The Chicago Bears have always been a team that exhibits a strong rushing attack. It’s part of their longstanding identity. That is why this season has been so frustrating for fans. Make no mistake. Few are taking it harder than head coach Ben Johnson. He has admitted to being annoyed by the team’s inability to run it better, especially since it’s a core part of his offensive system. Many have blamed the running backs for these problems, but Johnson has dismissed that. He believes the issues have been widespread, but particularly up front.
Indeed, the blocking hasn’t been adequate in any sense of the word. Left tackle Braxton Jones was already benched because of his constant mistakes in the run game. The problem is, it might not be just him. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune contacted league sources to gather their perspectives on the situation. It appears they feel the Bears might have a problem with certain players not being the best fit for the scheme they’re trying to run. It isn’t difficult to surmise who they’re talking about.
You’re right, the Bears invested heavily in the offensive line, signing center Drew Dalman in free agency and trading for, and then extending the contracts of, guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson. The first goal, I believe, was to create a better pocket for quarterback Caleb Williams, and that has worked when you look at how he has improved in playing on schedule with the sack rate tumbling.
Dalman is regarded as one of the best centers in the league for an outside zone scheme. The Bears haven’t been highly productive doing this, and some have wondered if the rest of the personnel is a great fit for that.
Running outside zone is something plenty of teams in the NFL do. However, it is a scheme that requires a specific type of offensive lineman. They must be agile, mobile, and quick. The goal of the outside zone is to get running backs to the edges. For that, linemen must be able to block on the move and in space. Drew Dalman and Joe Thuney fit that perfectly. Jackson wasn’t asked to run many outside zone plays in Detroit. The Lions have mostly been a team that runs a mix of gap power and inside zone. Guards with limited athleticism can function just fine in that situation.
However, things changed once he signed with the Los Angeles Rams, who are primarily an outside zone team. While an injury setback didn’t help matters, he was eventually benched by head coach Sean McVay. It was apparent he didn’t have the necessary range to run the system properly. Now, we must be fair. Jackson has played well after a slow start to the season. His pass protection has been solid. Though he might not be the best fit for this rushing scheme, the Chicago Bears cannot justify benching him.
That sucked. Pitching was good, but the Brewers were better. The Cubs only scored a single time in Game 5, losing 3-1 and the Brewers don’t hold back trolling their division rival following the game.
William Contreras homered in the first against Drew Pomeranz with two outs, Andrew Vaughn did the same, crushing a 3-2 pitch from Colin Rea in the fourth inning that put Milwaukee ahead for good. Brice Turang added another with a solo bomb against Andrew Kittredge in the seventh, also with two outs.
The only run the Cubs were able to score came off the bat of Seiya Suzuki, who pulverized a Jacob Misiorowski fastball in the second inning, tying the game and giving Cubs’ fans brief hope. Unfortunately, the offense simply could not do a thing against Misiorowski after the Suzuki home run. The right-hander pitched four innings, struck out three and only gave up two more hits after the homer.
As a Cubs fan you pretty much felt the game was over after Kyle Tucker, Suzuki and Ian Happ were retired in order in the sixth inning, when the Cubs had runners at first and second with nobody out. Suzuki, who hit the ball hard all night long, hit a 101mph line drive to left center, but Jackson Chourio tracked it down for the out. Tucker and Happ both struck out and that was it for the Cubs.
A Michael Busch one-out walk in the eighth inning was the only Cubs’ base runner in the final three innings.
Oct 27, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) celebrates with wide receiver Keenan Allen (13) after the Bears scored a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Washington Commanders at Commanders Field. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images
Caleb Williams hasn’t beaten a fellow member of the 2024 draft class yet. He lost to Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye last year, then J.J. McCarthy in the season opener. He will have his second crack at Daniels on Monday night in Washington. Plenty of people don’t like his odds. The Commanders are a tough team, guided by an excellent coach. Williams will have to play a near-perfect game to pull it off, especially with the questionable staff of both the rushing attack and the defense. That is asking a lot of a young quarterback.
However, there could be one factor in his favor. Former NFL tight end Clay Harbor pointed it out. Washington plays the third-most zone coverage in the NFL through the season’s first month. It hasn’t helped as they’re surrendering 11.8 yards per completion while doing so. This is pretty significant for Williams. So far he’s shown vast improvement against zone coverage this season, averaging 11 yards per completion with a 3-to-1 touchdown-interception ratio.
vs. Man
15-of-20
192 yards
2 TDs
vs. Zone
56-of-87
620 yards
6 TDs
2 INTs
The Washington Commanders are giving up 11.8 yards per completion. Thats worst in the entire NFL.
They play zone coverage the 3rd highest clip.
If the Bears O-line can hold up it could be a good opportunity to get some chunk plays down the field. #DaBears#Bears#Chicago
Washington can’t rely on last year to stop Caleb Williams.
Their zone-based approach worked well in last season’s meeting, holding the rookie to just 10-of-24 for 131 yards. They sacked him three times and forced a fumble. Undoubtedly, they hope Chicago’s rushing woes will open up opportunities for Dorance Armstrong and Von Miller to get after Caleb Williams. Whether that works depends on what sort of plan head coach Ben Johnson has in mind to counter it. Washington intercepted Jared Goff four times in their last encounter with his offense, though they still surrendered 31 points. One can bet Johnson is eager for revenge.
Everything depends on how well Williams can weather the storm. Washington loves pressuring you into making mistakes. They did it to the Chargers last week. The Bears’ offensive line must step up to the challenge. If they can give their quarterback adequate time, he’s proven he can find holes in zone coverage.
Miami Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb, top, and defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, bottom, hit New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson (2) causing a fumble during the first half of an NFL game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Dec. 17, 2023.
The Chicago Bears haven’t been mentioned much on a national level as a team expected to be aggressive on the trade market. Part of that is likely because they’re 2-2. Nobody is yet sure if they are a serious player in the NFC. That will likely be determined over the next two weeks with their matchups against Washington and New Orleans. If they can win both, it might prompt them to be more aggressive before the November 4th deadline. The obvious question is who may or may not be available.
Multiple top insiders provided some answers to that question. Both ESPN and NFL Network released columns detailing some names that are getting serious traction on the market. The good news for the Bears is that the majority of them play positions this team needs help at.
Chicago only has five sacks on defense and the second-worst running game in the NFL. Adding a playmaker at either position could make life much easier for the team as the hardest stretch of their schedule looms in November and December.
The Chicago Bears will likely dictate their actions by price tag.
Adding a big name is always fun, but not if it comes at an exorbitant cost. Hendrickson and Chubb would be serious upgrades to their pass rush. The problem is they also come with hefty price tags. Their respective teams will probably want at least one high draft pick in the 2nd round range. That is without mentioning their big contracts. Key and Jordan would be more affordable, but also less impactful. Jordan has just 2.5 sacks in five games. Key has 1.5. It doesn’t make much sense to trade for them since the return is likely to be minimal.
A running back would be a more affordable option, both financially and via draft compensation. Hall can be a really good player in spurts. When healthy, he is a load. He’s also still on his rookie contract. He could bring something to the table that the Chicago Bears don’t have. Kamara is still a star, though aging. His contract is more problematic, but there is no question he’d be a weapon in the backfield.
Much of this will be decided Monday night. If the Bears escape Washington with a win, they may get the green light to make a move. If not, Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson will likely decide to hold onto the picks they have.
If you look at the history of the Chicago Bears, you’ll find that their most successful periods came under the direction of a…let’s say…colorful head coach—men who had loud personalities and even louder voices, on the field and in the locker room. George Halas might’ve been Papa Bear, but he had a reputation for a short temper and an aggressive personality. Mike Ditka was the same way. His tirades in Chicago were legendary. Jim McMahon took to calling him “Sybil” after a female character from a 1970s TV movie who had multiple personality disorder. You just never knew when he’d explode. Week by week, we’re beginning to learn that Ben Johnson might fit into that category as well.
The Bears’ head coach made some headlines two weeks ago when he had a minor disagreement with a sideline reporter at the end of the first half against Las Vegas. He seemed to take one of her comments the wrong way and bristled a bit. He later apologized for his conduct, and the incident was dismissed. One person who wasn’t surprised by that was Kevin Byard. The veteran safety has gotten a full taste of Johnson for the past few months and is convinced the coach is crazy.
Ben Johnson has more than lived up to his reputation.
The rumors around him came in two parts. He was an offensive wizard known for his boundless creativity and also one of the most intense individuals you’d ever meet on game day. All you have to do is watch the clips of him on the sideline, and you can see it—the stone cold glare, no smiling, all mixed with occasional explosions of emotion when things either go really good or really bad. Players are learning that the best thing to do is to avoid him during games unless absolutely necessary.
Mind you, Ben Johnson doesn’t do this on purpose. It is who he is. He’s wired that way. The guy takes the game deadly serious. He doesn’t just want to win. He wants to dominate. That means having a ruthless personality. There is no room for jokes or levity. Celebration can wait until after the final whistle. If you get caught giving any less than 100% before that, don’t expect to see his good side anytime soon.
Oct 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard (20) warms up before their game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images
Whispers surfaced this week that the Chicago Bears have been in contact with the Tennessee Titans about a potential trade. The obvious name involved is superstar defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. He’s having a career year, but the Titans are one of the worst teams in the NFL. It is pretty clear they are in a rebuilding phase around quarterback Cam Ward. Trading Simmons while his value is high makes plenty of sense. Chicago desperately needs a difference-maker up front. He could potentially solve several of their problems.
However, it turns out Simmons isn’t the only name the Bears inquired about. Sources told SM they also spoke to Tennessee about the availability of running back Tony Pollard. It’s no secret that Chicago’s running game has struggled this season. Adding another weapon in the backfield feels like a logical move. Head coach Ben Johnson loves runners with speed. Pollard has plenty of that. He has been productive for the Titans despite their offensive struggles. At 28 years old, he has one year left on his contract.
The Bears likely feel they can get him at an affordable price if Tennessee is in a selling mood.
The Chicago Bears face one notable obstacle.
Tennessee doesn’t have a clear replacement for Pollard if they were to trade him. He’s been their primary back all season, with nobody else getting significant carries. The Titans would likely lean on Tyjae Spears and rookie Kalel Mullings if they were to trade him. Spears has gotten little action this season and Mullings hasn’t gotten any. The Titans already have problems with their cast of weapons for Ward. Trading one away seems counterproductive.
In such an instance, perhaps the Chicago Bears can look for a player swap. For example, they might send Roschon Johnson to Tennessee along with a draft pick or Pollard. Johnson hasn’t gotten much work in Chicago due to D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai. A fresh start with the Titans might be what he needs. He’d certainly bring a different dimension to their backfield.
Much of this depends on what happens over the next couple of weeks, or even the next 48 hours. If the Titans win and Bears lose, any trade possibility would likely fizzle out.
October 22nd, 2022: Bears general manager Ryan Poles and assistant general manager Ian Cunningham on the sideline for Clemson vs. Syracuse
I said a couple of months ago to pay attention to the times GM Ryan Poles and assistant GM Ian Cunningham appear at college games together. That is a significant indication of what they might be planning for the upcoming draft. A game between Clemson and Syracuse that they attended in 2022 featured a host of talented defensive tackles. They ended up drafting two the following spring in Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens. In 2024, they attended the game between Texas A&M and Notre Dame, which featured a heavy wealth of defensive line talent. They selected Aggies defensive tackle Shemar Turner in the 2nd round.
Pay close attention when those two are together.
It appears we have an update on that. According to multiple sources, Poles and Cunningham surfaced in Champaign for the Big Ten showdown between Illinois and Ohio State. It doesn’t take long to recognize where the wealth of talent will be concentrated in this game. Four defensive linemen are considered top 150 prospects, with two of them early favorites to go in the first two rounds.
EDGE Gabe Jacas (Illinois)
DT Kayden McDonald (Ohio State)
EDGE Kenyatta Jackson Jr. (Ohio State)
EDGE Caden Curry (Ohio State)
It’s no secret that the Bears’ defensive line has underperformed through the first month of the season. Targeting the area early in the draft is often the obvious response.
The #Bears will be represented at Illinois/Ohio State today. Ryan Poles, Ian Cunningham and scouts are in attendance.
The Bears need pass rush help in the worst way, but their run defense is among the worst in the league. It makes sense they’d target somebody who can hold the point of attack and command double teams. McDonald fits that profile at 6’3, 326 lbs. He’s stout, powerful, and aggressive. He already has three sacks in five games, too, so his pass rush skills are hardly anything to overlook.
Curry has been the most productive of the group, collecting five sacks and 8.5 tackles for a loss. He has good enough size, but teams will worry about his shorter-than-average arms. He’s made up for that with good technique and a relentless motor. Jackson will likely be the player Dennis Allen watches closely. He’s 6’6 and 265 lbs with long arms and tremendous athleticism for his size. The problem is this hasn’t translated to production so far, with only one sack in five games this year.
As for Jacas, he’s got the body of a defensive end but is on the shorter side. He’s relentless, strong, intelligent, and more explosive than he gets credit for. His four sacks in five games put him on pace for one of the best seasons in program history. It isn’t hard to see why Ryan Poles is there. The wealth of talent up front is unmistakable.
Jun 5, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Drew Pomeranz (45) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images
Think back to that Opening Day series in Japan against the Los Angeles, how many of you would have guessed that left-handed reliever Drew Pomeranz would be named the Game 5 starter in the NLDS for the Chicago Cubs? The answer is zero because the 36-year-old pitcher wasn’t even in the Cubs organization until the Seattle Mariners traded him to Chicago on April 21.
Now, in a win or go home game in Milwaukee Cubs’ manager Craig Counsell is handing the ball over to Pomeranz, who had not pitched in the majors prior to this season since 2021. The left-handed pitcher has been perfect in the postseason, tossing five shutout innings. Pomeranz has struck five batters, while not allowing a single hitter to reach base.
Pomeranz will be tasked to shut down the Brewers in the first inning Saturday night. Milwaukee scored 10 runs in the first inning combined through the first three games of the NLDS, including six in Game 1 and three in Game 2.
The Cubs are starting lefty Drew Pomerantz in Game 5 tonight.
On Friday, ESPN 1000’s Marc Silverman speculated that the Cubs were thinking about not using Shōta Imanaga whatsoever in Game 5 against the Brewers, citing his struggles and loss of confidence. We’ll see who follows Pomeranz, but Counsell has already promised that everyone except for Matthew Boyd will be available to use.
Dec 31, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini running back Aidan Laughery (21) runs the ball against South Carolina Gamecocks linebacker Debo Williams (0) in the fourth quarter at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images
If you’re a Chicago Bears fan and you’re not tuning into college ball today, you might be missing out on the guys who could actually help fix this roster in 2026. Yeah, 2026. Because if you think Ryan Poles and the crew are going to sit around and twiddle their thumbs waiting on Caleb Williams to carry this whole damn team, you’re outta your mind.
Forget the quarterbacks for now — we’re talking about the future dogs at linebacker, safety, offensive line, and yes, running back, because D’Andre Swift ain’t a forever answer. This list is about smart targets. Guys who fit the Bears’ holes like a glove and won’t cost top-5 capital. Let’s get into it.
1. CJ Allen, LB, Georgia (vs Auburn, 7:30 PM ET)
Let’s get this out of the way: CJ Allen is a freak.
He’s not just Georgia’s next linebacker to get compared to Roquan Smith — he might actually be the best comp since Roquan left Athens. Allen’s sideline-to-sideline range is nasty. The dude racked up 76 tackles in 2024, finished second on Georgia’s loaded defense, and oh yeah — picked off a pass against Florida and broke up five more.
Matt Miller’s already got him pegged as the second-best LB in the 2026 class, and an NFC South scout called him a “wrecking ball.” That’s the kind of chaos this Bears defense could use behind Edwards and Edmunds, especially as Edmunds starts costing more than he’s contributing.
If Allen keeps trending the way he is, he could sneak into the first round, but he’s also exactly the type of high-floor, instant-impact guy the Bears love taking early Day 2. Tonight’s matchup vs Auburn is a chance to see him in the spotlight.
What to watch: Does he blow up screens? Can he hang in coverage? Is he the most violent dude on the field? You’ll know when you see it.
You want some Midwest grit in the trenches? Here comes J.C. Davis.
Davis isn’t a sexy name. He’s not pancaking dudes on TikTok or making highlight reels with one-arm shoves. But he’s on the Senior Bowl Top 300 and built like a damn wall. With Braxton Jones on thin ice thanks to injuries and a looming contract situation, the Bears are going to need fresh blood at tackle — or someone who can swing inside and not be a turnstile.
Davis brings position flexibility, and he’s been battle-tested in the Big Ten. Going up against Ohio State today is his resume builder. If he holds up against that pass rush, people will start talking.
What to watch: Does he anchor vs bull rushers? Is he reaching second level defenders with control? Can he play both tackle and guard? If he checks those boxes, he’s climbing.
If the Bears don’t fix their safety situation soon, we’re going to be watching more wideouts streak untouched across the middle of the field like it’s a bad rerun.
Enter Dillon Thieneman. Transferred from Purdue, now roaming Oregon’s secondary like a hawk on speed. 104 tackles in 2024. Six INTs in 2023. And a double OT game-winner against Penn State that made every draft scout’s radar explode.
Bleacher Report’s Daniel Harms called out his range, his anticipation, and his ability to read QBs like a damn book. If there’s one guy on this list who feels like a Ryan Poles sleeper pick in Round 2, it’s Thieneman.
What to watch: Does he play center field with command? Is he communicating pre-snap? And how quick does he close on the ball? If he’s flying all over the field tonight, buy some stock.
We all love D’Andre Swift when he’s healthy and dancing around defenders — but let’s be real, his ability to do that this season is a damn question mark.
Aidan Laughery is the Big Ten’s best-kept secret. He averaged 6.1 yards per carry last season, and he’s built like a mini-tank at 5’11”, 200 lbs. He doesn’t just run — he glides, then finishes. His cutback game is filthy, and his vision is ahead of schedule.
Local kid from Gibson City, Illinois. You already know Bears fans would eat that narrative up. Mid-rounder? Maybe. But mid-rounders make noise in Ben Johnson’s offense. Don’t be shocked if this guy’s name gets real loud after today.
What to watch: Is he bouncing runs outside with patience? Can he pass protect? And how’s that top gear once he hits the second level?
Let’s talk about another safety, because if the Bears trot out another secondary full of practice squad fill-ins next year, I might actually lose it.
Keon Sabb might not be a household name — yet — but multiple draft analysts are circling him as a perfect Bears target. Why? Because he’s the exact kind of DB Dennis Allen wants: long, fast, and smart. The Alabama product can line up all over the secondary, and he’s got that mix of physicality and awareness that screams NFL starter.
With Kevin Byard on the back nine of his career and Brisker’s long-term fit still kinda murky, Sabb gives Chicago the flexibility to patch those holes without overspending. He’s a likely second or third-rounder, which is where Ryan Poles tends to do his best work.
What to watch: Does he hold up in man coverage vs slot WRs? Is he triggering downhill in run support? And can he disguise his assignments well enough to bait Mizzou’s QB into mistakes? If the answer’s yes, keep his name on your board.
Final Verdict
The Bears are building a real core. But come 2026, they’ll need reinforcements. Safety is a glaring need with Briskers injury history. Linebacker depth will be crucial as Edmunds ages and Edwards becomes cap-flexible. And let’s not kid ourselves — this offensive line is still a damn work in progress.
Ryan Poles has shown he’ll go defense early (see: Gervon Dexter Sr., Tyrique Stevenson), but he’s also not scared to grab value Day 2 guys that hit. Allen and Thieneman? Those are plug-and-play dudes. Laughery? Could be RB2 by training camp. Davis and Mauigoa? Long-term line solutions.
So yeah — if you’re watching college ball today, don’t just cheer for chaos. Scout for the future. Because the guys who shine today might be the ones dragging the Bears out of the NFC North basement in two years.
Chicago Bears take on the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, August 17, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois.
Theo Benedet was a forgotten backup when training camp started in late July. Two months later, he has replaced Braxton Jones as the team’s starting left tackle going into the big rematch against the Washington Commanders. Nobody saw it coming. While the idea that Jones might not survive as the starter this season, Benedet was not at the top of the list of plausible replacements. Those were Kiran Amegadjie and Ozzy Trapilo, the Bears’ two high draft picks from the past two years. It left people curious how that happened.
The simple answer is that Benedet excelled at something specific that the Bears needed. Center Drew Dalman told the Marquee Sports Network that many of the problems with the team’s rushing attack stem from the offensive line.
“It’s certainly no one thing,” center Drew Dalman said in an interview with Marquee Sports Network. “That would be a much easier fix, if it were just one issue and we could work on that. There are many facets to the run game, and we need to be 10 percent better at all of them. That’s a closer summation of the issue…
…As an offensive line, we need to do a better job creating removal, playing with more consistent technique, playing in a way that’s cohesive and responding to what the defense is doing,” he said. “That’s how I view it. What can we do better?”
How does Benedet factor into those comments? Shortly after, the article suggested that the second-year man would be a boost for the running game. It proved to be his strength in college and the preseason two months ago.
One fault can destroy a run and make it inefficient, which is a sticking point for those operating it. A move to Theo Benedet at left tackle should help the rushing operation overall, but it’s no quick fix.
Theo Benedet certainly can’t be worse.
For all the talk about Jones’ struggles this season in pass protection, it was his run-blocking that was a real issue. He had the lowest rating of all offensive linemen on the team and one of the lowest for any starting NFL offensive lineman. Olin Kreutz mentioned last week that Jones had three missed assignments in the game against Las Vegas alone. Keep in mind, he didn’t even play the entire first half. That should give you an idea of why Ben Johnson finally benched him.
Nobody is saying Theo Benedet will solve all the problems, but there is a feeling that he should at least be better than Jones. That shouldn’t be difficult after what the Bears saw through the first four games. Benedet is tough, physical, violent, and by all accounts a smart and detailed player. If he can elevate the run-blocking even to a level of average, things should improve considerably.
