Shane Waldron 

Bears OC Shane Waldron signed with Chicago after spending 2021-2023 in Seattle. Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba described how he “learned a lot” from Waldron during their time together. 

“Good luck to y’all,” Smith-Njigba said, via CHGO Bears. “He’s a great person, a great offensive coordinator. I was very lucky to have him my first year. Learned a lot from him. I think him and [quarterback] Justin [Fields] will mesh well and adding more guys around him I think will be great.”

Bears

• Chicago Bears HC Matt Eberflus will remain as the defensive playcaller. (Kevin Fishbain)
• New Bears DC Eric Washington explained why he took the job with Chicago even though he isn’t going to be calling plays, stating: “My focus is on what the job is as opposed to what it isn’t…a defense that is clearly on an upward trajectory.” (Courtney Cronin)
• Washington added: “I will do everything that the coordinator is doing without calling the defense.” (Cronin)
• Chicago’s new OC Shane Waldron has had some contact with QB Justin Fields since he was hired, even though on-field workouts are currently restricted. (Cronin)
• When asked about installing an offense with an undecided quarterback, Waldron said: “The first part for us was building a staff, getting everyone together. Then you have staffs that worked together with different people in the past. People have had different experiences. For me, having a system that’s speaking the same language, that’s multiple in the ways it can attack a defense, then you start to get the players and start to know what your personnel is going to look like that season. Then you build it around a player’s skillset. I think, for me, that’s been a part of my core beliefs.” (Cronin)
• Waldron mentioned that the draft capital and the current roster were the biggest factors for his decision to come to Chicago: “The combination of those things was really intriguing.” (Adam Jahns)
• Waldron also highlighted how he views the Bears as a “connected organization” because of Eberflus and GM Ryan Poles.

Packers

• According to Adam Caplan of ProFootballNetwork, the Packers must decide on the future of free-agent RG Jon Runyan, with OL Sean Rhyan being considered as a potential replacement after earning more playing time towards the end of the season. 
• In the case of free-agent RB A.J. Dillon, Caplan suggests that Dillon has not played consistently enough to earn a second contract from Green Bay, according to a league source. 
• Caplan also believes that LT David Bakhtiari is unlikely to return due to his high cap figure of $40.6 million.
• Caplan lists ILB De’Vondre Campbell, OLB Preston Smith, and CB Jaire Alexander as starters that Green Bay must make decisions on this offseason, with Campbell and Smith potentially facing salary cuts and Alexander being a wildcard due to his suspension last season.