Locked On Bears - Daily Podcast On The Chicago Bears

Criticism of the Chicago Bears running backs has gotten carried away. They're not great, but they're not the worst group in the NFL. D'Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson and Kyle Monangai can absolutely provide Ben Johnson enough to have a strong running game. - Subscribe to Locked On Bears on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXCnRo-iwMsS4iC1SobeGHA Follow @LockedOnBears on Twitter: https://twi...

All three Chicago Bears second-round picks are unsigned, a month before training camp starts. It sounds troublesome, but it will work itself out. We explore what the holdup is, how the process should play out, and why Bears fans don't need to worry about it becoming a problem. - Subscribe to Locked On Bears on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXCnRo-iwMsS4iC1SobeGHA Follow @LockedOnBears...

The Chicago Bears biggest, most surprising and riskiest moves of the offseason all revolve around the trenches. We look at who has gained and lost the most from Ryan Poles' decisions, and who might not be in the clear just yet. - Subscribe to Locked On Bears on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXCnRo-iwMsS4iC1SobeGHA Follow @LockedOnBears on Twitter: https://twitter.com/lockedonbears Like...

The Chicago Bears are counting on all of their edge rushers to step up to the next level in 2025. Odds are, not all of them will. It's a gamble for Dennis Allen's defense that needs Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo to make more high impact plays this season. A veteran free agent backup is still needed. - Subscribe to Locked On Bears on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXCnRo-iwMsS4iC1SobeG...

The Chicago Bears have been testing out the positional flexibility of Kyler Gordon, Gervon Dexter and Ruben Hyppolite to see where their future roles could be in Dennis Allen's defense. It could give Ryan Poles more options when other key players depart in the future. - Subscribe to Locked On Bears on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXCnRo-iwMsS4iC1SobeGHA Follow @LockedOnBears on Twitte...

Ben Johnson made it clear that Colston Loveland and Luther Burden are missing key developmental time with their injuries this offseason. That could slow down what they're able to do in their rookie seasons, making Cole Kmet and D.J. Moore that much more important for the Chicago Bears. - Subscribe to Locked On Bears on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXCnRo-iwMsS4iC1SobeGHA Follow @Locke...

The Chicago Bears have the best group of cornerbacks, and maybe the best secondary, in the NFC North now that the Green Bay Packers released Jaire Alexander. That bodes well for wide receivers like Rome Odunze, who is set up for a Year 2 leap. And free agent running back Nick Chubb is now no longer an option for Chicago. - Subscribe to Locked On Bears on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC...

Some unexpected names stood out to Ben Johnson as the notable performers at Chicago Bears mandatory minicamp. Jaquan Brisker also made his presence felt at practice as he returns from a serious concussion, and Tyrique Stevenson is ready to put last year's struggles behind him. - Subscribe to Locked On Bears on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXCnRo-iwMsS4iC1SobeGHA Follow @LockedOnBears...

The Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings have had parallel timelines in their team rebuilding process, hiring GMs and drafting QBs at the same time. Kevin O'Connell has clearly been ahead, but Ryan Poles is catching up with the addition of Ben Johnson as the Bears transition into win-now mode. - Subscribe to Locked On Bears on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXCnRo-iwMsS4iC1SobeGHA Follow...

D.J. Moore, Cole Kmet and D'Andre Swift all faced some pressure from the Chicago Bears' moves this offseason, but they're buying in to Ben Johnson at mandatory minicamp. It's going to be an adjustment for all three, but they will all maintain the same important roles they had under the previous regime. - Subscribe to Locked On Bears on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXCnRo-iwMsS4iC1Sobe...

As the Chicago Bears report to mandatory minicamp, some key players need to step up to keep their jobs or earn bigger roles this season. A few starting spots are up for grabs, and a few positions need to show that they aren't the weaknesses they might look like on paper. - Subscribe to Locked On Bears on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXCnRo-iwMsS4iC1SobeGHA Follow @LockedOnBears on Twi...

Chicago Bears offseason trade rumors are inevitable, but we can at least be smart about the ones that don't make sense. Tyreek Hill and Nick Bosa aren't realistic trade options, but one running back in particular makes a lot more sense to target. - Subscribe to Locked On Bears on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXCnRo-iwMsS4iC1SobeGHA Follow @LockedOnBears on Twitter: https://twitter.com...

Ben Johnson is the most important person for Caleb Williams' success, but the Chicago Bears' secret weapon for developing their young QB is Case Keenum. Hear the head coach explain the value of the veteran backup quarterback, and Keenum himself shares how he'll help Williams while competing with Tyson Bagent to be QB2. - Subscribe to Locked On Bears on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXC...

Caleb Williams finally cleared the air around the ESPN story on his pre-draft concerns about the Chicago Bears. Everyone is ready to move on. Ben Johnson wants to make sure he corrects some of Williams' body language from last season though, to prevent any lingering issues. - Subscribe to Locked On Bears on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXCnRo-iwMsS4iC1SobeGHA Follow @LockedOnBears on...

Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears emphasize taking the best player available in the NFL Draft and not reaching for needs. That wasn't the case this year. The team's documentary footage in the show "1920 Football Drive" revealed how the front office targeted specific players and positions after their first two picks. - Subscribe to Locked On Bears on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXCnRo-...

Chicago Bears fans are excited for big things from Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams in 2025, but the national expectations are a bit lower. That perspective can help calibrate what to watch for this season and what success looks like in year one under this coaching staff. - Subscribe to Locked On Bears on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXCnRo-iwMsS4iC1SobeGHA Follow @LockedOnBears on Twit...

Early in Chicago Bears OTAs, we're learning about new leadership roles, new player roles and a new starter in Dennis Allen's defense. Hear from Grady Jarrett, Kevin Byard and Tremaine Edmunds about what they're seeing in their first few practices under the new staff. - Subscribe to Locked On Bears on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXCnRo-iwMsS4iC1SobeGHA Follow @LockedOnBears on Twitter...

Ben Johnson's first test as Chicago Bears head coach is navigating the distraction of the Caleb Williams pre-draft storylines. He's acing it. He's also making a key change to his quarterback's footwork that could go a long way, and he made his thoughts clear on the tush push. - Subscribe to Locked On Bears on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXCnRo-iwMsS4iC1SobeGHA Follow @LockedOnBears o...

With the contract extension for Joe Thuney, the Chicago Bears are now locked into their core group of starters for the next two seasons. The team will live and die by what this current group can do, and Ryan Poles doesn't have much room to add more if any of his players don't pan out. - Subscribe to Locked On Bears on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXCnRo-iwMsS4iC1SobeGHA Follow @Locked...

The goal for Ben Johnson's first season as Chicago Bears head coach will be the playoffs, but the path there isn't always as easy at it looks on paper. It's going to take improvement from some key position groups, and the Bears' schedule has a few tough stretches that will make it a tough battle. - Subscribe to Locked On Bears on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXCnRo-iwMsS4iC1SobeGHA Fo...

The ESPN story about Caleb Williams and his dad Carl's thoughts about the Chicago Bears doesn't need to linger and be an ongoing distraction for the team. The team and the fanbase should be able to move on easily, but the national narrative could continue until the team does more winning. - Subscribe to Locked On Bears on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXCnRo-iwMsS4iC1SobeGHA Follow @Lo...

Seth Wickersham's report for ESPN revealed how lucky the Chicago Bears are to still have Caleb Williams despite all the dysfunction behind the scenes. Matt Eberflus and Shane Waldron were the biggest problems, but Ryan Poles deserves blame too for overseeing a disaster that could have been even worse. - Subscribe to Locked On Bears on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXCnRo-iwMsS4iC1SobeG...

The Chicago Bears' 2025 schedule has a few tricky stretches, but it's generally well-balanced for Ben Johnson's first season. The early bye week is tricky, and the NFL didn't space out the Green Bay Packers' matchups very well, but the Bears can make a real playoff push this year. - Subscribe to Locked On Bears on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXCnRo-iwMsS4iC1SobeGHA Follow @LockedOnBe...

The Chicago Bears never directly replaced starting linebacker Jack Sanborn this offseason. Ben Johnson hinted at one option, but a free agent still could fill the hole. We also can't overlook rookie fourth-round pick Ruben Hyppolite, who defensive coordinator Dennis Allen clearly wanted in the draft. - Subscribe to Locked On Bears on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXCnRo-iwMsS4iC1SobeGH...

The Trey Hendrickson situation with the Cincinnati Bengals continues to get messy, but the Chicago Bears don't need to get involved. Ryan Poles should try to improve the pass rush, but Hendrickson doesn't fit with where the Bears are in the team-building process. He has other options, though. - Subscribe to Locked On Bears on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXCnRo-iwMsS4iC1SobeGHA Follow...