Chicago Bears Defense Failing To Live Up To Massive $125 Million Price Tag
In the NFL, significant financial investment is expected to translate into on-field production. Teams that spend heavily on one side of the ball do so with the expectation of dominance. The Chicago Bears entered the 2025 season with their defense positioned as the team’s strength, backed by a massive $125.4 million budget. However, through the first two games, the results have been the polar opposite of expectations, creating a glaring disconnect between spending and performance.
After a dreadful 0-2 start, the Bears find themselves with one of the most expensive and least effective defenses in the league. The on-field product has been a major disappointment, raising serious questions about the return on a very substantial investment and the team’s direction for the remainder of the season.
Chicago Bears: The High Cost of a Low-Ranking Defense
The Chicago Bears’ front office has made a clear commitment to building a formidable defense, allocating significant financial resources to acquire and retain top-tier talent. According to data from Over the Cap, the Bears rank fifth in the entire NFL in defensive spending for the 2025 season. At $125.4 million, their defensive payroll trails only those of the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants, Indianapolis Colts, and Washington Commanders. This level of spending signals a clear strategy: build a championship-caliber defense to carry the team.
The reality on the field, however, has been a nightmare. The statistics through two weeks are a harsh indictment of the unit’s performance:
- Scoring Defense: The Bears are giving up the most points per game in the NFL, a staggering 39.5.
- Run Defense: They rank as the sixth-worst unit against the run.
- Pass Defense: The secondary has been just as vulnerable, ranking as the 12th-worst in the league.
The most recent performance, a 52-point collapse against the Detroit Lions, was particularly alarming. The week prior, the Lions’ offense looked stagnant against the Green Bay Packers. For the Bears’ high-priced defense to be so thoroughly dismantled highlights a fundamental breakdown in execution and scheme. This isn’t just underperforming; it’s a complete failure to live up to the financial and strategic expectations set by the organization.
The Impact of Injuries
To be fair, the Bears’ defense has not been operating at full strength. The unit has been hampered by significant injuries to key players, which undoubtedly has contributed to their struggles. Cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon, two pillars of the secondary, have both missed time. Johnson, a cornerstone of the defense, left the Week 2 game with the same injury that kept him out of the season opener.
Linebacker T.J. Edwards, a crucial player in the heart of the defense, has also been sidelined. The absence of these key starters disrupts communication, chemistry, and overall talent on the field. Losing starters at critical positions like cornerback and linebacker will challenge any defense in the league.
However, while injuries provide context, they do not offer a complete excuse for the level of ineptitude displayed. Even with backups on the field, a unit with this much invested talent should not be the worst in the league. The depth of the roster and the coaching staff’s ability to adjust are also under the microscope. The complete defensive collapse suggests issues that run deeper than just the absence of a few key players.
No Return on Investment
The disconnect between the Bears’ defensive spending and their on-field results is one of the most glaring issues in the NFL early this season. When a team invests over $125 million in one unit, it expects that unit to be a source of strength, capable of keeping the team in games even when the offense struggles. For Chicago, the opposite has been true. The defense has been the primary reason for their 0-2 start.
This situation puts immense pressure on the coaching staff and the front office. Questions will be raised about player evaluation, scheme, and in-game adjustments. With an offense that is also finding its footing, the Bears have zero margin for error on defense. If this high-priced unit cannot perform at a competent level, let alone an elite one, the prospects for the 2025 season are incredibly bleak. The organization has a major $125 million problem on its hands, and finding a solution is now the most urgent priority.
Who Will Step up at Tight End for the Buccaneers?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ tight end room could look different than expected in Week 1. Cade Otton is dealing with two different injuries, potentially missing some time. If he’s unable to suit up on Sunday, there will be a group of three replacements ready to go.
Otton has developed into a reliable option for Baker Mayfield in the passing game. After a career year that featured 600 receiving yards and four touchdowns in 2024, the 26-year-old missing any time would definitely have an impact.
Head coach Todd Bowles has yet to completely rule his starting tight end out for Week 1, expecting to hear more in the coming days.
“[Otton’s] sore,” Bowles said. “He’s got another leg injury in addition to [a hamstring injury], so he’ll be out for a little bit.”
The Main Backup Plan
Heading into year three, Payne Durham is set to be the main replacement if Otton is out. The 2023 fifth-round pick has showcased an ability to produce in all facets as a tight end. He’s seen playing time in each of the last two seasons, even filling in for Otton in 2024.
When Otton went down with a knee injury near the end of last year’s regular season, Durham’s role grew. He became a weapon in the pass game, tallying nine receptions for 81 yards and two touchdowns through the final three games of the year.
Up until then, Durham was mainly utilized as a blocker on the outside. The blocking role isn’t one the 25-year-old shy’s away from, enjoying impacting the game however he can to help his team win.
“That was the role I found myself in last year, being the human battering ram,” Durham said. “I love it… coming in motion across the formation, just throwing my face in there. I think that’s fun. It’s the only time I can do that professionally and not go to jail for it.”
The Wildcard Options
Outside of Durham, the Buccaneers’ depth at tight end is somewhat inexperienced. Ko Kieft shares a similar mindset and skill set in the blocking game, but didn’t record a reception in 2024. He has a total of eight catches for 82 yards and two touchdowns in his career.
The 27-year-old was a sixth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, making a career off his blocking prowess. Kieft appeared in all three of Tampa Bay’s preseason games, without recording any receiving stats. He’ll most likely be in a similar role even if Otton misses time.
On the other end of the spectrum, Devin Culp could be used in a receiving role in Otton’s potential absence. The 2024 seventh-round pick appeared in five games during his rookie year, making plays during the final few contests of the season.
With five receptions for 88 yards in limited playing time, Culp proved he can provide in a pinch. He continued to show success in the pass-catching game during the preseason in 2025, tallying five receptions for 46 yards.
At just 25 years old, heading into his second season, Culp knows he has plenty of room to continue to grow.
“My brain is like a sponge,” Culp said. “I’m around a lot of talented guys. I try to take things from each and every one of their games. Not just route running, but especially the blocking side.”
