Covering the Chicago Bears is like the meme where Donald Glover walks into a room engulfed with flames carrying a pizza. And today figures to be no different.
Today begins with a banger as the Bears reportedly are angling toward staying (and building a new stadium) in Chicago. There is still probably a ways to go in this stadium ordeal. But the inevitability of a move to the suburbs doesn’t look so inevitable now. Stay tuned.
The big story of the day is free agency and the start of the “legal tampering” negotiation window. Yes, I recognize the oxymoron. No, I haven’t come up with something more clever than verbiage that the NFL has hammered into our lexicon. And until someone does the seemingly impossible and finds better words for this, we’re going to keep using it — even if I’d prefer to not do so. Maybe you should come up with something? I’m an ideas guy, but I can’t come up with EVERYTHING.
There are so many free-agency primers cooking. And they all have something juicy. For instance, this one from NBC Sports Chicago’s Josh Schrock has multiple sources telling NBC Sports Chicago that the team is expected to be “active and aggressive” in the defensive line market. We can’t understate this team’s need for a pass rusher opposite of Montez Sweat and a 3-technique defensive tackle to play next to Andrew Billings and/or Gervon Dexter Sr. and/or Zacch Pickens. Watch out for the Bears here.
In his free agency primer, Brad Biggs of the Tribune notes that two league sources have linked the Bears to New York Giants free agent running back Saquon Barkley. Biggs also takes a leap of faith and adds that if the team is kicking around the idea of a Barkley pursuit, that perhaps Josh Jacobs is a fit there, too.
There is also a mention here that the Bears are “expected to be involved” in the veteran running back market:
In addition to Barkley and Jacobs, this crop of free agent backs also includes Derrick Henry, Tony Pollard, D’Andre Swift, and others. I’m not sure how to best attack the position this offseason because there are so many worthwhile options. And while the draft is the ideal place to find your back, unearthing a worthwhile playmaker isn’t the given that some folks make it out to be. It’s easy to lose sight of the misses when all you remember is the hits. But I’m old enough to remember when Jeremy Langford was supposed to be the new Matt Forte and we know that isn’t at all what happened.
For what it’s worth, Courtney Cronin (ESPN) doesn’t think the Bears have to break the bank to upgrade at the running back position. Having Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson in-house helps. But there is something missing in that ground game. And more could be missing if the team decides to trade quarterback Justin Fields, its leading rusher each of the last two seasons.
Adam Caplan’s Pro Football Network mock draft features an anecdote about the Bears’ offseason plans at wide receiver — which could include Washington receiver prospect Rome Odunze:
“We’re told that the Bears are planning to add at least two wide receivers this offseason, and this area is around where Odunze — who our sources say isn’t too far behind Harrison in grades from around the NFL — could be selected.
During our talks with NFL sources at the Combine, there was a growing sense that fourth-year WR Darnell Mooney would be playing elsewhere this coming season, which would leave the door open for adding Odunze here.”
It’s hard to walk away from that bit of news and not think the Bears could double-dip in the receiver pool. Snag a wideout via trade or free agency now. Then come back in April and grab a wideout in the draft. Keep an eye on that possibility.
Our friends at Pro Football Focus predict landing spots for the site’s 100 highest-graded free agents. For the Bears, PFF sees Houston Texans edge rusher Jonathan Greenard (27th overall), Washington Commanders receiver Curtis Samuel (60th), and Los Angeles Chargers tight end Gerald Everett (66th overall) as fits. If the Bears could swing those three deals, then this team would look better today (on paper) than it did when the season ended back in January.
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I’m glad I made meatballs last night so I can snack on while following free agency. This was the recipe I used via my friend Jim.
This Jameson Taillon update is unsettling. (BN Cubs)
Connor Bedard showing off why he was worthy of the No. 1 overall pick in the hockey draft:
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