2026 Chicago Bears Offseason Thread

[Irrelevant Dude]

If this is a "best player on the board" at all costs approach to the draft, that is a seriously flawed strategy.  This isn't MLB where you draft the best players regardless of position and let things play out in the minors.  These are players who are expected to contribute immediately, but will have a hard time doing so with the other players on the roster.  It just doesn't make sense.

[Old Style]

Can we re-pick round 3 in the morning please?

[Tryptamine]

Loved pick #25 and was on board with #57 especially since it was a position that needed a long term solution. I actually quite liked the return they got on trading #60, but then things completely fell apart.

[We Got The Whole 9]

Its kind of weird that none of you guys attribute any of our approach to Johnson. 

 

But honestly last year they put some decent resources into the DL. But Dayo and Turner got hurt quickly. Im sure they believe those guys are going to contribute. 

 

This draft feels like significant Johnson appeasement.

[Thurman Merman]

Just now, We Got The Whole 9 said:

Its kind of weird that none of you guys attribute any of our approach to Johnson. 

 

But honestly last year they put some decent resources into the DL. But Dayo and Turner got hurt quickly. Im sure they believe those guys are going to contribute. 

 

This draft feels like significant Johnson appeasement.

The TE for sure, wr seems like a johnson/special teams co pick.

[jersey cubs fan]

4 minutes ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

Its kind of weird that none of you guys attribute any of our approach to Johnson. 

 

But honestly last year they put some decent resources into the DL. But Dayo and Turner got hurt quickly. Im sure they believe those guys are going to contribute. 

 

This draft feels like significant Johnson appeasement.

It may be, but I do not view that as a positive. Good coaches ≠ good personnel men 

 

also, dayo has always sucked and no sane person thinks he’s good 

Edited 9 hours ago by jersey cubs fan

[Old Style]

6 minutes ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

Its kind of weird that none of you guys attribute any of our approach to Johnson. 

 

But honestly last year they put some decent resources into the DL. But Dayo and Turner got hurt quickly. Im sure they believe those guys are going to contribute. 

 

This draft feels like significant Johnson appeasement.

Who’s the one making the picks? It’s Poles. 

[bddavidson]

10 minutes ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

Its kind of weird that none of you guys attribute any of our approach to Johnson. 

 

But honestly last year they put some decent resources into the DL. But Dayo and Turner got hurt quickly. Im sure they believe those guys are going to contribute. 

 

This draft feels like significant Johnson appeasement.

This!

Bears Fans:

Last year's all offense draft: Love it Ben's finger prints all over this!!  No mention of Poles

This year's all offense draft:  Does Poles know anything about football?  No mention of Ben.

There was a lot of folks indicating the Bears were happier with their DL than outside observers were.  We'll see if that's correct

Edited 9 hours ago by bddavidson

[SpongeWorthy]

smythe was on the field for over 25% of the snaps which was a lot higher than i was expecting, roush will probably get over a third then which is about where burden was last year.

[jersey cubs fan]

3 minutes ago, SpongeWorthy said:

smythe was on the field for over 25% of the snaps which was a lot higher than i was expecting, roush will probably get over a third then which is about where burden was last year.

Okay? This means? 
 

These picks need to be making much greater impacts than this 

[Old Style]

2 minutes ago, jersey cubs fan said:

Okay? This means? 
 

These picks need to be making much greater impacts than this 

But now we have the best TE3 ever. That will definitely mean at least 5 Super Bowls. 

[SpongeWorthy]

 

8 minutes ago, jersey cubs fan said:

Okay? This means? 
 

These picks need to be making much greater impacts than this 

burden was really impactful for a 2nd rounder on a snap count that roush may easily exceed 

rams ran 13 on 31% of their snaps last year which was 2x the next closest team and almost 4x the bears who were still top 5. if we run 13 like a fifth of the time or more which seems really likely, roush could easily be on the field for half the snaps

 

Edited 8 hours ago by SpongeWorthy

[raw]

17 minutes ago, jersey cubs fan said:

also, dayo has always sucked and no sane person thinks he’s good 

Have you considered he's motivated?

[bddavidson]

7 minutes ago, jersey cubs fan said:

Okay? This means? 
 

These picks need to be making much greater impacts than this 

Looking at snap count of DE from last year of you combine Booker and Dayo into one based on how their injuries lined up, they and Sweat played roughly 80% of snaps, and the 3rd played 20% of snaps.  

Seemingly this TE will play more than the 3rd DE.  So, maybe they picked a guy who would make a more meaningful impact?

[jersey cubs fan]

4 minutes ago, bddavidson said:

Looking at snap count of DE from last year of you combine Booker and Dayo into one based on how their injuries lined up, they and Sweat played roughly 80% of snaps, and the 3rd played 20% of snaps.  

Seemingly this TE will play more than the 3rd DE.  So, maybe they picked a guy who would make a more meaningful impact?

[bddavidson]

13 minutes ago, jersey cubs fan said:

Yeah, we'll see.  I'm sure if Poles trades for an impact DL you'll make it clear you hate that too 

[jersey cubs fan]

55 minutes ago, SpongeWorthy said:

 

burden was really impactful for a 2nd rounder on a snap count that roush may easily exceed 

rams ran 13 on 31% of their snaps last year which was 2x the next closest team and almost 4x the bears who were still top 5. if we run 13 like a fifth of the time or more which seems really likely, roush could easily be on the field for half the snaps

 

Burden was a first round grade that dropped to the bears pick. This is the complete opposite scenario. 

[Soul]

Well I had some stuff to attend to so I missed everything after the trade down.  We didn’t need TE in any way, and WR?  For depth sure but the needs we have on D are acute.

[jersey cubs fan]

42 minutes ago, Soul said:

Well I had some stuff to attend to so I missed everything after the trade down.  We didn’t need TE in any way, and WR?  For depth sure but the needs we have on D are acute.

Let us rejoice in the knowledge that Kyle has been satiated 

[Brian707]

Maybe they will address the DLine on Saturday. 

 

This is puzzling 

[SpongeWorthy]

49 minutes ago, jersey cubs fan said:

Burden was a first round grade that dropped to the bears pick. This is the complete opposite scenario. 

burden was a first round grade going into his last season at mizzou, had a down year, and the grade was pretty mixed by the time the draft came around. 

[UMFan83]

6 minutes ago, Brian707 said:

Maybe they will address the DLine on Saturday. 

 

This is puzzling 

At this point they need to restructure some contracts and sign a veteran Edge. We’re looking at someone like Cam Jordan at this point. 

[We Got The Whole 9]

I concede that maybe I dont know wtf im talking about but I like the Roush pick. A 9.94 RAS at 6'6 265 and apparently a good blocker. Kmet was a 8.94. I bet Johnson is ecstatic to have this guy. Kmet should be traded. Roush and Loveland are going to terrorize defenses. Booking it.

[Geographyhater8888]

3 hours ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

I concede that maybe I dont know wtf im talking about but I like the Roush pick. A 9.94 RAS at 6'6 265 and apparently a good blocker. Kmet was a 8.94. I bet Johnson is ecstatic to have this guy. Kmet should be traded. Roush and Loveland are going to terrorize defenses. Booking it.

Even though tight end was as much of a priority as a punter there’s some upside there in 13 personnel and or they trade Kmet to shed cap. Smith was over-drafted by 3 rounds and is just a wasted cute pick. 

[BigbadB]

Last year's draft perplexed me enough and that draft turned out to be very good, so I'm not going to question this year's draft. Seems like some of these picks may not pay off quite as quickly as last year. Each pick after the first seems like it had some value, even if you weren't a fan of the pick. Roush being a solid catch/block TE combo that will help the run and pass game. Jones being a guy that will be the starting Center no later than week one 2027 for the next 10 years. And Thomas who was the second fastest player in the draft, and Johnson knows how to get speedy guys. 

Thought for sure they would go EDGE with the Loveland pick and every pick after that, but they still haven't drafted one. Weird. I do think they would have grabbed Jacas if New England didn't snag him a few picks before the Bears picked. I do think Turner might get more work at EDGE than DT in Allen's system, but they still need another DT. Maybe they can trade for one. 

Some mocks had the Bears grabbing a T with one of the first three picks. Seems like they are going to hope of of Jones, WIlls or Benedet can nail down the position until Trapilo comes back late 2026-2027, or at least tag team it.