Sounds like Illinois is in the process of finalizing an agreement for Arlington heights site.  So I expect we'll see shovels in the ground sooner than we think at the Bears preferred site.  

I think the problem is I can’t see someone offering a 2nd..if they did he is gone. A 3rd is probably what it would take but Bears may prefer to wait a year in that case. If it happens I think a 3rd with a conditional pick in the following year - if he hits it big maybe it escalates to a 2nd and if it doesn’t hit goes as low as an additional 5th or 6th. 

Biggs mentioned today combine would be where the Bears would maybe ask about the picks. Biggs is super connected and he didn’t want to get Bears fans hopes up but figured fact he said it meant he heard they were at least going to try. Would be big to get those picks. 

Very boring game. 

1 hour ago, Alaskan Grizzly said:

I have a feeling he’s a Ben Johnson coat tailer.  Something tells me he’ll be unemployed by the end of next season.  
 

This post brought to you courtesy of Pendleton Whiskey. 

Sean Payton raved about him too. He’s a really bright mind…might be a year or two too early but he’s worked a few years with two of the better offensive minds in this league. 

6 hours ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

The 2026 salary cap is said to be around 301 to 305 million.  The Bears are sitting around 304.  They can make a few salary adjustments and move 1 or 2 players to add enough to sign a notable player, their draft picks, and in season operating needs.  It will be a tight year but don't think they will sit on their hands. 

They will also likely with Wright to a big money extension. 

Greg Gabriel was reporting that it all comes down to the contract - so once Cunningham has signed his deal (which probably happened late last night) it will go to the league offices who will basically see who has control of 53. But beyond that - I just want to keep the point clear - huge congrats to Cunningham and its nice to see other team(s) wanting our people. I'm curious to see who Bears replace him with...presume Jeff King wlil get promoted but I'm also hoping we see the Bears bring someone from otuside to ensure they are building a deep front office with depth, experience, and relationships across the league.  

And to be clear I have to think the NFL will get this right cause this is just a bunch of nonsense if the don’t reward Bears with the 2 picks. But hey it’s gotten to this point so maybe I am wrong. 

Congrats to Ian and shame on the league if it does end up this way. I really hope league comes to their senses here. 

49 minutes ago, Stinger226 said:

We need safeties too but BJ values that line. They will address both. One of the first 3 picks will be a LT , probably the 1st. You were always the one to say you need to draft in the first round.

I think we see them go with a vet Lt or maybe even trade a 3rd or 4th rounder for one.  I think first round will be best available defense - think dt is probably where they will go. I see a safety or LB with one of next 2 picks. If it were me I’d find a way to sign Hendrickson to short term deal (cap be damn) and roll with young dt, getting ayo back, shemar back and the rest of the crew knowing a bunch of cap space rolls off the following year. 

18 minutes ago, Mongo3451 said:

By all means, this rant is not directed to anyone here.

The Internet experts are full of crap.  I can't find anywhere that states anything that anyone on this board are speculating.  Matt Ryan is president of football and is looking for a general manager.  Regardless of anything else, it will be an executive position within the category of the pick compensation.  There is also nothing in print that outlines Ryan's job.  I'm fully convinced, IF Ian gets the job, we will get the picks.

Biggs, Cronin and someone over at suntimes have all reported the Falcons GM job would not be eligible. Cronin I believe said Bears intend to protest and request the picks. 

41 minutes ago, adam said:

I guess all I am saying is a lot of Maye's numbers are inflated and somewhat artificial in nature. The Pats had one of the easiest schedules in NFL history followed by the easiest path to the Super Bowl in quite some time. Maye's offense scored 16 points and won by double digits. They also won a game where they scored 10 pts. They didn't hit 250 yards of total offense in the last 2 games, and won both. The Bears had over 415 yards in both of their playoff games and split them.

Easy schedule or not he still put up 4300 yards in year 2 with 31 TD's and 8 picks plus some very good rushing stats. Yeah, he didn't play the worlds toughest schedule but his jump from year 1 to year 2 combined with his tools tell me he's a pretty special player.  Like Caleb, I think Maye made a massive jump forward from year 1 to 2 and you can see the floor is high on both of them given their tools.  I guess I don't get the point of putting him down or trying to argue why he isn't good. He's clearly very good and if he were the Bears QB putting up those numbers we'd be exstatic (just like we are with Caleb) and I think both fan bases and franchises should feel real good right now.  I expect Maye has room for growth just as I think Caleb does.  I do think Caleb has more upside than Maye but its pretty marginal...It doesn't take much for me to squint and see both of them as Top 5 NFL QB's for a long time. 

The question with Jayden is interesting...does he just be a solid to good QB, ala Stroud or do we see him take a big step forward if he's healthy next year.  

19 minutes ago, adam said:

I am sticking with Caleb as well.

Maye is already near his ceiling. He had a 72% Comp this year.  Rarely, if ever, does a QB maintain that high of a Comp% YoY.  In reality, most drop over 5%. So if his Comp% drops to 66% next year, that's roughly 30 completions, 400 yards, and 2-3 fewer TDs. Still a great season, but he is still primed to regress from his 2025 campaign. 

I'm sticking with Caleb but I'm not going to get too down on Maye..he'll be #2 in MVP voting and is coming off a statistically spectacular season (and in year 2) and like Caleb his tools are off the charts strong.  I don't think you could go wrong with either of them right now...but to somehow say Maye hasn't been good because his first post-season run he's had some struggles just doesn't cut it for me.  

I'd also acknowledge that the Texans, Chargers, and Broncos all have outstanding defenses...especially the Broncos and Texans, so it isn't like he's going against some subpar defense.  And the weather was atrocious.  Doesn't absolve him from his play but right now I'd have those 2 (along with Nix) as the top 3 from the Caleb class (Daniels having dropped to #4 - but he's clearly uber talented too...durability is the question there).  The ceiling on Caleb, Maye and Jayden is pretty high, imo. 

I wonder if this is one where BJ kind of encouraged him to at least put his name out so he can go through the interview process and gain experience.  Feels like BJ is one who is very comfortable in his own skin and certainly has lived the assistant coach journey so wants to be uber supportive of his coaches and this can be part of it - hey go see what else is out there, always good to know (and I support it) and at the same time, I'm hoping you'll stay but you'll also develop better experience for future interviews.  

Very good news 

Guys - can you please just put each other on ignore for the sake of the rest of the board and for each other please. 

4 hours ago, Stinger226 said:

I have been defending DJ but it is clear there is a lack of effort on that play, I am not making excuses. I never judge a player by a few plays a year. Every player can have criticism at someone. The last two games our most dependable WRs Loveland and Burden had drops. Rome dropped a TD pass. I look at the overall season.

For everyone that has played before, could it be fatigue? He was limping on the sidelines at the end of the game . Could it be a hamstring tighting up? 

He is a team player and had been the top target getter up till this year and never once complained about it. Had he not made that one hand catch earlier, this wouldn't be a conversation. His two catches in the last two Packer games that helped win those games for us. 

Have your own opinions but I'm not beating him up over a few plays a year even he leaves next year.

This is where I am. It really sucks but this guy played through a ton of injuries and made some good plays. I think he wishes he had a do over but I also appreciate that Caleb didn’t throw him over the bus and as fans I think we have to look at the whole population of work vs the unfortunate sample. I also think this can be a good opportunity for DJ to grow from this as it really looked like the chemistry was finally starting to form. 

54 minutes ago, AZ54 said:

His concussion injury was nearly as serious as they come.  It took an immense amount of courage for him to get back on the field.  It has impacted how he plays the game.  I think even the rest of the league will look at him as a one year FA.  
 

however it shakes out this defense needs one more really good downhill player among the back 7.  Kyle Gordon can be that guy on one side.  Can add an impact LB or S will help to generate more negative plays.   

If Jaquan is willing to go short I could see both being back but right now I’m guessing just Byard. 

6 minutes ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

I am seeing FB ads/posts saying he is the OC for the Chiefs. Officially, I cant believe it bc its FB. 

Wish he stuck it out here, but he has to take the promotion even if Reid calls the plays. Good luck EB, you made a difference with our backs. 

Seems like it. Seems like Nagy might be looking for an OC job since Titans just went with Saleh. 

1 hour ago, Alaskan Grizzly said:

Nagy was a strong contender for the Titans job but apparently they’re suddenly smitten with Robert Saleh.  Doubtful Nagy won’t come out without getting some new gig.  
 

Bienemy tried to make a name for himself by going to the Commanders and after things didn’t work out there went to UCLA where he was their OC for a year.  After flaming out there he came back to the NFL as a RB coach for the beloved.  

Evidently some rumors that Bears might look at Scotty Montgomery from Lions to take over. Was Ben Johnson’s running backs coach and might be out with them getting a new OC. This past year was the WR coach for Lions. 

6 minutes ago, Alaskan Grizzly said:

Watching the pass rushers on Miami tonight makes me think one of them (Bain or Messidor) maybe should end up a Bear? 

Bain is a stud but I think he’s supposed to be like a top 10 pick. 

1 hour ago, Stinger226 said:

Isn't Nagy their OC? As much as I think he has did well with this group, that isn't a position that should be hard to fill.

Nagy is likely getting a HC gig. He also is a free agent (similar to Flores). 

13 minutes ago, Stinger226 said:

I think with the change the continuity of the OL was disrupted and did affect the running game. I think Kiran may enter the LT competition if he can stay healthy. The key will be if Ozzy can get back to health quickly.

Kiran is going to get cut. They tried everyone and their brother at tackle and didn’t even bring him in at guard. He’s a failed pick. 

18 minutes ago, Stinger226 said:

I think Poles does similar moves like he did last year to get extra picks in the top 100. Edwards, Amen, Sewell, resign D Jackson and Hyppolite so LB won't be a top priority. DT to me is the biggest need. 

Our LB play was pretty bad. Sewell stinks, hyppolite couldn’t even get special teams snap and Jackson is a good special team / depth player. Edward’s might be cooked - he is already getting older and that injury probably costs him half a step. 
 

I think DT and De are huge needs 

3 minutes ago, adam said:

Ultimately if they can bring back Byard, the only starting positions they would have to fill besides SS would be any holes they make, like cutting Edmunds. That is a pretty good spot because you are looking to just upgrade at that point. A lot of teams are losing as much as they are gaining.

10 teams will have new coaches, 10 teams had 6 wins or less. Thats a 1/3 of the league, another 1/3 is trapped in the middle between 7-9 wins, then you have the 1/3. The Bears are primed for a top 1/3 run for the next decade.

SEA, NE, CHI, JAX, DEN, and LAC seem to be that group. They all have QBs under 30, all made the playoffs, all will have relatively the same coaching staff in 2026, with no major cap issues. 

 

I feel like a good DT, safety and LB should all be in range of picks they are making in first 2 rounds. Maybe move down to get 3 in first 2 rounds.