Chicago Bears (7-10)
OPEN CAMP: July 19, Lake Forest, Ill.
LAST YEAR: Justin Fields nearly steered the Bears back into the playoff picture in the second half, but Chicago’s postseason bid fell short, leading to another offseason remodel. Head coach Matt Eberflus kept his job despite a 10-24 record and 14 consecutive losses during his two seasons since replacing Matt Nagy. The Bears positioned themselves for a revival starting in 2023 by trading away linebacker Roquan Smith to the Ravens — Smith is an All-Pro, but the Bears opted to invest the $100 million elsewhere — and flipping the No. 1 overall pick to the Carolina Panthers for a home-run haul featuring WR D.J. Moore and two first-rounders. One of those picks became the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft when the Panthers skidded to a 2-15 record. GM Ryan Poles drafted Caleb Williams and shipped Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers, while also adding 10,000-yard receiver Keenan Allen (Chargers) and drafting Washington WR Rome Odunze with the ninth overall pick.
KEY ADDITIONS: WR Keenan Allen, OT Kiran Amegadjie, S Kevin Byard, TE Gerald Everett, WR Rome Odunze, RB D’Andre Swift, QB Caleb Williams
KEY LOSSES: QB Justin Fields, RB D’Onta Foreman, S Eddie Jackson, WR Darnell Mooney, TE Robert Tonyan, DE Yannick Ngakoue
CAMP CHECKLIST: Indoctrinating all of the newcomers into an offensive scheme rich with talent might not happen suddenly, and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron will have some challenges over the next six weeks. Namely, how will the interior offensive line shape up? There’s a less urgent matter of working out the timeshare in the backfield, where free-agent addition D’Andre Swift figures to get the bulk of the work. The secondary is captained by CB Jaylon Johnson, who re-signed as a free agent, but the Bears let go of ballhawk Eddie Jackson to create a competition for time at multiple spots.
2024 EXPECTATIONS: Jay Cutler started the last Bears’ playoff win in 2011 (over Matt Hasselbeck and the Seahawks) and still stands as the benchmark for passing yards with the franchise. Expectations couldn’t be much higher for Williams in Chicago, where he’s already being discussed as perhaps the best pure quarterback the franchise has ever employed. With apologies to Shane Matthews and Jim Miller, the Bears are optimistic the offense can grow into a strength but for now plan to let the defense be the teeth of the team. Chicago led the league in interceptions in 2023.
–Field Level Media
