PALM BEACH, Fla. – While Ben Johnson shared his thoughts about quarterback Caleb Williams, the new Bears coach also discussed several other topics Tuesday at the NFL owners meetings. Here are eight things we learned:
(1) While not sure yet exactly how Cole Kmet will be utilized in the offense, Johnson plans on the sixth-year tight end playing a prominent role.
"I can't answer that question yet because I haven't been on the field with him, so we'll see what he can do," Johnson said. "I know that he can still make improvement as a run blocker. We've already had those conversations of what that could look like. But as a pass catcher, we're going to put him in a place where he can succeed."
Since being selected by the Bears in the second round of the 2020 draft out of Notre Dame, Kmet has not missed a game and ranks second in franchise history among tight ends with 258 catches, third with 19 touchdowns and fourth with 2,592 yards.
"He's done some things where, call it branch routes, out-breakers by No. 3 in the formation that have been really impressive," Johnson said. "But we might try to move him around to different spots: all the way outside the numbers to attached and everywhere in between.
"I'm excited about working with him. When he was coming out [of college], I remember saying to the team I was with, 'Listen, this guy's like a boy scout. He's a guy that you'd want your daughter to marry. He's that type of guy.' I know he's going to play a critical role in what we try to do this year."
(2) Johnson is excited that the Bears have four of the top 72 picks in the draft.
They're set to choose 10th in the first round, 39th and 41st in the second and 72nd in the third. The No. 39 selection is the final part of a blockbuster trade in which they sent the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft to the Panthers in exchange for receiver DJ Moore and four choices that resulted in the selections of right tackle Darnell Wright and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson in 2023 and Williams and punter Tory Taylor in 2024.
"It's a great draft to have those Day 2 picks: 39, 41, 72," Johnson said. "Those are great value picks this year. You're going to be able to find some really good players that can be contributors, maybe not Day 1, but at some point over the course of the season. We'll see. We have some depth concerns throughout the roster that we're looking to fill, but we feel really good about how the roster's come together through free agency."
(3) Johnson is working to finalize the playbook and lauded offensive coordinator Declan Doyle for helping throughout the process.
"Our first step was to get on the same page terminology-wise, and so we went over a lot of the things that we had as a foundation there in Detroit," Johnson said. "We went over a lot of film. Declan's been leading that charge. He's done a great job. I haven't been able to be present for every little thing, but I know they've been able to get through all the Detroit stuff. And I'm looking forward to getting back into the building here [at the] end of the week, and going into the next week when the players get in even, to start talking about how we can evolve the scheme and best fit our players."
(4) Physicality and relentless pursuit are two of the main traits that defensive coordinator Dennis Allen wants in his players.
"He is very passionate about what his side of the ball is going to be about," Johnson said. "He has been doing this for a long time at a high level. It's been really fun to be able to sit in those meetings with him because he knows exactly what he wants from each position. He is very detailed. He is very defined. I am very encouraged, just the little snapshot that I've had with him, with the direction that side of the ball can go."
Allen joins the Bears after a head-coaching stint with the Raiders (2012-2014) followed by 10 years with the Saints as senior defensive assistant (2015), defensive coordinator (2015-21) and head coach (2022-24).
"On a personal level, we've had some great conversations with his head-coaching experience as well," Johnson said. "That's really a great appeal for him being part of this process. He is going to help me navigate some situations where just a little bit more input could be helpful."
(5) Left tackle Braxton Jones continues to heal from ankle surgery and is expected to be limited at the outset of training camp.
"He's right on track," Johnson said. "Will that mean he's limited in training camp? I would say probably at this point, but I think the progress is right where it needs to be right now."
Johnson feels that Jones can "absolutely" play left tackle in the Bears offense.
"The No. 1 thing that tackles need to do is pass protect," Johnson said. "I think he has the feet to get that done. We're going to challenge him to maybe gain a little more weight so that he can anchor a little bit better in pass pro. But everything I've seen so far has shown a phenomenal athlete out there on the edge that we feel like we can work with.
(6) Johnson believes that the running back position is deep and diverse in the draft.
"There's a lot of flavors to be had here," he said. "Value [on] Day 1, Day 2, all the way through Day 3, and I think there's going to be a lot of good undrafted prospects as well this year, particularly at that position.
"I'll be curious to hear what [running backs coach] Eric Bieniemy has to say. I've seen him in the office a few times now and he'll be like, 'Man, I really like this guy. I really like that guy.' I know he's passionate about a few of these guys this year."
(7) Johnson was elated to add Bieniemy to his staff.
Bieniemy is a highly regarded coach who boasts 25 years of NFL experience, nine as a player and 16 as an offensive assistant. He won two Super Bowls during 10 seasons with the Chiefs as running backs coach (2013-17) and offensive coordinator (2018-22).
"I've known of coach Bieniemy for a long time," Johnson said. "He is a big name in this league. He has done this at a high level. He has won a lot of games. He has won Super Bowls. That's always an appealing thing."
Johnson said that Poles and Ted Crews, Bears special advisor to President/CEO Kevin Warren and chief administrative officer, both worked with Bieniemy in Kansas City and helped recruit him to Chicago.
Bieniemy is known for a no-nonsense approach.
"He's going to coach the [heck] out of these running backs now," Johnson said. "That's what he does well. Everybody who texted me after we hired him – I had probably a half dozen people who have worked with him in the past – they said: 'You just hired the best running backs coach in the NFL.'"
(8) One of the running backs that Bienemy will be coaching, veteran D'Andre Swift, spent his first three NFL seasons with the Lions when Johnson was Detroit's tight ends coach (2020-21), passing game coordinator (2021) and offensive coordinator (2022).
"I feel really good about having worked with him in the past," Johnson said. "He had a really good season the year I called [plays]. We're going to be defined with what we're looking for in terms of tracks. We're going to hold him accountable to that. I think he's got good vision. We have to keep him on track there."
In his first season with the Bears last year, Swift compiled a career-high 1,345 yards from scrimmage, rushing for 959 yards and six touchdowns on 253 carries and catching 42 passes for 386 yards.
