Chicago Bears needed to ‘correct previous mistakes’ as six-year stat proves $200m free agency spree worthwhile
Kyle Brandt is tired of the noise. The NFL Network media star doesn’t want to hear anyone complain about the Chicago Bears improving its roster in free agency. Brandt (right) has risen to sports media fame over the course of the last decade and has proven to be a respectable and knowledgable voice within the spaceGetty After all, that’s the whole point of free agency, right? General manager Ryan Poles has spent big on transforming the roster, specifically on both lines of scrimmage, in hopes of helping franchise quarterback Caleb Williams take a big second-year leap. Poles signed former Atlanta Falcons center Drew Dalman to a three-year, $42 million contract, with $28 million of it guaranteed. He acquired All-Pro guard Joe Thuney from the Kansas City Chiefs for a 2026 fourth-round pick and gave the Los Angeles Rams a 2025 sixth-round pick for Jonah Jackson. On top of the offensive additions, Poles signed defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett to massive deals. Odeyingbo received a three-year, $48 million contract, with $32 million guaranteed Jarrett signed a three-year, $43.5 million contract with $28.5 million guaranteed. Those moves were enough for Brandt to crown the Windy City franchise, winners of free agency. “The Chicago Bears won free agency,” Brandt said on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football. “The Chicago Bears are winning the offseason. General manager Ryan Poles has transformed the roster up front in a big way Brandt is a known Bears fan, who has suffered with his team throughout the years, but wants people to respect what they have done in the offseason so farGetty “You know why I think they did? Because I think they are making corrections from the Matt Eberflus era. “What they did last year was, they went to a restaurant and they had dessert before they had their main course. You’re not supposed to sit down and order the tiramisu before you have the chicken parm. “They went last year and it’s like, oh great, wide receivers and tight ends and that wide receiver and that wide receiver. And it was just all sugar. “And you’re like, ‘Well, hold on, the offensive line, the defensive line is kind of lacking here.’ “So what do they do? Ben Johnson shows up and five seconds later, they’re taking every single offensive lineman and defensive lineman… “Last year, I think they got a little caught up in like, ‘Let’s just light it up with Caleb.’ “This administration is a little bit more informed. “And I also just generally, I hate the response this year when any enthusiasm or positivity for any transaction by a struggling team is met with ‘offseason champs, offseason champs, raise the banner.’ “First of all, the Bears’ fan base isn’t saying we’re gonna win the Super Bowl next year. I don’t even see them saying we’re gonna win the North next year. They’re saying we’re getting better. “Let them have that. I will also let you know that this whole offseason champion thing, here are some facts. “Over the last six years, the teams that have spent the most in free agency, the number one spender, all of them have increased their win total by at least three the following year. One of them increased it by five and one of them increased it by six. “That is just the facts right there. “So I know that’s your favorite joke and it’s your funny little retort to kick teams while they’re down or actually trying to get better. “How dare they? “But you’re wrong and the facts say you’re wrong.” Brandt brought the facts, and he wants people to hear it. He knows that the Bears have to prove it on the field and actually win games. But he also knows what the Bears have done so far in free agency, has set them up for the success they hope to have on the field And that’s okay to get excited about. Stay up to date with the latest from across the NFL via our talkSPORT Facebook page, and subscribe to our Endzone YouTube channel for news, view and exclusive interviews as we build up to the NFL Draft in April
Kyle Brandt is tired of the noise.
The NFL Network media star doesn’t want to hear anyone complain about the Chicago Bears improving its roster in free agency.
After all, that’s the whole point of free agency, right?
General manager Ryan Poles has spent big on transforming the roster, specifically on both lines of scrimmage, in hopes of helping franchise quarterback Caleb Williams take a big second-year leap.
Poles signed former Atlanta Falcons center Drew Dalman to a three-year, $42 million contract, with $28 million of it guaranteed.
He acquired All-Pro guard Joe Thuney from the Kansas City Chiefs for a 2026 fourth-round pick and gave the Los Angeles Rams a 2025 sixth-round pick for Jonah Jackson.
On top of the offensive additions, Poles signed defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett to massive deals.
Odeyingbo received a three-year, $48 million contract, with $32 million guaranteed
Jarrett signed a three-year, $43.5 million contract with $28.5 million guaranteed.
Those moves were enough for Brandt to crown the Windy City franchise, winners of free agency.
“The Chicago Bears won free agency,” Brandt said on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football.
“The Chicago Bears are winning the offseason.
“You know why I think they did? Because I think they are making corrections from the Matt Eberflus era.
“What they did last year was, they went to a restaurant and they had dessert before they had their main course. You’re not supposed to sit down and order the tiramisu before you have the chicken parm.
“They went last year and it’s like, oh great, wide receivers and tight ends and that wide receiver and that wide receiver. And it was just all sugar.
“And you’re like, ‘Well, hold on, the offensive line, the defensive line is kind of lacking here.’
“So what do they do? Ben Johnson shows up and five seconds later, they’re taking every single offensive lineman and defensive lineman…
“Last year, I think they got a little caught up in like, ‘Let’s just light it up with Caleb.’
“This administration is a little bit more informed.
“And I also just generally, I hate the response this year when any enthusiasm or positivity for any transaction by a struggling team is met with ‘offseason champs, offseason champs, raise the banner.’
“First of all, the Bears’ fan base isn’t saying we’re gonna win the Super Bowl next year. I don’t even see them saying we’re gonna win the North next year. They’re saying we’re getting better.
“Let them have that. I will also let you know that this whole offseason champion thing, here are some facts.
“Over the last six years, the teams that have spent the most in free agency, the number one spender, all of them have increased their win total by at least three the following year. One of them increased it by five and one of them increased it by six.
“That is just the facts right there.
“So I know that’s your favorite joke and it’s your funny little retort to kick teams while they’re down or actually trying to get better.
“How dare they?
“But you’re wrong and the facts say you’re wrong.”
Brandt brought the facts, and he wants people to hear it.
He knows that the Bears have to prove it on the field and actually win games.
But he also knows what the Bears have done so far in free agency, has set them up for the success they hope to have on the field
And that’s okay to get excited about.
Stay up to date with the latest from across the NFL via our talkSPORT Facebook page, and subscribe to our Endzone YouTube channel for news, view and exclusive interviews as we build up to the NFL Draft in April
