Last year, the Bears became the Eagles’ gateway to Jalen Carter by trading down one spot and picking up an additional fourth-rounder from the NFC East team. GM Ryan Poles referenced this transaction when contacting Falcons GM Terry Fontenot during Round 1 this year. The third-year Chicago front office boss called the fourth-year Atlanta decision-maker about a move from No. 9 to No. 8, via The33rdteam.com’s Ari Meirov, with the aim to lock down Rome Odunze draft real estate. With plans on selecting Odunze’s college QB at No. 8 — to the surprise of most — Fontentot declined Poles’ offer and chose Michael Penix Jr.
The Jets (at No. 10) were also interested in Odunze, shifting to the offensive line once the Bears chose the high-end WR prospect at 9, with Poles undoubtedly aware of the AFC East club’s aim of adding another Aaron Rodgers weapon. A pre-draft report also pointed to the Colts’ interest in trading up for a playmaker; GM Chris Ballard confirmed he made “big offers” to move up from 15. After a dominant final season at Washington, Odunze rounds out a promising Bears receiving corps that includes D.J. Moore and trade pickup Keenan Allen. The Bears, who experimented with Odunze as a punt returner during their offseason program (per ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin), could have the Pac-12 product on a rookie deal through 2028 via the fifth-year option.
Here is the latest from the NFC North:
- For a second straight offseason, Dalton Risner‘s market underwhelmed. This led to the sixth-year guard changing agents, per The Athletic’s Alec Lewis, as he sought an upper-echelon agreement only to see nothing close come his way. The Vikings blocker called this a “frustrating” offseason, noting (via KSTP’s Darren Wolfson) he was surprised how little interest came his way — during an offseason that featured five free agent guards sign for at least $10MM per year. This mirrored his 2023 offseason, which did not see a deal come together until September. Risner started four seasons in Denver and worked as an 11-game Minnesota starter, with the Vikes trading Ezra Cleveland to the Jaguars, last season. Risner, 29 next month, is attached to a one-year, $2.41MM deal that includes playing time-based incentives.
- While Risner will compete with Blake Brandel for Minnesota’s left guard job, Jordan Addison is a locked-in starter. Addison impressed despite Kirk Cousins‘ injury last season, and SI.com’s Albert Breer notes the former USC and Pitt wideout’s offseason growth has turned heads at the Vikings’ facility. During a season that featured an extended Justin Jefferson absence and the Vikes starting four QBs, Addison totaled 911 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. The 2023 first-rounder’s rookie deal will now pair with Jefferson’s market-setting extension, and Sam Darnold — before a likely baton pass to J.J. McCarthy — will have a promising WR duo to target this season.
- The Bears drafting Odunze meant a long wait for defensive help, and the team extended the wait after taking O-lineman Kiran Amegadjie in Round 3 and punter Tory Taylor in Round 4. Montez Sweat is in place as Chicago’s pass-rushing anchor, and Andrew Billings is poised to start once again. Beyond that, the Bears feature some question marks. A late-summer addition at DE and/or DT may be something the team will consider, per The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain, if they do not see enough early in training camp. A Yannick Ngakoue reunion could be on the table. Chicago has Gervon Dexter and veteran DeMarcus Walker on track for regular roles, with Fishbain adding veteran pickup Jacob Martin‘s fit will also determine whether the team needs to make another move.
- Although Jordan Love is expected to join the $50MM-per-year club, the Packers QB is only going into his second starter season. On that end, Matt LaFleur added 7-on-7 periods during practice to help his passer’s development, ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky notes. LaFleur has resisted implementing this common offseason drill due to the lack of a pass rush impacting decisions, noting an emphasis on Love’s footwork for dusting off the passing period.
As much as I’m happy Poles didn’t make that trade, Atlanta really messed that one up.
The only logical explanation for that pick was the ATL GM watching AR12 go down on the 2nd play of his first game, then watching NYJ fumble f-ck through their season with a terrible backup QB.
I see where you’re coming from, but that doesn’t make much sense. They are trading back one spot. I highly doubt the Bears were gonna trade up to trade back. If that somehow was the GM’s thought process, then I don’t know what to think.
The explanation is simple. He was with NO when they wanted ti draft Mahomes while they still had Brees who was getting long in the tooth. Only to have KC jump ahead of them and take him then have him go on to be one of the best ever.
RCG- Me too as that pick turned into Kennan Allen. Poles did a good job of getting Williams weapons to throw to and left the OL up to a bunch of scrub signings Ryan Bates, An average C in Shelton. All the weapons won’t help if you’re on your back. I saw enough of Fields to know he’ll never be able to read a defense or change protections. In other words think on his feet. He was only good at taking off at the first sign of trouble and losing his progressions. I hope Wiliams is able to do that as the Bears are in place to draft some stud OL next year with 3 high picks.
Risner isn’t the only one who was surprised. I was amazed the Bears didn’t take a run at him with how Davis is a wimp and Jenkins always seems to get injured. I think the Bears defense will be fine with what they have and Ngakoue was completely worthless last year. I hope the Bears spend that money more wisely on Connor Williams. They didn’t even mention Booker who should help in a part time role. Not to mention it would be awesome to see Williams snap the ball to Williams for the next few years.
Dumb move by ATL on multiple levels. Penix was a major reach at 8, but if that was the plan, why not grab extra draft capital from Chicago and take Penix at 9. It’s not like Chicago was gonna take him after they took Williams at 1.
Both the D-line and O-line are thin for the Bears. They’re 2 or 3 injuries away from the makeshift lines they’ve had for quite awhile. I know rebuilds take time, but I’m surprised Poles didn’t do at least a bit more for both.
You can only do so much in one offseason. Look at how many blue chip players Poles added this year, when’s the last time that’s happened? Compare the roster today to the roster a few years ago. It’s not overpriced veterans on expensive contracts like the way Pace built a team. Everyone always wants the one year magical turnaround when that’s not how you build sustained success. Of course it would be nice to have signed all studs at DT, another edge opposite sweat, and another few lineman this offseason but it’s not realistic. You have to draft and develop your own. Poles being a lineman, I feel like we’re in good hands. Plus the stats with Justin are inflated negatively because he held on for so long. Our line is not that bad and was upgraded a lot from last year.