Silvy: What the Bears should prioritize the rest of the offseason
There’s nothing like the annual NFL coaches photograph from the owners’ meetings. Who smiles? Who wore their best vacation shirts? Who sits next to whom?
My friend Barstool Big Cat has made it a tradition of analyzing the picture in what remains one of his most popular blogs.
In this year’s photo, Ben Johnson continues to look like “Coach Dexter” or, for those who don’t get the reference, a football psychopath brainstorming ways to kill his 31 opponents, especially Matt LaFleur, who sits just four seats down. Nothing to smile about. Last year is last year, as there’s Bears business to discuss. Stay out of the man’s way.
Print it in the Bears media guide: “Unfinished business.” The perfect way to sum up the 2026 Bears situation as the draft commences in just three short weeks. Here’s the priority list for the remainder of the offseason:
Improve the defense in the draft
Many of us were skeptical of the Bears’ free-agency plan, while others preached not to chase high prices and instead draft and develop.
The latter got their wish, but we can all agree that the defense is far from championship-ready. Coby Bryant and Devin Bush are good players that Ryan Poles added, but the Bears let 23 of their 33 takeaways walk in free agency in the form of Kevin Byard, Nahshon Wright, Jaquan Brisker, CJ Gardner-Johnson and Tremaine Edmunds.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not telling you it was wrong to let them leave; I’m simply pointing out that an already bottom-of-the-NFL defense let a lot of production go without adding a single difference-maker up front.
Voice displeasure with the NFL over compensatory draft pick compensation
The Bears were entitled to two third-round picks after Ian Cunningham was named the Falcons’ new GM. Instead, the league leaned on a loophole and excluded the Bears from their comp pick list.
Loopholes should not happen with important issues like the Rooney Rule. George McCaskey has played a major role in the NFL for diversity and inclusion. His team is the charter franchise of the NFL, and McCaskey’s voice should carry weight.
Where in the world will the Bears build?
Kevin Warren gave yet another non-update update on the team’s stadium. It’s been a long, strange trip without a final destination in sight. It’s a weird dynamic with the fans I hear from — many claim they are sick of the entire situation, yet it’s by far the question I get the most.
Indiana or Arlington Heights? My money is still on Arlington Heights, but the Bears have yet to see real action from the Illinois legislature, and that’s why Hammond is still on the table.
Find a true answer at left tackle in the draft
When Poles arrived in 2022, the Bears didn’t have a left tackle, and four years later, not much has changed. People love to talk about spending and the fear of kicking the can down the road with the salary cap, yet nobody has admitted the Bears continue to kick the can down the road on one of the premium positions in football.
Yes, Ozzy Trapilo got hurt, but it was not certain he was the true answer, and now his future is in doubt. Riley Reiff, Braxton Jones, Larry Borom, Ja’Tyre Carter, Kiran Amegadjie, Theo Benedet, Trapilo and Joe Thuney have all started at least one game at left tackle in the last four seasons. The game of musical chairs must end.
Improvement from within
As much as we talk about outside help, the surest way the Bears improve and continue to contend is if their own players ascend, with no better example than Caleb Williams. In the past several weeks Sean McVay, Tom Brady, Maxx Crosby, Kevin Byard and others have raved about the quarterback, and he’s only scratched the surface.
Rome Odunze will also provide a bump if he solves his case of the drops, Austin Booker looks the part on defense, and we hope Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon return to their usual great-player status.
• Marc Silverman shares his opinions on the Bears weekly for Shaw Local. Tune in and listen to the “Waddle & Silvy” show weekdays from 2 to 6 p.m. on ESPN 1000.