Free Agency
Cuts & Trades
*Bears trade Robert Quinn to Rams for 2023 4th round pick
- Released Robert Quinn
(Saved: $9,762,500)
- Released Cody Whitehair
(Saved: $5,794,000)
- Released Lucas Patrick
(Saved: $3,900,000)
- Released Kindle Vildor
(Saved: $1,010,000)
New Contracts
Riley Reiff 1 year 2.5 million
Sam Mustipher 1 year 1 million
Dante Pettis 1 year 1 million
DHC 1 year 1.5 million
Bears sign LT Orlando Brown to 5 years 115 million/45 guaranteed
Franchise tagged Brown is looking to get paid and Bears have a boatload of money this off-season to spend on him. He's looking to get overpaid but in my opinion it's worth it you don't see tackles hit the market very often and as devoid on talent as the Bears are on the line it's more than worth it.
Bears sign RT Jack Conklin to 4 years 54 million/20 guaranteed
Bears need to heavily invest in offensive line this season if they want to have any kind of success. Conklin would be a good fit to help remedy the right tackle position but while Conklin has played at a high level he's also often injured. It's doubtful he stays with the Browns due to their cap space situation.
Bears sign TE Evan Engram to 3 years 28 million/ 10 guaranteed
He's an upgrade over Kmet but just a temporary fix. Bears should blow all their cap on this year but should definitely work on improving offensive line.
Bears extend Roquan Smith 5 years 97.5 million/45 guaranteed
This is a no brainier move he's one of the best LB's in the NFL.
Bears extend Jaylon Johnson 4 years for 80 million
Stop wasting to the last minute to extend the young stars on the roster.
Draft
Texans draft QB Bryce Young
Panthers draft QB CJ Shroud
Texans [Browns] draft Edge Will Anderson
Commanders draft QB Will Levis
Eagles [Saints] draft DT Jalen Carter
Falcons draft OT Peter Skoronski
Bears draft WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
I don't like the idea of trading for a WR even in this free agency with a lack of options it's a very Ryan Pace move and part of the reason the Bears are where they are now. Smith-Njigba has taken a majority of his snaps in the slot but has played everywhere and in my opinion he has the highest floor.
Round 2: LG Nick Broeker [Ole Miss] 6'4 305lbs
Broeker is starting at left guard, which could be his best fit for the NFL as he's also played tackle. I can't see Bears keep Whitehair for another year at his current contract I'd rather see Borom, Braxton Jones, or even a rookie get a chance over him.
Round 3: LB Micah Baskerville [LSU] 6'0 223lbs
9/24/22: Baskerville is a fast, pursuit linebacker. He has nine tackles and an interception thus far in 2022.
7/8/22: In 2021, Baskerville collected 83 tackles, two sacks, an interception and three passes broken up. He was a decent linebacker next to Damone Clark, but Baskerville faces some limitations for the NFL. Baskerville recorded 55 tackles in 2020 while playing in a rotation with a number of other talented linebackers. He is a tough run defender who needs to show progress in pass coverage.
Round 4: TE
Brant Kuithe [Utah] 6'2 230lbs
9/10/22: Kuithe had an excellent start the season, notching nine receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown against Florida. The Gators had no answer for Kuithe, who displayed good route-running, quickness, dependable hands, and some yards-after-the-catch ability.
Kuithe's strong season ended with knee injury after four game. He finished his year with 19 catches for 206 yards and three touchdowns. Kuithe is undersized for the NFL, but he has some natural receiving ability. This injury probably pushes Kuithe to the third day of the 2023 NFL Draft rather than being a possible second-day pick.
6/24/22: Kuithe has been a steady receiving tight end for the Utes over the past four seasons. He put together his best year in 2021, catching 50 passes for 511 yards and six touchdowns. Kuithe is a functional receiving tight end, but he is an undersized blocker for the NFL.
Round 4: DT
Moro Ojomo [Texas] 6'3 280lbs
9/24/22: On the year, Ojomo has seven tackles and .5 sacks.
7/5/22: Ojomo is a tackle/end tweener with the height of a tackle and the weight of an end. For the NFL, he probably needs to gain weight to line up on the inside. In 2021, he recorded 25 tackles, but no sacks. He had 21 tackles and two sacks in 2020.
Round 5: WR Xavier Hutchinson [Iowa State] 6'3 200lbs
Hutchinson has been a productive wide receiver for the Cyclones across the past two seasons. He made 83 catches for 987 yards and five touchdowns in 2021 after recording 64 catches for 771 yards and four scores in 2020. Hutchinson has good size, but he will need to show more speed to rise.
Round 6: RB Eric Gray [Oklahoma] 5'9 206lbs
10/8/22: This season, Gray has averaged seven yards per carry for 460 yards and three touchdowns. He has 12 catches for 92 yards.
6/22/22: Gray could be a riser if he ends up being the lead back for the Sooners in 2022. He split carries during the past three seasons, but flashed some running ability in his opportunities. In Lincoln Riley's offense, Gray was a very good receiver, totaling 66 receptions over three seasons. He could be a backup receiving back candidate for the NFL.
Round 7: CB Eric Gray [Maryland] 6'0 185lbs
10/15/22: Still has 20 tackles so far this year.
6/30/22: Still broke into the starting lineup as a freshman in the COVID-19 shortened season, collecting 20 tackles and eight passes broken up. In 2021, Still recorded 55 tackles, two sacks and 10 passes broken up, but he didn't notch an interception.
Depth Chart
WR:
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Dante Pettis, Equanimeous St. Brown
WR: Darnell Mooney, Velus Jones Jr
TE:
Evan Engram, Cole Kmet, Brant Kuithe
LT:
Orlando Brown, Braxton Jones
LG: Braxton Jones,
Nick Broeker
C: Lucas Patrick, Sam Mustipher
RG: Teven Jenkins, Larry Borom
RT:
Jack Conklin, Larry Borom