Saturday, November 14, 2026
EDGE is live. Chicago fans can now access and explore the beta.
Home Blog Page 338

Why the NFL’s Most Confusing QB Might Still Be the Bears’ Franchise Savior

By
Ficky
-
caleb williams
Oct 26, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) callas a play during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Let’s get one thing straight: Caleb Williams isn’t lighting the NFL on fire yet, but he’s also not some Zach Wilson-level bust. Through Week 8 of his second season, the Bears’ golden boy is sitting dead in the middle of the quarterback pack — literally. Out of 33 qualifying QBs, his average rank across 13 key metrics is 16th. Mediocre on paper. But the tape — and more importantly, the situational stats — tell a more complex story.

This dude is confusing as hell. One minute he’s throwing off his back foot into double coverage like he’s playing Madden blindfolded, the next he’s dropping absolute dimes while a 300-pound lineman tries to turn him into paste.

And yeah, we as fans have every right to feel restless. Caleb was the No. 1 pick — the supposed savior of the franchise — and so far, guys picked right behind him, like Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye, are making louder noise. Every Sunday, it feels like we’re getting a fresh reminder of what those other QBs are doing while Caleb’s still fighting for consistency. The hype was massive, but the results? Mixed, at best.

So, let’s sift through the stats, the hype, and the bullshit to figure out who the hell Caleb Williams really is — and whether Chicago finally has a franchise QB worth a damn.

*Stats provided form SumerBrain by Sumersports.com*

Situational Assassin: Caleb’s Clutch Gene Is Very Real

Let’s start with what Caleb’s actually elite at — because yes, there are flashes of elite.

  • Blitz Rating: 123.6 (7th/36)
  • Big Time Throw Rate: 4.9% (T-10th/33)
  • Sack Rate: 4.8% (11th/33)
  • Escape Rate: 12.4% (13th/42)
  • 3rd Down Conversion Rate: 39.1% (24th/37)

That blitz rating isn’t a fluke. When defenses come after him, Caleb’s response is, “Cool story, bro. Watch this.” He’s been downright surgical under pressure. He wants the smoke — and thrives in it.

Big-time throws? He’s cracking the top 10, which says he’s not just dinking and dunking like a scared QB. He’s taking shots, and some of them are f***ing beautiful like that bucket drop to DJ Moore this week. *Chefs Kiss*

And sack avoidance? For a guy who got knocked in college for holding the ball too long and trying to play hero-ball, he’s only getting sacked on 4.8% of dropbacks. That’s ahead of dudes like Patrick Mahomes and Tua. He’s learning.

The Ugly Side: Red Zone Woes and Accuracy Nightmares

Now for the part Bears fans don’t want to hear.

  • Red Zone Success: 25.6% (32nd/38)
  • Completion %: 61.9% (24th/33)
  • Passer Rating: 90.2 (20th/33)
  • EPA/Play: 0.099 (23rd/33)
  • Expected vs Actual Completion: Huge Gap (Accuracy Problems)

When it’s time to cash in, Caleb turns into a pumpkin. Red zone? He’s damn near unwatchable. Only one QB is worse at converting in close — he’s bottom two. That’s a problem. Period.

And it ain’t just the end zone. His accuracy metrics are brutal. He’s missing open throws with baffling inconsistency, and when you stack his expected completion % against what he’s actually hitting? It’s ugly. Think Josh Allen early-career levels of wild.

Here’s the kicker: he’s not being asked to make hard throws. Per NFL tracking data, Williams has the easiest throw difficulty in the league. That means the scheme is doing the heavy lifting, and he’s still air-mailing slants.

Ben Johnson — who’s been a damn wizard dialing up this offense — is giving him layups, and Caleb’s out here trying to windmill dunk when a finger roll will do.

The Big Picture: What We Know So Far

So, is he good? Bad? Broken? Brilliant? The answer is frustratingly “yes.”

He’s average overall, but elite where it counts most — under pressure, outside structure, and when the moment gets big. That’s the clutch gene you can’t teach. But he’s dragging down his own ceiling with accuracy issues that shouldn’t still be this bad halfway through the year.

Here’s the full stat-line snapshot:

MetricStatRank
3rd Down Conv39.1%24th/37
Blitz Rating123.67th/36
Escape Rate12.4%13th/42
Red Zone Success25.6%32nd/38
Passing Yards1,63612th/33
Yards/Attempt7.39th/33
Air Yards/Att3.715th/33
Sack Rate4.8%11th/33
Completion %61.9%24th/33
Passer Rating90.220th/33
Total Turnovers4T-11th/33
EPA/Play0.09923rd/33
Big Time Throw Rate4.9%T-10th/33

He’s middle-of-the-road overall, but that’s not a death sentence. Middle-of-the-road young QBs with elite situational numbers usually trend up. Think early Justin Herbert or Josh Allen. The bones are there.

Don’t Just Take My Word for It…

If you think I’m just blowing smoke, listen to a few football brains smarter than all of us armchair coordinators.

Matt Waldman, one of the best draft analysts and film grinders out there, said this:

“The awareness, touch, and power on this throw under these circumstances at this point in the game? Cmon.. Matthew Stafford-esque.”

That’s not just praise—that’s a f***ing comp.

Then there’s Benjamin Solak of ESPN, one of the sharpest analysts in the game, who dropped these gems:

“In that frustration, the ability to calibrate to Williams’ play has been lost. Because he has been relatively disappointing, that must mean he is outright disappointing. I strongly disagree. He has been good this season. We haven’t seen the things that were promised — stupendous, life-changing, franchise-resurrecting play — but he hasn’t been bad. Not just decent — better than decent. He has been good!”

He also sees the clear path for Caleb Williams:

“Through Allen’s first two pro seasons, he had an off-target rate of 23.5%. Williams is at 21.3%. Like Williams, Allen was clearly physically capable of making all the requisite throws. But he was excitable in the pocket, his mechanics vacillated from throw to throw, and his shot selection was high difficulty. The lightbulb went on for Allen in Year 3 under Brian Daboll — and after plenty of private offseason work on his mechanics. The lightbulb can come on for Williams just the same, if he does the work, and the football-consuming public gives him the time.”

In other words, the blueprint for turning chaos into cannon-fire success is already out there. Williams just needs to follow it.

And most importantly — Ben Johnson still believes in Caleb. Let’s not forget: Chicago landed Ben Johnson because he believed in No. 18. And he doubled down on that belief yesterday with this quote:

“He played better this game than I think he had the previous two. When you look at it, all 60 minutes, and I’m not saying it’s perfect. I actually came away, from watching the tape this morning, encouraged that we took a step in the right direction here this week. I know for some people it’s hard maybe to rationalize because the result wasn’t there. But yeah, I saw tangible growth from him. He’s working his a** off.”

— Ben Johnson via Carmen & Jurko, ESPN 1000

Final Verdict

Look, if you came here for a hot take saying Caleb’s a bust or a future MVP, you’re not getting it. What you’re getting is reality: he’s complicated, flawed, but damn promising.

He’s not carrying this team yet, but he’s also not dragging it into the toilet. He’s showing flashes of top-10 QB play with a floor that isn’t disastrous — and for a 2nd year QB, that’s worth celebrating.

Clean up the accuracy. Figure out the red zone. Keep the ballsiness.

If he does that? Chicago might finally have their guy.

Why Next 4 Games May Decide Caleb Williams’ Fate In Chicago

By
Erik Lambert
-
caleb williams
Oct 26, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) jogs off the field with teammates during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

The Chicago Bears are 4-3. It is the same record they had at this point last season. We all know what happened. They ended up losing every game until the season finale against Green Bay. Will this time be different? Nobody can say for sure. Right now, the team is in a tough spot. Their defense is horrendously banged up. All three starting cornerbacks are hurt, with two on Injured Reserve. They just lost two defensive linemen, one for the season and another for multiple weeks. Offensively, they are continually haunted by penalty issues and inconsistency. At the heart of it all is Caleb Williams.

Everything this year was about his development. Could he take the necessary steps forward to become a franchise quarterback? The results to this point have been mixed. After starting the season with seven touchdowns and only one interception, he has just two touchdowns and three interceptions in the past three games. It feels like he is trending in the wrong direction. People are growing concerned.

Head coach Ben Johnson isn’t panicking. Despite the iffy numbers from Sunday, he saw signs that Williams is progressing. In truth, the defining stretch of the season and perhaps Williams’ time in Chicago is just ahead. Three of the next four games will be against three of the worst defenses in the NFL, especially against the pass.

Caleb Williams is the problem if he can’t capitalize on this stretch.

Cincinnati has been terrible defensively all year, and their best player, Trey Hendrickson, is hurt. Bo Nix put up 326 yards and two touchdowns on them. Justin Fields led the Jets to 39 points. New York has a strong pass rusher, but their secondary is terrible, as is their run defense. Pittsburgh has big names in its secondary, but no speed. Their pass rush has also lost a lot of its juice since last season. Even the Minnesota Vikings have started backsliding defensively after a strong start to the season.

Don’t forget, two of those three games will be at home. This is not a stretch where Caleb Williams can hide behind the guise of a tough schedule. Penalties aside, the protection has been good this year. He has more than enough weapons to put up points. This comes down to efficiency and finishing drives. Good quarterbacks do that. If Caleb Williams concludes this stretch with the same pedestrian numbers as the past three weeks, it might be time to have a discussion about his future.

New Data Suggests Chicago Bears Are Getting Intentionally Screwed

By
Erik Lambert
-
chicago bears
Oct 26, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) passes as Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (14) dro[s back on coverage during the game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

The Chicago Bears‘ 4-3 record at this point in the season isn’t a bad thing. Many were lukewarm on the team at best, uncertain about quarterback Caleb Williams, the running game, or the pass rush. Yet head coach Ben Johnson has managed to push the team to this point despite a 0-2 start. Amidst all of this, it feels like the Bears have been fighting against the current. In this case, it’s the referees. New data just came out. According to NFLPenalties.com, the Chicago Bears have been flagged 64 times this season, which is the second-most in the NFL per game, behind only the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Here is where it gets crazy. Their opponents have only been flagged 36 times in that same span, which is the second-lowest per-game count. As of now, the Bears have -279 net yards of penalties. Not only is that the most in the league, it’s more than the second and third-highest totals combined. If you were wondering if referees have been intentionally targeting the Bears with questionable calls this season, this data should help illustrate your point. Outliers like this aren’t supposed to exist.

The Chicago Bears need to clean things up.

Head coach Ben Johnson has said as much, even calling out team leaders for not holding teammates accountable. Even so, it feels like the refs are on a crusade to punish the Chicago Bears every chance they get. So many of the flags thrown this year have been soft at best. It is hard to win under such conditions. The Bears have already submitted multiple complaints to the league office regarding this matter. While the NFL won’t punish the referees or reverse the call, they have acknowledged that some were not accurate. It is infuriating. Sadly, the only thing for the Bears to do is keep playing. They’ve proven they can win despite the refs. Maybe it can serve as some sort of twisted rallying cry.

White Sox Report Card: How Shane Smith Graded Out In 2025

By
Craig Rowland
-
Sep 23, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; Chicago White Sox pitcher Shane Smith (64) pitches against the New York Yankees during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images

The White Sox improved by 19 wins from the 2024 to the 2025 season, marking significant improvement. Additionally, the White Sox played much better than a 60-102 team for most of the second half, as they had some important contributions from the rookies on the roster.

As we dissect the 2025 season, we will take a look at how each player performed, as well as their outlook for 2026 and beyond. The next player we will take a look at will be Rule-5 draft pick, Shane Smith.

Smith was the first overall pick in the Rule-5 draft, which gave him a decent shot to make the team out of Spring Training. This wasn’t a given, as despite picking high in the draft every year, the White Sox haven’t had a significant contribution out of a Rule-5 pick in long time.

That changed this year, as Smith was one of two Rule-5 picks to make an impact for the White Sox in 2025. Not only did he make an impact, but he was the White Sox all-star representative during the summer classic.

Smith showed his ace potential, as he pitched to a 3.81 ERA over 146 innings. He struck out 145 batters and had a 1.20 WHIP. The ERA and WHIP were elevated by a rough late June-July, but Smith got back on track after a short IL stint.

Smith’s numbers likely spiked in the middle of the season due to fatigue, as he had never thrown over 94 innings in his professional career due to the fact that he mainly worked as a reliever prior to the 2024 season. Smith was able to overcome any fatigue, as he pitched to a phenomenal 2.67 ERA with a .161 batting average against in August and a very solid 3.81 ERA with a .227 BAA in September.

Baseball Savant graded out Smith’s fastball run value in the 99th percentile in the league, which is as good as it gets. They also graded him out as a well above average pitcher overall, as he ranked in the top 3rd in the MLB in whiff percentage and barrel percentage.

Still just 25, Smith will continue to improve and will likely take the next step in 2026, as he has the whole offseason to work with Brian Bannister and the new pitching coach. Smith will slot in as the Opening Day starter and should be the anchor of the staff moving forward.

I would grade Smith’s season as an A+, as he cannot have had a better season as a Rule-5 pick. Most picks in that draft never see any major league action, while even fewer turn into all-stars. The White Sox got a good one and he should form a formidable top three in the rotation with Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz.

The Chicago Bulls’ Kryptonite Was Just Revealed

By
Ryan Dauterive
-
Oct 27, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (3) celebrates after scoring against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

The Chicago Bulls hosted the Atlanta Hawks for their third game of the season tonight. After trailing most of the night, the Bulls put together a stellar second half to bring it down to the wire, leading by five with under two minutes to go. It ended with some clutch buckets by Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey and a game-sealing offensive rebound by Giddey. It was a matchup that looked very similar to the end of last season, high-paced and sloppy, but the Bulls extended their undefeated streak to begin the new year 3-0. Here are the biggest red flags that will haunt them if left uncorrected.

Turnovers Becoming Transition Points

The Bulls did not deserve to win this game. Their defense was pitiful, especially in the paint, and the primary reason they were able to sneak away with it was the Hawks’ inability to knock down three-point shots in the second half. Through three outings, the Bulls have been in the bottom five in turnovers per outing. Tonight, shot clock violations, offensive fouls, and careless passes gifted Atlanta too many easy transition baskets. With such a young and inexperienced group, the sloppiness offensively will become their demise if they fail to clean things up.

Skilled Big Men Are A Problem

Kristaps Porzingis was the best scoring center Chicago has faced this season, and it was quickly exposed as an issue defensively. Due to Vucevic’s lack of mobility, he’s often tasked with the slowest or least capable three-point shooting forward. Hence, Matas Buzelis and Patrick Williams usually drew the Porzingis assignment tonight. K.P. dropped a game-high 27 points on 11-of-17 from the field, including three makes from beyond the three-point arc. The pick-and-roll switch strategy from the Bulls came back to bite on nearly every occasion when Atlanta’s big man was involved.

Lacking A Primetime Closer

On opening night against the Detroit Pistons, the most noticeable issue with the current group was the lack of a closing offensive option. Giddey and Vucevic often ran the pick-and-roll, but neither could get a bucket on command. As many flaws as Zach LaVine had, he was the go-to playmaking option down the stretch of close games. Tonight, this problem showed again. The clinching option was Tre Jones, a 25-year-old guard who has never been an All-Star and averages 8.4 points across his career. Many plays down the stretch of the first and third games were quirky, random offensive possessions that luckily went Chicago’s way.

Luckily for the Bulls, help is on the way. Coby White has been the closing option when healthy, and will return to that role when he’s able to play again in a few weeks. Adding White to a balanced, deep lineup will only bolster Chicago’s offensive output.

White Sox Report Card: How Luis Robert Jr. Graded Out In 2025

By
Craig Rowland
-
Aug 24, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. (88) singles against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

The White Sox improved by 19 wins from the 2024 to the 2025 season, marking significant improvement. Additionally, the White Sox played much better than a 60-102 team for most of the second half, as they had some important contributions from the rookies on the roster.

As we dissect the 2025 season, we will take a look at how each player performed, as well as their outlook for 2026 and beyond. The next player we will take a look at will be Luis Robert Jr.

Robert Jr. was the topic of discussion throughout the season, as there were many conversations as to his future with the team. People figured that he would be traded at the deadline, as he got hot in early July. That wasn’t the case, and Robert Jr. played his last game in 2025 on August 26th due to a season-ending injury.

Robert Jr. had a tough start to the season, as he hit .161 in the month of April. He added four homeruns, 18 RBIs, walked 16 times and stole 11 bases. He followed that up with a May in which he hit .195 with a .245 OBP, adding one homerun, 11 RBIs, and nine stolen bases.

June wasn’t much better for Robert Jr., as he hit .194 with a .275 OBP. He added three homeruns, 12 RBIs, and one stolen base. However, throughout this tough stretch to start the season, Robert continued to take his walks, something that was a positive development on the season so far.

July was where Robert Jr. started to heat it up, as he looked like his former self. He hit .353 with a .414 OBP, adding three homeruns, 11 RBIs, and five stolen bases. He walked seven times compared to just 10 strikeouts. This is where Robert Jr. really turned a corner.

August was another very good month for Robert Jr., as he hit .256 with a .287 OBP. He added three homeruns, 10 RBIs, and six stolen bases. Robert Jr. continued to bring up his season numbers, as he was primed to continue that into September. However, Robert Jr. suffered a season ending injury late into August and did not play for the rest of the season.

Overall, Robert Jr. hit .223 with a .297 OBP. He added 14 homeruns, 53 RBIs, and 33 stolen bases. He was on pace to have a 20/40 season with elite defense, which would have been a very successful season.

Robert Jr. was one of the best outfielders and one of the best players on the bases this season. He had solid power numbers and the advanced metrics proved he had a closer to average offensive season than the actual stats show.

The White Sox will have a decision to make on his 20 million option, but they will likely pick it up, as they should have traded him at the deadline if they didn’t plan to pick it up. Robert Jr. is one of the most talented players in the MLB, and it’s apparent when he puts it all together. I would grade Robert Jr.’s season as a B, as he was elite in multiple areas of the game this season, while adding power, even when the average was lower than he’d like.

Robert Jr. will be counted on to provide a spark in the lineup to help compliment the youth movement in the White Sox organization, as he has the talent to be in the MVP conversation on a year to year basis.

White Sox Report Card: How Colson Montgomery Graded Out In 2025

By
Craig Rowland
-
Sep 26, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Chicago White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery (12) reacts after hitting a two run home run against the Washington Nationals during the ninth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images

The White Sox improved by 19 wins from the 2024 to the 2025 season, marking significant improvement. Additionally, the White Sox played much better than a 60-102 team for most of the second half, as they had some important contributions from the rookies on the roster.

As we dissect the 2025 season, we will take a look at how each player performed, as well as their outlook for 2026 and beyond. The next player we will take a look at will be shortstop Colson Montgomery.

Montgomery had an interesting start to the 2025 season, as he was expected to make a push to make the Opening Day roster. That wasn’t the case, as he started the season with the Charlotte Knights. After he struggled to open the year with the Knights, he was sent to Arizona to work on his swing mechanics.

After his hiatus in Arizona, Montgomery improved his play in AAA. However, it wasn’t at the same level as when he was considered a top prospect. Regardless, the White Sox promoted him to the major league roster and he made his MLB debut on the 4th of July.

After an 0 for 2 MLB debut, Montgomery followed it up with a 3 for 5 performance. Montgomery then finished the rest July by hitting .257 with a .313 OBP, adding five homeruns and 18 RBIs.

August was an interesting month for Montgomery, as he hit 10 homeruns and had 20 RBIs, but only hit .198 with a .255 OBP. September was a great month for Montgomery, as he hit .267 with a .362 OBP, adding six homeruns and 17 RBIs.

Overall, in just 71 games, Montgomery hit .239 with a .311 OBP, had a .529 slugging percentage, a very good .840 OPS, and swatted 21 homers while driving in 55 runs. This was good for a phenomenal 3.3 WAR according to Baseball Reference. This was an extremely impressive showing for Montgomery, and he put himself back onto the map.

While Montgomery didn’t hit much for average, he has elite power skills and takes his walks. He will continue to be a valuable middle of the order bat for the White Sox, even if his average doesn’t improve. However, the biggest development for Montgomery came in the field, as he was one of the best defensive shortstops in the league during his MLB stint.

According to Baseball Savant, Montgomery had 7 outs above average, which put him among the best in the major leagues. Montgomery will have shortstop locked down if he continues to play like that.

Montgomery showed he belongs in the majors and after a disappointing 2024 and start to the 2025 season, he flipped the script. This deserves an A grade for the season, as with another similar season, he will pencil himself in as the White Sox shortstop of the future.

Ben Johnson Fiercely Defends Caleb Williams After Ravens Loss

By
Erik Lambert
-
ben johnson
Oct 26, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) looks on after the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Caleb Williams came under fire for his performance on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. He finished with 285 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception. The offense only scored 16 points, stalling in the red zone multiple times again. Add the numerous offensive penalties resulting from pre-snap issues and you can understand why Chicago Bears fans were livid with the young quarterback. Shouldn’t there be signs of progress by this point? It felt like he was making the same mistakes that had characterized his rookie season the previous year. Some wonder how long of a leash he has with Ben Johnson before there’s a breaking point.

The Bears head coach decided to set the record straight in an interview with Jeff Joniak on ESPN 1000. Yes, the red zone issues are a problem. More points are needed. That interception can’t happen. However, the truth is Williams played considerably better in this game than he did in the previous two, which were both wins. Johnson may not have liked the result, but he came away encouraged that Williams is finally starting to see things the right way. Things are slowing down.

Ultimately, the final decision belongs to Ben Johnson.

He is the one who will decide whether Williams is the right guy for this franchise. That is one of the reasons he came to Chicago. He saw many exciting qualities about the young quarterback. What was needed was structure and patience. Ben Johnson has provided the former. Now what everybody needs is the latter. Williams’ progress was never going to be swift. There were several bad habits that the coaching staff needed to address from last year. That doesn’t happen overnight.

Reviews of the game tape showed Williams was more in control than it first appeared. He made mostly good decisions outside of the interception. It’s just unfortunate he didn’t get many breaks. Johnson seems convinced things are getting closer. The running game has found a footing since the bye week. If Williams can reach that moment of clarity, everything could fall into place.

Saturday May Have Shown That Buzelis Has A Lingering Injury

By
Ryan Dauterive
-
Oct 25, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) defends a play in the second half against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Russell Lansford-Imagn Images

Many have been surprised by Chicago’s 2-0 start to the year. In both matchups, they faced Eastern Conference playoff opponents from a season ago and were underdogs. Despite the odds, they were able to steal two games to begin their 2025-26 campaign undefeated and are not showing any signs of slowing down. Although they beat the Orlando Magic by 12 and held them under 100 points, Matas Buzelis was a head-scratching eyesore the entire night. He got in early foul trouble, looked hesitant and timid offensively, and was a non-factor in the win. What happened to the blossoming star, and is he holding back from an injury potentially suffered on opening night?

Buzelis Looked Like A Different Player

On Saturday night in Orlando, Buzelis did not look like the high-flying, energetic, athletic freak that Chicago fans have come to know. He played only 12 minutes, the second-fewest on the team, and attempted only five shots while scoring three points. Two of his five attempts were from three-point land, and he only got to the free-throw line once after attempting 12 shots and earning seven tries from the charity stripe on opening night. Late in the game against Detroit, he landed on the foot of Jalen Duren on a three-point attempt and went down holding his lower leg. While he did return to play and finish the game, and he also did not show up on any injury reports since that night, something looks off. Is his ankle injury lingering?

Hopefully, Just An Off Night

Since he has not been listed on any injury reports and no word of a lasting ailment has been made public, the current assumption has to be that he just had an off night. He did draw a tough matchup in Paulo Banchero, an All-Star and one of the more powerful forwards Buzelis will see this season. Chicago’s youngster was in foul trouble early, never able to find his rhythm offensively, and fouled out with just 12 minutes of action. For the Bulls and Buzelis’s case, Saturday night was hopefully just a humbling experience that had nothing to do with the potential ankle injury suffered against Detroit. As a sophomore in the NBA who is still learning to defend at a high level and find his shots offensively, it’s entirely possible it was just a speed bump on the route to stardom.

Tonight’s game against the Atlanta Hawks will show whether Buzelis is genuinely affected by the ankle or just had a rough night on Saturday. The Hawks have a lackluster paint and transition defense, two of Chicago’s strong suits and Buzelis’s favorite places to find his points. Can the Bulls win their third in a row to begin the season?

Ranking 10 Top-50 MLB Free Agents Cubs Are Linked To

By
Aldo Soto
-
Oct 1, 2024; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Michael King (34) walks off the field after the sixth inning against the Atlanta Braves in game one of the Wildcard round for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

Oh don’t lie, you guys love this offseason shit. The Athletic’s Jim Bowden released his annual list of the top-50 free agents, ranked them, connected them to the best potential fits this offseason and he also provided contract predictions for all 50 players. As we’ll discuss later on, some of those projections seem a bit off and as much as I’d love to see the Chicago Cubs target most of the free agents that Bowden believes could be fits at Wrigley Field, there are a handful that don’t necessarily feel realistic.

I’m also looking at this list through the mindset of Jed Hoyer, his front office and how ownership has operated under the Ricketts. I do expect the Cubs to go out and land a few impact free agents, but I’d be lying if I truly felt they’ll be players at the very top of the market.

So, let’s rank the 10 free agents Bowden has linked to the Cubs in his top-50 list in order from most likely to least likely to be signed by Hoyer based on the Cubs’ previous activity in free agency.

One quick note before we get into the Cubs-related free agents, Bowden lists Kyle Tucker as the No. 1 free agent in this class, but he does not mention the Cubs as one of the best team fits. Instead, Bowden names the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants as the best fits for Tucker, while predicting the 28-year-old All-Star outfielder will get a 10-year, $427 million contract.

All right, now to the 10 free agents who Bowden links to the Cubs as being one of the best team fits.

1. Brad Keller – contract prediction 2 years, $15 million

The 30-year-old pitcher completely changed the trajectory of his career with the Cubs in 2025, and if Bowden’s prediction of a two-year, $15 million deal is what Brad Keller ends up signing in free agency, then I expect Hoyer to be all over this. Keller was forced to sign a minor league deal after his atrocious performance in 2024, and for the first time in his pro career the right-hander worked as a full-time reliever with a new and improved fastball/slider combo.

Age isn’t a concern here and while injuries can pop up at any time Keller is now a few years removed from surgery and didn’t show any signs of decline as the 2025 season progressed. If his market remains in the two-year range, then the Cubs will certainly be in the mix after his results with the team this past year.

Keller ranked No. 34 in Bowden’s top-50 list.

Other teams mentioned: Dodgers, Mets, Braves, Phillies, Cardinals, Tigers, Astros

2. Drew Pomeranz – contract prediction 1 year, $5 million

Remember, I’m ranking these as who I think is most likely to be signed by the Cubs, not their actual ranking as players in free agency. Anyway, similar Brad Keller, veteran lefty Drew Pomeranz was a hidden gem for the Cubs’ bullpen as the 36-year-old was acquired in a minor trade with the Seattle Mariners at the end of April. Pomeranz, who had not pitched in MLB since 2021, finished the 2025 season with a 2.17 ERA and 28.1 K% in 49.2 innings.

Given his age, Pomeranz isn’t likely to command a multi-year contract, so if the Cubs believe he can come close to repeating his results in 2026, they’ll likely remain in contact with the left-hander this offseason.

Other team mentioned: Padres

3. Dylan Cease – contract prediction 6 years, $187 million

All right, maybe I’ll look like a fool believing that the Cubs will be a serious suitor for Dylan Cease, but I think the interest is real. Out of all the starting pitchers on this list I do think Cease is the most realistic target for the Cubs this offseason. However, I do have to qualify this by saying I don’t think the Cubs nor any other team will offer Cease a six-year deal.

Again, maybe I’ll be completely wrong about that and Scott Boras gets a team to bite. But there’s just way too much inconsistency with Cease and he’s coming off a rough season. However, he’s still uber talented and has shown the ability to be an elite starting pitcher.

If Cease overestimates his market and remains unsigned come January, then at that point I’d give the Cubs a decent shot at swooping in and getting the right-hander to sign a shorter contract with opt outs.

Other teams mentioned: Padres, Braves, Mets, Orioles, Giants, Angels, Red Sox, Tigers

4. Michael King – contract prediction 3 years, $75 million

Maybe the Cubs can sneak in here and get lucky because Michael King has been great when healthy, but the problem is the 30-year-old wasn’t healthy in 2025 and he only has one full season of success as a starting pitcher. Still, King has ace potential as he showed in 2024, when he had a 2.95 ERA in 173.2 innings.

The right-hander has made 161 career appearances in the majors, which includes 64 starts. In those 64 games King has a combined 3.35 ERA with a 26.4 K%. However, he only threw 73.1 innings in 2025 with the San Diego Padres, missing half the year because of a a pinched thoracic nerve and tossed a total of 17.2 innings to end the season when he returned in August.

However, the risk/reward behind signing King is that if he is back to 100% health, then the Cubs could get a top of rotation arm that they need in 2026. If King’s market stays in that three-year range, then I could definitely see the Cubs taking on the risk.

Other teams mentioned: Padres, Yankees, Orioles, Braves, Mets, Angels, Astros, Tigers, Red Sox

5. Zac Gallen – contract prediction 5 years, $135 million

Just like Cease, I think Zac Gallen will be a target for the Cubs this offseason, but there’s no chance in hell they’ll come close to offering him that much money. I don’t think any other team will either.

The Cubs were reportedly interested in trading for Gallen during the 2025 season, but the Arizona Diamondbacks held on to him. Gallen, who had been a Cy Young contender in years past, finished this past year with a 4.83 ERA in 192 innings. He made 33 starts and the concerning part was that this was his second year in which Gallen’s numbers declined across the board.

From 2019-2023, Gallen maintained a strikeout rate between 26 and 29 percent. At his best, Gallen was limiting walks to 2/9IP, but in 2024 his strikeout rate dipped a little, down to 25.1%, still good, but in 2025 it was only at 21.5%, while the walks increased to above three per nine innings pitched.

The bright spot to Gallen’s 2025 season is that in his final 11 starts he recorded a 3.32 ERA in 65 innings and posted eight quality starts. Yet, the strikeout rate was hovering in the 20% range, so that’s not exactly what you want if you’re predicting future success.

So, why would the Cubs even be interested? Again, it’s about value, containing the risk, and I don’t think Gallen’s market is going to be crazy. A one-year or two-year deal to prop up his value again? Yeah, that’s more in the realm of possibility than Gallen getting $135 million guaranteed after his showing in 2025.

Other teams mentioned: Orioles, Red Sox, Tigers, Astros, Padres, Giants, Braves, Mets, Cardinals

Not Buying It

Here are five more free agents that Bowden linked to the Cubs and I’m not buying the connection.

Framber Valdez – contract prediction 6 years, $190 million
Bo Bichette – contract prediction 7 years, $189 million
Alex Bregman – contract prediction 6 years, $182 million
Ranger Suárez – contract prediction 6 years, $164 million
Tatsuya Imai – contract prediction 7 years, $154 million

Not saying the Cubs shouldn’t go after these guys, but I don’t buy that Hoyer will commit that kind of money to these specific free agents. Especially the starting pitchers. Since becoming the top boss in the front office, Hoyer’s largest free agent contract to a starting pitcher has been four years, $68 million to Jameson Marcus Stroman agreed to a three-year, $73 million deal, but he opted out after year two.

Meanwhile, Shōta Imanaga agreed to a four-year, $53 million contract that includes both player and team options. There’s still a giant question mark surrounding Imanaga heading into the offseason and there’s a small possibility that he enters free agency.

So yeah, I don’t think the Cubs will be in on any of the starters that will command long-term contracts with an AAV in the $30 million range. Right or wrong, the Cubs under Hoyer haven’t operated in those waters.

As for Bo Bichette, sure he’d be welcomed, but he had a great bounce back season in 2025, and I’d bet a few teams will be lined up to pay him as a shortstop this winter. The Cubs have Dansby Swanson and while Bichette could transition to second or third base, he’s still going to get shortstop money, which I find something the Cubs won’t want to do.

Alex Bregman? Cubs already tried last year and he passed on them. Now, he’s a year older and I doubt the Cubs will all of a sudden cave and offer the 32-year-old a longer contract.

1...337338339...3,363Page 338 of 3,363

Subscribe to our Newsletter

✶ An Unfiltered Voice For Chicago Sports Fans ✶

Chicago Sports News

About Us

© Sports Mockery, Inc. 2026