The Chicago Bears are one of the most interesting teams in the top 10 ahead of the NFL draft on Thursday. Nobody can say for sure what their plans are. It could literally go in a dozen different directions. So much depends on how the picks in front of them unfold, particularly between #5 and #7 with the Jaguars, Raiders, and Jets. Ashton Jeanty is the hottest name for obvious reasons. Reports continue to indicate the top brass inside Halas Hall love the idea of pairing the Boise State running back with Ben Johnson’s offense. However, Albert Breer isn’t so sure of that.
In a recent column for the MMQB, he stated that Jeanty is a strong option, to be sure. There is no disputing that. However, everything he’s heard to this point is drifting more towards a continuation of what they did in free agency. They want to keep stacking the trenches.
This is another team that’s been connected to Jeanty, but I’d view a long-term left tackle, if one falls to the Bears, and with Braxton Jones going into a contract year, as just as likely. If Campbell, Banks and Membou are all gone, then another player for new DC Dennis Allen’s front might make sense. It could be an edge to play opposite Montez Sweat—with the initial plan being to have free-agent signee Dayo Odeyingbo move inside plenty on passing downs—or an interior guy to play with, and eventually replace, Grady Jarrett.
This lines up with many of the top 30 visits the Bears conducted over the past month. There were lots of offensive and defensive linemen. Reading between the lines, it feels like if Jeanty doesn’t fall to #10, they are content to take the best line prospect on their board.
Albert Breer has already hinted at their potential options.
The top three offensive tackles are all in play: Will Campbell of LSU, Armand Membou of Missouri, and Kelvin Banks of Texas. Then there are the defensive line options. Chicago met with Shemar Stewart of Texas A&M. He blew up the scouting combine with his elite athletic testing and his profile fits new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. There is also Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham, probably the best interior pass rusher in the class. Georgia defensive end Mykel Williams is also a possibility. It is guaranteed that at least one of those six names will be available at #10. More likely two or three. If Albert Breer is correct, it would be wise to have them circled for when the Bears go on the clock, should Jeanty not be out there anymore.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
Sweat offered a nice addition after the trade when he was paired with Ngakoue. However, last season was bad showing for him. Big money is to be spent on game changers. Sweat isn’t proving to be that and I hope the free agent additions are enough to give him more space to operate. All defenses, all schemes, all formations are dependent on having a game wrecker
Montez Sweat has been an overpaid, underperformer for the Chicago Bears. Sweat has not had an excellent season since his last full season in Washington (2022). Montez Sweat’s PFF Grades from that 2022 season, compared to last year (2024) with the Bears: 86.4 Overall Defense 65.6 79.6. Run Defense. 65.5 62.9. Tackling. 61.2 79.6. Pass Rush. 67.5 76.5. Coverage. 49.9 PFF ranks Sweat as EDGE #79 of 211. Sweat will be the 8th highest paid EDGE in the NFL in 2025: $24.5 million. For some perspective, check out the 2024 PFF Grades for Khalil Mack (Remember him?) Overall Defense 90.4… Read more »
Again, not sure why Leonard Floyd is being brought up here. He’s not coming back with the Bears and yes he was a much better player after he left the Bears because he got in with some experienced players that knew how to win and taught him the right things to do. He was also a better fit for the teams that he played for after he left the Bears. How that makes him better than Montez Sweat, I don’t know.. I do know that you can take any sort of statistics, pair them up with other ones, just to… Read more »
@ Gator Joe, I agree that the Aints taking a QB would be exactly what the Bears need in the Draft. But, Orleans doesn’t have to take one at 9 . They can trade back with Dallas for instance and still land Dart, if he’s their target. Which means that another team could move to 9 and take a player like Jeanty. Or, SF could switch with NO to take OL. That would screw over the Bears in multiple ways.
My point is: I hope Johnson and Poles have several contingency plans for this draft because anything can happen.
I just want the Saints to stay put and take a QB. That would help everything.