Following the roster’s reduction to 53 players, Ryan Poles addressed the press. Poles discloses how he plans to assess the team’s performance this season.
The Bears recently tried to trade veteran edge rusher Matthew Judon to the Patriots for their 2025 third-round pick.
Ultimately, Judon was sent to Atlanta when the Patriots agreed to take the Falcons’ third-round pick in 2025. The Patriots might have believed that the Falcons’ selection offered them a better chance to advance in the draft. However, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports that Judon seems to have chosen to play for the Falcons rather than the Bears.
Breer recently stated, “He’s looking at his future, and he’s also turning 32.” “His desire to visit Chicago was strong. However, given their cash-and-cap position coming forward and all the promises they’d already made for 2025, it appeared from early contract negotiations with the Bears that this would be a one-year rental arrangement. Raheem Morris, the Falcons coach, spoke with Judon over the phone at that time and did a great job pitching him on the team, the scheme, and his strategy for the star rusher.
In summary, Judon may have a lengthy future in Atlanta. Even though that one year may have been exceptional, it was more difficult to observe that in Chicago.”
If the Bears had signed Judon, they would have had to make a lot of cap decisions. According to reports, he may play for the remainder of the current contract this season, which is expected to bring in $6.5 million. However, he will soon require an extension, and he is expected to look for a new deal that pays between $15 and $18 million per year.
With Rome Odunze and Caleb Williams on cheap rookie contracts, the Bears have spending power. However, they have also made significant investments in contracts with Cole Kmet, DJ Moore, Jaylon Johnson, and Tremaine Edmunds. In addition, Keenan Allen is in the final year of his contract, and the Bears may be willing to pay a high price to keep him around.
The Bears would have just $16 million in salary cap room for 2025 before their draft picks are signed if Allen’s contract is in the $22 million level. They would have slightly more than $2 million in cap space if they were to give Judon a payment in the range of $15 million.
Given his age, Judon is probably pursuing the final long-term contract of his career. Furthermore, the Bears were unable to provide it to him. The third episode of “Hard Knocks” disclosed that the Bears desired Judon to sign a contract extension before to making a trade, so securing his stay in Chicago.
I’m not sure what the contract number was, but Judon wasn’t exactly thrilled with it. He hasn’t signed a contract with the Falcons as of yet. However, the Bears acquired Darrell Taylor in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round pick, so it was probably for the best.
The 27-year-old Taylor is a better fit for the Bears’ competitive timeframe. He has only just begun his NFL career, having spent three years in the league. The Bears think they can make the most of his potential.
“Those guys always make good defensive ends in our system,” Eberflus remarked about athletes who could play outside linebacker but were more of an even front end. “Perhaps that’s because, as I previously stated, we’re not expecting him to play primarily inside or to kick him inside and play inside the tight end. Those guys will do well in that system since we play wide most of the time.”
