Chicago Bears basic supervisor Ryan Poles spent a lot of his end-of-season information convention discussing how he’ll make his upcoming choice in regards to the quarterback place.
But Poles has loads of different roster choices to make other than if he’ll keep on with Justin Fields or draft a quarterback.
Here’s a take a look at 5 gamers and positions Poles addressed final week.
1. Jaylon Johnson
Johnson, who accomplished his fourth season with the Bears, was named to the Associated Press All-Pro second staff Friday, the one Bears participant to obtain recognition. He additionally was named certainly one of two Bears Pro Bowlers, together with defensive finish Montez Sweat, earlier in January.
The honors come on the heels of a profession season by which Johnson had 4 interceptions — together with a pick-six — 10 passes defended, 36 tackles and a pressured fumble and allowed a league-best 33.3 passer ranking in 14 video games, in keeping with Pro Football Focus.
Johnson is ready to be a free agent this offseason until the Bears signal him to an extension or use the franchise or transition tag on him.
Poles tried to work out an extension with Johnson earlier than the midseason commerce deadline, however talks broke down and Johnson requested permission to hunt a commerce. The Bears didn’t commerce him, and Poles mentioned he hopes to renew contract talks quickly.
“We have really good communication,” Poles mentioned. “The big thing was just kind of take a break here after the season and then we’ll start talks again. I feel really good about that situation. Jaylon’s not going to go anywhere, and we’ll work through it to get something done.”
Johnson reiterated final month that he desires to remain in Chicago, however he additionally desires to be paid like one of many league’s prime cornerbacks, a trigger he helped along with his play in 2023.
“I definitely would say I’ve added some money to the value,” Johnson mentioned in December. “At the end of the day, it’s a situation that I feel like is somewhat out of my hands, but we’re going to see how it goes.”
2. Darnell Mooney
Mooney can be set to be a free agent, however the extensive receiver is on the opposite finish of the spectrum from Johnson after having a disappointing fourth season. In 15 video games, Mooney had a career-low 31 catches for 414 yards and a landing. He missed the ultimate two video games with a concussion.
That manufacturing comes simply two years — and one ankle harm — after Mooney had a 1,055-yard season.
Poles mentioned there have been a number of causes for Mooney’s manufacturing dip. He pointed to Mooney lacking offseason time as he recovered from his ankle harm. He pointed to the massive seasons from DJ Moore and Cole Kmet chopping into Mooney’s targets. Mooney was focused 61 instances in contrast with 140 in 2021.
And Poles didn’t state it, however the passing offense as an entire behind Fields and since-fired offensive coordinator Luke Getsy had some main issues.
“We’ll evaluate the whole year, and like I told a lot of the guys that are free agents, we’ll be in contact with them throughout the duration,” Poles mentioned. “There are totally different buckets. There are guys that may exit and check the market, see what’s on the market for them and circle again.
“Yeah, Mooney wishes he played a little bit better this year and things went better for him, made some more connections. But I know he’s going to bounce back and have a really good year.”
3. Braxton Jones/left deal with
Poles mentioned Jones “did a good job” in his second season beginning at left deal with. Jones, a 2022 fifth-round decide, missed six video games midseason with a neck harm, which slowed his progress a bit. But Poles mentioned he was pleased with the enhancements Jones made.
However, Poles additionally left open the likelihood that the Bears may go after a left deal with within the draft or free company as he continues to rebuild the road. Last offseason Poles invested the No. 10 decide in proper deal with Darnell Wright and signed guard Nate Davis. Center and left deal with are among the many positions Poles doubtless will study this offseason.
“(Jones) did a nice job of continuing to get better,” Poles mentioned. “He spent a lot of time with Olin (Kreutz) this offseason just working on his anchor, and I thought you saw improvements there. I do believe he’s a starting left tackle, but if it comes down to a situation to increase competition and that’s what’s best for us, then we’ll do that.”
4. Eddie Jackson
Jackson, 30, has seen plenty of turnover because the longest-tenured Bears defensive participant. So the 2017 fourth-round decide is aware of there’s a chance the staff might transfer on this offseason at security after he had one interception, 5 passes defended and 37 tackles in 12 video games in 2023.
The Bears might save between $12.6 million and 14.2 million in the event that they reduce Jackson, in keeping with overthecap.com.
“I hope I’m here next year, but God always has a plan,” Jackson mentioned final month. “So I feel like I’ll always land on my feet. I hope it’s here. I know how it works in the business. I wish I could be here my whole entire career, but we know how this thing works. So you have to live in the moment.”
Poles famous how a foot harm threw off Jackson’s season a bit. He has missed 10 video games during the last two years due to harm. But Poles additionally mentioned Jackson’s affect on second-year security Jaquan Brisker was notable.
“The communication on the back end,” Poles mentioned. “When Eddie was in you could tell Brisker felt really, really comfortable. That whole group, he really impacts the communication. You can really see that.”
5. Three-technique defensive deal with
Justin Jones is ready to turn out to be a free agent after two seasons with the Bears. So the Bears should resolve whether or not to convey again Jones or decide up one other participant to boost a younger defensive deal with group that features second-round decide Gervon Dexter and third-round decide Zacch Pickens.
“You can never have enough pass rushers and never enough corners, so we’re going to just keep bringing them in,” coach Matt Eberflus mentioned. “We love the players currently on our roster. They’ve done a really good job. The D-line really played well this year. We’re always looking to enhance that.”
Poles mentioned Dexter had a standard rookie season when it comes to beginning quietly whereas discovering his method earlier than approaching stronger late, thanks partly to the assistance of veterans Jones, Andrew Billings and DeMarcus Walker.
“As the season went along, you saw him get better and better,” Poles mentioned. “He began to have an effect on the quarterback extra. He began to have an effect on the run extra, so I actually like his development course of.
“And I’m really excited for this whole team but for those young guys to take the next step next year. They’re going to put the work in this summer and come back even better than this year.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com