9 Things We Learned About the Chicago Bears at Owners Meetings

The NFL Annual League Meeting took place in Arizona this week. Here's nine things we learned from the Chicago Bears' brass.

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The NFL Annual League Meeting took place this week and the Chicago Bears had several representatives in attendance.

The list of Bears who were there in Arizona included head coach Ben Johnson, general manager Ryan Poles, owner George McCaskey and president Kevin Warren.

While the Bears brass were there, reporters got a chance to talk to them and we got plenty of great nuggets on everything from the 2026 NFL Draft, to the new stadium, and much more.

Here's what we learned.

Bears' comp pick fight continues

Atlanta Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Despite the list of 2026 compensatory picks already being made official, the Bears are still making their case to the NFL that they should have gotten a pair for former assistant general manager Ian Cunningham being hired as general manager of the Atlanta Falcons as part of The Rooney Rule.

"The Bears are still trying to persuade the NFL to give them compensatory picks after the [Falcons] hired Ian Cunningham," Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times reported. "They expect an answer soon."

"I don't want to speculate on that," Bears owner George McCaskey told reporters when asked when he expected a decision. "I mean, I think we made a pretty compelling case and we'll just have to see what the decision is."

At this point, it seems unlikely the NFL is going to change its mind, especially with the draft rapidly approaching on April 23.

Luther Burden hype train loading

Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III. | David Banks-Imagn Images

Johnson heaped praise on the second-year wide receiver after a strong finish to his rookie campaign and is looking to get Burden more looks in 2026.

"He's exactly what we thought we were getting out of the draft last year," Johnson said. "This guy is a dynamic playmaker. He's got some of the best run-after-the-catch in the game right now. I really believe that. We've got to continue to get the ball in his hands as often as we possibly can.

"What I've grown to love about him is this guy loves football. He's been in all offseason. He's been lifting weights with our strength staff. He's really, really excited to get a full offseason going and look to develop a bigger route tree."

Burden is certainly going to have plenty of opportunities now that he's moving into the WR2 role following the DJ Moore trade.

Ben Johnson high on two free-agent signings

Former New England Patriots center Garrett Bradbury. | Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

In the wake of Drew Dalman's unexpected retirement, the Bears acquired Garrett Bradbury, who the team's evaluators think will fit "like a glove" in Chicago's offense.

"We went through a whole process," Johnson said. "[general manager] Ryan [Poles[ and his crew and then [offensive line coach] Dan Roushar and [assistant offensive line coach] Kyle DeVan had a heavy say in it as well in terms of evaluating what the replacements were going to look like. We came to a consensus that Garrett was going to fit us like a glove."

Johnson also thinks new safety Coby Bryant is going to be a real tone-setter for Chicago's defense.

"It's something that [defensive coordinator Dennis Allen] brought up as we're going over self-scout over the last month and a half was the best defenses usually have two or three trained killers," Johnson said. "You usually don't have 11 of them, OK, but you've got two or three that are tone-setters that can really elevate the play of everyone around him. When we watched the tape, we felt like that jumped off when Coby was on the field. He's a guy that comes out, whether he's playing quarters, playing the post, playing down in the box, he's coming down, and if he sees somebody, he's looking to light them up."

"My little exposure with him when he came in was, 'Holy cow, this guy has got the 'it' factor to him,'" Johnson added. "He's got some dynamic traits in terms of his personality that I think are going to rub off on our guys—and not to mention the way he plays the game is what we want our defense to look like as well."

Some hype for Braxton Jones

Chicago Bears offensive tackle Braxton Jones. | David Banks-Imagn Images

With Ozzy Trapilo on the shelf for the foreseeable future because of a torn Achilles, Braxton Jones stands as the favorite to start at left tackle.

Johnson noted that Jones looks to be in great shape and they are pleased with where he's at thus far.

"I'm excited about where he's at right now. He came in when he signed the contract and he looked like a brand-new man as far as I'm concerned," Johnson said. This guy was beefed up. He was probably 310 pounds and he looked yoked up. He's very determined to get his career trajectory back to where it was before."

While Jones is the favorite at left tackle, he's still going to have to compete with guys like Jedrick Wills and Theo Benedet, but we like his chances in that battle.

When it comes to Trapilo, there was nothing new to report from Johnson, who called the left tackle's issue a "pretty serious injury."

Ben Johnson lobbied heavily for Kalif Raymond

Former Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond. | Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

The signing of Kalif Raymond gave the Bears a much-needed veteran wide receiver in what is otherwise a young room.

Johnson revealed that he, along with fellow former Detroit Lions coaches J.T. Barrett and Antwaan Randle El, "stood on the table" for the Bears to bring Raymond in.

"Anytime you have a touchpoint with a player, whether it's through free agency or the draft, it helps [that] you know what you're going to get," Johnson said. "Any time one of our coaches or personnel guys has a chance to be with another player, you feel pretty good. Absolutely, I stood on the table for Kalif."

"He's one of those guys that has flown under the radar," Johnson added. "He's had to earn every little thing that he's gotten, so his story really resonates with a lot of guys in that locker room. I'm excited to see what he'll bring to the table for us. He's going to get what he earns as well. It's no different for him. I have high expectations for him because I've been with him before and I know what he's capable of, but he's got to come into training camp and prove that again and again. I'm excited about that addition."

Raymond figures to serve as the Bears' No. 3 wideout in 2026, but he's also an elite returner who will bolster Chicago's special teams.

Stadium update

Chicago Bears Chairman George McCaskey. | David Banks-Imagn Images

It remains to be seen if a deal can be made to keep the Bears in Chicago at the Arlington Heights location, or if the team will ultimately move to Indiana.

Where the Bears land, they believe they'll have a good spot.

They are also are hoping for some clarity on the situation either late in the Spring or early in the Summer.

"The target is to make sure we have a decision made by springtime, late springtime, early summer," Bears president Kevin Warren told reporters. "Both of the sites are excellent, excellent sites."

McCaskey also chimed in, saying he doesn't think it'll be a big deal for Bears fans to cross state lines to watch their team play, with McCaskey citing the New York Jets and Giants as examples.

"I don't think in the end it's going to matter to people," the Bears owner said. "Back in 1976, the New York Football Giants went across the state line to New Jersey and they’ve been there ever since," McCaskey said at the owners meetings. "The Jets joined shortly thereafter and then 35 years later both teams had an opportunity to re-evaluate their situations and recommitted to New Jersey. And somehow the republic has survived.

“When the Bears moved from Wrigley Field to Soldier Field, it required an adjustment. When we went to Champaign it required an adjustment (2022, preseason 2023). And whether we go into Arlington Park or Hammond there is going to be an adjustment period. People are going to have to be allowd some time to get usd to it.I think Bears fans are up to it.”

Bears evaluating Caleb Williams for extension

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams. | Matt Marton-Imagn Images

As Williams prepares to enter his third season in the NFL, the Bears have to start thinking about a new deal.

Poles says he's hoping Williams gives Chicago the "green light" to get something done with a strong season in 2026.

‘‘It’s good to almost feel like you’ve got it,’’ Poles said, per Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times. ‘‘If you go with a traffic light, it went red as a rookie to yellow. You can creep forward a little bit and start having some of these conversations to anticipate it. But we need him to give us a green light.

‘‘I think we’ll find out this year about his progress.," Poles added before saying he's looking for more consistency out of his quarterback.

When it comes to where the Bears want to see Williams improve, three things Johnson pointed to were his decision-making when it comes to when to stay or leave the pocket, and he wants to see Williams get better with throwing accuracy with his on-the-run passes.

Williams will first be extension eligible after the 2026 campaign, but he also has two more years left on his rookie deal in 2027 and 2028 (with the fifth-year option), so Chicago still has time.

That said, the longer they wait, the more expensive Williams could become if other signal-callers reset the market in that span.

Ryan Poles doubles down on draft strategy

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Poles told reporters that nothing has changed with his typical draft strategy, which is to take the best player available instead of forcing a pick because the Bears have a specific need.

"You look at the draft, when I've been here, we've taken the right mentality and taken the best available... and I think that's paid off for us," Poles explained.

"We got an All-Pro tackle [Darnell Wright] and Colston [Loveland's] going to be All-Pro tight end," Poles added. "So, we've done some really good things there. It just hasn't lined up to be defensive line... I think the biggest mistake you can make is forcing something just because that's what you need."

Ben Johnson's points of emphasis with pass-catchers

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Johnson detailed some very specific points of emphasis for the Bears in 2026, with one of the most notable being the team making sure it doesn't get complacent after a successful campaign in 2025.

"It's been a long offseason in terms of you go downtown or you go somewhere, and everyone's patting you on the back and telling you what a great, great job you did," Johnson said. "You don't want to hear it. You don't want to hear it anymore."

"It was great for the first week but now our sights are turned. And we got a monumental task at hand, because this division only got better so far this offseason, and we still have the draft to come," Johnson added.

Johnson also expressed frustration with his coaching staff, who he says didn't do a good enough job coaching wide receivers to get open.

And, speaking of the team's pass-catchers, Johnson wants to see a major improvement in the drops department, where the Bears totaled the fifth-most in the NFL in 2026.