Welcome to 32 teams in 32 days. To get us through the offseason, we’ll be taking a closer look at every team in the league, in order of projected 2023 win totals.
For a proud franchise, the last decade has been a forgettable stretch for the Bears.
Since firing coach Lovie Smith following the 2012 season, Chicago has appeared in two playoff games and won neither. In ’17, the Bears famously passed on quarterback Patrick Mahomes to select Mitchell Trubisky, and last year they bottomed out with a 3–14 mark despite starting the season 2–1.
However, brighter days might be ahead. The Bears got a promising campaign from second-year signal-caller Justin Fields, who accounted for 3,385 total yards and 25 touchdowns. He also rushed for 1,143 yards, joining Michael Vick and Lamar Jackson as the only quarterbacks to eclipse the 1,000-yard barrier.
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Going into the summer, the big questions in Chicago are easily summarized. How much better will Fields be, with an improved offensive line and the addition of receiver DJ Moore? Did general manager Ryan Poles add enough to the defense, particularly against the pass?
With only two NFC North titles since 2007, the Bears are trying to climb back to respectability before making a run toward a postseason berth in the near future. Whether that happens will depend on a litany of factors this season.
Biggest gamble this offseason: Not adding a big name at edge or corner
Poles went into this offseason with the most cap space of any general manager by a wide margin, but he didn’t spend a ton in free agency outside of linebacker.
In fairness to Poles, he might have had foresight. The Bears needed a ton of help both at edge and corner, but the free-agent market was lacking.
That said, there are still a litany of quality veterans available to assist in the pass rush, including Justin Houston, Yannick Ngakoue, Frank Clark, Jason Pierre-Paul and Carlos Dunlap. While none of those names are long-term help (Ngakoue may be the exception), they could be pieces to flip at the trade deadline or even players who bring in a compensatory pick down the line.
Ultimately, though, the Bears find themselves with DeMarcus Walker, Trevis Gipson, Rasheem Green and Dominique Robinson largely making up the edge rotation. Those four players have a combined 48 sacks in their careers.
Toughest stretch of the season: Weeks 8 to 12
The Bears have a favorable matchup list this year, largely because the NFC North isn’t too difficult—and Chicago has the benefit of a last-place schedule.
Still, Weeks 8 to 12 see the Bears go on the road for four games, with the only home date coming between a pair of two-game trips. To start, Chicago visits the Chargers on the West Coast before going to the Superdome for a matchup with the Saints. After hosting the Panthers in a winnable affair, it’s another jaunt to take on the Lions and Vikings before getting to the bye week.
Breakout player to watch: S Jaquan Brisker
Brisker isn’t only a breakout candidate on the Bears; he’s one of the biggest across the league.
A second-round pick in 2022 out of Penn State, Brisker shined for Chicago in a lost season. The rookie played in 15 games and totaled 104 tackles, including five for loss, along with four sacks and an interception. Perhaps most impressively, Brisker didn’t miss a single snap when active.
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The Bears have a long way to go before fielding a title-contending defense, but Brisker has the look of a cornerstone. He can do it all from the back end, giving coach Matt Eberflus a potential star in the making.
Position of strength: Passing game
This is a stark change from last year, when the passing game was a disaster. This season Fields has the look of a dramatically improving quarterback, and he now has a true top-end receiver on the perimeter in Moore.
With Moore joining the fray, Darnell Mooney will go from an underwhelming No. 1 to a quality second option. Going further down the depth chart, Chase Claypool makes more sense as a third pass catcher, with Velus Jones Jr. and Equanimeous St. Brown filling out the room.
It’s not the Greatest Show on Turf, but the Bears have a real group with upside.
Position of weakness: Defensive line
As mentioned above, there’s no argument that this is an above-average group on the defensive front.
Walker and Green have had moderate success at times across different stops, but neither are impact players on a week-to-week basis. Furthermore, there’s no interior presence who will command consistent double-teams, whether it be Andrew Billings or Justin Jones.
Because of the issues along the line, the Bears could be setting up their young secondary for a tough season, forcing the corners to cover for an inordinate amount of time. And, lastly, does this bode poorly for new linebackers T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds, who will have free linemen coming after them?
X-factor: The rookie class
Chicago took 10 players in its draft class—don’t be surprised if most have a significant role.
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Without question, right tackle Darnell Wright will start from jump, while defensive lineman Gervon Dexter Sr. and Zacch Pickens will see meaningful snaps as part of a rotation. Along those lines, second-round corner Tyrique Stevenson will also play, likely both on defense and special teams.
The question is: Of the other half dozen incoming rookies, how many will play more than the occasional snap? If the Bears get significant contributions throughout their rookie class, perhaps they will surprise fans. But if this class falters quickly, it could be another early winter in Chicago.
Sleeper/fantasy pick: RB Khalil Herbert
The top RB spot is wide open after the loss of David Montgomery, and I like Herbert’s chance to become the starter. He’s shown some flashes, including a 30.9-point performance against Houston last season. While others will also be involved, I see Herbert as the back to target in fantasy. —Michael Fabiano, SI Fantasy
Best bet: Justin Fields will go over 2950.5 passing yards with the addition of Moore and a healthy Mooney. Fields had a 68.4% completion rate at Ohio State, and he will take another step forward as an NFL passer this year. —Jennifer Piacenti, SI Betting
