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Tonight, We’ll Talk About Justin Fields and Caleb Williams One Last Time

| March 19th, 2024

See you later this evening for tonight’s stream.

Your Turn: How are you feeling today?

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208 Comments

What A Wild Weekend

| March 18th, 2024

If you’re reading this blog, you know what happened this weekend. The 11th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft was traded from Chicago to Pittsburgh on Saturday for a 4th round conditional pick in next year’s draft.

https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1769131145688461483


There will be a new QB in Chicago, and by all accounts that will be Caleb Williams. Williams will immediately walk into one of the best supporting casts that a #1 pick has had in recent memory. It’s an exciting time to be a Bears fan, if bittersweet.

All the best to Justin, he’s done nothing but represent Chicago well during his time as a Bear. He deserved a shot elsewhere, and I’m glad he’ll get one in Pittsburgh.

Everyone gets to turn the page. Fans, players, and front office members. Whatever happens from here, it’ll be an off-season to be remembered.


Nick and I recapped the weekend on the latest episode of Bear With Us — check it out and let me know what you think.

Your Turn: What’s your take on the Fields trade?

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6-Time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen is Now a Chicago Bear

| March 15th, 2024

Late last night, the Chicago Bears acquired Chargers all-star WR Keenan Allen for their 4th round pick (#110) in the 2024 NFL Draft. I’ve got some quick thoughts on the move:

  • Turns out that hole in the Bears’ cap created from Jaylon Johnson & D’Andre Swift’s deals had a purpose
  • Obviously this is a move focused on 2024, but I don’t mind the emphasis on next season. 2024 is a massive year for the entire Bears’ organization — in all likelihood, they’ll attempt to develop a rookie QB while competing for a playoff spot. If, therefore, the biggest critique of this move is that Chicago paid too much draft capital & 2024 salary dollars for an offensive leader that should spur the rookie’s development, I think we’ll all survive. Frankly, I think it’s refreshing to see the Bears over-address the young QB’s supporting cast for once.
  • Regardless of which Quarterback ultimately starts for the Bears next year, Keenan Allen should be a stabilizing force in the Bears’ down-to-down passing offense. He specializes in option routes, short-yardage routes, and playing within structure — all of which Caleb Williams and Justin Fields struggle with, meaning Allen could provide a strong guiding hand.
    • If we’re splitting hairs, I think timing routes will likely remain an issue for Justin Fields whereas Caleb Williams’ college tape shows signs of inconsistency more than an outright inability to play within structure, but this isn’t a Caleb Williams breakdown. Regardless of starter, Keenan should help sharpen a short-passing blade that was quite dull throughout 2023.

My overall grade? I like it. The fun factor is ~10/10. I’ve also already assumed that Matt Eberflus begged Poles to let him draft a 1st round defender anyways, so if this move is Poles’ way of making sure Chicago has weapons for a key 2024 season? I dig it.

This does make me wonder what the Bears’ plan is at WR going forward, but we can cross that bridge later. I’d love to draft a 2nd or 3rd round WR to develop throughout the year (Keon Coleman, Roman Wilson, Ricky Pearsall, etc), but I don’t know that the Bears will prioritize that. Also, is Keenan getting extended past 2024? I could see it, but he’ll be 33 next season. We’ll have to wait and see.

For now… Chicago added a 6-time Pro Bowler that’s a god amongst chain-moving WRs. He pairs perfectly with DJ Moore’s ability to threaten all levels of the field as well — those two should be monsters in 12-personnel.

I’m excited to see how this plays out — what an exciting time to be a Bears fan! What will Poles do from here? We’re just going to have to wait and see,

Bonus: Breaking Down Keenan Allen’s Route Running

Below I threw in some of my favorite clips from a light film study last night — check it out and let me know what you think.

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332 Comments

All-22uesday Review: Taking An Early Look At Chicago’s Free Agent Class

| March 13th, 2024

Bonus:

Kevin Byard, D’Andre Swift, Gerald Everett, and Jonathan Owens are now Chicago Bears! But how good are they? What do they bring to the team? And who remains unsigned that Ryan Poles may target? Robert & Nick review all this and more on the latest episode of Bear With Us!

Your Turn: Who’s left out there that you’d like to see signed?

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498 Comments

Free Agency Open Thread: With Kevin Byard Signed, Who’s Next?

| March 11th, 2024

According to a PFF metric called “True Cap Space” (shown below), your Chicago Bears have the 3rd most cap space to make use of over the next few days.

Does that mean we’ll see splash signings? I really don’t know — Ryan Poles’ cagey approach to the Bears’ Free Agency plans has left me grasping at straws when looking for future moves. But with cap space like this to burn, I’d be surprised if Chicago doesn’t have at least one major signing by the time Monday’s dust has settled — who will it be? Let’s find out together.

As if he’s anticipating a big week, Ryan Poles got the Bears’ Free Agency party started early with the signing of former Titans and Eagles safety Kevin Byard — my brief thoughts on him are listed below, but we’ll have more on each of the signed Free Agents later throughout the week.

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Ryan Bates, Jaylon Johnson, and the Final Days Before Free Agency Frenzy

| March 7th, 2024

The latest episode of Bear With Us is out — give it a listen below!

In it, we talk through:

  • Thoughts on Ryan Poles trading for Ryan Bates
  • What does Jaylon Johnson’s franchise tag mean for his long-term extension?
  • More discussion surrounding what to do at Pick #9 (or #5, as recent mocks have suggested)
  • Nick’s list of potential Free Agents that tick all his Bears boxes
  • And much, much more

Check it out and let me know what you think!

Your Turn: What moves do you want to see made in the upcoming Free Agency window?

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