Check out part 3 of our final Chicago Bears roundtable before training camp starts!
Last week, our guy Jacob Infante shared his Chicago Bears offseason superlatives on his Twitter page, and then he elaborated on those selections for us in this article. But we wanted to get in on the fun by doing our own version that we’re rolling out in this roundtable series. After checking out what we had to say, share yours in the comments section.
Here is what we’ve done so far.
Today’s topic is the most Slept-on move of the offseason, and in case you’re unaware of that term, it’s basically a move that isn’t getting the attention it deserves.
Bryan Orenchuk: Drew Dalman, Center. When was the last time the top free-agent offensive linemen chose Chicago? I can’t remember it ever happening personally, but not only did Dalman do just that, he also solidified a position of weakness for The Beloved in so doing. An anchor in the pivot for our young signal caller is paramount.
Ryan Droste: Signing Case Keenum. Caleb Williams was badly missing a veteran in his ear last year, especially given the lack of adequate offensive coaching around him. Most of the star QBs in the league have had a veteran on the team to mentor them. I don’t think the team will allow Keenum to get away after camp, so having him throughout the highs and lows of the season will be a great help for Caleb in what should be a breakout season for him.
Gary Baugher Jr.: Drew Dalman. I thought a lot about this one. But what tipped the scale for me is that with the addition of Dalman, that is giving Caleb a top end veteran presence at Center that can help him identify pressure packages, and help him call out line adjustments, to overall help Caleb stay clean and keep the chains moving.
Johnathan Wood: Signing Case Keenum. The Bears, at the very least, needed a veteran mentor for Caleb Williams, but Keenum is a legitimate backup who likely upgrades Tyson Bagent as well. This move should both help their franchise QB develop and give them better odds of treading water if Williams has to miss a few games this year.
Sam Householder: Drew Dalman. I feel like there was a ton of excitement pre-free agency for the Bears to sign him. The excitement was there when it looked like they would and then they ultimately did. And then we all kind of forgot about it because, well, he’s a center. Not super sexy. But as we’ve seen from the lackluster center play for the past several years, it makes a huge difference.
Josh Sunderbruch: I seem to be the only person who thinks that Dayo Odeyingbo is a perfectly fine addition to the defensive line, and that, partnered with a solid interior push, he will be a fine addition to Montez Sweat. I don’t expect eye-popping numbers, but I think he’s being underrated by some fans. I’m probably wrong.
Mongo Peanut: Olamide Zaccheaus. The Bears added an impressive WR3 early in Free Agency, and nobody noticed it because of Joe Thuney, Grady Jarrett, and Drew Dalman. Zaccheaus has eclipsed 500 yards in two of his last three seasons in two solid WR rooms in Washington and Philly. While I think Burden will be very good at some point, I expect Zaccheaus to be the #3 out of the gate.
TJ Starman: Making the move to draft the BPA in Luther Burden III despite having DJ Moore and Rome Odunze on the roster. Obviously, Burden’s injury absence from minicamp caused some concern, but provided he is healthy enough for training camp, having him as a young talent to develop for both the short-term and beyond is something that could be a real difference-maker for Caleb Williams and the Bears.
Donald Gooch: In all of the hullabaloo that followed the major OL signings and the draft, it’s been a bit lost that the Bears upgraded their special teams with a former Pro Bowl returner in Devin Duvernay. The Bears’ return game has been very meh the last few years.
Jeff Berckes: We don’t always talk about contract extensions, but I liked Poles rewarding his first pick, Kyler Gordon. He’s a versatile defender who didn’t break the bank. I’m extremely excited to see what he can do in a more attack-oriented defense.
Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.: I haven’t seen enough buzz about defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. He’s more aggressive and more creative than his predecessor, and considering the talent on the team, I could see them becoming a top ten unit.
What do you think is the slept-on move of the offseason?