At 7-10, the Chicago Bears have made progress toward the 2023 season.
Last season, the team had a record of 3 wins and 14 losses, often losing touch with opponents.
Not only did they more than double their win total, they held double-digit leads in the fourth quarter of their three losses.
If they hadn’t suffocated those games, the Bears would have been a playoff team with a 10-7 record.
But despite the progress, general manager Ryan Pauls, head coach Matt Eberflus and the Bears still have a long way to go.
Either way, you have the resources you need to take a big step or two up.
They have the No.
1 pick in the NFL Draft thanks to last year’s deal with the Carolina Panthers.
They can use the pick to select a new quarterback or trade the pick for a combination of experienced personnel.
They have to decide if they believe Justin Fields can develop into a championship-level signal caller.
Fields is a good athlete, and the only quarterback who can run as well as Fields is Lamar Jackson, the MVP candidate for the Baltimore Ravens.
However, Fields cannot pass the ball as accurately or as effectively as Jackson.
The Bears have parted ways with offensive coordinator Luke Getsy.
Does this mean the Bears will hire a new coordinator who can work with a rookie quarterback like USC’s Caleb Williams, or will a new offensive line boss come to Chicago to improve Fields?
?
This issue is still open, but the Bears have other free agents they will have to bring back or sell.
Those free agents include cornerback Jaylon Johnson, defensive tackle Justin Jones and wide receiver Darnell Mooney.
Jaylon Johnson Should Stay with the Bears Johnson was one of the best players in the Bears’ much-improved defense, which saw significant growth throughout the season.
The Bears ranked 29th in defense in the 2022 season, but showed significant improvement in 2023, finishing 12th in yards allowed per game.
What was even more impressive was how they worked against the goals conceded.
Chicago ranked 31st in run defense in 2022, but things have changed dramatically last season as they were the toughest team in the league to play against.
The Bears’ defense is much better than it used to be, although it may have something to do with opposing quarterbacks making big plays through the air.
Johnson played a major role in this improvement.
He finished the season with 36 tackles, 10 passes defended, four interceptions and one forced fumble.
Johnson returned one of those interceptions for a touchdown, but he might have had other picks had he not dropped a few catchable balls.
In addition to these numbers, Johnson assumed a leadership role in Chicago.
He’s not afraid to attack big ball carriers against the run and is also the team’s best coverage corner.
The Bears have to bring him back in 2024.
Defensive tackle Justin Jones is a force against the run Jones is the anchor of the Chicago defense when it comes to protecting the interior and stopping opponents from establishing the run Jones is 6-3, The North Carolina native, a 309-pound rookie heavyweight, took it upon himself to stop his opponents from scoring.
He recorded 49 tackles, 4.
5 sacks, and 10 tackles for loss.
Not only has Jones shown that he knows how to block up the middle, he also has the skills to be an impact player when rushing the passer.
He seems like a key player that Chicago can build a defense around for years to come.
he has to get a new one
