Should the Chicago Bears expect value in return for DJ Moore or is this a salary dump?

Summary

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Forward Progress - A Chicago Bears Podcast

Episode: Should the Chicago Bears expect value in return for DJ Moore or is this a salary dump?

Date: February 26, 2026
Hosts: Dan Bernstein & Matt Abbatacola

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Episode Overview

This episode dives into the Chicago Bears' offseason priorities, with particular focus on the ongoing questions around wide receiver DJ Moore – will the Bears get legitimate trade value, or is this headed for a straight salary dump? Dan and Matt break down the logic around NFL draft strategy (especially regarding the safety position), assess the true state of the Bears' secondary, touch on potential free agents and draft targets, and close out with a sharp look at NFL replay controversies and the show's six-month milestone.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Bears Offseason Priorities & Defensive Review

(03:02 - 12:58)

• Matt recaps troubling Bears defensive stats from 2025 – 22nd in passing yards allowed, 27th in rushing yards allowed, bottom 7 in sacks, but league leaders in interceptions, and surprisingly top 10 in pressures.
• The complexity behind defensive statistics:
  "Two of the teams that were at elite level of overall pressures were Arizona and Tennessee, and we saw what their seasons were. It's interesting." (09:17 – Matt)
• Dan questions: Are those pressures really a sign of a good defense, or just masking deeper issues?
  “It sounds like it might be a bad statistic, so. And I'd like to know why.” (10:02 – Dan)
• The importance of understanding context in defensive stats—pressures and sacks don’t always equate to a dominant defense if other units struggle.

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2. Don’t Draft a Safety at 25

(10:43 - 16:37)

• Matt's strong case: The Bears’ first pick in the draft should NOT be a safety, despite multiple mock drafts projecting Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil Warren at pick 25.
• Quote: "Your safeties weren’t the issue though, Dan." (11:48 – Matt)
• Dan expands: Even with an All-Pro in Kevin Byard and emerging talent in Jaquan Brisker, the Bears couldn’t plug the defensive holes, underlining that safety’s impact (in isolation) is limited.
• “I just think if you’re taking a safety in the top 10 like that ... I think it’s a waste of value.” (14:42 – Matt)

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3. True Secondary Issues: Jalen Johnson & Kyler Gordon

(16:01 - 18:06)

• Both hosts agree the real headaches are the Bears’ injured, highly paid corners — not the safety position.
• Matt: “Your biggest questions are Jalen Johnson and Kyler Gordon ... you’re locked in to those guys and they did not perform because of injury ... Kyler Gordon has not played a full season yet, and especially Johnson.” (16:01 – Matt)
• Dan emphasizes the crucial nature of Johnson’s health and the risk associated with betting on a return to form.
• The discussion acknowledges the upcoming need to lean on medical staff assurances and contingency planning.

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4. Free Agency & Cap Realities at Safety

(18:06 - 19:38)

• With both Bayard and Brisker out of contract, Dan and Matt weigh the probability of returning one or both, or plugging in free agent Cam Curl.
• "It sounds like they want to resign Bayard ... to take the bet that he still has something left at 33.” (18:19 – Dan)
• The hosts agree safety has to be addressed but at a cost-conscious level, prioritizing value free agents over splash signings or costly draft assets.

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5. Bears Draft Priorities (Left Tackle, Secondary, D-Line, LB)

(19:38 - 22:15)

• Matt’s four-step offseason priority list:
  1. Left Tackle – If a top talent falls to 25, this should be the pick (“If there’s a left tackle available in the draft at 25, that’s where I’m going ... [Kaden] Proctor ... or Georgia’s Monroe Freeling.”)
  2. Secondary – Only once doubts around Johnson and Gordon are resolved.
  3. Defensive Line
  4. Linebacker – Findable later in the draft, not a high priority.
• Reasoning: “You find linebackers in this defense ... That is not a place to spend a ton of money or draft capital.” (22:01 – Dan)

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6. DJ Moore’s Trade Value: Value or Salary Dump?

(22:15 - 28:11)

• Dan shifts the conversation: Are the Bears hoping to get value for DJ Moore, or is this simply about shedding his salary?
  • “If you are shopping a player coming off his... worst statistical season at his highest salary with another year of age. Everybody’s got the same tape.” (23:43 – Dan)
• Matt's blunt truth:
  • “...everyone saw him take plays off. Everyone saw him not run routes to his fullest more than one time.” (23:57 – Matt)
• Realistic expectations:
  • “People should just like set their expectations to be disappointed with whatever draft pick they get in return. It’s not going to be what you think it should be or what you want it to be.” (25:05 – Matt)
• Both agree a 4th—maybe even 5th or 6th—round pick would be realistic:
  • “...you’re getting a third day pick, probably you’re not getting a one, two, or three. You’re just not.” (27:57 – Matt)
• Discussion: Bears’ priorities have shifted to cap management rather than maximizing trade compensation.

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7. NFL News: Replay Center Staffing Debacle

(28:11 - 37:42)

• Both hosts react with disbelief over the NFL’s admission that staffing shortages during busy Sunday windows impacted replay accuracy.
• “I screamed and then laughed and then screamed again.” (28:36 – Matt)
• “It is a multi-billion dollar sport where all of these decisions matter this much. It shouldn’t take Mike Vrabel standing up and saying, ‘You know what? Hey, listen to me’...” (34:03 – Dan)
• Matt’s punchline:
  • “That’s basic stuff. Like look at any retail store. When do you staff more? During busier hours!” (32:20 – Matt)
• Both agree: The NFL can and should fix this easily with more people and cameras; it’s absurd as a headline issue.

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8. Other Quick Draft and Bears Roster Notes

(39:23 - 40:14)

• Zion Young and Kaden McDonald as potential, but possibly unlikely, draft targets at 25.
• The need for the Bears to boost D-line play (relying on run stoppers and returning talent like Grady Jarrett, Shemar Turner).

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9. Show Milestone: Six Months of Forward Progress

(40:14 - End)

• Dan and Matt reflect emotionally on six months of podcasting, building not just a show but a “community.”
  • “There’s been ... a multimedia community with a lot of creative and talented people, too.” (44:29 – Dan)
• Both thank listeners, urge them to share the podcast, and look forward to deepening coverage as the NFL gears up for the draft, OTAs, and a second podcasting season.
• Notably, Dan is not on social media:
  • “I’m not on Twitter, obviously, because it’s a poisonous, horrible hellhole. It’s just the worst.” (42:13 – Dan)
• Matt highlights the growth of their Reddit and YouTube communities and looks to expand sponsorship ties as well.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Defensive Statistics:
  • “It sounds like it might be a bad statistic, so. And I’d like to know why.” (10:02 – Dan)
• On Drafting Safeties:
  • “Your safeties weren’t the issue though, Dan.” (11:48 – Matt)
  • “If you’re taking a safety in the top 10... it’s a waste of value.” (14:42 – Matt)
• On DJ Moore’s Trade Market:
  • “It would clearly be getting rid of a productive enough player ... just to get out from under a salary to which he’s not playing right now.” (24:40 – Dan)
  • "Set your expectations to be disappointed with whatever draft pick they get in return." (25:05 – Matt)
• On NFL Replay Staffing:
  • “That’s basic stuff. Like look at any retail store. When do you staff more? During busier hours?” (32:20 – Matt)
• On Community:
  • “It does feel like a community. So thank you.” (44:45 – Matt)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Bears Defensive Review – 03:02 to 12:58
• Drafting Safeties / Draft Analysis – 10:43 to 16:37
• Cornerback Issues – 16:01 to 18:06
• Safety Contracts & Free Agency – 18:06 to 19:38
• Offseason Priorities (Tackle, DB, DL, LB) – 19:38 to 22:15
• DJ Moore Trade Value – 22:15 to 28:11
• NFL Replay Staffing Problems – 28:11 to 37:42
• Draft Targets & Roster Notes – 39:23 to 40:14
• Show Community & Thank Yous – 40:14 to end

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Summary

True to Forward Progress’s name, Dan and Matt deliver an unflinching, stats-focused discussion on the Bears’ secondary, debunking the wisdom of drafting a safety at 25 and sharply analyzing the reality behind DJ Moore’s trade value (or lack thereof). Their conversation is peppered with dry wit (on NFL front office blunders), practical outlooks on roster strategy, and authentic gratitude for their fast-growing podcast community. A must-listen for Bears diehards and fans of smart, relatable NFL talk.

Transcript

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[Dan Bernstein]

I mean, if you're a Bears fan, you're thinking forward progress.

[Matt Abaticola]

Come on. Forward Progress, a Chicago Bears podcast with Dan Bernstein and Matt Abeticola on 312 Sports.

[Dan Bernstein]

You didn't even know that you want forward progress awarded to you. You weren't even aware of it. You woke up, you know, you know what I could use? I could use a ruling that gives me forward progress. Well, you know what? You just got a bonus because you. That's exactly what you have. We're giving you that right now in 312 sports. Bernstein and a Batacola where we follow all things Bears and NFL because the combine is going and people are being measured and weighed and apparently the numbers so far are on the, on the lower side. I saw one person's comment. Whoever's got the tape measure isn't doing people favors today, so we'll wait to see. And then for the quarterbacks, the hand measurement. Yes, that comes out. I know. Mine is nine and three quarters, I believe.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, I'll be watching some of the combine stuff here this afternoon, getting some video on guys and the list of players to keep an eye on or track their, their measurements and their stats.

[Dan Bernstein]

Your guy, Diego Papa. Yes. You can find out how.

[Matt Abaticola]

All we need. All we need is one snap in a regular season game.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's all you need. You ain't getting it.

[Matt Abaticola]

All I need. Oh, I'll get it. I'll get it for sure.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, you weren't. No, you won't.

[Matt Abaticola]

Oh, With a bad quarterback play in this league?

[Dan Bernstein]

Nah. Yeah, well, he's, you know, Birmingham Stallions don't count. You're just whatever the, you know, some team that, that Art Briles is coaching in Italy, that doesn't count.

[Matt Abaticola]

He'll, he'll be on some, some bum team and he'll, he'll get a snap

[Dan Bernstein]

in the regulars and actually in the

[Matt Abaticola]

regular, actual regular season NFL game, playoff game counts too.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm giving you that.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

If he's emergency into a playoff game.

[Matt Abaticola]

So I want to just, I want to talk through something with you about, about the Bears and their off season needs. And of course a lot of attention has been paid to the defense and defensive line and secondary and that's a majority of what we're seeing in mock drafts from people that, that know a lot more than we do. Looking at Bears defensive line needs, looking at Bears secondary, of course a lot

[Dan Bernstein]

of know about the, about the knowing more than we do. Because most mock drafts are wrong.

[Matt Abaticola]

Well, they are, but as far as like spending their time in investing their time and energies on things, they, they do it a lot more than we do, so.

[Dan Bernstein]

Correct.

[Matt Abaticola]

And it's hard, it's hard to do. Man, I'm not going to judge somebody for, you know, putting a mock draft together. That's, that's hard work.

[Dan Bernstein]

I know they're just all wrong. Like no one is good at it.

[Matt Abaticola]

So I'm going to talk about this, I want to talk through this with you. I looked at a few different stats, some different categories defensively and I Read this on NFL.com says the Chicago Bears allowed 7.8 yards per pass attempt, which is third most in the league. And they had 10 deep passing touchdowns, tied for second most in the league in 2025. Across their six losses, they surrendered 245.5 passing yards per game. That's seventh most in losses and 33 points allowed, which is third most in losses. Despite a resurgent season overall, their defense was typically their undoing. Now Ryan Poles Co. Are 5.3 million over the salary cap and they're staring down the departures of full time defensive backs like Jaquan Brisker, Kevin Byard, Nishan Wright and CJ GJ who came of course in a mid season trade. They're all set to be unrestricted free agents this March and Chicago needs to get better on the back end, not bear whether by extending their impending free agents, signing new ones or bringing in new blood through the draft. Cynthia Freeland and Dan Parr of NFL.com, both of their mock drafts had Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil Warren at 25 going to the Bears. So I wanted to talk through this because it's. This sparked some thoughts and some interesting in looking at the draft at number 25, at the Bears current roster and what they can do. So here's what I looked at. First, I looked at passing yards per game. So passing yards allowed per game. The Bears were 22nd in the league. Okay, next I looked at rushing yards allowed per game, and the Bears were tied for 22nd. No, I'm sorry, they were. They were 27th in the league at 135 allowed per game. So passing yards allowed, 22nd. Rushing yards allowed, 27th. We knew that. We saw the season. I also looked at sacks. The Bears were tied for the seventh fewest at 35. Interceptions. Of course, we know they were number one with 23. And then overall pressures, we've talked about pressures a lot. That's quarterback hits, that. Sacks, that's hurries. The Bears were actually top 10 in the league in overall pressures at 6 with 160.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm surprised.

[Matt Abaticola]

I was surprised by that, too. So I saw that and that surprised me, and I thought, all right, well, what other teams rank in the top 10 of all those categories? All right, there were only two teams of all 32 teams that actually finished in the top 10 in all five of those categories. Two teams that only. Only two that finished in the top 10 of passing yards allowed, rushing yards allowed, sacks, interceptions, and overall pressures. Okay, there were two Seahawks, one in the NFC, which is the Seahawks. They finished 10th in passing yards allowed, tied for seventh. And sacks, they were third in rushing yards allowed. They were fifth in interceptions, and they were. Oh, no. God, I'm sorry. Geez. They were four of the top five because their overall pressures. They were 28th in the league in overall pressures.

[Dan Bernstein]

How about the Broncos?

[Matt Abaticola]

Fifth in sacks, but 28th in overall pressures. The Broncos were not the other team. There was one team that finished in the. In the top 10 of all five of those categories. That was the Chargers. All right, but of course, we know that their offensive line was an absolute train wreck. Despite winning 11 games, despite being in these five categories in top 10, they were. They were 1, 2, 3, 4, fifth in rip. Passing yards allowed. They were tied for 10th. And sacks, they were eighth in rushing yards allowed. They were tied for third in interceptions, and they were first overall in pressures at 195. The Broncos, you ask, were. They were in the top 10 in passing yards allowed. They were number one in sacks, they were number two in rushing yards allowed.

[Dan Bernstein]

You know what I would like to know about the pressure stat?

[Matt Abaticola]

Yes, sir.

[Dan Bernstein]

If we are really getting into it, I would like to know how many pressures were generated by whatever they would consider a blitz, a blitz, whatever would be an extra attacker that would take away from something on the back end, like how many for the Bears to give it to. That many pressures and 7.8 yards per pass attempt and 10 deep passing touchdowns leads me to believe that's a pick your poison stat for some teams.

[Matt Abaticola]

So. Yeah, so that's interesting. That's why I wanted to talk through it because when you look at those numbers, were they giving up those passing yards per play and passing yards per game? Because they were leaving spaces in the, in the secondary empty by blitzing.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, their best blitzers were their safeties. Were their safeties their nickel. I mean, all that stuff. KYLER Gordon and C.J. gardner, Johnson were. Those were the most reliable blitzers. Where with the Bears, I would think just looking at this from a distance, you know, we could obviously break it down and look at every single play. But that would make sense based on the eye test.

[Matt Abaticola]

It would make sense, yes. But you have to look at the quality of play of the guys in defensive in past defense as well. In the secondary, we saw consistently CJ GJ Getting beat. Kyler Gordon played how many games? Five games. Jalen Johnson was injured. He was not the same player. Nishan Wright was probably their. He was their best defensive back in past defense all season long. And he had a, he had a pretty, pretty decent season. You know, even you talk about pressures too. Two of the teams that were at elite level of overall pressures were Arizona and Tennessee, and we saw what their seasons were. Okay. It's interesting.

[Dan Bernstein]

It sounds like it might be a bad statistic, so. And I'd like to know why.

[Matt Abaticola]

Okay, so Cleveland was also, of course, overall pressures. They were number two with 190. And of course you have one guy is probably one guy. Right. They were also third in sacks at 53. And they were also third in passing yards allowed, which of course fits if you're getting to the quarterback and taking the quarterback to the ground. So that's, that's going to make sense. But they only had five wins. Another team that was in the top 10, the Saints, they had six wins. Minnesota had nine wins. The issue there being your quarterback, you've got to have the quarterback situation squared away as well.

[Dan Bernstein]

So what's our conclusion relative to the Bears then?

[Matt Abaticola]

So. So that's why I want, that's what I want to get to. I want to look at the secondary and here's, here's the issue for off season needs. I don't want the Bears to draft a safety at 25. I think there are other areas to draft with that first round pick other than safety. Okay. Because if you look at our safeties, the safeties really weren't the issue. You wouldn't.

[Dan Bernstein]

So this is what I was going to bring up. You had a first team all pro safety.

[Matt Abaticola]

Correct. And Jaquan Brisker had had a really good year. Played all 17 games too, in the regular season. Yeah, I thought he had a, he had a, he had a decent year. Okay. I think some of the deficiencies you may have seen were the fact that other guys in the secondary weren't there and the problem where the Bears are at the two guys you count on most in Kyler Gordon and Jalen Johnson were hurt. Weren't there when they were there, played poorly and are the guys that are locked in, in contracts too. Like, you're not getting out from underneath those guys right now. You just signed Kyler Gordon to a three year extension in April of last year.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, I mean, he's the highest paid

[Matt Abaticola]

slot guy in the NFL. So you're like your, your safeties weren't the issue though, Dan.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, they weren't. And the only time when, when we're trying to think of the matchups where you had trouble. Nishan Wright got burned a couple Times. He did. C.J. gardner Johnson got burned a couple times.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

The hurt version of Jalen Johnson got beat. Got beat a couple times. But for the most part, I think what this is going to be is a discussion of safety importance and value in the modern NFL and, and the fungibility of the position. I think that's what this comes down to. And I look at the fact that the Bears had one younger, reliable safety in Brisker and then an older best safety in football last year in Kevin Byard. At least production wise, as far as the all pro voting went, he was the best safety in football and they still had the problems that they had. I know that that's, it's not a full data set, but I certainly think that argues that wasn't the issue.

[Matt Abaticola]

It was not the issue. 100%. Therefore, I, you know, confidently can, can say you, you cannot waste your first round pick on a safety like however good Emmanuel Warren McNeil can be. McNeil Warren. Did I say his name wrong? Emmanuel McNeil Warren.

[Dan Bernstein]

Is it Emmanuel down just remember, EMW sounds like BMW.

[Matt Abaticola]

All right, so, like, you know, even if he's a really good player, like, I'm not taking a safety at 25 when safety wasn't your issue. And I know you have to answer the questions because they're. They're free agents. Well, I get that.

[Dan Bernstein]

So let me give you. Here's your list of safeties that have been drafted highly. The highest. Can you name the highest drafted safety in NFL history?

[Matt Abaticola]

I can't name it, but I know that a guy went in the top five, maybe two or three.

[Dan Bernstein]

There have been four in the top five.

[Matt Abaticola]

Oh, that many? Jesus.

[Dan Bernstein]

No. Excuse me. Three. No, there have been three.

[Matt Abaticola]

Only three top five. Was Eric Berry one of those?

[Dan Bernstein]

Nice call. Eric Barry was fifth in 2010.

[Matt Abaticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Sean Taylor was fifth in 2004. Yeah, great. Great player. Yeah. And. And Eric Turner was second overall in 1991.

[Matt Abaticola]

The.

[Dan Bernstein]

The most recent that I can remember was Jamal Adams out of LSU. He was sixth in 2017. I think that was the year that he, like, ran his 40 in someone else's shoes or he's wearing Penn or some crazy story they remember.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, I just. I just think if you're taking a safety in the top 10 like that, particularly in the top five, I think

[Dan Bernstein]

it's a waste of value.

[Matt Abaticola]

I do. Unless your team is completely set everywhere

[Dan Bernstein]

else, which nobody is.

[Matt Abaticola]

Nobody is. Correct. So even at 25, dude, I. I don't want a safety.

[Dan Bernstein]

Caleb Downs is being said. Everybody said, well, Caleb Downs, this is the first guy in forever. He's the next Sean Taylor or the next Eric Barry or the next Jamal Adams, and he's going to go in the top five. He's four, five, six feet tall, 200 pounds, got everything you want. I just don't know that I want to take a safety. I don't. I do know that. I don't.

[Matt Abaticola]

Right. I don't. So, you know, obviously they have to address the safety question because both of your safeties that played well last year are no longer under contract. So is it a matter of. Of, you know, signing those two guys, bringing them back, figuring out, you know, with Matt Feinstein, your. Your cap space and getting that all worked out as you're over the cap now, you'll work that out to get under the cap. Are you signing those guys and bringing them back? Because for me, Dan, like, your safety question isn't even the biggest question. The biggest questions are Jalen Johnson and Kyler Gordon. You're locked in those guys, and they did not perform because of Injury and Kyler Gordon. Kyler Gordon has not played a full

[Dan Bernstein]

season yet, and especially Johnson. And if we are concerned about him regaining his old form, that's a major concern. And I don't want to run into that in the first exhibition game or I don't want to run into that in training camp where they say, well, he's on the PUP list or we're holding him out for a veterans day off. If he's going to be right, I want to know for sure that your doctors have said that we're. Whatever their, their percentage level of confidence is that he's going to be back to form, because if he's not, you got real problems.

[Matt Abaticola]

Right. And we talked about this earlier in the year and it was about that timeline, figuring that out. When can you confidently trust what the medical staff is saying about his potential return to form and the sooner the better. And is, is that even possible in the off season?

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know. There's always milestones. You always have to rely on the patient to give you the, the most honest possible assessment of pain, range of motion, explosiveness, progress, all the stuff that they're doing. And it is not an exact science.

[Matt Abaticola]

No. And we heard from Jalen Johnson saying that he just didn't have enough time last season to get back to game shape. Really, he just didn't. He wasn't going to have enough time. But yet having him out there in the field at whatever percentage he was was better than having more of Tyreek Stevenson, you know, which is another question for you. So, I mean, like the questions for me are Jalen Johnson, Kyler Gordon again, Kyler Gordon locked into the highest contract at slot corner in the league and has never played a full season.

[Dan Bernstein]

Available.

[Matt Abaticola]

And we lost him twice last year in pregame warm ups. In warm ups twice or once?

[Dan Bernstein]

Twice in warmups, I thought. Or no, there was. It wasn't him both times.

[Matt Abaticola]

It was at least once. Yeah, it was. It was him one time.

[Dan Bernstein]

I think there were two players that were lost during warmups. So they said, yeah, all of a sudden, yeah, he just can't go. And then your roster screwed.

[Matt Abaticola]

Right? It definitely happened to Kyler one time.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes.

[Matt Abaticola]

So, yeah, I know you have to address the safety issues because you just don't have any under contract, but we keep seeing Cam Curl. Now is. Is Cam Curl replacing Brisker or Bayard? If that were to happen?

[Dan Bernstein]

It sounds like they want to resign Bayard. It sounds like they think that they can get a reasonable short term deal to take the bet that he still has something left at 33.

[Matt Abaticola]

All right, so. So if you were able to sign Cam Curl at a more team friendly contract as opposed to brisker, bringing brisker back, which I would prefer. But if that can't happen financially, then sure, Cam Curl and Kevin Byard, because it seems like, yes, you could be able to get him at a more team friendly cost. I don't think he's going to demand some outrageous number and he wants to be back and I think they do need his leadership back. But still, all of that being said. All right, here's what I'm looking at. I'm looking at four areas for me and I don't know how you address these. Whether you're looking at draft or you're looking at free agency, this is my priority for this offseason. For me, number one, it's left tackle. And if there's a left tackle available in the draft at 25, that's where I'm going with that pick. I'm picking a left tackle. And if it's not Kaden Proctor, because I think he's going to be gone by that point. But if for some reason he falls to 25, you take his 6, 7, 3, 6, 6 pound frame and you bring him to the Bears.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abaticola]

And another guy that's been standing out too, and I'm looking forward to seeing him at the combine is Oregon tackle.

[Dan Bernstein]

Is it my guy?

[Matt Abaticola]

No, it's not your guy. It is not Oregon. I'm sorry. It's a Georgia tackle, Monroe freeling. Okay, so he's 6, 7, 3, 15. He's, he's getting a lot of, a lot of looks and people are, he's starting to get more, more looks from people doing draft stuff and we'll see what happens at the combine. But he might be a bit of a project. I mean, he can, he can play and he can start, but he might be more of a project development in the, at the NFL level. But it's 6, 7, 3, 15, because what he has is, is something that Jaden Proctor, they question about his feet and his ability to be quick enough at the NFL level to stop edge rushers on the left side where Freeling has that, he has a little bit less size and might have to develop a little bit more, but he has the quick feet and the speed that you want there at that at the position. If he's a guy that's available, I'm looking at him really, really hard too.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abaticola]

Because I trust my coaching staff to develop what they need offensively. Because I saw, I saw what they did last year with Theo Benedict and Ozzie Tripillo. This guy is probably a, he's probably end up being a first round pick. He has that talent and I'm trusting my coaching staff to develop that guy at 25. So for me it's left tackle. From there it's looking at the secondary and the part of that includes your own guys. Man, is Kyler Gordon going to be there? Is Jalen Johnson going to be there? You need 17 games from these guys at their level. Otherwise it really doesn't matter what you do at the other safety spot. Doesn't really matter what you do at the other corner spot either. Then third it's defensive line and then for me last, it's linebacker. Who. Those are the four main areas.

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[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, you find linebackers in this defense. You can, you can find linebackers.

[Matt Abaticola]

I.

[Dan Bernstein]

That, that is not a place to spend a ton of money or draft capital. Yeah, I do. They obviously need linebackers.

[Matt Abaticola]

I mean that's a, that's a, a game a day two, day three, you can find guys that can play.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, the way this defense operates and from what we've seen and how you can plug guys in there who can be good enough, I doesn't look like a high priority for me. I just feel the same way, strongly about safety and I don't know yet if the draft is good enough and maybe they'll decide this after the first round or in the middle of day two, depending on how the board falls and how the draft goes and the whole, well, there's a run on this position and a run on that visit, whatever that. I just wonder if they will start saying, look, we're, it's better off that we have picks in this draft than a different draft. And maybe it's just, it's. We've got more value now than we're going to have later. And I don't know when they're going to decide that and when it's going to be a look if we can get these 2/3 and argue hard for these 2/3 for Ian Cunningham. Let's get them this year. Or they want to say, look, are we. Do we not want to move up or down and give up picks this year for next year? Because we are prioritizing this particular group because you got to be scouting into the next year. I don't know. And that comes down to what I've been thinking regarding all of the noise around DJ Moore. I don't think they're going to get what he would otherwise command. If you are shopping a player coming off his. What is worst statistical season.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

At his highest salary with another year of age. Everybody's got the same tape, Right.

[Matt Abaticola]

And despite having some of the most significant plays in Chicago Bears history.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, yeah.

[Matt Abaticola]

This past season, everyone has the same tape. Everyone saw him take plays off. Everyone saw him not run routes to his fullest more than one time.

[Dan Bernstein]

And we still haven't really gotten a satisfactory answer for what happened on that interception and that miscommunication late in the game in the last game.

[Matt Abaticola]

That cam curl picked off, Right?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. We don't know. We. We just sort of left it. And meanwhile, did you hear that Ben Johnson said he hasn't watched the tape of that game yet?

[Matt Abaticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Just amazing. Yeah, I guess he'll get around to it when he gets a chance. But the.

[Matt Abaticola]

Like, he's been busy shitting on the Packers.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't. I just. I hope that there's a reasonable expectation for what a DJ Moore return would be when it's a salary dump. It would clearly be getting rid of a productive enough player who you. For whom you once had very high hopes just to get out from under a salary to which he's not playing right now.

[Matt Abaticola]

I think, Daniel, people should just like set their expectations to be disappointed with whatever draft pick they get in return. It's not going to be what you think it should be or what you want it to be. It's not.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't think it is either. I really don't. It's been very clear that he's available. And I'm not sure as people are. You're looking at the. The wide receiver position now. And if you just want to bring in. Look, he can play any wide receiver position. We know that when he's on top of his game, he's terrific, just terrific. And he'll block. You can play him out of the backfield. He'll do everything for you. And whether it's X or Z or anything else, slot flanker, outside split end, he can do all of it.

[Matt Abaticola]

Right. I think, I think the, the Bears are not looking at it as what can we get in return for his value, what we believe he is as a wide receiver? Again, it is more as you're saying, getting out of that salary. I mean, is he, Is he the second highest or the highest paid player going into 20, 26?

[Dan Bernstein]

Highest.

[Matt Abaticola]

If he's one or two behind sweat or is he ahead of Sweat?

[Dan Bernstein]

They're, they're one and two.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. So he's right, he's right there and

[Dan Bernstein]

Sweat's not going anywhere.

[Matt Abaticola]

Their priority is getting out of that salary. And so if that's a fifth round pick and you're going to be pissed about it, great, be pissed about it. But that's not the, the priority is not getting the highest pick available. The priority is getting out of that salary.

[Dan Bernstein]

Are you surprised that with the news that the Bears told Tremaine Edmonds, hey, basically we're going to release you, but go ahead and see if you can find a deal and hear some agency. Would they do that with DJ Moore? Because they can't release him is the problem. So you don't want to tell him, you know, you only get the cap relief with a trade. Otherwise it's, yeah, no, they're not dead.

[Matt Abaticola]

They're not. This is, it's, it's a different situation than Edmonds. They're not putting this in his hands. This is, this is work that Jeff King and, and Ryan polls have to have to take care of. You. You've got to have that conversation. You've got to find a team that's willing to take him. And dude, and again, what if you get a, what if you get a six round pick for DJ Moore? I know, I'm just saying, like what's the priority? Is the priority getting what you think is fair or getting out of that salary? What's, what's more important right now for the 2026 Chicago Bears?

[Dan Bernstein]

That would seem real low.

[Matt Abaticola]

What do you think? Do you think, do you think fourth

[Dan Bernstein]

round pick, that's kind of where I, if I, you know, I hadn't really said, but I think my mind has been sort of coalescing thoughts around a fourth.

[Matt Abaticola]

I can't remember. How does the draft go now? Night one is first round and then it's, and then the second day is two and three.

[Dan Bernstein]

I think that's right.

[Matt Abaticola]

And then the third day is four, five, six, seven. So he's going to be a third, a third day guy. That's what you're getting. You're Getting a third day pick, probably you're not getting a one, two, or three. You're just not.

[Dan Bernstein]

Speaking of things that need work. I. I could not believe this story when I saw it. I don't know if you had this on your list of stuff, but this was really high on mine because I had to read the whole AP story twice. And I kept thinking,

[Matt Abaticola]

I think we're on the same. I'm sure we are.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right.

[Matt Abaticola]

I screamed and then laughed and then screamed again.

[Dan Bernstein]

I hope we have the same one here. Okay, let me see what is says. New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel called on the NFL. Same one.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yes. It's in my notes to increase. I couldn't fucking believe it, dude.

[Dan Bernstein]

I know. So this is. This is ap. I'm just. This is a straight wire copy here.

[Matt Abaticola]

This is bonkers. It's insane.

[Dan Bernstein]

Mike Vrabel called on the NFL to increase staffing at its replay command center to ensure reviews from all games are treated equally. So that's the lead. And I think, well, wait, are they. They weren't. They aren't. Vrabel spoke at the Combine. It was asked about comments earlier this week by league exec Troy Vincent that there were a handful of mistakes made in replay last season in games played in the early Sunday afternoon window when as many as nine games were played at the same time.

[Matt Abaticola]

Here's what's funny. So I. I glanced at it first, and what I first thought was, all right, they had problems early in the season. That's what I. That's what I thought it was. I'm like, all right, how did they rectify the early season issues they had? Oh, no, no, no, no. It's the early window of games where there are more games played. Okay, go ahead. Sorry.

[Dan Bernstein]

Maybe people just rolling into work late. I'm sorry. It's Sunday morning. Traffic was awful. I mean, come on, man. So he said we need to make sure every game's treated the same as a variable, from primetime game on Sunday night to the primetime game on Monday or Thursday or whether it's one of those 1o games. It's the lifeblood of our league. So if it's something we need to take care of in the off season, staffing issues that need to be taken care of. So those things are looked at. We need to be really good at replay. There's going to be mistakes on the field. We have to get to assist him. And replay, it's as close to 100% accurate as possible. All right, now, here's the data. Vincent said earlier this week that out of the 171 plays that were called on replay or replay assist, there were only a handful that were mishandled, and the majority of those came in the 1pm Eastern window when there are more games being played simultaneously. There were five after we kind of took a step back and breathed. Four of them were in the one o' clock window, vincent said. It's just volume and you go, ah, if we had to do that one again, just looking at it, at least one of those plays indeed proved crucial in the playoff race. Vincent cited a replay review in a Week 14 game that overturned a ruling on the field of an interception thrown by Pittsburgh's Aaron Rodgers. The decision cost Baltimore 46 yards in field position, and the Ravens eventually lost the game 27 to 22 in a potential go ahead touchdown pass from Lamar Jackson to Isaiah likely was ruled incomplete by replay. That call was not one of the five Vincent reference, but he did say it warranted more discussion about what is or isn't a catch and a win in that game for Baltimore would have given the Ravens the division. An increase in staffing at the replay command center during Windows with more games would not solve all of the inequities in comparison to higher profile games, which feature significantly more cameras used by the broadcasters and Niners. GM John lynch said that needs to be addressed. He said there's some uniformity you can get by requiring teams to have fixed cameras. They're being discussed. It's a reality that the one o' clock games multiple going on at the same time. The New York headquarters, they're not gonna have all their attention on that game.

[Matt Abaticola]

But dude, that's insane. That's basic stuff. Like look at any retail store. When do you staff more? During busier hours?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes. Yeah. When do you have.

[Matt Abaticola]

Oh my God, when do you have more?

[Dan Bernstein]

If you're at the grocery store and there is the self checkout and then there are the cashiered lanes. When are there more cashiers on staff helping people during. When there's more people.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yes, yes. When? Don't you need as many? Early, early, late, late, late. But hey, NFL get enough people like

[Dan Bernstein]

at your headquarters or enough screens, enough headsets.

[Matt Abaticola]

That's insane to me, dude. I was like, I read that story. We don't have enough people here.

[Dan Bernstein]

Is it like walking into a mattress store. Or is it, you know, one of those things where you it's a storefront and you go in and you just kind of hang out there. Then you wait like some stoned high School kid comes out poking at his phone. Can I help you?

[Matt Abaticola]

But it's like, all right, so there's. There's nine early games going on. All right, we should bring in five people. And then in the afternoon when there's three games going on.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, five.

[Matt Abaticola]

Five is good.

[Dan Bernstein]

Or it's like, it's. You're midway through the second quarter of games and one guy's like, oh, it's time for my break.

[Matt Abaticola]

No, you can't.

[Dan Bernstein]

I can.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

I got to take a break. I'm going to stop. I'm going to go get a burrito and I'm going to stop on my way back. I'll be back in a bit.

[Matt Abaticola]

Like, it's just. It's insane to me. A multi billion dollar sport where all

[Dan Bernstein]

of these decisions matter this much. It shouldn't take Mike Vrabel standing up and saying, you know what? Hey, listen to me, I need something. Or you got a Super bowl head coach who is doing something that should not take this kind of attention. Being drawn to it.

[Matt Abaticola]

Like, I. In a million years, I never would have thought, hey, Matt, what's the issue with NFL replay? I never, ever would have thought. Overwhelmed. We have enough people and they don't have enough cameras.

[Dan Bernstein]

They're just overwhelmed. They can't see everything. We can't expect them to see everything. Come on, you only got. You only got a handful of five people there. They got a tiny little screen. They can't see every game.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, it's. Man, it's. It's crazy.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay, so can we assume that they're

[Matt Abaticola]

laughed at it, man? I was like, come on.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, can we assume that that'll be. Get enough people? Like. And I know that's why people. It does suck for your team to. To have the fourth broadcast crew because they've got like two cameras. It does suck.

[Matt Abaticola]

Get more cameras. Get. Get more cameras. You're the NFL. Like every game, if it can't be treated the same based on talent level of people doing the game, it should be treated the same based on the number of staff and equipment and people behind the scenes doing the work. That should be the same. That should be equal, regardless of the broadcast team. All right, this is our A team. This is our D team. The D team shouldn't have two cameras while the A team has 12. Fix it.

[Dan Bernstein]

I think this is easy.

[Matt Abaticola]

It sounds like an easy fix. It sounds like something where you need, like, a woman in charge and say, hey, guys, this doesn't make sense.

[Dan Bernstein]

Why. Why is the most. The wealthiest league that prints money with its television deals. And, and not to mention, did you see that there was one of the rating agencies or there was an analyst firm that was looking at Fox saying that the money they might have to commit to TV deals could actually damage the bottom line business of Fox.

[Matt Abaticola]

Really?

[Dan Bernstein]

I could not believe that it's taken on that kind of significance. Wow. Yeah. Bank of America. Here's the story. Analysts at bank of America issued what they call a research note saying that NFL rights. I want to get the exact quote where they said that. NFL rights. I think it's driven the value of retransmission fees for legacy broadcast networks for years, but it's the prospect of paying significantly more for the NFL when linear TV business is in terminal decline. And bank of America said most at risk entering renewal talks with the NFL is Fox because they've been all in on live content, news and sports since offloading their movie studio and other entertainment to Disney. So the company is more exposed than their competitors to the economics of the pay TV bundle because their value is derived from retransmission and carriage fees. Yeah.

[Matt Abaticola]

Then they obviously have a huge investment in the college level as well.

[Dan Bernstein]

And bank of America has downgraded Fox from a buy rating to underperform. But that's, it's sort of beside the point. But if, when your TV deals are that big, that big, that they're affecting Wall street analysis of these companies that are involved, you can afford more people sitting at more monitors looking at more, More cameras.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, I, I'm glad you brought that up. I mean, I had it too, to bring up. I just, I, I couldn't believe it when I read it. I, I was like, all right, what's, what's this issue that Mike. Oh, there's not enough people. Hmm. I wonder how you fix that. How do you fix not having enough people in the building?

[Dan Bernstein]

Hmm.

[Matt Abaticola]

What could you do about that?

[Dan Bernstein]

It's the same thing, I think, when I walk into a pharmacy right now and I look at. Basically it's a vending machine. Basically every, every single thing in the pharmacy is behind plexiglass and, and the people that work there, their job is apparently to answer the little bell and come over with a key and open it up. It's. And stand there because I need detergent. Yeah.

[Matt Abaticola]

And razors.

[Dan Bernstein]

Anything. It is random. Different stories. There's different things.

[Matt Abaticola]

Oh, really? My Walgreens down in the street here, they. The only thing that's locked up are the razors that I, That I buy.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, well, you're in, you're in posh Libertyville saying your detergent is locked up. Who steals your. Some places. Yeah, really, detergent. A lot of the necessities are locked up if, you know, baby formula is now behind the counter. And, but, but remember, they don't want to, they don't want to hire people. So they could actually deter theft by having more people there. Yeah, but they don't want that. They'd rather just turn their entire store into a vending machine.

[Matt Abaticola]

Well, that's where the NFL is going towards. We're going to North.

[Dan Bernstein]

No people, no people. Well, there you go. Why can't AI, why can't AI look over the replays and just be able to say no catch. No catch. This is the perfect job for AI then, isn't it? If AI is going to solve all our problems and, and I guess if

[Matt Abaticola]

you don't want to hire more people.

[Dan Bernstein]

There you go.

[Matt Abaticola]

That's going to be the problem. Yeah. A couple other quick notes on the draft. Zion Young is of course a name associated with the Bears a lot. Probably not going to be available at 25 if the Bears were interested.

[Dan Bernstein]

Doesn't sound like it.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. Who is going to be available? And I saw another, another mock draft. Bucky Brooks of NFL.com put out his second second look at the draft. Kaden McDonald. I don't know if you heard of Kaden McDonald talking about himself, but he is, he is not only the best defensive lineman available in this draft, but one of the best defensive players. So I like his confidence.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abaticola]

Again, I just, I think there's other, other areas to look at. But, but if, if they end up going with Cade McDonald at 25 and he's there, he should help improve that run game up the middle. And then I think Grady Jarrett kind of playing closer to form, at least what you have paid him for. And then Shemar Turner coming back. So we'll see how it all plays out.

[Dan Bernstein]

But I want to mention this too, that today is the 26th. So I think technically it was. It was yesterday. It was. But is today the six month anniversary of forward progress that 312 sports has now been. We have now been podcasting these two and you know, recently again with OWC and with from the 50 that it's been six months.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

And in some ways it feels like an absolute blink to me. And in some ways when I actually look back on the actual shows that we were doing and I, and I look at the thumbnails and the topics and I'm like, okay, well maybe that.

[Matt Abaticola]

That.

[Dan Bernstein]

That seems like it was. It was the end of the summer. And I just want to say thanks. Thanks for being here. Thanks for being a part of this. Thank you, Matty, for wanting to do this and everything that this is growing into and everything that we're learning about this relationship with a brand new audience in a brand new format. And I want you to know as a listener that. And I've heard people who have stopped me and said to me and just say, hey, you know, you really sound happy and you sound like you're having fun. You know, a lot of this was coming, sadly, a lot of some of this real talk that I was having with people came in the aftermath of Terry Bohr's passing away. But there were, you know, there was a lot of real stuff that had been said in the wake of that. And we're all adults here, and that's cool. But, yeah, this has been great. And it's knowing that we're still laying the groundwork, we're still just getting started and. But every day that I've been coming to work, every day I turn this thing on, I've got a new level of freedom, of joy, of satisfaction, that I find myself enjoying sports more than I have in a long, long time. Really getting that back in a lot of ways. And it's also been the outreach. I've been trying, doing my best to engage via email and some direct messages. And, you know, while I'm not on social media, you know, I'm not on Twitter, obviously, because it's a poisonous, horrible hellhole. It's just the worst. So I do post shows and stuff, and I do push content out there, but I'm not involved there at all because who would want to be? And I don't know why businesses are anymore, because of what that's become. It's just. It's really. It's. It's a net negative for business at this point that these interactions and what's happened in the last six months, the support that we've gotten, the people have said, all right, I'll give it a try. And someone said, I didn't like you before. I like you now. I've never liked you, but I'm listening, whatever that may be. I love that, too. But I'm all in here and enjoying it more every single day. And there's so many possibilities and so many plans that we have, at least that I have to try to be patient. I'm not a patient person. You know that about me. And I'm always Like, well, what's next? What can we do? What more can we do? And I am thinking about that, and I'm just thankful every day for everybody here at Hubbard Chicago, everybody at Hubbard Broadcasting and Gamut Net Networks for all that's been done, for what we're doing and all that's going to be done, and the number of people here that remain so excited about us. And 312 sports, about forward progress, about DBU, about OWC, about from the 50 and more to come.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, it seems like a long time, but it doesn't seem like a long time, depending on what I'm thinking about with our six months here at 3one2 Sports. So it's been great. I'm really proud of and really happy about the community that's been developed around these podcasts. And it feels different than a listening audience. And I really want to embrace and use that term community, because it really is. And it's been great. The folks that are part of the Reddit community, about 312 sports and then all of our emailers and the people that comment on YouTube, it does feel like a community. So thank you.

[Dan Bernstein]

And the creatives, the number of people that come up with, whether it's their silly voices or the artwork and videos and stuff that people do that this has been. There's been. It's a multimedia community with a lot of creative and talented people, too.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, it's been a lot of fun. So all I can say is thank you. And then I have an ask. Share this with your friends. Share this with family. Like, if you know people that like the Bears or like the NFL. Like, we have an NFL show every day of the year. Like, it's not going away. And the NFL stuff is only picking up steam with a combine starting today. And then we'll get into OTAs and we'll get into the draft. We're going to have content every day. So share that with your friends, with people you work with, with family. Hey, if you like football, there's a podcast here for you every day. Yeah, they might be idiots, but it's entertaining. Okay? So just do that, do that for us. We really appreciate it. People that subscribe and then, and then like the work and follow it, it means a big difference for us. And what I'm really excited about as we look ahead to a second NFL season and looking ahead to getting into baseball season, is the new partnerships that will be out there with businesses that will come in and be a part of three, one, two. That's what I'm most excited about is those businesses out there that will decide to partner with us and say, hey, we want to be a part of what 312Sports is doing. So I'm looking forward to keeping the current relationships going and growing those and meeting new ones and starting brand new relationships with businesses out there in the Chicagoland area or nationally as well too. So thank you for the last six months. Really do appreciate it.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's Forward Progress, a Chicago Bears and NFL podcast on 312 Sports for Progress has stopped.

[Matt Abaticola]

Forward Progress Chicago Bears podcast with Dan Bernstein and Matt Abeticola on free 212 sports

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[Dan Bernstein]

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