2026 Chicago Bears Offseason Thread

[Banedon]

 

[raw]

2 hours ago, gflore34 said:

Bain Jr. will long gone but, Akheem Mesidor maybe be there at 25.

Mesidor will be there at 25 because he will be 25 before he gets drafted. That's a tough call to take him that high and have to make a 2nd contract decision on him at 28, 29 with the 5th year option.

[gflore34]

24 minutes ago, raw said:

Mesidor will be there at 25 because he will be 25 before he gets drafted. That's a tough call to take him that high and have to make a 2nd contract decision on him at 28, 29 with the 5th year option.

I noticed that while checking out his profile at NFL Tankethon, fit right in with Indiana.

Edited January 20 by gflore34

[Banedon]

[BigSlick]

Is it really too crazy to extend a serious offer to both Byard and Brisker? I know you don't want to sink too much money into Safeties but man... I really love Brisker. 

This is why I could never be a Football GM, aside from lacking any meaningful Football Experience or Knowledge. I'm too much of a softie. 

[minnesotacubsfan]

Offer them fair market value, Byard is an ALL PRO, but also older. Brisker is a stud, but injuries have made him less than a full timer.

 

this draft is supposed to be plentiful in safeties, so I’d say you spend on one draft another. If you improve EDGE,, safety play should also benefit

 

 

[WrigleyField 22]

28 minutes ago, BigSlick said:

Is it really too crazy to extend a serious offer to both Byard and Brisker? I know you don't want to sink too much money into Safeties but man... I really love Brisker. 

This is why I could never be a Football GM, aside from lacking any meaningful Football Experience or Knowledge. I'm too much of a softie. 

The only way you can is that you're prepared to go full Howie Roseman. Regularly and consistently using max voids, restructures, and option bonuses. He's been a big softie at times because cap leverage has allowed him to do that. But it's a broad commitment, not a one year thing.  And even then you'll run up to your limits eventually. 

[WrigleyField 22]

All logical reasoning would be let Byard walk and resign Brisker. 

 

But damn if I don't feel the opposite. 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

6 hours ago, gflore34 said:

Bain Jr. will long gone but, Akheem Mesidor maybe be there at 25.

Ahmad Moten looked great last night too (and I agree with the sentiment DT is a bigger need). 

[raw]

I think you bring 1 of Brisker/Byard back. And then 1 of Hicks/Owens. 

I lean Byard and Hicks. Byard is a captain and takes the ball away. Hicks is also his direct backup at more of a free safety type so I keep him. He's also younger and probably better than Owens, though I'd miss seeing Simone Biles pregame. 

Brisker will be more expensive, most likely and require a longer term commitment due to age, but is also a concussion away from serious questions about his career.....so maybe he is cheaper than we think?

I'd still like to draft a guy with more speed, versatility and takeaway potential than Brisker, while also adding an affordable FA S that can start if the rookie isnt ready.

[bukie]

Brisker makes me nervous every time he goes in for a hit head first.

[NorthsideAvenger]

25 minutes ago, bukie said:

Brisker makes me nervous every time he goes in for a hit head first.

The talent is there but I think I will let him walk. Brisker has already said that despite his concussions, he is not going to change the way he plays. 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

12 hours ago, raw said:

I think you bring 1 of Brisker/Byard back. And then 1 of Hicks/Owens. 

I lean Byard and Hicks. Byard is a captain and takes the ball away. Hicks is also his direct backup at more of a free safety type so I keep him. He's also younger and probably better than Owens, though I'd miss seeing Simone Biles pregame. 

Brisker will be more expensive, most likely and require a longer term commitment due to age, but is also a concussion away from serious questions about his career.....so maybe he is cheaper than we think?

I'd still like to draft a guy with more speed, versatility and takeaway potential than Brisker, while also adding an affordable FA S that can start if the rookie isnt ready.

lol, that’s exactly my thought process. Down to not wanting to lose Simone Biles.

 

[Banedon]

Quote

Latest on whether they will re-sign Brisker: The 2022 second-round pick still doesn't have an extension, which isn't the best sign in terms of his future with a team that has a ton of offseason decisions to make. It sounds to me as if Brisker will have an outside market that prices him out of Chicago. -- Graziano

2026 NFL offseason: Free agents, draft notes, predictions - ESPN

[WrigleyField 22]

35 minutes ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

lol, that’s exactly my thought process. Down to not wanting to lose Simone Biles.

 

Owens also has been front and center for like every good better best video.  He's Ben's number one cheerleader. He's a minimum guy anyways, bring him back 🤣

[WrigleyField 22]

Brisker and Wright leaving gives a pretty good chance of recouping a 4th comp pick in 2027 I'd think. If they are thinking trade route as their big defense addition, may get back into the comp pick game. Now I think the comp pick thing often gets overrated by fans, but guessing how Poles will attack FA (not agressive) it'd be nice to see a guy like Wright pay off that way. You want to see these type of one year success stories pay off like that. 

 

They were originally projected a 7th round comp pick in 26, but per the latest projection from Over The Cap, the Tryon-Shoyinka waiver claim apparently offset that which seems like a very niche and bizarre technicality of the CFA rule. But a scenario can't ever remember actually impacting a team. So will be interesting if that gets confirmed as the case. 

[We Got The Whole 9]

Any interest in seeing if Nashon can play FS? Seems like hes projected for 2/8-10. Really solid in run support and did much better covering the long guys.

[Banedon]

Ben Johnson and Ryan Poles just had their press conference.  Lots of good forward looking stuff from Johnson.  I'm still listening to Poles, but he mentioned that McFadden had an ankle injury during that last game and still finished the game.  Thinking that could've affected some play calls.

[raw]

Nah, if you bring Wright back it has to be to play CB. I'm not paying him to play a new position, and FS would be in lieu of Byard, so you're downgrading the position and paying about the same amount. Obviously younger, but that is offset a bit by him learning the new position.

[Banedon]

Poles all but confirmed that they want Byard back.

[raw]

1 minute ago, Banedon said:

Ben Johnson and Ryan Poles just had their press conference.  Lots of good forward looking stuff from Johnson.  I'm still listening to Poles, but he mentioned that McFadden had an ankle injury during that last game and still finished the game.  Thinking that could've affected some play calls.

Wonder what the alternative would have been if McFadden had to leave. I'm assuming Newman, but is it possible they go to Benedet at LT and move Thuney back to LG? Ryan Bates season debut? LOL. Would have been a mess of a situation.

[Banedon]

The other thing that Ben Johnson mentioned during his PC that I forgot to mention, is about the need to work on catching the ball.  Sounds like that's going to be a point of emphasis for the offseason.

[bukie]

For anyone who just wanted to watch the press conference: 

 

[Soul]

33 minutes ago, bukie said:

For anyone who just wanted to watch the press conference: 

 

Thanks!  Good stuff throughout.  What immediately caught my attention was his comment about how we are starting back from the beginning.  There is no building on last season.  Obviously not 100% true but as a mindset I like it a lot.

[Rex Buckingham]

As expected, Poles says they expect Trapilo out until "deep into next year"