Bears 12.0

[WookieOnRitalin]

Interesting that two guys who are new to the team this year- Thuney and Jarrett, are named captains. Somewhat surprising Kmet wasn't made one, or possibly DJ or either Gordon or Brisker- guys with longer tenures.

Tenure on the Bears, but not in the league.

3 of the 5 chosen have superior tenure in the league. The one who is not (Caleb) is your QB so that is automatic.

Captainship is rather symbolic anyway. Skill position players (WR and RB) are not great captains generally especially WR1 or RB1. Most of them are divas.

Traditionally, QB is the captain of the offense and MLB/LB is captain of the defense in fact and in symbolism. The only thing that is interesting is that one of our defensive captains is not an LB. That seems squirrelly to me.

[biggestbullsfan]

Read on Twitter

NFL cap space means nothing lol

But also wonders if this means we are making a move for Edge or RB?

[fleet]

Read on Twitter

NFL cap space means nothing lol

But also wonders if this means we are making a move for Edge or RB?

I believe they will have to unload more salary for a more significant addition. I think that’s why they’re working out guys like Isaiah Foskey.

Cap space is not nothing though. Teams “make room” for additions all the time. But if you’re really watching closely, if they’re leaning on doing this stuff for expensive veterans, they inevitably are letting other, and often younger players leave later on rather than resigning them, and the team is hollowing out like the Saints. That’s the hidden cost of squeezing in new contracts. To add, this is the real danger of trading draft picks for expensive veterans. Double whammy of leaving no way out after going all in.

[patryk7754]

Read on Twitter

NFL cap space means nothing lol

But also wonders if this means we are making a move for Edge or RB?

Is this Poles' first significant restructure? Could be a sign of making an "all in" move, like you mentioned. If that's the case, I pray its for a LT. Its our biggest need, and theoretically, we have our DEs and RB. Will one become available? Probably not.

Regardless, I think this move gives us about 15m in cap, which could be a pretty decent player.

[fleet]

Read on Twitter

NFL cap space means nothing lol

But also wonders if this means we are making a move for Edge or RB?

Is this Poles' first significant restructure? Could be a sign of making an "all in" move, like you mentioned. If that's the case, I pray its for a LT. Its our biggest need, and theoretically, we have our DEs and RB. Will one become available? Probably not.

Regardless, I think this move gives us about 15m in cap, which could be a pretty decent player.

Cam Robinson was the only Left tackle I had heard about recently as a target after Ersery did so well in camp. But that kind of deal might not be done until after Braxton Jones gets Caleb in jeopardy.

[patryk7754]

Read on Twitter

NFL cap space means nothing lol

But also wonders if this means we are making a move for Edge or RB?

Is this Poles' first significant restructure? Could be a sign of making an "all in" move, like you mentioned. If that's the case, I pray its for a LT. Its our biggest need, and theoretically, we have our DEs and RB. Will one become available? Probably not.

Regardless, I think this move gives us about 15m in cap, which could be a pretty decent player.

Cam Robinson was the only Left tackle I had heard about recently as a target after Ersery did so well in camp. But that kind of deal might not be done until after Braxton Jones gets Caleb in jeopardy

Cam Robinson could be fine. He’s inconsistent with his time with the Vikings last season was possibly the best stretch of his career. At the least he’d be an upgrade over whoever we have.

I wouldn’t be surprised if a good LT became available in very specific circumstances. Those circumstances being a team that’s supposed to be good is terrible. For example the 49ers or falcons. Extremely unlikely they’re terrible tho. If not winning the division. I could possibly see Kolton miller becoming available. I think he expires after this season and the raiders are likely to finish last in the division

[molepharmer]

If you get The Athletic (paywall), Z Keefer has a good article up now "The bust files: How NFL teams break young QBs"
Some QBs and coaches of the past 20+ years are quoted (e.g. P Manning, A Smith, Aikmen, Hasselbeck, K O'Connell, B Arians, etc) and tell some very interesting stories about their development, or lack thereof. Regards, multiple coordinators and offenses, team/coach philosophies, amount of studying involved for plays, access to football necessities, etc

One tid bit regarding the Bears...."The QB room matters a ton." says Hasselbeck.........."Case Keenum is an 11-year veteran whose most recent stops include backing up Stroud in Houston and Josh Allen in Buffalo. “There is so much value in that,” Smith says. “Case is great at preparing. He’s competitive as hell. It’ll be so great for Caleb to be around that every day.”

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6584516/2025/09/02/nfl-first-round-quarterback-busts/?onboarded=true&source=athletic-plopro

[Susan]

Read on Twitter

NFL cap space means nothing lol

But also wonders if this means we are making a move for Edge or RB?

Is this Poles' first significant restructure? Could be a sign of making an "all in" move, like you mentioned. If that's the case, I pray its for a LT. Its our biggest need, and theoretically, we have our DEs and RB. Will one become available? Probably not.

Regardless, I think this move gives us about 15m in cap, which could be a pretty decent player.

Cam Robinson was the only Left tackle I had heard about recently as a target after Ersery did so well in camp. But that kind of deal might not be done until after Braxton Jones gets Caleb in jeopardy.

I bet they throw Darnell to LT and try Ozzy at RT after Braxton's struggles become too much.

[jnrjr79]

Is this Poles' first significant restructure? Could be a sign of making an "all in" move, like you mentioned. If that's the case, I pray its for a LT. Its our biggest need, and theoretically, we have our DEs and RB. Will one become available? Probably not.

Regardless, I think this move gives us about 15m in cap, which could be a pretty decent player.

Cam Robinson was the only Left tackle I had heard about recently as a target after Ersery did so well in camp. But that kind of deal might not be done until after Braxton Jones gets Caleb in jeopardy.

I bet they throw Darnell to LT and try Ozzy at RT after Braxton's struggles become too much.

If you think you have a starting RT in Ozzy (and I think the Bears may think that), that's a move that is probably coming eventually, though I don't love the idea of doing it mid-season.

[fleet]

Hard to believe the Bears walked themselves right into these weeds, complicating the second round. That’s a sticky situation moving Wright. An already inconsistent right tackle that would then want to get paid like a consistent left tackle.

[NZB2323]

Interesting that two guys who are new to the team this year- Thuney and Jarrett, are named captains. Somewhat surprising Kmet wasn't made one, or possibly DJ or either Gordon or Brisker- guys with longer tenures.

Thuney is a 4x Super Bowl Champion, 3x Pro Bowl, 4x all-Pro, and this is his 10th year in the NFL. That’s a ton of experience.

Brady was team Captain his first year with the Bucs, Saquon Barkley was team Captain his first year with the Eagles, Aaron Rodgers is a team Captain with the Steelers…you don’t need tenure with an organization to be named a team Captain.

[dice]

one of our defensive captains is not an LB. That seems squirrelly to me.

2 of 3 are not LBs. there is 1 for each level of the defense

[fleet]

You got so many captains you aint got a captain

[Chi town]

Cam Robinson was the only Left tackle I had heard about recently as a target after Ersery did so well in camp. But that kind of deal might not be done until after Braxton Jones gets Caleb in jeopardy.

I bet they throw Darnell to LT and try Ozzy at RT after Braxton's struggles become too much.

If you think you have a starting RT in Ozzy (and I think the Bears may think that), that's a move that is probably coming eventually, though I don't love the idea of doing it mid-season.

Yeah. I think that is next season.

[patryk7754]

Is this Poles' first significant restructure? Could be a sign of making an "all in" move, like you mentioned. If that's the case, I pray its for a LT. Its our biggest need, and theoretically, we have our DEs and RB. Will one become available? Probably not.

Regardless, I think this move gives us about 15m in cap, which could be a pretty decent player.

Cam Robinson was the only Left tackle I had heard about recently as a target after Ersery did so well in camp. But that kind of deal might not be done until after Braxton Jones gets Caleb in jeopardy.

I bet they throw Darnell to LT and try Ozzy at RT after Braxton's struggles become too much.

I think that might end up being our best option for this season. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if Wright has shown the ability to be good on the left side. I think the things he has issues with will be magnified at LT. But, I think it's definitely worth giving a try (unless Jones miraculously has a decent season)

[patryk7754]

Cam Robinson was the only Left tackle I had heard about recently as a target after Ersery did so well in camp. But that kind of deal might not be done until after Braxton Jones gets Caleb in jeopardy.

I bet they throw Darnell to LT and try Ozzy at RT after Braxton's struggles become too much.

If you think you have a starting RT in Ozzy (and I think the Bears may think that), that's a move that is probably coming eventually, though I don't love the idea of doing it mid-season.

Not sure when it is, but I think thats a bye week move. Give Wright as might time as possible to get reps in.

[patryk7754]

I wonder if Thuney possibly gets a shot at LT. If i remember right, he was the one playing LT in the playoffs for the Chiefs after the LT got hurt and he did decent (until the superbowl). Newman did well in the preseason, so maybe Johnson will think kicking Thuney out to LT and starting Newman will be a better option than moving Wright over and starting Ozzy or starting Bennet or Kiran. Regardless, someone else will get a couple of starts at LT because Jones will inevitably get hurt.

[patryk7754]

Hard to believe the Bears walked themselves right into these weeds, complicating the second round. That’s a sticky situation moving Wright. An already inconsistent right tackle that would then want to get paid like a consistent left tackle.

Best case scenario would be that he ends up being our version of Orlando Brown when the Ravens moved him to LT after Stanley got hurt. But even Brown's play went downhill after signing with the Chiefs

[Dresden]

Interesting that two guys who are new to the team this year- Thuney and Jarrett, are named captains. Somewhat surprising Kmet wasn't made one, or possibly DJ or either Gordon or Brisker- guys with longer tenures.

Thuney is a 4x Super Bowl Champion, 3x Pro Bowl, 4x all-Pro, and this is his 10th year in the NFL. That’s a ton of experience.

Brady was team Captain his first year with the Bucs, Saquon Barkley was team Captain his first year with the Eagles, Aaron Rodgers is a team Captain with the Steelers…you don’t need tenure with an organization to be named a team Captain.

I didn't realize that captains are chosen by the players, not the coaches, and so apparently this is how the team voted. Kmen and DJ were both captains last year, but weren't voted for this year- somewhat surprising. The fact that Thuney and Jarrett were elected by their fellow players must mean they've already assumed firm leadership roles within the team. Which is good.

[Dresden]

Hasn't Braxton graded out as an average LT by PFF? Why does everyone assume he's going to be an utter failure this season, especially when he's got a guy like Thuney playing next to him?