Three offseason moves the Bears must make
Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles
The Chicago Bears have had a strong offseason, adding impact players in free agency while also selecting the future faces of the franchise in the 2024 NFL Draft. There may be only a few spots left to fill, but several areas of the roster could use improvement.
With that in mind, here are three post-draft moves the Bears must make.
Sign a defensive tackle
The Bears added several Day 1 starters on both sides of the ball, both in free agency and the draft. However, after addressing needs in the secondary and investing most of their draft capital on offense, the team didn’t add depth to the defensive line.
After losing Justin Jones in free agency to the Arizona Cardinals, the Bears aren’t terribly deep up the middle, with Gervon Dexter, Andrew Billings and Zacch Pickens atop the depth chart. Billings and Pickens – both selected in the 2023 NFL Draft – have one combined start between them. Meanwhile, Billings, a six-year veteran, started all 17 games a year ago for Chicago but is more of a run-stopper than anything else, having amassed only 12 solo tackles and zero sacks last season despite playing nearly 50 percent of the team’s defensive snaps.
Dexter could make a giant leap in 2024 after registering 2.5 sacks and 12 QB hits in limited time as a rookie, but it would still behoove the Bears to add another pass-rushing threat to solidify things up the middle.
Add offensive line depth
The Bears have the edges of their offensive line covered with serviceable starters Braxton Jones (LT) and Darnell Wright (RT). Beyond that, though, question marks remain at guard and safety.
Starting guards Teven Jenkins and Nate Davis missed a combined 11 games last season. Jenkins began the 2023 campaign on injured reserve with a leg injury, then missed time with a concussion. Meanwhile, Davis missed two weeks following a death in his family and four more weeks later in the year with a high-ankle sprain. There’s also uncertainty at center, with former Buffalo Bills o-lineman Ryan Bates and ex-Los Angeles Rams starter Coleman Shelton battling for the job. Shelton started 17 games for L.A. last season, finishing 16th among centers with a 64.5 grade per PFF. Bates played guard predominantly in Buffalo, with his only two starts coming in the playoffs last year.
Rookie third-round pick Kiran Amegadjie could find a role, too, potentially in the guard rotation. However, adding more depth along the line’s interior should be on the Bears’ to-do list before now and training camp.
Sign a defensive end
Obviously, the Bears have stud Pro Bowler Montez Sweat to lean on. But after deciding against re-signing Yannick Ngakoue, the side opposite Sweat remains a little lean.
Right now, the Bears’ options are DeMarcus Walker and 2022 fifth-round pick Dominique Robinson. Walker, a seven-year veteran, made 17 starts, while Robinson played 11 games in 2023 – however, the pair combined for only four sacks and 17 QB hits (16 from Walker) in 2023.
The Bears drafted intriguing lineman Austin Booker out of Kansas in the fifth round (No. 144), and the slender, 6-foot-6, 245-pounder could surprise and find a role in the rotation immediately. However, counting on the position group as is probably isn’t a wise move.
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