Amon-Ra St. Brown, the star wide receiver for the Detroit Lions, recently voiced his thoughts on the Chicago Bears’ aggressive spending during the NFL’s free agency period. Following the Bears’ bold moves, which included lucrative contracts for players like center Drew Dalman, defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo, and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, St. Brown expressed his astonishment at how much money the Bears seemed to have at their disposal.
On an episode of The St. Brown Podcast, St. Brown didn’t hold back, saying, “It feels like the Bears have endless money. This is insane, they’re handing out $40-50 million deals like it’s nothing.” He also acknowledged former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson’s role in the Bears’ rapid roster changes, mentioning how Johnson was “making moves left and right.”
Despite the Lions being the NFC North champions for the last two years, with a strong 15-2 record in 2024, the Bears’ bold approach to roster building has earned praise. CBS Sports gave them an “A-minus” for their free agency performance, pointing out how they addressed major needs like solidifying their offensive line and adding a pass rusher to complement Montez Sweat.
While the Bears are making waves with their signings, the Lions have taken a more measured approach in free agency. Under general manager Brad Holmes, Detroit didn’t have glaring roster needs but still managed to strengthen their team by re-signing key players like edge rusher Marcus Davenport and linebacker Derrick Barnes, along with signing cornerback D.J. Reed. Despite losing top cornerback Carlton Davis to the New England Patriots, the Lions remain a strong team with a clear focus on sustainable success.
Meanwhile, Ben Johnson, now leading the Bears, is focused on building a balanced and complementary team, emphasizing the importance of both offense and defense working in harmony.
