Should Bears reunite another Lion with Ben Johnson? |
Dustin Riese
· · Tuesday, July 01 2025
Things have gone eerily quiet at Halas Hall as of late, but that isn't a surprise given the time of year. The draft is now two months complete, the first and second wave of free agency has come and gone, and training camp is right around the corner.
To say that this is the dead period of the NFL offseason would be an understatement, as players and coaches alike are enjoying their last bit of time off before embarking on a six-month grind to try to make the postseason. Even with things becoming quiet at Halas Hall, that doesn't mean Ryan Poles isn't behind the scenes looking at how to improve this roster. You saw that last season when he made some last-minute deals to bolster this team, and there is a high likelihood that he could do that again, as some positions still need to be addressed. Although not a significant issue right now, the Bears' linebacker room could use one more depth piece, especially considering one of their depth options will most likely be taking over the final starting spot in that room. If the Bears are actively looking to add to their roster, which they do seem to be, why not go for former Detroit Lions linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin, who is still on the free agent market? Adding him would give Ben Johnson another player familiar with his coaching style, although not directly, considering Johnson's experience on the defensive side of the ball. That does have its benefits, as Reeves-Maybin had to face the Johnson offense every day in practice and could teach the Bears' defense a thing or two about how to stop or contain this offense during practice. As mentioned, the Bears don't have a massive need for a linebacker as their starting linebacker unit is all set. That doesn't mean depth isn't an issue, as they would like to add another body or two behind the starting three. The 30-year-old soon-to-be nine-year veteran has never been an every-down linebacker, but has always been a reliable depth piece that you can count on. He has spent all but one season with the Lions, with that only other season coming in 2022 when he was with the Houston Texans. Oddly enough, that season was also one of the few times he played in all 17 games, logging 15 tackles in minimal snaps. Looking back at his entire career, you get a guy who has played at least 14 games in all but two seasons, which is all you can ask for from a depth piece. During his eight seasons, Reeves has recorded 221 tackles with a career high 82 tackles coming in 2021 as a member of the Lions. That season was also the only time he was primarily a starting linebacker, as he played in 15 games, with 11 of them as starts. While his overall tackle numbers are solid for a backup player, the production beyond that has been minimal at best, as he has 1.5 career sacks and nine tackles for a loss. Nearly half of those tackles for a loss came during that 2021 season, with his last sack coming in 2023. Even if that aspect of his game isn't ideal, one thing Reeves has always done well is his ability to knock down passes, as he has eight career pass blocks up to this point. With that comes five forced fumbles and three recoveries, as he tends to be around the ball when on the field. Adding him to this defense may not seem like a big move, but it's a depth piece that almost any team would benefit from. Getting him into the Dennis Allen scheme would be a solid move for the Bears, as they would be acquiring one of the better remaining depth pieces on the market and gaining the ability to turn his career around. No one is expecting him to come out and become a pro bowler, but Johnson saw firsthand what this guy can do on the field when given starter reps. Knowing Allen's reputation for getting the most out of anyone, he could be the perfect coach to unlock the true potential of Reeves to the point where he could have another massive season.
