College didn’t present much of a challenge for Luther Burden, at least when it came to roster competition. He was so obviously the most gifted player on the depth chart that there was no way Missouri could keep him on the sidelines. That won’t be the case with the Chicago Bears. He suddenly enters a situation where the talent level is significantly higher. The coaches won’t be handing him anything, mainly because they don’t have to. D.J. Moore is already an established star. Rome Odunze is a former 1st round pick who played well in his rookie season last year. Olamide Zacchaeus came in as a free agent with plenty of proven experience.

Burden will have to fight for playing time this year. That won’t be easy since he’s already behind due to missing most of spring practices with an injury. He must arrive prepared if he wants to make any headway in training camp. It appears Burden understood this reality and has taken subsequent steps. Photos surfaced of the Bears rookie working out with another wide receiver. It isn’t who you’d expect, either, being none other than Minnesota Vikings superstar Justin Jefferson.

Luther Burden went to the right man for training.

He and Jefferson actually have a lot in common. The Vikings receiver came from the SEC, where he was primarily used as a slot receiver at LSU. Luther Burden experienced the same at Missouri. Many felt Jefferson would stay there in the pros, but he quickly proved that his actual skill set allowed him to play anywhere. Many believe Burden is capable of doing the same. The trick is learning how to master the art of playing on the outside. Few can do a better job teaching him about the transition than Jefferson. If you’re going to learn from somebody, you might as well learn from the best. If Burden takes his advice to heart and puts in the work over the next month, the Bears won’t be able to justify keeping him off the field.

Starting next week, DBB will be dialing in the Bears coverage and bringing you some inside information from Lake Forest as training camp begins for this pivotal 2025 season. This week, not so much. Let’s have some haiku fun before things get serious!

I toyed with nine wins.

But nine wins is damn boring.

So, fine. Ten it is.

Many fans look back on the 2018 season with admiration. It was the best year the Chicago Bears experienced in the past decade by a wide margin. They went 12-4, won the division, had the best defense in the NFL, and saw their young quarterback appear to take big strides as a starter. However, they say hindsight is 20/20. That hasn’t stopped many players from that team looking back and wondering if it might’ve been better if the team had ended up having a losing season. It sounds crazy at first. Then you hear the reasoning.

Adam Jahns of CHGO has been following this story for a long time, and the details keep getting crazier. It centers around the relationship between Mitch Trubisky and head coach Matt Nagy. While things were cordial at first, it later came out that Nagy was never a big believer in the former #2 pick. That inevitably led to a fracturing of their relationship. Unfortunately, the quarterback’s productive year in 2018 forced Nagy to keep him as the starter for at least another season.

Some wonder if that would’ve been the case had the Bears gone through a down year.

Quarterback Mitch Trubisky became a Pro Bowl alternate in his first season with coach Matt Nagy in 2018. Camp opened the following season with Trubisky in “Nagy 202” and with greater expectations. It felt like Super Bowl or bust.

“You have to be an extension of Nagy on the field,” backup quarterback Tyler Bray told me back then. “202 football is basically that.”

Some from that Bears team would later say that Trubisky was taking tests that he could never pass. The Bears went 8-8 in Nagy’s second season, and then in March 2020, the team traded for Nick Foles. Nagy was done with Trubisky. Of course, there’s a lot more to their story. But some close to those Bears teams will tell you that the success they experienced in 2018 turned out to be a curse in disguise.

The Chicago Bears might’ve pulled the trigger on a new QB a little earlier.

Eventually, they pivoted from Trubisky to Justin Fields in 2021. If Nagy had gotten the green light to move sooner, there is a reasonable chance the Chicago Bears would’ve been hunting for a new quarterback in the 2020 draft. That would’ve put them in play for names like Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Tua Tagovailoa, and Jalen Hurts. It is another great what-if in Bears history, serving as a reminder that instant success isn’t always beneficial to the long-term outlook of an organization. There can be consequences. If nothing else, former GM Ryan Pace deserves the most scrutiny for hiring a head coach who was never really sold on Trubisky. It was a poison pill that set the disaster that followed into motion.

The Chicago Bears knew they wanted to find help at running back going into the 2025 draft. They probably didn’t expect things to unfold as they did. Multiple names came off the board before GM Ryan Poles had a chance to get them. Rather than reaching at the position, he opted each time to go with he best player available. Things never seemed to drift their way, which is an unfortunate reality with the draft sometimes. Still, they had to get somebody. To their surprise, Kyle Monangai out of Rutgers was still available in the 7th. That pick became one of the easiest in the draft.

At first glance, Monangai was nothing special. He didn’t have great size or power. His speed was average at best. What stood out with him was an important mixture of toughness, footwork, and vision. He knew where to find the holes and had the contact balance to get through them. Topping 1200 rushing yards in the Big Ten for two straight seasons is no small feat. However, his runs likely weren’t what sold the Bears on him. His running backs coach told a story to Sean Hammond of the Chicago Tribune.

There is no question the Bears heard it too, and didn’t need much convincing afterwards.

Late in the year against Michigan State, the Spartans had shown an exotic blitz just once all season. When they showed a similar look against Rutgers, it was Monangai — not the quarterback or center — who recognized it and called it out to teammates.

“When he saw the look, he observed for a second and he went up and changed the protection,” Shaw said. “(He) told the quarterback, ‘Hey, no we’re going to get into this protection.’ Told the O-line, ‘Hey, we’re going to slide to this guy,’ and he picked up exactly the guy who was going to be free.”

If not for Monangai, Shaw thinks Michigan State’s pressure likely would have blown up the play.

“You don’t see running backs change protections like that,” Shaw said.

Kyle Monangai is a football player, not a running back.

Too often in the modern NFL, you find guys who are only focused on doing things that garner the most attention and notoriety. Wide receivers only want to catch passes. Defensive ends only want to rush the quarterback. Cornerbacks just want to play man coverage. It takes more than that to be a winning team in this league. Players must be willing to do other things. Blocking is a big one for running backs. People always talk about Walter Payton as a runner. Those who knew him insist to this day that he was one of the best blocking backs of all time.

It seems Kyle Monangai carries the same mentality. Not only is he willing to block, but he goes out of his way to make sure everybody does it the right way. Few running backs are that assertive. He will be a quarterback’s best friend before too long.

The Chicago Bears were in a deadlock for the past several weeks, trying to secure their draft class to a new contract. Things were going smoothly. First round pick Colston Loveland signed pretty quickly. Everybody selected in the 4th round and later jumped on board as well. The problems surfaced with their three 2nd round picks: Luther Burden, Ozzy Trapilo, and Shemar Turner. They became entangled in a league-wide contract standoff after the Houston Texans fully guaranteed the deal for 34th overall pick Jayden Higgins. Suddenly, every player picked after him wanted the same.

Nobody budged for weeks. At last, there was a breakthrough when 49ers 2nd round pick Alfred Collins signed his deal with around 83% guaranteed. Every agent of players picked after him lost their leverage. Unsurprisingly, more and more have begun signing, including Trapilo and Turner. That leaves only one Bears rookie left. Burden was the 39th overall pick this year. That means he went before Collins, hence he is under no obligation to end the standoff.

Luther Burden faces an awkward situation.

He’s under pressure from other rookies and their agents around the league, urging him to maintain the holdout. If he can secure a fully guaranteed deal from the Bears, it means every player selected 39th overall moving forward will get the same. At the same time, he can’t afford a holdout into training camp. He already missed most of the spring practices because of injury setbacks. Head coach Ben Johnson warned he’s falling behind. He has no plans to play somebody who isn’t up to speed on the offense. In other words, Luther Burden could end up sitting most of this season if he carries this holdout into August. Not an enviable spot to be in. Hopefully, it gets resolved soon. Rookies report on July 19th.

Earning respect in the NFL is never easy. That is because a sport with such huge rosters makes it more difficult to identify individual players as great unless their team is winning a lot. Jaylon Johnson hasn’t enjoyed that benefit for his entire career with the Chicago Bears. In his five seasons, the cornerback has never experienced a winning record. It is doubly frustrating because Johnson wants to win and demands respect for his outstanding play over the past couple of years.

Sadly, even now, it’s a struggle to get recognition. ESPN released its ranking for the best cornerbacks in the NFL, voted on by executives, scouts, and coaches. While Johnson did crack the top 10, he finished far lower than many feel he deserves.

8. Jaylon Johnson, Chicago Bears

Highest ranking: 4 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 26 | Last year’s ranking: 8

Johnson was one of the most consistent corners over the past two years with a combined six interceptions and 18 pass deflections. His ball production dipped slightly in 2024, but he was more disruptive around the line of scrimmage with seven tackles for loss.

“Really good zone awareness. Sticky,” an NFL coordinator said. “Versatile skill set.”

Ranking behind Patrick Surtain II and Sauce Gardner is one thing. Ranking behind Christian Gozalez (#6) and Jaycee Horn (#7) is another. Both have missed significant playing time over the past two years. For them to get preferential treatment over Johnson is insulting.

Jaylon Johnson rarely needs extra motivation.

He might be the most self-motivated player in the NFL. He has that Michael Jordan tendency of finding personal slights against him everywhere he looks. These rankings are almost certain to reach his eyes at some point. He’ll have them pinned up in his locker or on his phone before the season begins. Most would be happy to be seen as one of the ten best players at a position in pro football. Jaylon Johnson is not one of them. He believes he is one of the best. If others don’t believe it, then he’ll just have to torture their teams on the field until they’re forced to. There is no question Johnson is the best draft pick the Bears have made in the last ten years. He aims to enhance his legacy not just through statistical production but also team success. This year might be the best chance he’s ever had.

The Chicago Bears have signed second round defensive tackle Shemar Turner to a four-year rookie contract, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Turner, selected 62nd overall out of Texas A&M, adds a disruptive presence to the Bears defensive front. His deal is projected at $7.2M over four years, though full terms were not disclosed. But this is a crucial domino that has fallen for the Bears.

What’s Next?

Turner’s signing is encouraging progress amid a league-wide slowdown in second-round contracts. The Bears still have two unsigned second rounders—wide receiver Luther Burden III (No. 39 overall) and offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo (No. 56 overall)—with training camp quickly approaching. Rookies report to Halas Hall on July 19, and practices begin July 23.

The hold up stems from early second-round picks Carson Schwesinger (Browns) and Jayden Higgins (Texans) receiving fully guaranteed contracts, setting a new precedent and triggering a standoff as agents push for similar terms. That stalemate is beginning to break, with 49ers Alfred Collins signing on July 16 and Ravens expected to complete a deal with pass rusher Mike Green (No. 59 overall) today.

Burden, one of the top receivers in the draft, is reportedly seeking strong guarantees. Trapilo, who’s in the mix for the starting left tackle job, risks falling behind if his deal isn’t done soon. The Bears, who had a league-high three second-round picks, are counting on all of them to contribute immediately.

GM Ryan Poles now faces pressure to get Burden and Trapilo signed to make sure a full, competitive rookie group is on the field for what could be a dynamic training camp . With only 28 second-round picks still unsigned across the league, momentum is building—and Chicago is looking to follow suit.

BREAKING: Bears Make Major Progress in Contract Standoff with 2nd-Round Picks

With NFL training camps approaching, Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson has once again proven he’s among the best at his position, landing at No. 8 in ESPN’s 2025 top 10 cornerback rankings. The list, based on votes from over 70 NFL executives, coaches, and scouts, highlights Johnson’s consistency, versatility, and rising stardom in a deep field of elite cornerbacks.

At just 26 years old, Johnson retains his No. 8 spot from 2024. Some voters ranked him as high as No. 4, while others left him off the list entirely, highlighting the crowded competition at the position. Despite that, his impact is clear: six interceptions and 18 pass deflections over the last two seasons, along with a growing reputation for sticky coverage and strong awareness.

Though his ball production dipped slightly in 2024, Johnson recorded seven tackles for loss, showing his value near the line of scrimmage. He allowed 32 catches on 53 targets for 448 yards and two touchdowns—respectable numbers given the Bears’ turbulent season. His 15.1% ball-hawking rate was down from 17.5% in 2023, but evaluators still praised his all-around game. “Jaylon is very good, but there are just so many great corners right now,” one NFL insider noted.

Johnson excelled in Cover 2 under former coach Matt Eberflus. With new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, he’s expected to play more man coverage in 2025. One NFL coordinator believes the transition will suit him well: “He’s got good feet, gets handsy at times, but he has the awareness to adapt. I think it’ll be good for him.”

Beyond his play, Johnson offers outstanding contract value. Though not among the top-paid corners, his now team-friendly deal—crafted by GM Ryan Poles—makes him one of the league’s biggest bargains. His elite production at a very fair price gives the Bears a key advantage as they build their defense.

As training camp begins, all eyes will be on Johnson in matchups against top receivers like DJ Moore and Rome Odunze. His ability to rise to the occasion will be crucial as the Bears look to take a leap in 2025. Johnson’s mix of high end talent, versatility, and contract value firmly establishes him as a cornerstone of Chicago’s defense—and one of the most compelling defensive backs to watch this season.