When the Chicago Bears drafted Zavion Thomas, the plan seemed relatively straightforward. The team would at least get an explosive return man to replace the departed Devin Duvernay, while head coach Ben Johnson got a blazing fast receiver who could stretch the field vertically and serve as a gadget option. However, nothing is ever that simple. Not with this coach. Is there a possibility that Johnson has bigger plans for Thomas? Courtney Cronin of ESPN alluded to that possibility.

She made it sound like the rookie could get a serious look at another position this season. One you probably wouldn’t have expected.

“WR Zavion Thomas. Did Johnson draft his next Jahmyr Gibbs? Thomas, the versatile rookie who has been labeled “electric” by his wide receiver teammates, made a handful of plays during minicamp and could emerge as a valuable gadget player on offense while contributing his 4.28-second 40-yard dash speed as a returner.”

The idea of putting Thomas at running back may sound unusual, given his size and overall frame at 5’10”, 190 lbs. Then again, there is enough evidence to suggest the rookie is more capable of it than he gets credit for. Across three seasons between Mississippi State and LSU, he received 40 carries, rushing for 198 yards and a touchdown. Not all of them were reverses and jet sweeps either. He took legitimate carries out of the backfield.

The Gibbs comparison for Zavion Thomas isn’t totally crazy.

Detroit’s star running back is 5’9″ and 200 lbs. The key differences are his added weight and his greater experience at the position. So the first question to ask is: can Thomas put on 10 lbs without losing his trademark speed? That is something the Bears have either discussed already or soon will. Then it’s a matter of knowing how he’d handle a true running back workload. For that, you need toughness and vision. Johnson already has his answer to that question to a certain extent.

Thomas is a return man, and a good one. Anybody will tell you that great return men must have toughness and vision as well. You need to be willing to take the heavy hits from oncoming gunners while also knowing how to exploit blocks from your teammates to find the open lane. There is a reason guys like Gale Sayers, Darren Sproles, and Christian McCaffrey were good return men in addition to being great running backs. The potential is there. What matters is how far Johnson aims to push it.

What role does the head coach want?

Does he ultimately see Zavion Thomas as a wide receiver, or is the true goal to eventually transition him to running back? If it’s the former, then it’s safe to presume Thomas will fill more of that Moore role. The former Bears receiver had 15 carries last season, serving as that gadget option who could catch defenses napping from time to time. If it’s the latter? You can bet the Bears will slowly work Thomas into the rotation during the season, getting him handfuls of carries here and there.

Don’t forget that D’Andre Swift is a free agent next offseason. He is currently the speed option in the backfield alongside Kyle Monangai. Presuming the Bears expect to let him walk, it would be wise to have an alternative ready at some point. Maybe Johnson feels Thomas can be molded for that eventual role this year. We’re likely to find out more as training camp unfolds in the next few weeks. If Thomas gets lots of work in the backfield, it should be a clear signal.

The Chicago Bears only had one undrafted free agent crack the main roster by the end of training camp in 2025. That honor went to Texas A&M wide receiver Jahdae Walker, who had a great preseason. It proved fortuitous as Walker ended up making one of the most important catches of the season, scoring a touchdown on 4th down to force overtime against Green Bay in December. Head coach Ben Johnson certainly made the right call by keeping him around. It makes one wonder if any undrafted rookies can pass the test this year.

Courtney Cronin of ESPN revealed her roster projection for this coming season. In her estimation, it will be a repeat of last year with only one name crossing the finish line.

“OL (10): Braxton Jones, Joe Thuney, Garrett Bradbury, Jonah Jackson, Darnell Wright, Logan Jones, Theo Benedet, Luke Newman, Jedrick Wills Jr., Caden Barnett

Trapilo will likely start the season on the PUP list, so that frees up a roster spot. Braxton Jones has the inside track to win the left tackle job in a competition that also features Wills and Kiran Amegadjie. The Bears don’t need to keep all three tackles when Benedet seems primed to be Chicago’s swing tackle, so the final spot on the initial 53-man roster goes to Barnett, the interior lineman who the Bears gave $277,500 in guaranteed money on his UDFA contract.”

Caden Barnett is an obvious favorite. As mentioned above, the amount of money the Bears gave him is a dead giveaway of how much they like him. He’s good-sized and athletic with strong grip strength to help him in pass protection. His nastiness shows up frequently in the run game as well. Seeing him make the roster isn’t difficult, especially with how much the Bears like having a deep offensive line depth chart.

Why just one Chicago Bears undrafted addition is unlikely.

Last year, the team was laden with several proven veterans on the roster. They didn’t really have room to bring in youngsters at the time. That has changed this offseason. Several prominent names departed in free agency, including Kevin Byard, Ryan Bates, D.J. Moore, and Travis Homer. The Bears didn’t spend lavishly to replace them, meaning the competition for roster spots is far more open than it was last year. That is why there should be at least a couple more undrafted rookies who can make a run.

One example is Coleman Bennett. Though Roschon Johnson is penciled in as the #3 running back behind D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai, it can’t be called strong. He’s dealt with injury problems the past couple of years. Depth at running back is key, given how much punishment the position takes. That is why people should keep an eye on Coleman Bennett. The undrafted rookie out of Kennessaw State collected over 1,000 total yards and seven touchdowns in 12 starts, showcasing a good mix of vision and contact balance. He’s a very similar player to Johnson, with a far less weathered body.

Don’t forget long snapper.

Last season, the Chicago Bears had a proven veteran on the job with Scott Daly. However, he departed in free agency for Tampa Bay. That leaves the position uncertain for the first time in several years. Right now, Cronin believes the favorite for the job is Luke Elkin. That makes sense. He’s the most experienced on the roster and has the advantage of a relationship with punter Tory Taylor. The two worked together extensively at Iowa. However, he faces some stiff competition in the form of Beau Gardner. College football’s reigning Patrick Mannelly award winner for best long snapper. There is no reason for him to fear Elkin, who was actually cut by the Bears last season.

One last name to keep an eye on is Jayden Loving. The Bears have been hunting for interior pass rush since last season. Loving flashed tons of capability in that department last season for Wake Forest, collecting 2.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for a loss. He’s a great athlete for his position and has the explosiveness to win in the NFL.

So yes, Barnett is the favorite to claim a roster spot as an undrafted rookie. However, there is a good chance he won’t be the only one like Walker was last year.

The Green Bay Packers have prided themselves on being one of the most consistent organizations in the NFL for the past nearly 40 years. Since 1992, they have had just three quarterbacks and five head coaches. Having such a run of success is beyond difficult to achieve. It requires equal parts good decision-making and good fortune. However, it appears last season may have shaken the foundation of the once-thought-unshakeable Packers. For the first time in what feels like a decade, there is uncertainty up north. Much of it involves head coach Matt LaFleur.

The man took over the franchise in 2019. Since then, he has made the playoffs in all but one of his seasons at the helm, reaching two NFC Championships. Coaches have enjoyed job certainty for considerably less in this league. See Marvin Lewis. That said, prominent Packers insider Tyler Dunne of Go Long TD dropped a small bombshell on Twitter recently. While confirming that there is a lot of nervousness with the team’s iffy health track record, there is also an underlying belief that LaFleur might be coaching for his job.

Matt LaFleur can’t escape recent history.

His consistent success in the regular season is constantly being tarnished by some ugly results in the playoffs. That first NFC Championship appearance saw his team crushed 37-8. A year later, with homefield advantage and three interceptions from his defense, LaFleur’s offense scored just 10 first half points, and then, when they had the chance to go for a tie with two minutes left, he settled for a short field goal. That gave the ball back to Tom Brady with a five-point lead, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ran out the clock.

The next year, after throttling Dallas in the wild card round, the Packers took a 21-14 lead into the 4th quarter. San Francisco scored 10 unanswered points to steal the game. In 2024, they were railroaded in the wild card round 22-10 by the eventual champion Philadelphia Eagles. Yet Matt LaFleur saved his most painful moment for this past January. With a chance to further Green Bay’s dominance in the rivalry against the Chicago Bears, his team took a 21-3 lead in the first half. Then, to the horror of fans and players alike, the world watched as Caleb Williams rallied Chicago to a backbreaking 31-27 comeback victory.

Rumblings persist that LaFleur is to blame for this downturn.

You can understand that perspective. After all, six playoff runs without a Super Bowl appearance isn’t a great look. It’s made even worse by how Green Bay has lost some of those games. Some fans still weren’t over that 2020 NFC Championship decision. Now you add losing in humiliating fashion to your most hated rival after years of dominating them? The bloom is well and truly off the rose. Forget just one losing season in seven years. Forget the six playoff trips and multiple top 10 offenses. It’s possible LaFleur just might not have the necessary answers to getting that team over the hump.

Then again, there is also the possibility that the team is avoiding the more uncomfortable topic. Their roster might not be good enough. Jordan Love isn’t Aaron Rodgers. Jayden Reed isn’t Jordy Nelson. The offensive line has looked weaker than it was a few years ago. The defense was concerningly weak once Micah Parsons was out of the picture. Is it possible LaFleur has actually been masking the bigger issue with the team? If forced to choose, it sounds like the Packers are willing to cut the cord and take the risk.

Training camp hasn’t even started yet. The Chicago Bears won’t get into full preparation mode until next week. It is still well over a month before people will start thinking about opening day of the 2026 season. Yet things are already transpiring that figure to impact the Bears’ chance of getting off to a good start. Their schedule was set a few months ago. By now, everybody knows their first opponent of the year will be the Carolina Panthers. The Bears will visit them on the road, highlighting a matchup of two playoff teams from last year.

However, the vibe is very different between the two organizations right now. Chicago is going into camp with few major concerns. The same can’t be said for Carolina. They were hit with an avalanche of bad news as some of their best players got some unfortunate health updates. Taylor Moton, their rock-solid right tackle, was diagnosed with blood clots. He will miss the start of the regular season. Their top cornerback, Jaycee Horn, is also dealing with a foot injury and was placed on the NFI (non-football injury) list.

This doesn’t include left tackle Ikem Ekwonu, who ruptured his patellar tendon in the playoffs in January. He was placed on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list. That means he’s going to miss at least the first six games of the season.

The Chicago Bears are certainly being handed an advantage.

Any team playing without one starting offensive tackle faces a difficult challenge. Playing without two is a nightmare scenario. That is what the Panthers now face. Keep in mind the team had just the 27th-ranked offense last season with both Ekwonu and Moton healthy. How will it look with both of them out of the lineup? Much of that depends on the Bears’ pass rush. We know Dennis Allen is a master of situation pressure. If anybody can overwhelm two inexperienced tackles with nasty blitzes, it’s him.

The major key will be the series of moments when the Bears rush four. Can Montez Sweat, Austin Booker, and Dayo Odeyingbo get enough pressure by themselves to unsettle Bryce Young? The young quarterback was fortunate last year, playing in only two games where he was pressured more than 12 times. Both were losses. This may force Carolina to lean on running the football more often, trying to keep their quarterback protected. That is problematic since they were 19th last season on the ground and lost Rico Dowdle, their best rusher, to free agency.

The Bears can’t ask for a better opportunity.

Carolina isn’t a bad team. They were good enough to almost beat the Rams in the playoffs before a last-second rally by Matthew Stafford. Overlooking them was the death of many good opponents last season. The Chicago Bears should be smart enough to know they can’t overlook anybody. As with every game, it comes down to finding the right matchups. Both starting tackles being out is certainly at the top of their defense’s priority list. The Panthers have no choice but to begin planning how to mask having two backups on the edges.

It will limit what they can accomplish offensively. If the Bears can put them in an early hole on the scoreboard, it will force Carolina to pass. That should allow the pass rush to pin their ears back and go. This was an advantage Chicago didn’t see often last season because of how often they trailed late in games. Head coach Ben Johnson said he wants this season to be about getting off to better starts. Week one offers a perfect opportunity.

Throughout the lead-up to the 2025 NFL draft, most experts believed the tight end rankings were set. Penn State’s Tyler Warren was the clear #1, displaying a perfect blend of pass-catching prowess and standout blocking. Michigan’s Colston Loveland was far more the former, showcasing a great mix of route-running and strong hands. Most agreed he had more upside on the receiving end, but was held back by his blocking. If the Chicago Bears had their choice with the 10th overall pick, it would be Warren.

So imagine everybody’s surprise when the team went with Loveland instead. Subsequent reports indicated that head coach Ben Johnson became smitten with the tight end after meeting him at the Michigan pro day. Combine that with his immense pass-catching upside, and the Bears were willing to roll the dice that he would have more value despite the supposed blocking concerns. Based on the new tight end rankings from Pro Football Focus, that decision was the correct one.

5. Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears

After a quiet start to his rookie campaign, Loveland really turned it on in the second half of the season. The No. 10 overall pick’s 84.0 PFF grade was third among all tight ends in the NFL, while his 1.97 yards per route run were fifth. Loveland’s 597 receiving yards from Week 9 on were second in the league, while his 193 yards in the playoffs led all tight ends despite the Bears losing in the divisional round.

10. Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts

Warren was selected No. 14 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft and immediately showed why in his rookie campaign. His 487 yards after the catch were second in the league to Trey McBride, while his 817 total receiving yards placed fifth. A total of 42 of Warren’s receptions went for either a first down or a touchdown, the fourth-most in the league.

Colston Loveland beat out Warren with patience.

Warren got off to an incredibly hot start last season. Through the first ten games, he had 613 yards and three touchdowns. Everybody was already proclaiming that Chicago had made a big mistake. Then things cooled off. Warren managed just 200 yards and one touchdown over the final seven games of the season. By contrast, Loveland was the opposite. He was quiet through the first six games, managing just 116 yards. Everything changed in Cincinnati. Over the final 10 games, the rookie had 597 yards and six touchdowns. He added another 193 yards in the two playoff games.

The season seems to showcase both players’ strengths and weaknesses. Warren was an excellent, versatile weapon, but he seemed to lack that elite playmaking ability that forced defenses to account for him. Much of his success came from great scheming and his run-after-the-catch prowess. On the other hand, Loveland’s mix of speed, size, and route-running made him a matchup nightmare. Even worse for Warren? His blocking proved to be considerably better than advertised.

This debate harkens back to 2006.

That year saw two tight ends go in the 1st round as well. You had Marcedes Lewis, the traditional archetype. Big, strong, outstanding blocker, and athletic enough to be a consistent factor in the passing game. Then you had Vernon Davis, an elite athlete with blazing speed but undersized and limited blocking. It was the same situation. The well-rounded guy who was good at everything vs. the guy who was great at one thing and okay at everything else. Lewis had the longer career, playing a whopping 20 years in the NFL, including a Pro Bowl in 2010. Davis, though, was more productive. He had 1400 more yards than Lewis and 23 more touchdowns, making two Pro Bowls and winning the Super Bowl in 2015.

Don’t be surprised if Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren play out a similar way. Both will have great careers. Warren may have the longer one, but Loveland will have the higher peak. Chicago should be happy with that outcome. After all, the higher the peak, the greater the odds of a player helping his team win a championship.