The Bears are in the thick of their offseason program. They’re doing legit on-field work at this point, with two weeks of OTAs and a mandatory minicamp left on the schedule before the organization goes essentially dark leading up to training camp.

The NFL still finds angles to control the news cycle, and the Bears are still involved in it. Caleb Williams, Joe Thuney and Ben Johnson have all made headlines recently.

It has been a minute since we had one, so we have plenty to ponder in this one. The Bears are getting to know each other during this practice portion of the spring, where Johnson and Dennis Allen are installing new schemes and figuring out how best to use their personnel.

Let’s get to all that and more in this Friday Bair Mail installment.

Ryan Herriman from Rockford, Ill.

I still think the Bears need another running back. Who’s the best option available right now?

Bair: There’s a fan contingent pushing for Nick Chubb, but I think J.K. Dobbins is a safer bet. He’s coming off a strong 2024 season with the Chargers where he averaged 4.6 yards per carry and had 905 rushing yards in total.

At 5-foot-10 and 215 pounds, he has the size and rushing style that would complement D’Andre Swift and can add a physicality to the attack that’s beneficial to Ben Johnson’s scheme. He’s surely waiting for an attractive destination, and the Bears could be one.

They also opened some cap space with the Joe Thuney extension, which dropped the left guard’s cap number by a significant sum. That could create the room required to add Dobbins, who likely isn’t signing for cheap. If that were the case, he would’ve already signed somewhere. He has a number in mind and will wait until someone hits it.

The Chargers also gave him a rarely used unrestricted free agent tender, which gives the Bolts exclusive negotiating rights if he’s unsigned after July 22. The Chargers have a full stable of rushers, so the 26-year-old will want to sign before then.

Dobbins could help make up for the fact Chicago missed out on the position in the earlier rounds of the 2025 draft and complete what would become a strong position group.

William Drury from Chicago

Will Ozzy Trapilo be given an opportunity to play/start at left tackle, or will he be a swing tackle? He said he can play both guard & tackle on the O-line but is Ozzy too tall for the guard position?

Bair: The Bears insist that they don’t have a depth chart yet, and I believe them in some instances. Consider left tackle one. I truly think they’re going to let that position play out, with the prospects of Braxton Jones, Darnell Wright (in a move from right to left) or Ozzy Trapilo winning the job.

I still think Jones will claim it once healthy, but time will tell on that front. Trapilo can play on the right or left, and I think him starting could be a possibility if Wright makes the move to left tackle. If he ends up being a swing tackle as a rookie, that isn’t the world’s worst thing. It would give him a year to develop in hopes that he’ll eventually take over a starting spot.

In terms of him playing guard, I don’t think that’s a thing. The Bears have solid depth there and don’t need him to work inside.

Justin Stowe from Highland, Ind.

You think the bears will score (tons of) points? This seems like a complete turnaround from last year with pretty much the same WR and same QB. Curious why you think the offense will score so often this year. Utilize the TE’s more? Rush more?

Bair: I do think the offense will fare far better in 2025, and that’s mostly due to schematics. Ben Johnson’s offense will be a significant upgrade and should give quarterback Caleb Williams the structure and guardrails needed to thrive. They’ve also made significant upgrades on the interior offensive line and with tight end Colston Loveland and receiver Luther Burden coming aboard through the draft.

The offense won’t be as efficient early in the year as it will be later on. However, the Bears have the talent and play design to win shootouts and rank in the league’s top third in points per game. Book it.

Steve from Chicago

There was some talk of Edmunds being moved around, potentially playing outside in a true 4-3 (with Edwards moving inside), or rushing the passer in blitz schemes.  Is this on the table?

Bair: I would expect Tremaine Edmunds to remain in the middle. Having covered Dennis Allen’s teams in the past, I think this scheme will fit Edmunds better than the last. Edmunds has both size and speed, and Allen can use that to great effect in coverage and as a blitzer. He likes to send his middle linebacker and Edmunds could be impactful rushing the quarterback.

While you mention his defense is a 4-3, more often than not it’s a 4-2-5. I could be wrong, but I’d bet Edmunds remains in the middle with T.J. Edwards on the weak side.