The Chicago Bears traded up for Leonard Floyd in the 2016 NFL draft. Then-general manager Ryan Pace felt his mixture of size, length, and athleticism was incredibly rare for a budding pass rusher. Things started well. He collected seven sacks as a rookie that year, flashing serious potential. Then things just kind of levelled off. Floyd managed just 11.5 sacks over the next three seasons. Chicago didn’t pick up his 5th-year option and allowed him to leave in free agency in 2020.

To his credit, Floyd didn’t let that derail him. Over the next six seasons, he amassed 51.5 sacks, winning the Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams in 2021. After all the disappointment of his time in Chicago, he’s carved out a highly respectable career. Now he is a free agent after spending a year with the Falcons in Atlanta. Bleacher Reports seems to think a reunion with the Bears would be in the interests of both parties. Chicago needs pass rush depth. Floyd likely wishes to join a playoff contender.

Pass-rusher Leonard Floyd has entered the “veteran mercenary” stage of his career. However, the 33-year-old remains a disruptive defender who would make plenty of sense for a contender in need of edge help.

This past season, Floyd logged 19 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 19 quarterback pressures, 11 QB hits, and five tackles for loss across 15 games with the Atlanta Falcons…

…The Bears could use an edge-rushing boost, too, after only recording 35 sacks as a team in 2025. Chicago drafted Floyd ninth overall in 2016, and while he never played up to his draft status for the Bears, he’s carved out a very respectable career since.

A reunion would be sensible for the Bears and Floyd.

Best Fits: Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers

Leonard Floyd has little to fear about a Chicago return.

None of the people involved in drafting ten years ago are around anymore. Pace was fired in 2022. John Fox was fired in 2018. This coaching staff and front office are entirely new, with zero preconceived notions. They will see a solid veteran pass rusher who can help the defense. Nothing more. Last season was another pretty good one for Floyd. While he only had 3.5 sacks, he did have 36 pressures on 287 rushes. That was significantly fewer than the 373 he had the year before in San Francisco, when he had 10.5 sacks.

Despite his age, Floyd doesn’t seem to have lost much of the burst and quickness that made him so alluring as a 1st round pick all those years ago. The difference this time is he’s far more polished as a pass rusher, boasting a deep toolbox of moves. Would defensive coordinator Dennis Allen go for it? He usually prefers heavier players on the edge. Floyd hovers between 240 and 250 lbs. Can they trust him to set the edge against the run, or would he be purely a designated rusher?

A Floyd decision may wait until after the draft.

Given his age, there isn’t much of a rush from other teams to make a move. They know he will probably be there in May after the draft. Chicago wants to see what they can accomplish along the defensive line there. It is projected to be a strong class with several capable talents. They could solve their edge rusher problem as early as the 1st or 2nd rounds. However, as they learned at running back last year, sometimes the board doesn’t fall their way. If it happens at edge rusher in this draft, they could pivot to Leonard Floyd as a temporary solution.

The story would certainly be fun. A former 1st round pick who never found his footing with his original team gets to return and try to end things on a higher note. Imagine Floyd coming in and giving the Bears defense 7-8 sacks next season. That would be a monumental benefit, especially if Austin Booker can take the next step as well. Much depends on how the market unfolds once the draft is complete. Some prominent names are still out there, including Cameron Jordan and Jadeveon Clowney. Their destinations will determine Floyd’s fate.

The Chicago Bears haven’t operated like the same team they were a couple of years ago, at least not in the pre-draft process. For years, it looked like the organization set aside private meetings with prospects they had every intention of drafting, of trying to draft. Those meetings were used to cement their evaluations and ensure they didn’t miss any details. However, last year seemed to take a shift. Of the 22 names confirmed to have met with the Bears privately for a top 30 visit leading up to the draft, none of them were selected. Some were never available, but a large portion were on the board at least once. The Bears passed. This suggests the visits had undergone a shift in purpose. Bears offensive line coach Dan Roushar just confirmed it.

He explained to Foster Swift SPORTS TALK that the “30” visits were used on players the team has questions about. Maybe it’s a medical concern they want their own doctors to assess. Perhaps it’s the rumored character issues that the coaches can get a feel for by spending a day together with somebody. Then you have football IQ. Do they understand the game at a fundamental enough level to handle the large caches of information required to play in the league? The Bears use those visits to check if their information was wrong.

Dan Roushar speaks to a strategy that good organizations use.

If you look at teams like Baltimore, Detroit, and Seattle, they don’t use top 30 visits on players they end up drafting too often. Instead, it is often their way of helping determine whether they should remove certain names from their boards entirely. For example, Baltimore had a clean shot at both Tyleik Williams and Josh Simmons in the 1st round last year. However, they’d met with both before the draft. Neither was drafted. The Ravens opted to go with Malaki Starks instead, who they did not meet with.

It’s hard to argue with the strategy. All three of those teams have proven excellent at drafting over the past several years. Since the Bears shifted to it last year, their drafting has improved considerably as well. It seems that moving the top 30 visits to a more investigative approach does a great job of clearing the debris. In other words, it trims the fat from a draft board, making it easier to hone in on players with a realistic chance of being good at the NFL level. Dan Roushar clearly believes in it.

This should change how we view the Bears’ visits.

As of writing this, four names have surfaced who have met or will meet with the team shortly. When looking deeper, each of them comes with some red flags that might warrant the Bears needing a closer look. Running back Seth McGowan spent three months in jail for larceny, which raises questions about his character. Wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling has an undisclosed injury history going back to his time at Oklahoma State. He also hasn’t developed as fast as many thought, raising questions about his grasp of the game.

Center Jager Burton also dealt with injury problems at Kentucky and snapping issues, too. Last but not least, linebacker Jimmy Rolder played four years at Michigan but didn’t become a starter until his senior season. The Bears may wish to see where he is in his development, given so little starting experience. As the list grows over the coming weeks, we should hear more of the same. If the Bears end up drafting anybody from it, that will mean the information they gathered was as good as it gets.

The Chicago Bears sit 25th in the 1st round NFL draft order next month. That is the lowest the team has selected since 2011, when they were 29th. This creates a challenge for general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson to find a potential difference-making talent. Last year was a huge success for them, landing tight end Colston Loveland. He looked like a budding star towards the end of the season. Duplicating that success is an obvious goal, but they won’t have a top-10 pick to make it easier.

Most take this to mean the Bears will do one of two things. Either they will take the best player on their board and hope for the best, or they will trade down to accumulate more picks, improving their chances of landing good players. However, there is a possibility they make a true splash by moving up in the 1st round. It hasn’t happened in five years. In fact, Ryan Pace remains the only Bears GM to ever move up in the 1st round. Poles could join him, but it may depend on who is available.

Four names likely interest the Chicago Bears.

Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame)

The Bears are a run-oriented football team under Johnson. Most of his scheme is built around success on the ground and on play-action for explosive shots down the field. One thing the coach has never really had is a true three-down stallion who can do everything. Love is undeniably that guy. He has the size necessary for heavy workloads, can power through tackles, and has breakaway speed to house it if he gets a lane. He’s drawing comparisons to Jahmyr Gibbs and Jamaal Charles, but he’s bigger than both of them. There is no way Johnson wouldn’t leap at the chance to add a stud like that to the Bears’ backfield.

David Bailey (EDGE, Texas Tech)

The last time the Bears drafted a true difference-making pass rusher was probably Trace Armstrong in 1989. Since then, it has been a parade of disappointment. They badly need somebody explosive enough to complement Montez Sweat. Nobody embodies that better than Bailey. He has a lightning-quick first step, a red-hot motor, excellent closing speed, and enough power to keep offensive tackles honest. After failing to land that type of pass rusher in free agency and coming up short on Maxx Crosby, this would be the move that could give the defense the boost it needs. Bailey is a foundational talent.

Sonny Styles (LB, Ohio State)

Linebackers may not be a premium position, but there are certain specimens that just transcend positional value. Brian Urlacher was one. Luke Kuechley was another. Styles comes across as that ultra-rare breed. He is a freakish athlete, boasting size and speed for days. His instincts and discipline are both good and he’s one of the best tacklers at his position in this class. The Chicago Bears have searched for that next Urlacher for the past 14 years. Styles is the closest to that category in a long time. If he somehow drops into range, the team has plenty of good reasons to go get him.

Omar Cooper Jr. (WR, Indiana)

People aren’t ready to believe the Bears would draft a receiver early, let alone trading up in the 1st round. However, it’s important to remember who is in charge. Johnson calls the shots, and if he wants another weapon, he’ll get it. The Bears traded D.J. Moore, leaving their receiving corps in an uncertain spot. Somebody like Cooper Jr. is exactly what the head coach would love. He’s tough, strong, a solid route-runner, and at his most dangerous after the catch. He’s earned multiple comparisons to Deebo Samuel, who would’ve been Johnson’s idea receiver in another life. Nobody is better equipped to fill that Moore void than the Indiana standout.

The Chicago Bears experienced far more upheaval at cornerback last season than anybody expected. Jaylon Johnson was injured before training camp even began, and that lingered for months. Kyler Gordon suffered multiple injuries before and during the season as well, playing only sporadically for most of the year. Then you have Tyrique Stevenson. Things at least seemed stable with him at the beginning, but somewhere along the way, the former 2nd round pick was benched. His playing time was drastically cut down despite Johnson and Gordon never being 100%.

People couldn’t figure out why. Ability wasn’t the problem. Stevenson’s talent felt like a good fit for Dennis Allen’s defense. It wasn’t health. He never popped up much on the injury report. The only possibility left was attitude problems. Coaches weren’t happy with his effort and/or work ethic and decided to give his snaps to those willing to earn them.

It must’ve been a hard lesson because Stevenson released a video with a message. He admitted that the past two years were on him, but he was out for blood this year. Not just because he’s out to prove himself, mind you. He has a son now, and it’s time to set an example.

Tyrique Stevenson being a motivated father is significant.

Don’t let anybody fool you. Having a child tends to change your entire perspective on life. It makes you think about legacy and wanting to set a good example for your son or daughter. There is also the aspect of providing for them. Remember, Stevenson is in the last year of his rookie contract. This is the best and last chance he has to cash in for a big payday next offseason. Plenty of prominent athletes saw their careers blossom after having a kid. Fred VanVleet in the NBA is one example. He had a child during the Toronto Raptors’ championship run in 2019. Kurt Warner evolved from backup quarterback to MVP upon becoming an adoptive father to an autistic son.

This is where Stevenson has ended up. He’s had some really good stretches since his rookie year in 2023. Sadly, those are overshadowed by some ugly issues along the way. He had really bad coverage busts early in his career, highlighting his struggles in zone coverage. Then there was the infamous Hail Mary fiasco in Washington two years ago, where he was jawing at fans while the final play was in progress. It almost happened again in January against the Rams before he was saved by Kevin Byard.

Stevenson won’t be handed anything.

It is clear the Bears aren’t sold on him at this point. Defensive backs coach Al Harris has considerable sway on who should or shouldn’t get playing time. Allen has no reason to doubt him, given his track record. That means Tyrique Stevenson was benched on his authority. So if there is one person the cornerback must win over, it is Harris. That means showing up to every practice in shape and motivated. No moaning and groaning. Arrive every day with a smile and eager to work. By the look of things, Stevenson has reached that point.

He certainly has the motivation that’s been missing. A lot of money is on the line, as is his son’s future. If this helps Stevenson finally transform into the player he could be, that is great for the Bears. Having three good cornerbacks is often the difference between a regular defense and a great one. Don’t expect the organization to just hand him the job, though. They already plan to give former 5th round pick Zah Frazier a real shot, and will most likely add more help in the draft. He’d better be prepared to compete.

Kalif Raymond was signed by the Chicago Bears when free agency began over a week ago. It came as somewhat of a surprise. Most people believed the Bears would either retain Olamide Zaccheaus or add someone in the draft after trading D.J. Moore. Instead, they go with a familiar face for head coach Ben Johnson. He and Raymond worked together for four years in Detroit. Yet it appears he wasn’t the primary force behind the Bears’ decision to sign the veteran receiver. That was Antwaan Randle El.

Chicago’s wide receivers coach has a close relationship with Raymond. He isn’t just a fan of the player but also the person. This will be an invaluable asset to both the wide receiver room and the locker room as a whole. Randle El explained why to Larry Mayer of ChicagoBears.com.

“When you think about what we look for in players, [Raymond] exemplifies all that,” Randle El told ChicagoBears.com. “We want football players and that’s what he is. He has love for the game, passion for the game, and he’s going to be a great teammate—not only to the wide receiver room but to the players throughout the team.”

“When you’re talking about the on-the-field stuff just in terms of playmaking ability, that shows up all over the tape,” Randle El said. “It always has for him. So that’s a big addition: a guy with speed who understands football—seeing the coverage, knowing the coverage—and the veteran presence that he’ll bring to my room.”

It’s easy to see why coaches love him. Not only is Raymond well-spoken and intelligent, but he’s also unselfish. Not only was he a quality third option at wide receiver in Detroit, but an excellent kick returner on top of that.

Antwaan Randle El knows what Raymond brings.

The Bears really tried to make Zaccheaus work last season, targeting him 65 times. Unfortunately, he suffered persistent drop issues that eventually saw his role diminish. Raymond’s best season came in 2021, when he had 71 targets, totaling 576 yards and 4 touchdowns. Getting that from your projected fourth option behind Colston Loveland, Rome Odunze, and Luther Burden would be a big win for the Bears. His speed alone offers an added dimension they didn’t really have outside of Burden.

We already know to trust Antwaan Randle El when it comes to receivers. Not only did he have a successful playing career of his own in the NFL, but he was with Detroit when they drafted both Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. If he believes Raymond will add a significant presence to the Bears’ offense, it’s best to take his word for it. They certainly got him at an affordable price. The big question will be how much of a role he plays on offense since he figures to be their primary kick returner.

The Bears probably aren’t done adding.

While Raymond will factor into the plans this year, it may not be for long. He only signed a one-year contract. He also turns 32 years old in August. This is a temporary solution to their depth problem. It would explain why the Bears are rumored to be interested in several possible receivers in the upcoming draft. Selecting one would give them long-term stability at the position. The only question will be what Johnson prioritizes. Speed appears to be the underlying focus of the offseason.

If that focus holds, then names like Brenan Thompson, Zavion Thomas, Deion Burks, and De’Zhaun Stribling are likely to get strong consideration. Much will depend on what Randle El sees in them. His voice certainly carries a lot of weight in that building. Raymond’s arrival is further proof. It’s nice to see the Bears take their coaches’ input seriously. Too many organizations don’t do that.