Chicago Bears Notes: A Big Difference Between 2024 NFL and NBA Draft (2024)

Back in April, the Chicago Bears used their third-round pick on Hinsdale product Kiran Amegadjie. Last night, the Chicago Bulls used their first-round pick on HInsdale product Matas Buzelis —whose highlights you can watch here.

We have 73 days until the Chicago Bears usher in a new era of football with their regular-season opener against the Tennessee Titans. But the waiting game isn’t stopping Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons from getting a head start on the trash talking. Football is just that much better when there is clever, good-natured smack-talking between the teams. I’m looking forward to a Bears rebuttal for kicks and giggles.

If you thought NFL money was wild, this tweet puts things in a different perspective:

Top pick in NBA Draft, Zaccharie Risacher, will make $57M over four years.
Top pick in NFL Draft, Caleb Williams, will make $38M over four years.— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) June 27, 2024

For more basketball goodness, you should be keeping up with our pals at BN Bulls here, following on Twitter and Facebook, and on Eli’s account. There is lots of good stuff, even if the team does so much to frustrate us as fans to no end.

Because you care: Caleb Williams has yet to sign his rookie deal (as of this post). Same for Rome Odunze. Moving on.

I admire how Jaylon Johnson continues to work on his craft:

year 5 on the way 🏁 pic.twitter.com/8aB8OQNsfp
See Also
Best- and Worst-Case Scenarios for NFL's Biggest Boom-or-Bust Teams in 2024 Every Team's Most Important Contract Extension Ahead of 2024 NFL Season 2024 All-Rookie Team: Projecting 11 instant-impact newcomers on offense Chicago Bears Notes: Remembering Jimbo Covert's Awesome 1980s Run
— Jaylon Johnson (@NBAxJay1) June 26, 2024

Jaylon Johnson arrived in 2020 and took inspiration from every cornerback taken before him in his draft class. And here we are, five years later, and Johnson still carries himself with that same energy. That guy plays every down like he has something to prove. It is a truly admirable trait that not every player has within them, so I try to make sure that I appreciate it when I see someone on the Bears who has it.

Raise your hand if you’re ready for a weird and random fact. OK, you can put your hands down. Ryan Pace first-round picks who were given second contracts with the team: 0. Ryan Pace second-round draft picks who received second contracts with the Bears: 4 (DT Eddie Goldman, OL Cody Whitehair, TE Cole Kmet, CB Jaylon Johnson). The Bears could add to that list if the team decides to extend Teven Jenkins before he reaches free agency in March 2024.

I’ve been saying it for months, so what is the harm in banging this drum again?

The best QB situations around the league 📊
📝 via @PFF_Sam https://t.co/KN2QfeNwDQ pic.twitter.com/zlreWZvnxq
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) June 24, 2024

The Bears did well in positioning themselves to create a QB-friendly environment this offseason. But executing the plan by adding impact talent that ranges from players with proven pedigrees to those with tremendous upside was top notch and shouldn’t be overlooked. To be clear, there are still games to be played. What happens on the field will ultimately determine of this plan was successful. But the plan, in isolation, is a good one.

If it’s written by Dan Pompei and it is about an old-school Chicago Bears player, then I’m going to read it. And you should, too. The headline “Football injuries enarly destroyed Jim McMahon. Somehow, he keeps coming back” is just the tip of the iceberg. (The Athlet i c)

Chicago Bears Notes: A Big Difference Between 2024 NFL and NBA Draft (3)

I’ve got so much respect for the tape-grinders throughout the football content-creation space. But you already knew that. However, this tweet is going to live in my mind rent free:

Mel Kiper analyzing 7th round picks – “Here’s a D3 OL at Pick 242 and he’s a grinder, can do it all but has short arms, overall really sneaky pick”
Stephen A Smith analyzing 1st round picks – “I’ve never heard of this man in my life”— Justin (@Justin_14P) June 27, 2024

With all due respect to Stephen A. Smith, who is one of the premier entertainers in the sports media circle, the NBA Draft was a tough watch with him spearheading coverage. Maybe ESPN is stretching him thin. But it is tough for me to take his prospect analysis seriously when it comes off to the viewer as if he doesn’t care in the first place. If your top dawg doesn’t care, then why should I?

When in doubt, blame the refs:

Final score at the Commonwealth Stadium where Japan 🇯🇵is the first qualified team for the U20 World Championships final!
📍Final Score
🏈 USA 🇺🇸 20 – 41 🇯🇵 Japan
Highlights and replay will be available soon on https://t.co/iSWBglTauO
The game report is to come. pic.twitter.com/wDmxjSTONU— Int’l Fed of American Football (@IFAFMedia) June 26, 2024

Chicago Bears Notes: A Big Difference Between 2024 NFL and NBA Draft (2024)

References