Hello Cubs World, 

I know this is a baseball site. You know this is a baseball site. K. 
But I'd venture to guess at least half of the people around here support the Bears, too. 

And coming off two early-season losses to the Phillies, and several bullpen changes, I'm in a "wait and see" mode to analyze the Cubbies. We have every reason to love our lineup, and our starting rotation is holding up fairly well ....except Ben Brown. I've been criticizing him since the offseason as a mere placeholder for Cade Horton, or at the very least Chris Flexen...  I want more data on both AAA and the bullpen before I sound off again, so I'm waiting for game 40.

In the meantime, allow me to abuse this blog space to drop some hot takes on the Bears' draft strategy and what it tells us about the coming season. Many of these opinions haven't been expressed yet by any major news source, so I expect some people to say: "where did you get THIS from?" Answer: logic, sweet logic. 

Ben Johnson's Strategy

BJ has revealed quite a bit about what he's planning for. Let's look at offense first, pick by pick. 

Rnd 1: TE Colston Loveland 

What the press said: "Why would you pick the 2nd best TE? Why not Tyler Warren?"

Analysis: This pick didn't surprise me at all- or any die hard Bears fan. Tyler Warren wants to be THE guy and get all the touches. He's not humble. Colston, on the other hand, is happy to start slow and work his way into the offense from a limited role at first. Well, that limited role happens to be a perfect fit for a Sam LaPorta level Slot-motion TE, who can handle the weak side of a 12 offense and do it all. Loveland need not be THE guy, just split the targets 50/50 with Kmet to utterly baffle defenses. And Kmet already got his big contract last year, so he isn't worried about a reduction in receptions in 2026. Loveland is the initial MOTION TE on the weakside for sub-packages, versus Kmet's Inline strongside role for over 90% of snaps. our other TE's are simply Kmet backups - if Loveland goes down with injury, Kmet will move to the weak side for those packages.  

Example Formations: 12 (2WR 2TE 1 back); Weakside Spread (3 WR 2 TE no back, left side motion TE); H Back/Slot TE (2WR 2 TE, 1 back, Motion TE on left side)

Rookie Playing Time: 35%

Targets: 3/game = ~50

Rnd 2: WR/RB Luther Burden

What the press said: "I don't get it. Why let him take touches away from Loveland, Kmet, Odunze, and Moore? too many cooks in the kitchen"

Analysis: This isn't a wide receiver. This is a hybrid scatback/ slot receiver who will train with the running back room. This is a guy who will take shovel passes, tosses, short slants, wheel routes, and also block in space. He will only go vertical 10+ yards about twice a game. As a hybrid "scatback", he will see time as our 3rd down and no huddle back. Burden will motion in/out of the slot on the weak AND strong side. You've been misled by the press to think that he's going to be fighting for touches with DJ Moore and Rome Odunze. No, he's fighting for touches with D'Andre Swift!

Example Formations: Pro Splitback (2WE, 1TE, 2 backs aside the QB); Motion Weak Slot (2 WR, 1 scatback/slot motion weakside, 1 RB); Weakside Spread (as above)

Rookie playing time: 40-60%

Targets/carries: 7/ game = ~120

Rnd 2: T Ozzie Trapilo

What the press said: "you needed to replace Braxton Jones in 2025 with a REAL left tackle!!!! This guy is a developmental tackle!!!"

Analysis: The press wanted a 1st year starter at left tackle for no explicable reason. Only Will Campbell was a sure thing at that role and he was gone. Joe Thuney can also play Left Tackle quite well if we need him. Furthermore, this constant complaint about our left side is unwarranted! Braxton Jones was the highest rated Bears player via PFF in 2025...even higher than Darnel Wright but in fewer snaps !!! Sure he has had health issues, but he's still one of the better left tackles in the league for 2024. Why the hate on him? Instead, the Bears went for the best SWING tackle in the draft- the most likely guy to play BOTH sides equally as well and compete at BOTH positions in the long run. Many people had Trapilo ranked somewhere between #6 and #8 on the list of 2025 tackles, and the Bears got real value by trading down for him as the 6th off the board. Deal with it- it was a GREAT pick for a GREAT player who needn't start this year. Jones will do the thing. Also Kiran is much better than the press remembers and is also in the mix. Kiran was drafted in the 3rd in 2023 but was rated as a high 2nd Rnd left tackle who only fell due to injury.  He's the same guy with 1 more year of practice and weight training. He's probably next in line on the left side anyhow. Trapilo is an instant right side replacement if we end up with an injured Wright.  

Playing Time: sub only in 2025; high chances to become a RT starter in 2026 when Braxton Jones departs. Serviceable at left due to 1 year starting experience as a sophomore. 

Rnd 2: DT Shamar Turner

What the press said: "you needed an EDGE rusher to pair with Montez Sweat! This is a DT!!!"

Analysis: Clearly the press doesn't understand the Bears' defensive scheme. We already have our 2 Weakside Edges - Montez Sweat and Austin Booker. We have our top 2 nose guys: Andrew Billings and Chris Williams, although Grady Garrett can also cover it in a pinch. In our scheme, the strongside DE and the 3 tech DT are interchangeable- they rotate, stunt, and twist frequently, and are expected to be in the 290-310 range with elite motor and ferocity against the RUN. When the strong end rushes the passer, they power rush and use sheer ferocity to overwhelm the tight end or right tackle. According to some analysts, Turner is the #1 role player in the ENTIRE 2025 DRAFT for this style of offense... except perhaps Mykel Williams from the first round. He's a perfect scheme fit. Shamar Turner will exist in a 4-man rotation with Gervon Dexter, Deyo Odeyingbo, and Grady Garrett at the two strongside DL positions, and focus on run-stopping situations. He's an absolute maniac against the run! Besides, our top 3 guys are so good that he'll struggle to see the field in any other situation as a rookie. One year training with the other boys and he'll be a pass rusher as well. Odeyingbo is the starting DE rusher for day 1. 

Playing Time: 25% defense as a rookie run specialist, unless injuries force the issue. And, special teams. 

Rnd 4: Ruben Hypollite, LB/S

What the press said: "Why not a running back? I don't see the value here! What is his position? They have TJ Edwards already at WLB"

Analysis: Just like every other player above, the press fails to understand the scheme the Bears are running. The NFL press is conservative and always evaluates players against some generic prototypical offense/defense look from 10 years ago. I LOVE THIS PICK. This is yet another mismatch player, same as all the others above, designed to play a hybrid role that confuses the opponent. He's an oversized SAFETY, guys! Hypollite ran faster than BRIAN URLACHER did as a safety coming into the NFL (Urlacher came from a 3 safety scheme that replaces the middle linebacker, so really a hybrid role player). Urlacher famously transitioned to a cover 2 middle linebacker as the fastest in the NFL of his size- a role that is essentially a safety half the time. Ruben is destined for the same role- the speediest packages at which Edmunds has struggled! He's only 5' 11'', 236, but that never stopped a safety with his level of athleticism ! Hyppolite can move sideline to sideline, or vertical, like Urlacher did. He's the most underrated defensive player in the entire draft, and would have been taken in the 5th early if the Bears hadn't gotten to him. 5th fastest 40 yd dash of ALL TIME for an NFL LB draftee, and very trainable, high FB IQ player that runs faster than 3/4ths of the SAFETIES in the NFL. He will replace the strong safety in tough yardage situations. He can replace the Nickelback Kyle Fuller in red zone coverage situations., or against 2 TE looks. He will also fight with Noah Sewell for strongside situations to cover obvious passing routes vs. running backs. He's got many sub-package roles and will be used on special teams.  

Formations: 4/2/5 Middle Safety (Edwards weak, Edmunds strong); 4/4/3 short yardage package (replaces strong safety Brisker); 4-3 strongside LB covering the pass.  

Playing Time: 20% as a sub-package specialist at middle safety, heavy strong safety, and even strongside LB. Special teams tackler. 

Rnd 5: Zah Frasier

What the press said: "He's the fastest CB in the draft. But is he any good? Can he ever challenge Smith or Stevenson as WR2?"

Analysis: Yet again, the press doesn't understand his value. All they could see was a guy who's a bit skinny and a track star playing against weak opponents. The Bears picked him not out of need but best player available and best mismatch potential for specific packages. Look at the tape from 2024- despite his academic struggles, Frasier played smart football. He wasn't just fast, he know where the ball was and made many plays to force turnovers. He was hyper-productive. Furthermore, they don't need him to contribute in 2025- he's the LAST DB on the roster, and will be used as an elite gunner on special teams. With his speed, he'll be disrupting kicks and punts routinely. Furthermore, he will be used on pure vertical routes against 4Wide players - every NFL team has a 4.3 40 vert route guy now for no huddles and desperate 3rd and long situations, and that's what Frasier is there to stop. 

Formations: Special Teams Gunner; 4Wide CB (replaces traditional Dimeback)

Playing Time: All ST snaps, 5 plays per game on defense.    

Rnd 6(compensatory): G Luke Newman

Analysis: I'll be brief on this one. Newman is just a developmental prospect - an insurance policy on our other guards. Because he's not a big draft target, he will likely make the practice squad and survive there under the radar as a developmental player, since he needs to add a whole year of gym bulk to be ready. But he's got the smarts and the trainability to become a year 2 contributor. This was a "free pick" we acquired that should be valued as a 7th rounder. 

Rnd 7: RB Kyle Monangai

What the press said: "The Bears repeatedly missed on running back! This guy isn't going to be featured!"

Analysis: Duh. This is a mere insurance policy. We dont.... need.... another running back. say it with me folks: "We drafted Luther Burden to split duties with Swift!" We have Rochon Johnson as our short yardage back, and he did a great job with a very high 1st down and touchdown success rate! We have a TOP running offensive line now with the elite play of Thuney, Dalman, and Wright leading the way! We have elite speed coming up in our big-brained slashing back Ian Wheeler, who missed last season due to injury. He's a 4.3 homerun threat in singleback spread looks. Monangai is simply there to compete with Rochon Johnson for blocking and short yardage downs, and need not even win that competition in 2025. Furthermore, if we really decide we need another back on the roster, there's 10 serious names out there over age 28 who would take a 1-year deal in the 2-4 million range- people like D'onta Foreman, Nick Chubb...    

Swift /Burden are featured receiving backs who can run; Johnson is goal line; the rest is just icing on the cake. 

Conclusion: The Bears loaded up on pure mismatch players! That's exciting stuff. 

The press is so conditioned to think that you only have 11 starters on offense and defense. Your 22 starters must put up huge fantasy numbers.  Ok, that's not how Ben Johnson operates. Johnson wants to have a sub-package for every situation that is so good, we basically have 16 starters on each side of the ball! And when you look down this list, you'll see that every opposing team will have a hard time game planning, because if plan A starting packages fail for the Bears, BJ has plans B-F to beat them with alternative looks and schemes. The current NFL is dominated by offenses who have so many tools that their "starters" must compete every down for touches with other freaks of nature. Johnson just added a stacked lineup of freaks of nature in rounds 1-5 to complement their starters. That's good drafting.