Tag: Defense

  • Draft Wrap ’26

    Draft Wrap ’26

    Bears’ draft picks 2026:

    Rd 1, Pick 25: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
    Rd 2, Pick 57: Logan Jones, C, Iowa
    Rd 3, Pick 69: Sam Roush, TE, Stanford
    Rd 3, Pick 89: Zavion Thomas, WR, LSU
    Rd 4, Pick 124: Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas
    Rd 5, Pick 166: Keyshaun Elliott, LB, Arizona St.
    Rd 6, Pick 213: Jordan van den Berg, DT, Georgia Tech

    UDFA Signings / Invites
    Player, Pos, School

    Beau Gardner LS Georgia
    Caden Barnett G Wyoming [Vanilla Gorilla!]
    Coleman Bennett RB Kennesaw St
    Gabriel Plascencia K SDSU
    Hayden Large TE Iowa
    Jaren Kump C Utah
    Jayden Loving DT Wake Forest
    KC Eziomume CB Tulane
    Mason Murphy OT Auburn
    Miller Moss QB Louisville
    Omari Kelly WR Michigan State
    Skyler Thomas S Oregon State
    Squirrel White WR Florida State

    Tryout Invites
    Dain Walter OT UWL
    Devin Pringle DB UConn
    Jaheim Ward DB Eastern Kentucky
    Josh Kreutz C Illinois
    Terrell Tilmon DE Texas Tech

    SEA ’25 D
    Overall Defensive DVOA: 1st (-24.2%)
    PPG: [1st ]17.2
    YPG: [1st] 267.0
    Pass Defense DVOA: 1st
    Run Defense DVOA: 1st
    Pressure Rate: 3rd (34.2%)
    Takeaways: Tied for 6th (18)


    Bears ’25 D
    Overall Defensive DVOA: 25th (6.1%)
    PPG [23rd] 24.4
    YPG [29th] 361.8
    Pass Defense DVOA: 24th (12.3%)
    Run Defense DVOA: 25th (approx. 10.4% based on 2025 reports)
    Pressure Rate 29th [31.1%]

    Bears’ 25 D sum:

    YPG 361.8 [29th]
    Rush YPG 134.5 [27th]
    Pass YPG 227.2 [22nd]
    PPG 24.4 [23rd]
    Takeways 33 [1st] 23 INTs, 10 FFs
    –Byard 7 INTs, Wright 8TOs, Edmunds 5TOs, Gardner-Johnson 2INTs, 1 FF, Brisker 1 INT.

    TOs, which are notoriously fickle yr-to-yr, were the ONLY factor separating us from laughing stock Ds like Dallas. Bears need to replace approx 24/33 TOs.

    TLDR:

    BJ/Poles declared they were going BPA, and that’s EXACTLY what they did. If they went for need, they would’ve drafted:

    DT Peter Woods [KC drafted him @ 29] or Edge Keldric Faulk [31st]

    Then scooped up S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in the 2nd [Browns #58th overall]

    Still landed a C in Jake Slaughter at #60 or doubled-down on Dline with DT Tyler Onyedim or DE Keyron Crawford in same range.

    However, they stuck to their tiers, drafted prospects they deemed best BJ/Allen fits, and called it a day.

    Guess we’ll find out if that translates to more wins. Hey, if all else fails, Bears could win gold in flag football.


  • FA Thurs ’26

    FA Thurs ’26

    Bears’ new free-agent signings

    S Coby Bryant
    LB Devin Bush
    C Garrett Bradbury (’27 5th RDer)
    DT Neville Gallimore
    WR Kalif Raymond
    DB Cam Lewis
    DE Kentavius Street
    OT Jedrick Wills Jr.

    Bears who re-signed
    LT Braxton Jones
    QB Case Keenum
    LB D’Marco Jackson
    S Elijah Hicks
    DE Daniel Hardy

    Former Bears who signed elsewhere
    S Kevin Byard (signed with Patriots)
    CB Nahshon Wright (signed with Jets)
    LB Tremaine Edmunds (signed with Giants)
    WR Olamide Zaccheaus (signed with Falcons)
    DE Dominique Robinson (signed with Texans)
    DT Chris Williams (signed with Falcons)
    TE Durham Smythe (signed with Ravens)

    Bears’ free agents who remain unsigned
    DE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (Void)
    OL Ryan Bates (Void)
    DT Andrew Billings (UFA)
    LB Amen Ogbongbemiga (UFA) (released by Bears)
    S Jonathan Owens (UFA)
    S Jaquan Brisker (UFA)
    RB Travis Homer (UFA)
    CB Nick McCloud (UFA)
    LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin (UFA)
    CB Jaylon Jones (UFA)
    LS Scott Daly (UFA)
    WR Devin Duvernay (UFA)
    S C.J. Gardner-Johnson (UFA)
    OL Jordan McFadden (RFA)
    LB Ty Summers (SFA)
    C Ricky Stromberg (SFA)

    Trust in Poles? For those who want to keep picks to draft the next Richard Dent

    TW@Tylow237
    ·
    Sweat- 2nd rd pick traded; 4 years $98M

    Dayo- 3 years $48M

    Grady- 3 years $43.5M

    Dexter- 2nd rd pick

    Shemar- 2nd rd pick

    That’s three 2nd rd picks and $189.5M invested only to be the worst DL in the NFL. Well done, Ryan Poles!

    Free agent Defensive Lineman signed by Poles so far

    • Grady Jarrett
    • Dayo Odeyingbo
    • Yannick Ngakoue
    • Justin Jones
    • Andrew Billings
    • Al Quadin-Muhammad
    • Kentavious Street
    • Neville Gallimore

    At some point he needs to invest heavily in the trenches [Poles has invested, just badly]

    Hey, apparently, Dayo don’t care about sacks, pressures, TFLs, FFs, fumble recoveries, INTs, tipped passes, strips, tackles, stats, staying healthy, or any of your vein honors. He is now Motivated Dayo!

    Best DL options remaining for the #Bears:

    Free agency

    Cam Jordan
    Joey Bosa
    D.J. Wonnum
    D.J. Reader

    Trades

    Maxx Crosby
    Jonathan Greenard
    Kayvon Thibodeaux
    Josh Sweat
    Myles Garrett (?)

    OT:

  • Barroom talks Bears’ D and misc

    Barroom talks Bears’ D and misc

    Greg Gabriel examines the Bears’ D while Aldo updates us on basically everything.

    NFL may have blocked them from embedding, so click here if can’t click below.


    Few points stood out:

    #1. Gabriel states he’d cut anyone who reports out of shape [who is healthy].

    I tend to agree. You got ONE job. Well, maybe more, but staying in shape is #1.

    #2. OK [for now] about the 2nd rounders not signing. Pick #33 and #34 have signed getting four years guaranteed. Gabriel thinks Luther Burden MIGHT get a fully guaranteed contract, but doubts that the later 2nd rounders Ozzy Trapilo and Shemar Turner get same deal. It could be a tiered result. “I’m not worried about it until they don’t show up when the vets must report.”

    #3. Tremaine Edmunds might play some WLB which Gabriel contends might suit him better. Only thing I can think is that Flus wanted his Lach gobbling up passing lanes in the middle while Dennis Allen might prefer a more attacking MLB.

    #4. Za’Darious Smith and Matthew Judon are essentially the same DEs. Would be solid depth, but shouldn’t get more than a 1-yr deal.

    #5. Xavier Carlton doesn’t impress Gabriel. He likes fast players. Carlton runs a 5.05 forty which doesn’t bode well for specials

    #6. Doesn’t seem too concerned about the safeties. Doesn’t believe the Bears are as shallow as some fans may feel. Basically mirrors Poles’ nonchalant attitude on the position. Guess both assume safety is relatively easy to replace in this system.

    #7. Doesn’t know if Gervon Dexter will take the next step, but Gabriel knows he’s a legit football player who takes his body and career seriously [Can’t say the same about Zacch Pickens]. Not sold Dexter could play DE. Supposedly Allen shut the door on that option, paraphrasing, ‘Dexter needs to first learn how to play inside before even thinking about moving outside.’ Aldo was surprised as am I since I figured Allen would have no issue moving em around, but perhaps he’ll be more strategic about it.

    #8. Shemar Turner reminds Gabriel of…wait for it…Tommie Harris. Wow. I didn’t see that first step explosion, but I guess he does. Let’s hope Turner is another [healthy] T-Harris.

    #9. Bears’ CB should play more press. We all know this already, but I for one am thrilled I am no longer going to see our CBs give 5 yard cushions for WRs to do whatever the fuck they want. Hit em in the mouth like Peanut did. Make those speedy little suckers earn it.

    #10. Acknowledges many fans want to give Das Boot to Tyrique Stevenson, but he’s still better than Terrell Smith behind him. Wonders if Terrell Smith can play man-press. Hope so because I’m one of those fans who wants that knuckle-head gone; though if he turns it around, good on him.

    Still, Chicago has a VERY long memory.
    Just ask Cody Parkey, Conte or Steve Bartman…