 2024

    The New Orleans Pelicans meet the Oklahoma City Thunder at 9:30 PM ET on Wednesday, in Game 2 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, and one of the 3-pointer over/unders available for this matchup requires just one trey...

    Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Pelicans – NBA Playoffs Game 2, Wednesday, April 24, 2024

    To beat his 3-point prop, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander needs to make two from downtown on Wednesday, when his Oklahoma City Thunder face the New Orleans Pelicans in Game 2 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, beginning at 9:30 PM...

    Cubs Farm Report | April 24, 2024: Kevin Alcántara Cannot Miss Right Now

    Name a player hotter than Kevin Alcántara right now. Go ahead, I'll wait. (He's already raking again today. Literally as I type this.) More on Alcántara's big day and the Smokies home run parade last night in today's Cubs Farm...

    Oof: Blake Snell to the Injured List Just Three Horrible Starts into His Giants Career

    Just three starts into his San Francisco Giants career, Blake Snell is heading to the injured list with a left-adductor strain. Oof. You hate to even say it — and who really knows if this was related — but early...

    more bears news