Chicago Bears Mock Offseason: What If Ben Johnson Follows the Detroit Blueprint Up Front?

It's surely a fools errand to read too much specifically what Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes did as a predictor of what new Bears coach Ben Johnson will want to see in Chicago...right? I don't know. So, in an effort to consider an alternative path this offseason, here's a Bears' mock offseason incorporating the following core concepts from Detroit:

1. The offensive line is key. But, more specifically, the OTs and the C are key. The Gs? They're less important if LT-C-RT are strong.
1. The RG spot, specifically, was a revolving door in Detroit. From Evan Brown in 2022 to Graham Glasgow in 2023 to Kevin Zeitler in 2024, Detroit never invested heavily in that spot. And when Jonah Jackson hit free agency as the top LG? Detroit let him jump to LA.
2. Explosive offensive players rule the day and they need to exist at all three skill spots: WR, RB, and TE.
1. Johnson is saying the right things about D'Andre Swift right now, but it's hard to believe that Johnson wants Swift as RB1.
3. Rotations are essential at DT. But not at DE.
1. But maybe this only applies if you have a true DE1?
4. WR4 consistently gets good run.

Regarding point #1, I went in search of a big upgrade over Braxton Jones in free agency, but -- no disrespect to Ronnie Stanley or Alaric Jackson -- I don't see an obvious one. If Jones was healthy, could I see the Bears drafting his replacement in April, then trading Jones at the draft? Sure. But he's not, so it still seems most likely the the LG in 2025 is a draftee with a potential future at LT if Jones doesn't work out long term.

Free Agency

I'm relying on free agency decisions and cap projections from my last mock offseason here, except that dead money has increased to $5.4M in light of DeMarcus Walker's release and estimated cap space has increased to $78.3M for the same reason. So, I'll assume that the Bears enter free agency with about $58.3M to spend, keeping $20M of powder dry to sign their draft class, extend Kyler Gordon, and make in-season moves.

1. Sign DT Milton Williams to a 3-year, $63M deal with $40M guaranteed. The 3 technique spot was decent but not great last year. Gervon Dexter improved dramatically, but that improvement came after a truly dreadful rookie season. So, the Bears go to the top of the market for the best interior pass rusher available.
2. Sign DE Chase Young to a 2-year, $35M deal with $20M guaranteed. Yes, it's comical to reunite Sweat and Young. But even though it feels like Young has been around a for a long time, he'll be just 26 this year. He's a big upgrade over Walker.
3. Sign C Drew Dalman to a 4-year, $46M deal with $27.5M guaranteed. Dalman becomes priority #1 in this scenario. Take care of the C spot first.
4. Sign RG Brandon Scherff to a 1-year, $6M deal with $5M guaranteed. This looks a lot like Kevin Zeitler's deal in Detroit last year.
5. Sign WR Brandin Cooks to a 1-year, $3M deal with $2M guaranteed. Cooks has been a consistent producer for a long time, but he's nearing the end...and that's fine! He's here as WR3 if the draft doesn't break right or, ideally, WR4 if it does.
6. Sign TE Austin Hooper to a 1-year, $3M deal. TE3 ideally; TE2 if necessary.
7. Sign S Quandre Diggs to a 1-year, $3M deal. Diggs is old and hurt, but the Bears need some insurance here.
8. Sign S Jaylon Jones to a 1-year, $1M deal. Keeping a productive RFA.

Even without accounting for lower year-one cap hits and assuming equal AAVs, this free agency period uses $58.3M of net cap space, making this my most aggressive free agency spend to date. Notably, however, only Williams and Dalman carry significant cap ramifications into 2026. There is a lot of patching here.

NFL Draft

Unfortunately, despite that free agency explosion, there are still some notable needs on this roster, namely:

• LG / possible future LT
• RB1/2
• TE2
• WR3
• DE3/4

There's a heavy defensive flavor at the top of free agency, so expect to see a heavy offensive flavor to the draft class.

Bears trade #10 to Denver for #20, #52, #121, and a 2026 2nd

Penn State DE Abdul Carter and Michigan DT Mason Graham were gone. So I traded down.

#20: Texas A&M Shemar Stewart

This is a great outcome. If Stewart tests well at the Combine, he won't make it here given his massive frame. If he combines that size with quickness, he's the unicorn that every team always wants. But he's here in this mock. Yippee!

Marshall's Mike Green is also intriguing, but the size difference -- Stewart is nearly 40 pounds heavier -- is too compelling to ignore.

#39: North Dakota State G Grey Zabel

Luck is so nice when it's in your favor! Zabel getting here opens up the draft board in a way that no other player can. He's a Day One starter on the interior. If he proves to have sufficient length to kick out to LT, great! If he doesn't? Who cares? He might be Dalman's successor at C instead. Zabel is a great fit here if he lasts this long.

#41: Michigan TE Colston Loveland

Speaking of great fits...Loveland is the dream here. This is a class with three idyllic TEs: Penn State's Tyler Warren and Loveland as traditional, big-bodied TEs and Bowling Green's Harold Fannin Jr. as an H-back Swiss Army Knife. But Warren and Loveland are the preferred targets.

Bears trade #52 and #198 to Atlanta for #46

There's a very specific target here and a group of teams with big needs at this spot. Given this trade price, this is a good deal.

#46: Texas DT Alfred Collins

Collins is decidedly not a need here, but he is definitely one of my favorite players in this entire class. He reminds me a lot of DeForest Buckner. Admittedly, he has a ways to go to get there. But the ceiling is massive.

#72: Penn State S Kevin Winston Jr.

This is a brutal spot with three players that I really like that fit the roster really well: Arizona LT Jonah Savaiinaea, Utah State WR Jalen Royals, and Winston. Ultimately, Winston's draft stock took a massive hit due to his partially torn ACL in early September. But an early September partial ACL tear means that Winston should be able to play a full rookie season, bringing his massive ceiling to the roster. He's the prudent choice here, especially because there are more WRs in the coming rounds that I like.

#121: UCF RB RJ Harvey

Harvey's flaws are voluminous. He's undersized at 5'8". His blocking is bad. He's not ever going to be a power back. I'm not even sure that he's an NFL RB right now.

So why the heck is he the pick here? Speed. Speed speed speed. Harvey is extremely fast and, thus, he's explosive at his best. The Bears need explosive talents on offense. Let's do it.

Bears trade RB D'Andre Swift to Los Angeles Chargers for #123

I'm guessing that Swift's trade value ranges from about pick #100 to pick #150. So, here we are in the middle. Trading Swift leaves $2.7M of dead cap money but frees up $6.7M more.

#123: UCONN OT Chase Lundt

Lundt isn't my kind of prospect. But there's so much that is seriously interesting here. He moves really well at 6'8". That alone piques my interest. I could see a future where he gets snaps as the 6th OL with regularity. I have no idea where his career goes. But I'm intrigued.

#149: Illinois WR Pat Bryant

I really wanted Colorado State WR Tory Horton to get here, but he surprisingly went at #147 to a Carolina team that had just drafted Jalen Royals earlier. Huh. No matter. Pat Bryant made it here and I like me some Pat Bryant.

#235: UNLV WR Ricky White

White is slight of frame, but comes with good speed and special teams expectations. That's a fine choice here.

#242: Jacksonville State G Clay Webb

Webb is a redshirt player who needs to add at least 15 pounds to have a chance to play in the NFL.

Here's the assembled roster:

QB (3): Caleb Williams, Tyson Bagent, FREE AGENT

RB (4): Roschon Johnson, RJ Harvey, Ian Wheeler, FREE AGENT

TE (3): Cole Kmet, Colston Loveland, Austin Hooper

WR (6): D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze, Brandin Cooks, Pat Bryant, Tyler Scott, Ricky White

OT (3): Braxton Jones, Darnell Wright, Chase Lundt

OG (4): Brandon Scherff, Grey Zabel, Kiran Amegadjie, Clay Webb

C (2): Drew Dalman, Ryan Bates

DE (5): Montez Sweat, Chase Young, Shemar Stewart, Austin Booker, Dominique Robinson

DT (5): Milton Williams, Gervon Dexter, Andrew Billings, Alfred Collins, Zacch Pickens

ILB (2): Tremaine Edmunds, FREE AGENT

OLB (3): T.J. Edwards, Noah Sewell, FREE AGENT

CB (5): Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, Terell Smith, Kyler Gordon, FREE AGENT

S (5): Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker, Quandre Diggs, Kevin Winston Jr., Jaylon Jones

SP (3): Cairo Santos, Tory Taylor, FREE AGENT

Here's the PFF simulator screenshot:

Does this roster look better than my other recent mocks? I don't know. But it could be more in the vein of what Johnson wants, except at RB, where I really left this roster thin. Once the Bears decide to trade Swift, I'd expect another free agent RB to join the fold.

Nevertheless, I love the top five draftees here. They'd all be expected to play big roles in 2025 and come with exceptional ceilings. It would be fun watching these guys develop.

Chicago Bears Mock Offseason: OL Spending Spree Edition

No need for a lengthy introduction here. We're well into the offseason at this point. I've delved deeply into roster decisions, salary cap forecasting, and free agency prospecting in numerous mock offseasons, like this one here. The quick and dirty summary:

1. The Bears will cut TE Gerald Everett and S Jonathan Owens. This will utilize just $3.375M of dead cap space.
2. GM Ryan Poles will need to decide whether to allocate $4M of cap space to G Ryan Bates, who will hopefully be penciled into a reserve role. Bates has no guarantees left, but a year removed from paying a 5th rounder for him, the guess here is that Poles keeps Bates, possibly requesting that he take a modest pay cut that can be recouped by being active on gamedays.
3. Free agency offers numerous attractive starting options on the OL and at DE; it does not offer the same depth of options at DT.
4. The Bears will head into 2025 with a new coach. Here's hoping that Ben Johnson is better than the last four!

Free Agency

OK, there actually is one big change here that is undeniably negative for the Bears: the NFL salary cap increased a good bit more than expected. The Bears previously enjoyed top-five cap space as a significant marginal advantage over the rest of the league, but with the new cap projection, the Bears figure to lose some of their ability to win free agency battles now that so many other teams picked up about $5M of space.

Estimating the base cap at $279M and factoring in the Bears' $5.1M of rollover cap from 2024, the Bears start with a cap number of $284.1M. Their top-51 contracts following the releases of Everett and Owens total $207M with $3.8M of dead cap bringing the total hit to $210.8M. That leaves $73.3M. Keeping $20M dry for the draft class, practice squad, and in-season moves is plenty conservative, so let's say they enter free agency with $53.3M of net cap space available for spending.

Because they will surely let injury-prone LG Teven Jenkins walk, they'll be looking for at least three starters on the offensive line along with help on the defensive front. Given the troubling concussion issues that have appeared for S Jaquan Brisker, a S may be on the menu, too.

Now that PFF has published contract projections, I'll utilize those below. The big change for this mock: ESPN has named the Bears as the top fit for both Kansas City G Trey Smith and Atlanta C Drew Dalman. Could the Bears really go to the top of the market at two interior OL spots? Let's see what the offseason looks like if they do.

1. Sign OG Trey Smith to a 4-year, $82M deal with $50M guaranteed. Break the bank for the best player at a position of desperate need. This isn't complicated. Park Smith next to RT Darnell Wright and secure the right side as QB Caleb Williams develops. (I've long had Smith pegged at 4/$88M with $65M guaranteed. I think PFF is light.) It's worth noting that Smith has production and pedigree to fuel his free agency, but collegiate blood clots could scare some teams away just like they did during the Draft.
2. Sign C Drew Dalman to a 4-year, $46M deal with $27.5M guaranteed. This doesn't require the same level of bank breaking given Dalman's injury history.
3. Sign DT Levi Onwuzurike to a 2-year, $16.5M deal with $10M guaranteed. I have routinely mocked Philadelphia DT Milton Williams in this spot and PFF projects Williams for $21M on his next deal...per year! That'll be far too rich for Poles, so instead let's have Coach Johnson lure Onwuzurike to Chicago to join the rotation and add some pop. Onwuzurike is consistently productive, but he's got strikingly little game experience after sitting out his RS JR season at Washington during the pandemic and playing just 560 snaps in his first three NFL seasons combined. He's 27 and his 697 snaps in 2024 were really impressive, so perhaps his market ends up higher than this.
4. Sign DE Derek Barnett to a 1-year, $4.25M deal. Barnett isn't a difference maker, but he's a solid citizen along a defensive line in need of some.
5. Sign OT Jedrick Wills to a 1-year, $3M deal. A reunion with Kevin Zeitler would've made sense were it not for Smith. Unfortunately, almost all of the top free agent interior offensive linemen play RG, so we're going to take an unconventional approach and following the Mekhi Becton plan, signing Wills to try him at LG. If he flops, so be it.
6. Sign TE Austin Hooper to a 1-year, $3M deal. I do this one every year. That TE2 spot has been a disaster for years and, unfortunately, Gerald Everett has been a massive flop.
7. Sign S Quandre Diggs to a 1-year, $3M deal. Diggs is coming off of a Lisfranc injury and he's 32, but he should be ready for 2025. He's a nice insurance policy for Brisker.
8. Sign S Jaylon Jones to a 1-year, $1M deal. Keeping an RFA.

The above spending utilizes about $47.8M of net cap space, so this leaves a big chunk of dry powder in case extensions are advisable, especially for CB Kyler Gordon. If LT Braxton Jones and S Jaquan Brisker are able to stay healthy and produce, in-season extensions that utilize 2025 cap space could also be on the table.

NFL Draft

As I always do, I completed all of the above moves prior to running a mock draft on PFF. Entering the Draft, the needs are obvious: an impact DE, a potential LT (who doesn't have to start in 2025 but needs the ceiling of a star), another rotational DT, possibly a CB to step in for Tyrique Stevenson if Stevenson goes full pumpkin, a S to potentially follow Brisker and Byard, and a pass catcher, whether at WR or TE. If there's a developmental C, too, that's nice.

The Bears do have the tasty 39th pick from Carolina as the final piece from the Bryce Young trade, but this year's 4th rounder belongs to Buffalo thanks to the Austin Booker trade last year. With only four picks that can be reasonably counted on to produce 2025 starters, this is a tall task.

With that in mind, here we go!

Bears Trade #10 and #241 to Cincinnati for #17, #49, and #81

My rule at #10 remains the same as last month: if Penn State DE Abdul Carter or Michigan DT Mason Graham inexplicably slips to #10, make the pick and jump for joy. Otherwise, target a trade down. This is appropriate value as the additional 2nd and 3rd offer great value in spots where I really like this class.

#17: LSU OT Will Campbell

Huh. I did not see this coming. Texas LT Kelvin Banks Jr. was also available and I figured he stood a good chance to be the pick here. But someone always falls and, in this draft, it was Campbell. Perhaps teams didn't want to pick him higher than this if he's solidly a G on their board? Who cares! He's the perfect starter at LG who can project as a LT in year two and beyond.

#39: Ole Miss DE Princely Umanmielen

I'm very high on Umanmielen. He made a good choice to come back to school. He'd be a great fit on this roster.

#41: Texas DT Alfred Collins

This will feel too early for Collins for some folks. For me, it's not. He is a potential star with a unique physique that plays an essential spot. Obviously I would've preferred getting him later, but I couldn't risk him coming off the board between here and #49.

#49: Notre Dame S Xavier Watts

Had Minnesota LT Aireontae Ersery made it here, he would've been the pick. But he didn't, so plug-and-play S Watts it is. He's a tremendous consolation prize for a safety room that has both Brisker and Byard in their walk years.

#72: West Virginia OT Wyatt Milum

I still think Milum is going to go in the 1st round by late April. Milum is so darn good and he's ready to be a plus player right away. There's talk of him kicking inside to G. Obviously he's only the pick if the Bears are confident that at least one of Campbell or Milum can play LT by 2026. Arizona LT Jonah Savaiinaea also warrants considerable consideration here.

For a team that has been so light on OL talent for so long, just get Milum in the building and figure it out later.

#81: Penn State S Kevin Winston Jr.

The options were voluminous: Savaiinaea, South Carolina S Nick Emmanwori, Bowling Green TE Harold Fannin Jr., and Kentucky DT Deone Walker are all very attractive options. But, ultimately, Winston is too good to pass up here. Winston had a 1st-round grade before a partial ACL tear ended his season in early September. The Bears can afford to bring him along slowly, if necessary, but he should be at full speed in camp.

Bears Trade S Kevin Byard to Las Vegas for #106

I don't know if this is fair value for Byard, but it seems a little rich to me. But, with Watts and Winston joining Brisker and with Diggs in house as a security blanket, Byard turns back into draft capital while also taking most of his cap hit to Vegas, leaving just $1.5M of dead cap behind and generating $7M of cap space.

#106: Kentucky DT Deone Walker

Nice! Walker would've been good at #81. At #106, this is tremendous. He's absolutely massive and is an ideal 1-tech if he continues to develop. In this DT room, he gets time to grow.

#148: Illinois WR Pat Bryant

Bryant doesn't have star potential, but he does bring solid citizen vibes. The Bears could use that in the WR room that desperately lacks depth behind Moore and Odunze.

#196: Texas Tech TE Jalin Conyers

Conyers is a great athlete in a somewhat undersized frame. He brings positional versatility playing in the backfield and on the edge, something that is ideal for a player in this spot on this roster.

#234: LSU WR Kyren Lacy

Important caveat: PFF is much lower on Lacy than most other services. It's fair to wonder why. Don't focus too much on Lacy specifically. Instead, think "possible WR/RB/TE contributor" in this spot.

QB (3): Caleb Williams, Tyson Bagent, FREE AGENT

RB (4): D'Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson, FREE AGENT, FREE AGENT

TE (3): Cole Kmet, Austin Hooper, Jalin Conyers

WR (6): D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze, Pat Bryant, Tyler Scott, Kyren Lacy, FREE AGENT

OT (3): Braxton Jones, Darnell Wright, Wyatt Milum

OG (4): Trey Smith, Will Campbell, Jedrick Wills, Kiran Amegadjie

C (2): Drew Dalman, Ryan Bates

DE (5): Montez Sweat, Prince Umanmielen, DeMarcus Walker, Austin Booker, Derek Barnett

DT (5): Gervon Dexter, Levi Onwuzurike, Andrew Billings, Zacch Pickens, Deone Walker

ILB (2): Tremaine Edmunds, FREE AGENT

OLB (3): T.J. Edwards, Noah Sewell, FREE AGENT

CB (5): Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, Terrell Smith, Kyler Gordon, FREE AGENT

S (5): Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker, Quandre Diggs, Xavier Watts, Jaylon Jones

SP (3): Cairo Santos, Tory Taylor, FREE AGENT

Here's my evidence that this was legitimately run through PFF's simulator:

As is always the case, this isn't a perfect roster. The WR room is in deep trouble with an injury to Moore or Odunze. The TE room needs Kmet to stay healthy and productive. The RB room is hilariously thin.

Despite all of that, this is a team that is dramatically better in the trenches on both sides of the ball. I say that every time, but this is the truest example. And the draft gets to be a true "Bears Draft" as it features five defensive players among the top seven picks.

This is definitely my new favorite mock; that would've been true even swapping out Campbell for Banks. I nailed my goals on both lines in this mock. That's a recipe for success.