Chicago Bears News & Rumors

Bills Obtain No. 41 From Bears In Six-Pick Swap

April 25th, 2025 at 6:48pm CST by Adam La Rose

Buffalo will use one of its two second-round picks to move up the board. The Bills are acquiring No. 41 from the Bears in a six-pick trade.

The Bills will add Nos. 41, 72 and 240, while the Bears are picking up Nos. 56, 62 and 109. Chicago came into the draft with two second-rounders as well, holding an extra pick from the 2023 Bryce Young swap. Buffalo selected South Carolina defensive tackle T.J. Sanders.

Defensive tackle was seen as a roster need entering the draft for Buffalo. As a result, many pointed to the opening round as a time when adding along the D-line could be targeted. Instead, the Bills made a notable secondary addition by drafting cornerback Maxwell Hairston. Now, Sanders has been selected as a contender to see plenty of playing time right away.

Yet to turn 22, Sanders demonstrated plenty of potential over the course of his final two campaigns with the Gamecocks. He totaled 16.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks during that span. While concerns have been raised about his run defense, Sanders will be counted on to provide a pass-rush presence early and often in Buffalo. The team compiled 37 sacks last season, 21st in the NFL.

Ed Oliver remains attached to a $17MM-per-year contract, and he will be tasked with reprising his starting gig in 2025. Veteran DaQuan Jones and free agent addition Larry Ogunjobi are also in the fold, as is 2024 third-rounder DeWayne Carter. Plenty of snaps will be devoted to that group, but the Bills’ decision to trade up for Sanders indicates he should be involved as a rookie as well. If he develops as hoped, he will provide Buffalo with another long-term option along the defensive interior.

Draft Trade Notes: Chargers, Campbell, Loveland, Cowboys, Ravens, Conerly

April 25th, 2025 at 6:05pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Eagles wound up moving one spot up the first-round order last night. The move ensured the Super Bowl champions were able to select Jihaad Campbell, but that was not the only effort made to trade up the board.

Philadelphia negotiated with the Chargers about acquiring the No. 22 pick, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reports. He adds Los Angeles was in conversation with multiple teams while on the clock, but the proposed deal with the Eagles may very well have fallen through due to an “issue” communicating it to the league.

By rule, both teams must contact the NFL separately to report the terms of a trade agreement. Since that did not take place in time, the Bolts retained their pick and drafted North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton. The Eagles still wound up acquiring Campbell – the target of the attempted Chargers trade, per Florio – at No. 31. The Alabama product will look to make an immediate impact at the second level and/or on the edge during his rookie season.

Here are some other draft-related notes from last night’s opening round:

Colston Loveland was the first tight end to hear his name called on Thursday night. The Michigan alum went 10th overall to the Bears, a team which received interest for their top selection. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports Loveland was the subject of trade calls leading up to Chicago’s pick. Movement on the trade front only took place much later in the round after the Bears committed to staying put. When speaking to the media on Friday, Loveland revealed (via Scott Bair of Marquee Sports) he is halfway through his shoulder rehab; with progress continuing to be made, he will aim to return to full health in time for the start of his rookie campaign.
For the third time in the past four years, the Cowboys looked to the offensive line during the first round of the draft. Alabama Guard Tyler Booker went 12th overall, a move which came as no surprise considering where the team’s board stood at the time. David Moore of the Dallas Morning News reports Booker was the highest-rated player available at that point out of the remaining prospects. Moore adds the Cowboys had 12 prospects with a first-round grade, which helps explain the decision to remain in place instead of trading down.
When speaking to the media, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said (via ESPN’s Jamison Hensley) opportunities were presented to move down the order. Instead, Baltimore stayed put at No. 27 and took Georgia safety Malaki Starks. DeCosta said the team’s strong Starks evaluation allowed for the potential of a trade-down move to be outweighed by the upside of selecting him.
The Browns and Texans own the top two selections in the second round, and to no surprise both teams are receiving calls. Last night, though, Cleveland and Houston showed interest in acquiring a late Day 1 selection; Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports the target in both cases was Josh Conerly Jr. The Oregon tackle came off the board at No. 29 (Commanders), which put an end to those efforts. Of course, that suggests help along the O-line will be a priority tonight for those teams.

Bears Draft TE Colston Loveland At No. 10

April 24th, 2025 at 8:15pm CST by Adam La Rose

Tight end is, to little surprise, the position the Bears have targeted with the 10th overall pick. Rather than Tyler Warren, however, Chicago has selected Michigan’s Colston Loveland.

The tight end if coming off a 2024 campaign where he took over as Michigan’s top receiving option. Despite failing to reach his yardage total from 2023, Loveland still led the team in receptions (56), receiving yards (582), and receiving touchdowns (5) by a wide margin.

Those numbers also aren’t near the production put up by some of the more productive tight ends in the NCAA, but he still found himself as one of the top-ranked players at his position heading into the 2025 draft. Loveland and Warren were competing to be the first player at their position off the board, and it is a bit surprising that the former was the one to hear his name called first.

Still, at 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, it’s easy to understand why the Bears opted for the player they did. The Bears were active last offseason as they added to rookie Caleb Williams‘ arsenal, and despite most of their offensive depth returning (Keenan Allen remains unsigned), the team is still investing on that side of the ball.

Tight end wasn’t necessarily a need for the Bears, and this selection could ultimately spell the end of Cole Kmet‘s tenure in Chicago. Kmet was handed a four-year, $50MM deal following his career year in 2023, although his numbers took an expected step back in 2024. With the addition of so many WRs, Kmet’s counting stats suffered, but he still finished the campaign with a career-high 70.9 percent success rate and 85.5 percent catching percentage.

The Bears surely won’t be in any rush to move on from Kmet, and the veteran could join his new rookie teammate as one of the league’s top TE duos. Still, with D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze around for the foreseeable future at receiver, there’s a chance Williams eventually settles on a trio of favorites, leaving Kmet on the outside looking in.

Ben Levine contributed to this post.

Bears Attempting To Trade Up; RB Ashton Jeanty Seen As Target

April 24th, 2025 at 7:04pm CST by Adam La Rose

7:04pm: In the event the Browns reach agreement on a trade for the No. 2 pick, they could move further down the order. Russini’s colleague Jeff Howe reports the Bears could see the fifth overall selection as a target to move up for Jeanty. Plenty of moving parts are still in play, but Chicago could become a team to watch soon.

4:25pm: As the countdown to the draft continues, movement near the top of the board remains something to watch for. The Bears could find themselves higher up the order than No. 10 shortly.

Chicago is among the teams attempting to pull of a trade-up maneuver, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. The Browns and Giants have fielded calls for the second and third overall selections, but teams such as the Panthers (at No. 8) have made it clear they would be a willing trade partner. To little surprise, Russini adds the Bears’ ongoing efforts are aimed at putting them in range to draft Ashton Jeanty.

On more than one occasion, the Boise State running back has been named as a prospect Chicago is highly interested in. A trade up the board has long been considered necessary given Jeanty’s projected landing spots, though. The Raiders at No. 6 were reported as a logical destination, something general manager John Spytek has done nothing to dispel in the lead-in to the draft. More recently, however, the Jaguars have seen their links to Mason Graham fade in favor of Jeanty connections. As a result, the possibility of the latter being selected fifth overall is one to monitor.

Jeanty finished second in Heisman voting in 2024 off the back of his stellar campaign. The junior posted massive production during his time in college, establishing himself as the top prospect in what is considered a very strong running back class. He is expected to deliver an immediate impact in whichever backfield he finds himself in at the NFL level.

In the case of the Bears, that would consist of splitting time with D’Andre Swift. The 2024 free agent addition has two years remaining on his deal, including guarantees for the coming campaign. Swift’s security for the immediate future has led some to question the idea of Chicago pursuing a running back early in the draft, especially after Swift posted a new career high in scrimmage yards (1,345) in 2024. Other roster holes – such as left tackle, edge rush and defensive line – represent other likely priorities with respect to rookie additions.

Targeting a prospect at one of those spots could of course remain in play in the event the Bears are unable to work out a trade agreement. If teams like the Jags or Raiders are amenable to sliding to the back of the top-10 order, though, Jeanty could very well wind up in the Windy City to begin his pro career.

NFC Draft Rumors: Cardinals, Bears, Loveland, Commanders, Coleman, Panthers

April 24th, 2025 at 12:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

Pass rushers and guards have come up as early-round Cardinals targets, but the team also appears to be strongly considering using a first-round pick on a wide receiver for a second straight year. Arizona is believed to want to add an impact weapon to its receiving corps, per ESPN.com’s Matt Miller. Arizona did not come off No. 4 overall, despite trade interest, last year, leading to Marvin Harrison Jr. heading to the desert. The Cardinals have Michael Wilson as a capable auxiliary option, but Miller points to offensive “firepower” being the team’s top priority heading into the draft. This is not viewed as a strong wide receiver class; options will still be available to Arizona at No. 16. The Cowboys have been closely tied to Tetairoa McMillan at 12, but Matthew Golden (he of a 4.29-second 40 clocking), Luther Burden and ex-Harrison college teammate Emeka Egbuka could well be available.

Here is the latest from some NFC draft blueprints:

The Bears‘ interest in Ashton Jeanty is either a elaborate smokescreen or quite legitimate, but if the 2024 Heisman runner-up is not available, Chicago has also been tied to rounding out its skill-position corps with a tight end pick. As the Colts would seemingly monitor this draft slot closely (due to their reported interest in the position), Miller adds the Bears are believed to have Colston Loveland slotted higher than Tyler Warren on their big board. This does not appear a universal view, as SI.com’s Albert Breer sends Warren to Chicago in his final mock draft. The Chargers, at 22, are Loveland’s rumored floor. The Colts, at 14, are expected to have a major say in where the two Big Ten-developed TE prospects go.
Favored to become a Patriot, Will Campbell is unlikely to be available for Chicago at No. 10. But the Chicago Sun-Times’ Jason Lieser notes the team informed the LSU product he would play left tackle were he to wind up in the Windy City. This may not be relevant to the Bears’ No. 10 overall slot, but it seems pertinent to Braxton Jones‘ future. The three-year Bears LT starter is recovering from an ankle injury, one likely to prevent him from starting training camp on time, and entering a contract year.
Holding a pick two spots earlier, the Panthers are interested in trading down. In fact, Breer adds Carolina is “doing everything they can” to move down. The Panthers were mentioned as a team considering taking a less-than-ideal offer to move down from No. 8, as the team can still be classified as rebuilding — especially after circling back to Bryce Young following the September benching. While linked closely to Jalon Walker, Carolina sounds open for business — in a draft not featuring many teams angling to move into the top 10.
The Commanders added Laremy Tunsil and kept Andrew Wylie (via a pay-cut agreement), but they are still interested in bolstering their O-line in Round 1. The team is interested in adding a starter here, ESPN.com’s John Keim notes, indicating the team has shown interest in Alabama guard Tyler Booker and Oregon tackle Josh Conerly Jr. The team’s Tunsil addition will allow for a Brandon Coleman (12 rookie-year left tackle starts) move to right tackle, Keim adds, but the draft will determine the team’s strategy here. Washington has Wylie signed for one more season and has eight-figure-per-year interior linemen Sam Cosmi and Tyler Biadasz. Left guard and right tackle appear areas the team will explore upgrading, however.
If the Commanders do not like the blockers available at No. 29, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter connects them to UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger. Also a potential Bills target, Schwesinger profiles as a potential late first-rounder. The team re-signed Bobby Wagner and saw Frankie Luvu make significant contributions after signing in 2024. Wagner, however, will be 35 soon and is attached to another one-year contract.

Bears Aiming To Extend G Joe Thuney

April 22nd, 2025 at 10:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

The most accomplished piece included in the Bears’ March interior O-line overhaul, Joe Thuney is going into a contract year. The Chiefs effectively chose Trey Smith over Thuney, breaking up a four-year guard tandem as the former required a franchise tag to be retained.

That became the Bears’ gain, as they obtained Thuney for a 2026 fourth-round pick. Thuney will start alongside big-ticket center signee Drew Dalman and ex-Ben Johnson Lions pupil Jonah Jackson. Although Thuney is much older than both, Ryan Poles said (via Scott Bair of the Marquee Sports Network).

Thuney, 32, is in the final season of a five-year, $80MM deal. The Chiefs authorized a then-guard-record AAV to add him from the Patriots a month after the Buccaneers hounded Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl LV. A month after the Eagles’ swarming pass rush reminded of that outing, Thuney will return to guard — after being a fill-in left tackle due to the Chiefs’ issues staffing that position — but do so with a new team.

The 10th-year veteran’s new team is building around a rookie contract at quarterback, providing more flexibility for payments elsewhere. Its March moves reflected that, as Dayo Odeyingbo and Grady Jarrett joined the O-linemen. Poles has since extended Kyler Gordon and T.J. Edwards. He did not offer a timeline for a Thuney deal, only confirming it was a priority. While Jackson is not an extension candidate, after having disappointed on his three-year Rams deal, it does not appear the Bears are viewing Thuney as a Keenan Allen-like rental.

Despite struggling against Philly edge rushers in Super Bowl LIX, Thuney has been one of the NFL’s best guards over the past several years. The Patriots franchise-tagged him after a second-team All-Pro season; he resurfaced with a second-team honor in 2022. The former third-round pick proceeded to land on back-to-back All-Pro first teams (2023-24) with the Chiefs, affirming extension candidacy. The Chiefs already paid Creed Humphrey and are stuck with the Jawaan Taylor contact, thanks to a player-friendly guarantee structure, for one more season. Smith is tied to the tag, with post-draft extension talks on tap, and the Chiefs just gave Jaylon Moore a two-year, $30MM deal. They will now opt to save money at left guard.

The Bears’ last notable guard expense — the three-year, $30MM Nate Davis contract — went bust, but they have a proven commodity in Thuney, who arrived in Kansas City during Poles’ final year as the team’s executive player personnel director. He will bring an interesting extension case, due to his age.

The four-player $20MM-AAV guard club consists of 20-somethings, though a few less proven guards (Jackson included) agreed to deals between $16-$20MM per year since Thuney’s March 2021 Chiefs signing. With the cap having climbed significantly since Thuney agreed to his deal (amid the COVID-19-induced cap reduction), a medium-term extension in that range makes sense as a target for the veteran blocker’s camp.

Ashton Jeanty Could Be On Jaguars’ Radar; RB Still Top Bears Target

April 21st, 2025 at 9:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

During the pre-draft process, the Raiders have consistently been linked to Ashton Jeanty. The consensus top running back in the 2025 class is understandably seen by many as a strong candidate for the sixth overall pick, but other teams are worth watching on this front as well.

The Jaguars can be listed as a “sleeper team” regarding Jeanty, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (video link). Jacksonville is set to select fifth overall, and the team has often been connected to Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham. Taking that route is seen by many as the likeliest outcome, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated writes. He adds, however, that selecting a skill-position player at No. 5 could be in play.

In that case, Jeanty would receive consideration. The Heisman runner-up enjoyed a hugely productive three-year career at Boise State, cementing his status as the most highly-regarded prospect in a deep running back class. Jeanty is widely viewed as a top-10 talent (at least), but the matter of taking a running back so high in the draft remains a topic of debate. An All-American in 2024 (just like Jeanty), Graham is seen as one of the safest prospects in the draft and could contribute right away along Jacksonville’s D-line.

If the Jaguars – now led by first-time general manager James Gladstone and rookie head coach Liam Coen – elect to avoid Graham and Jeanty with their top pick, a move down the board could be in order. Fowler’s colleague Adam Schefter lists Jacksonville as one of the teams interested in a trading back, something which will be difficult given the lack of blue chip prospects at the top of the order. If such a deal were to be made, though, the Raiders would remain in position to add Jeanty.

Such a scenario would come as no surprise, but Schefter notes a sense exists around the league that the Bears are “praying” Jeanty falls to them at No. 10. Chicago has done plenty of work at the running back spot during the pre-draft process, and the team is known to be high on the Maxwell Award winner. D’Andre Swift has one more year of guarantees on his deal, but adding Jeanty to the mix would give the Bears a two-pronged rushing attack not unlike the one new head coach Ben Johnson had with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery during his time as the Lions’ offensive coordinator.

In the event the Jags stand pat at No. 5 and draft Jeanty, Breer adds former first-rounder Travis Etienne could become a trade candidate. It would come as a surprise to many for that circumstance to emerge, but it is a possibility to watch for as the first round approaches.

Bears LT Braxton Jones Expected To Be Limited In Training Camp

April 19th, 2025 at 6:53pm CST by Adam La Rose

Braxton Jones missed the final two games of the 2024 campaign due to ankle surgery, a procedure which ensured a lengthy recovery timeline. The latest update on his recovery notes Chicago’s starting left tackle is making progress, but he is unlikely to be back to 100% in time for training camp.

“I think he’s right on track,” new head coach Ben Johnson said of Jones (via ESPN’s Courtney Cronin). “Will that mean he’s limited in training camp? I would say probably at this point, but I think the progress is right where it needs to be right now.”

Jones has made 40 starts during his three years in Chicago, and the former fifth-rounder is currently in position to handle first-team blindside duties once more in 2025. The coming campaign is a critical one for Jones, since it marks the final year of his rookie contract. A full season – something which the Southern Utah product has managed only once so far – would go a long way in determining his market value.

The Bears have prioritized upgrading along the interior of the O-line this offseason. Trades for Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney provided the team with new starting guards, and center Drew Dalman received a lucrative deal in free agency. With right tackle Darnell Wright in position to continue as a starter for 2025, every spot up front is accounted for aside from left tackle. Jones’ ability to recover in full will be key as he looks to retain a starting gig ahead of other options, such as 2024 third-rounder Kiran Amegadjie.

Free agency in 2025 showed the willingness of teams to spend big at left tackle even for players with age/injury concerns or spotty track records of performance. Jones, 26, has drawn strong PFF evaluations for his pass protection in particular, with his best overall mark (77.4) coming in 2024. Continuing to develop could earn him a long-term stay in the Windy City, so his ability to return to full health this summer will be worth monitoring.

In other Bears health news, Johnson said he “believes” safety Jaquan Brisker has been cleared in full after his latest concussion. The three-year starter has been diagnosed with a concussion during each season of his NFL career, but Brisker himself noted he is healthy now. He added the total number of concussions he has suffered is not a concern and that he is “in a great spot” with respect to his brain health.

Just likes Jones, Brisker is on track to see his rookie deal expire next offseason. After playing just five games in 2024, a healthy slate will be a key target as he looks to remain an impactful starter in Chicago’s secondary. Avoiding further concussions would obviously go a long way toward that goal, and Brisker will enter camp in a good situation on that front.

Draft Trade Rumors: Edge, Bears, Vikings

April 19th, 2025 at 5:59pm CST by Ely Allen

We’ve seen lately that a litany of first-round options at edge rushing positions could lead to a run at the position in the first two days of the 2025 NFL Draft. After Penn State’s Abdul Carter (projected at Nos. 2 or 3 overall), there isn’t expected to be another pass rusher taken until the mid-teens. If the Falcons open the floodgates, it could both trigger a run at the position and possibly spark some trade movement in the first round, according to sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline.

Pauline calls the Cardinals‘ pick at No. 16 overall a potential “flashpoint” where teams who are looking to add an impact edge rusher may trade up in order to jump the Bengals, who hold the No. 17 overall pick and have been linked to a pass rusher in the first round. He and ESPN’s Jordan Reid identify the Falcons‘ No. 15 overall pick as a more likely target to trade up to.

Pauline points out that Atlanta currently only owns five draft picks and would be more than happy to add more picks to their docket by trading down. Reid adds that, in a deep class of edge rushers, the Falcons “feel comfortable with several options” that they have similar grades on. If a team wants to jump Cincinnati for a pass rusher, proposing to trade with the Falcons may be the route to follow.

Here are a couple other trade rumors that could come to play in next week’s draft:

Reid also seems to be under the impression that we will see a team trade into the top 10, specifically into No. 10 overall, a pick currently owned by the Bears. Reid asserts that, should the Saints throw a curveball from recent rumors and not draft a quarterback at No. 9 overall, several teams may jump to move up as a result. He sees teams potentially moving up for a top tight end or potentially a pass rusher, though the deep pass rushing class narrative seems to conflict with that sentiment. Without the New Orleans curveball, though, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune believes that a lack of interest in the No. 10 overall pick would make a trade back in the second round more likely than the first for the Bears.
We’ve seen this several places, but ESPN’s Matt Miller pointed out a bit of the obvious recently, identifying the Vikings as a team likely to seek a trade back in the first round of the draft. The reason this seems so obvious is because, with only four draft picks, Minnesota owns the fewest selections of any team in the draft. The Vikings may attempt to increase their draft capital with a trade back if they can find an interested party.

Bears Extend CB Kyler Gordon

April 17th, 2025 at 9:45am CST by Nikhil Mehta

APRIL 17: Gordon’s pact contains $28MM in new guarantees, as detailed by Over the Cap. That figure includes a $10MM signing bonus; his base salaries for 2025 ($1.26MM) and ’26 ($10MM) are locked in as well. The deal also contains $510K in per-game roster bonuses from 2026-28, and Gordon will receive a $1MM roster bonus if he is on the team by the third day of the league year in 2028.

APRIL 13: The Bears agreed to terms with cornerback Kyler Gordon on a three-year, $40MM contract extension, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Gordon, the 39th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, was entering the final year of his rookie contract and Bears general manager Ryan Poles identified an extension as a “priority” at league meetings at the beginning of April. Less than two weeks later, the 25-year-old is under contract through the 2028 season as a vital piece of Chicago’s secondary.

Gordon’s $13.33MM APY and $31.25MM in guaranteed money are the highest of any nickel defender in the NFL, surpassing the deal signed by Jalen Pitre last week. Gordon’s salary still places him outside of the league’s top-20 highest-paid cornerbacks, reflecting the smaller market for players who line up almost exclusively in the slot.

Gordon hasn’t spent a significant amount of time on the boundary since his rookie year, when he started 14 games and notched three interceptions. He then moved into the slot full-time in 2023, which featured two more interceptions in 13 appearances as well as a stint on injured reserve. Gordon appeared in 15 games in 2024 and finished the year as the Bears’ second-highest-graded defender by Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

This is the second straight offseason in which Chicago extended one of its young starting cornerbacks. The team signed 2020 second-rounder Jaylon Johnson to a four-year, $76MM extension in March 2024, and another second-round corner, Tyrique Stevenson, will be extension-eligible after the 2025 season. After extending Gordon, the Bears now have all three signed through 2026.

The Bears’ remaining candidates for offseason extensions are left tackle Braxton Jones and linebacker T.J. Edwards, both of whom are entering the last year of their rookie deals.

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