Prior to the Bears agreeing to re-sign Travis Homer, they considered a veteran with ties to Ryan Poles and new running backs coach Eric Bieniemy. Chicago considered Kareem Hunt in free agency, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets. Poles and Bieniemy were with the Chiefs when they drafted Hunt in the 2017 third round, with the current Bears GM serving as Kansas City’s college scouting director at that point. Hunt won a rushing title as a rookie and was off to a better start in 2018, when a video of him kicking a woman led to his initial Kansas City ouster. The Chiefs circled back to Hunt six years later, after an Isiah Pacheco injury, and have since re-signed him. The Bears still have Homer and Roschon Johnson behind starter D’Andre Swift, who joins Jonah Jackson in reuniting with Ben Johnson.
Here is the latest from the NFC North:
- On the subject of Jackson, he is set to play right guard next season, per the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs. Jackson started four seasons at left guard in Detroit, but he will end up deferring to Joe Thuney, who landed as the All-Pro first team’s left guard in back-to-back seasons. The older of the Bears’ two guard trade pickups is in a contract year, Thuney gave no clues about a potential extension (via ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin). Keeping with the reunion theme, Thuney signed with the Chiefs when Poles was still on Brett Veach‘s staff.
- Losing durable veteran Kevin Zeitler to the Titans, the Lions appear in need at guard. Graham Glasgow remains, but the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett expects the team to add another starter-level option at the position. This could come in free agency or the draft. A few free agency options are available. Brandon Scherff, Dalton Risner, Cody Whitehair, Will Hernandez and Andrus Peat are among the top veteran options. Teven Jenkins is the leader in this clubhouse right now, and it will be interesting to see where the three-year Bears starter lands. Early in free agency, Jenkins had set a high price. Christian Mahogany, a 2024 sixth-round pick, looks to be in position to still compete for the job Zeitler held last season, Birkett adds.
- The Vikings paid a high price for Will Fries but landed ex-Colts center Ryan Kelly on a mid-market deal. Kelly agreed to a two-year, $18MM contract that comes with $9.15MM guaranteed. No part of Kelly’s $7.89MM 2026 base salary is guaranteed, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes, giving Minnesota some flexibility on the soon-to-be 32-year-old center. The Vikings would carry no dead money if they cut Kelly next year. Elsewhere on Minnesota’s cap sheet, DB Tavierre Thomas‘ deal comes in at one year and $2MM, Wilson adds. The former Browns, Texans and Buccaneers defender commanded a $1MM guarantee.
- Marcus Davenport‘s second shot at becoming a regular Lions contributor will include a pay cut. Reported as signing a deal worth up to $4.75MM, Davenport will be tied to $2.5MM in base value, via OverTheCap. Of that total, $1.65MM is guaranteed. The Lions are guaranteeing Davenport’s $1.35MM base salary, per Wilson, which would leave them with a near-$2MM dead money hit if they moved on. Davenport has missed 28 games over the past two seasons. Roy Lopez‘s “up to” report checked in at $4.75MM; the actual value of the Lions DT’s contract (via Wilson): $3.5MM.
- The Lions also brought in former Bills tight end Quintin Morris on a free agency visit this week, FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz notes. Buffalo did not tender Morris as an RFA, passing on a $3.26MM price to retain its primary blocking tight end. The Lions matched a 49ers RFA offer sheet for Brock Wright last year; two years remain on Wright’s deal. Morris, 26, played 214 offensive snaps for the Bills last season.
- Isaiah McDuffie‘s two-year, $8MM Packers pact does not bring any 2026 guarantees, though ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky indicates it carries a $750K roster bonus next year. Guaranteeing the 2024 linebacker starter $2.25MM, the Packers can move on for barely $1MM in dead money after the 2025 season.
Ahhhh the yearly Dalton Risner will be the last G signed article. See it every year right Lemon? LOKL
Being proactive has never been the Bears strong suit. It’s almost as if they want to hear the wolf howling at the door before they are willing to make even the most obvious decisions.
I suppose we’ve seen here why Detroit let Smith go. Davenport taking the pay cut helps, but if I’m Detroit, I still would rather have the more proven Smith as an option to create a more dangerous pass rush rotation-and be insurance in case of injury. Last year’s catastrophe probably doesn’t happen again, but you never know what else could happen.
I think the Lions defense ranked 30th in sack percentage last season so almost any changes they make stand to result in some sort of improvement – but as you say… you never know.
Yeah but all their best guys got hurt also.
Does Homer have pics of Poles banging a goat or something?
Sounds. Like Thuney willl be one and done better bring bench strength in TEVER Jenkins his the best on the list & DIDNT want to leave less injuries than one of the two new guards
Why would Thuney be 1 and done? I fully expect the Bears to stretch out his deal, Give him more guaranteed money and reduce his cap hit at the same time just like they did with Jackson. Having said that I fully expect the Bears first 4 picks in the top 72 to be( In no particular order), OL, DL RB, Then either TE or S depending on what floats their boat on availability. Jenkins was never really in the picture. I always thought Borom was a horrible OT but might have passed as a Guard but we’ll never know now. If the Bears draft another OL, and re sign Pryor, That’s a deep and very versatile O Line.
Being Cody Whitehead back as a top notch sub if he agrees to the pay INJURIES HAPPEN IN A LONG SEASON HE COULD BE A GRD/ Center OL sub .We let Trevor Jenkins go but he was a right gaurd he would have been great already proven. A good player when healthy that’s why Cleveland Browns wanted him must prepare for a long season folks get hurt and that’s what Billing will do on the Def Line at NG
Cody Whtehair? Are you insane? I see the Bears O Line to be: Jones-Thuney-Dalman-Jackson-Wright. Then Amegedjie, Stromberg,Draft Pick, re sign Pryor, then Murray, Benedet, Kramer for the practice squad. Whitehair is toast and Jenkins is a 1 man MASH unit. You won’t carry more than 10 O linemen anyway and that’s a deep AND versatile OL.