All Activity

The Vanilla Gorilla? https://bearswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/bears/2026/04/27/bears-signed-six-top-undrafted-free-agents-caden-barnett/89820082007/

There are a few RBs I already like because I expected them to enter this past draft. I hope no earlier than round 3.

If Poles is cooking something, then that makes the draft make more sense because you don't want to lock in a roster spot (due to draft pick status) if you need the spot available for a move like this.

Yeah, I can fault any of the picks or free agent moves we made, except that I think we need an Edge Rusher somewhere in there. Maybe a move is still coming.

From everything I have looked at, it appears to me Squirrel White, Jayden Loving and Caden Bennett have a chance to make the 53 man roster. Several others could land on the practice squad. This is area that Poles has had some success.

If the Bears get one more vet, like Cam Jordan or DaJuan Jones, I would be happy. Bosa would be a consolation prize, but I almost think run stopping is a bigger issue than the pass rush, but both are equally bad.

Oh no, there are a bunch of NFC North non-Bears on there. However, I remember mocks with Chop Robinson, Myles Murphy, and Siaka Ika on them for the Bears. All crazy busts.

Here is the players they brought in for the defense this offseason. At DT: Gallimore/FA-Street/FA-Lynch/FA-Van Der Berg/draft/ Loving/UDFA At DE: O At LB: Bush/FA-Elliott/draft-Sanborn/FA-D Jackson/FA At CB: Mahammad/draft-Jalyon Jones/FA-KC Eziomume/UDFA At S: Bryant/FA-Cam Lewis/FA-Hicks/FA-Theineman/draft-Skyler Thomas/UDFA The DE didnt get any bodies. I expect them to bring in a FA. If Booker played the full season(8 games) he could have reached 10 sacks. He had 4.5 sacks but had two taken away for roughing penalties. I think 9 more games could have gotten him 3.5 sacks. Dayo was injured and expect him to contribute . He is the perfect fit for DAs defense. We still need to see production but they wont be cutting him. Turner was hurt and has an upside. They will expect him to take a step. He has a non stop motor, nasty attitude and traits. Not any different than what they might expect from a rookie. Street has played DE besides DT. If I remember correctly our defense played well against the Rams in the last game. With all the new bodies and players coming back they will get better. Throw in they now have scheme fit players at every spot for DA. That should improve the over all defense.

Squirrel can play. I watched some highlights. He caught a lot of contested, under thrown, balls

I would not be surprised if they went RB really early.

I note that Travon Walker is a free agent next year, who seems like a very DA DE.

The names really don't matter at this time, just going off positions. Finding a DE that fits the DA profile could be difficult if we pick 25 or later. At least DTs being smaller 3T types are easier to find later.

I have no idea if any of these players are any good but It appears you are addressing the same areas we needed in our 2027. That's the thing that is up in the air, where our needs will develop.

I just listened to a scout with OurLads scouting website talk about Squirrel White and said he will be a huge surprise to the fanbase. Like AZ said, he has speed that isnt reflected in his listed 20s time.

Recover has a lot to do with will and determination. He appears to have all of those intangibles. Adrian Peterson tore his ACL and MCL in a knee on Dec 24 and came back the next year to rush for 2097 yards and played in the first game. Medicine these days are more advanced than 2012. Everything does not follow the 12 month recover plan.

I see what you saw but the bears arent ignoring him by there draft dictated. Poles has hits and misses but as long as he is on the roster , Im all in on having hope. Also DA was in on drafting Turner and bringing in Dayo, they are both scheme fits for what he wants. I heard Wannsted on the radio this morning and he said that this defense will be better overall because they brought in more players overall. More speed in all spots on the defense.

Agree with that, they can be both and not just one or the other. It worked out last year when we lead that same category.

Like you said, he looks like Billings that can move. One year in the pros as they build his body , he could become a rotational starter. The 3 DTs they brought in Gallimore-Street-Lynch, depending on how they play will determine what rookies make the 53. Every where James Lynch has been praised. He was never a big snap guy so he doesnt have big stats but his last year in college he had 41 Ts-14.5 TFL-13.5 Ss- 5 PDs-3 FFs. Those are insane numbers for a DT. I dont know if he wasnt in the right scheme but he may surprise fans. When Billings came here, he was a low grade signing but produced for two years and fell off last year.

Lol. IDK if he's Lovie 2.0. I'm seeing football players first, then RAS as a bonus.

Nobody is ignoring Turner. He should help, especially at 3T. Not so much on the EDGE. Dayo is simply an afterthought. He wasn't any good before he got hurt. How's he supposed to look after? I have my thoughts and they aren't good.

The eventual trading or cutting of Kmet will come next yr . Some people complain about the Roush pick but he is his replacement. They will restructure a few more players to get with what money they need to get by.

I liked DJ Moore a lot but with Rome and Burden now on the roster and expected to take the next step that is just the progression of football. They have Walker that everyone liked and brought in Raymond. Now they drafted Thomas. BJ wanted more speed and they got it, I take that as a positive and cant wait to see BJ used these weapons. Roush will take Smythes place that had 25% of the snaps. Roush adds to the run game with his blocking, the main reason he was drafted. Everyone is ignoring Dayo and Turner making a contribution this year. I think they will bring in another DE (Cam Jordan) would be a good pickup. They expect a better pass rush threw growth( Jarrett healthy, Booker) along with injured players being back. Add in Van Der Berg and a DE vet and they have upgraded last years DL. IMO We are all use to being the defensive minded Chicago Bears but we are now the BJ offense team and they are trying to have an adequate defense. Im okay with that.

we traded moore, if not a #1 receiver then certainly a #2, who can not only make spectacular catches but is tough as nails for a third string tight end. if anyone believes that is a good trade i have a swamp i would like to sell.

They added speed and took the BPA according to their board. Although I am disappointed because they didnt get Jacas, they played the board right. NE moved up two spots in front of them to get Jacas or they would have drafted him at 57 and then took Jones at 60. It just didnt work out. The big outlier here was when Dalman all of a sudden retired. They scrambled to get the best vet at a reasonable price and then took the best center in the draft. BJ values the center position to work with Caleb and that's how they addressed it. We dont know how they valued the edge players left (Dennis-Sutton) went at 120 but they drafted Roush-Thomas. We will have to see how that works out. They clearly were targeting Van Der Berg later in the draft to pass up the DT position. They value Dayo and Turner more than the pundits and fans. They know medicals that we dont . Those two will be in the DE room that replaces any later round draft picks. I think they hit on Mummamd/CB and Elliott/LB but time will tell. Van Der Berg may not contribute right away but looks like a high ceiling on being very good. 10.0 RAS score is insane. The best DT score since they started using that metric. Reviewing Scouting Takes on Bears Picks I'm going through some scouting reports, and I just wanted to share the theme about almost every single one of these players. I'm mostly looking at the intangibles. To my mind, right or wrong, Ben Johnson feels he understands what it takes for a player with non-traditional measurements to succeed - a "what would I do without football?" lifer, and someone who is tough and competitive. Does that toughness and intelligence push smaller guys like Thieneman, Thomas, and Muhammed, and short-armed players like Jones, Roush, and Van den Berg to excel? We'll have to see, but to me, that's the clear theme here: smart guys who live and breathe football, are tough, and work their asses off. Agree with it or not, but my read on this is that Ben Johnson and Ryan Poles believe that: a) if a guy is a really good athlete, b) and he lives and breathes football, c) and he's smart and a leader, they will be able to coach that player into a good football player. Dillon Thieneman, S, No. 25 He's a scheme fit and a decent pick here Fast as hell Logan Jones, C, No. 57 Refits his hands quickly and efficiently for recoveries in pass pro (will protect Caleb Williams) Finished career going 17 straight games without a penalty (tell me Johnson wasn't pissed about the penalties last year) Rugged demeanor and hates coming off the field (Johnson's type of player) High-intangibles kid (NFL scout: “Pushes himself to the max. … I wish all our guys loved the grind like he does.”) (Bears' culture) Great athlete (won 100m dash in 6th and 7th grade in city track meets) Sam Roush, TE, No. 69 Strains in his blocking and plays with competitive edge Described as “down-to-earth, all-ball” player who willingly overachieves One of just six combine prospects (out of 319) who competed in every drill No stranger to special teams (529 career snaps) Zavion Thomas, WR, No. 89 Beloved in LSU program for his “positive energy” and “grinding attitude” Fast as hell Malik Muhammed, CB, No. 124 Hates to come off the field (Muhammad after missing one game in 2025: “I feel like I let my team down.”) Fast, great athlete Keyshaun Elliot, LB, No. 166 Extra coach on the field — communicates all calls to his teammates Described as an “A-plus kid” with “grown-man maturity” by coaching staff Sophomore team captain at New Mexico State; voted to the team’s Pat Tillman Leadership Council both of his seasons at Arizona State Already a professional in terms of his work ethic and study habits (NFL scout: “He wears out the coaches — in the best way possible.”) Fast, good athlete Jordan van den Berg, DT, No. 213 His motor is relentless, and his coaches said he was one of the team’s best leaders because of the example he set. He also brings outstanding personal and football character (he used his NIL money to become a small-busine

At this point, I’m pretty sure NGS and RAS cause Ben an erection.