People made the same assumption about Ben Johnson that they do about most head coaches. He is a tremendous motivator and schemer. Yet when it comes to player evaluation, he probably isn’t quite as sharp. Last year poked serious holes in that theory right from the jump. A perfect example was Jonah Jackson. Many felt the former Pro Bowl guard was out of gas after his rough outing with the Los Angeles Rams. If Sean McVay gives up on you, that’s the ballgame. Johnson disagreed. He encouraged the Bears to trade for him. Jackson rebounded in a huge way last season, becoming a crucial part of their 3rd-ranked rushing attack.
Johnson seemed to have an ability to see value in players that the rest of the NFL gave up on. Did he just do it again? The Detroit Lions chose to let veteran wide receiver Kalif Raymond depart this offseason after years of loyal service. While there was some interest from other teams, it seemed like most weren’t interested in the 31-year-old. That allowed the Bears to scoop him up. Johnson felt Raymond’s value was criminally overlooked. Based on updates from training camp, he may have been onto something.
Ben Johnson already proved Raymond could play.
After all, the wide receiver had 1,105 yards and a touchdown on 108 targets in his first two seasons playing for the coach in Detroit. Unfortunately, he lost importance in the offense as the trio of Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Sam LaPorta commanded more attention. The emergence of Isaac Tesla last season is what made him expendable in Detroit’s eyes. Their loss is Chicago’s gain. The Bears didn’t really have a viable slot option last season. They tried making it work with Olamide Zaccheaus, but he was plagued by drop issues. That is why Rome Odunze and D.J. Moore lined up there a lot.
This won’t be a problem for Raymond. He’s played 709 snaps in the slot over his career. It is a spot he knows well. His mixture of speed, quickness, and savvy route-running makes it an obvious place for him, allowing Odunze and Luther Burden to do their damage on the outside. That doesn’t even include what he can do for Colston Loveland. His ability to clear out coverages with his speed should create added opportunities for the young tight end. All of this leans into why Ben Johnson wanted him in the first place.
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Expect big things this season.
Don’t forget that Zaccheaus had 313 yards on 65 targets last season for the Bears. Raymond had 289 yards on just 30 targets for Detroit. The last time he got 60+ targets was 2022, when he went for 616 yards. That should give you an idea of how much the team upgraded. He can do all the things Zaccheaus could, but has better hands and is more dangerous after the catch. It is another reminder that improving on the margins can be just as vital to a team’s success as adding talent at the top.
Johnson is all about playing the chess match. For that, you need the right pieces. Raymond is a great fit for this team. He fills the gaps that the Bears weren’t able to last season. The fact that got him for dirt cheap, just like Jackson the year prior, is another reminder that Johnson’s eye for talent should not be underestimated. If he pounces on players others don’t want, it might be a sign you screwed up.
