Projecting Bears Evolution

After some internal back and forth, I've decided to suck it up and NOT roll my upgrades over another season. Even though I feel the team is playing well enough to win, and our losses felt out of our control, I believe I'll be a wild card team this season, even without a division crown. I want to have my best foot forward for the postseason.

My plan is to do upgrades after my week 14 matchup, the completion of "Ben Johnson's" first thirty games at the helm of the franchise. I will push this back slightly if all my attribute requests aren't done for my thirty guys that I'm upgrading on the active roster. At the worst, these upgrades will happen right before the playoffs, but either way, I'm expecting some major jumps on paper. Here, I'll run down my predictions for the biggest jumps and where these players' overall will end up.

Offense

QB Caleb Williams: 77 -> 95

Winning MVP and getting gold in a training camp while it was still 300xp has Caleb sitting pretty, playing well, and about to get a whole lot better on paper. Top 5 at his position upcoming.

WR Rome Odunze: 80 -> 86

I'm not sure if it's cause he's a bit older, but I would have guessed he'd be set up to go higher with his production. Still, a big jump.

WR Luther Burden III: 78 -> 88

I think I'll try him out at WR1 if he does pass Rome and earns it. No guarantee I stick with it.

TE Colston Loveland: 75 -> 85

The 2025 rookie class put in work and he'll pass Kmet to build a beatiful 2-TE set.

LT Braxton Jones: 80 -> 84

Becomes a top ten left tackle. He is way overrated in Madden, but he's the only player Madden has ever overrated for the Bears, so I took advantage and made him a Bear for the cycle.

LG Kiran Amegadije: 71 -> 75

Becomes way less of a weak link, even if it's nothing special. I'm not sure if he'll get extended if he keeps progressing so well. I may not be able to pay him.

C Layden Robinson: 72 -> 75

Will probably jump Drew Dalman for the starting spot when this happens. He's on that cheap contract, and Dalman is getting traded or cut by the draft.

RG Ozzy Trapilo: 75 -> 80

Still young, turning into a top talent at guard. I hope he gets a chance at LT in real life, it's Chicago's only weak point of the unit right now.

RT Darnell Wright: 82 -> 85

The reason the holding on to upgrades can't be banned is that I'm still paying for the best possible version of the player. For example, Darnell Wright. When I earned another skill point and attribute requests bumped him from 81 to 82, he wanted a whole 6M more per year, and it's going to be even more since I haven't locked him down and and he has low interest. I want this top ten tackle who I love in real life, though.

Defense

REDGE Shemar Turner: 74 -> 80

He's lowkey as good as Montez Sweat already in terms of production. I love having a big, strong edge rusher to balance with a speed rusher.

LEDGE Isaiah Foskey: 72 -> 75

I might let the former first-rounder have a chance at starting. Sweat isn't producing and Foskey had an elite preseason.

DT Gervon Dexter Sr: 82 -> 87

What I said for Darnell Wright goes double for Dexter. More important and the same exact spot, but I'll pay him in the offseason. I can get his offer down by having him come in at lower than 87 by spreading his upgrades, but I don't think I will. I want him at his peak, even if it costs more.

DT Aaron Graves: 72 -> 76

He's proving he was a first-round talent that just fell too far. I honestly was expecting to split time and have him compete with Deone Walker, but he's played well and developed even better.

SAM Ruben Hyppolite II: 71 -> 75

He sucks in real life, but is a cycle starter for me. Fourth round pick who hasn't played for the actual Chicago Bears.

SAM Chris Paul Jr: 71 -> 74

I'm undecided on him or TJ Edwards for next season. He'll get that small contract to stay the cycle, assuming linebackers stay fairly cheap.

WILL Suntarine Perkins: 74 -> 82

Will move to MIKE next season as TJ Edwards regresses. He does occasionally get pancaked at his light weight, but has enough tackles for loss and other impact plays that he's been elite.

CB Tyrique Stevenson: 78 -> 80

Superstar and 8 interceptions last season haven't done as much as I hoped. A cycle starter, regardless.

SS Dillon Theineman: 75 -> 82

I'm coming for Caleb Downs. He has two interceptions while coming down on the run and hitting hard.

A Lot of Small Jumps

There's more that we'll just have to wait and see! Most backups or players not listed have one or two upgrades in the tank because of the length without upgrading. I'm hoping this will have an impact on the field if I'm competing decently with a low overall roster.