The Chicago Bears are preparing for the second year of their rebuilding efforts. Things went more or less according to plan last season. They gutted the roster of every expensive veteran, stockpiled draft picks, freed up cap space, and tanked. This landed them the #1 overall pick, leading to a lucrative trade that helped accumulate even more assets. Suddenly this new roster feels young, fresh, and brimming with potential. It allows one to daydream about all sorts of possibilities.
We can take a reasonable guess at what will happen this season. The run defense will be better. Their receiving corps will far outpace last year’s version. Rather than rehash those topics, it’s time to get a bit bolder. Here are some predictions for what will happen in the coming months.
The Chicago Bears add a pass rusher via trade AND free agency.
GM Ryan Poles did a phenomenal job bolstering almost every area of his defense this off-season. He added loads of depth at defensive tackle, two excellent linebackers, and even bolstered their overall talent and depth in the secondary. The one area he couldn’t manage to help was edge rusher. Trevis Gipson and Dominique Robinson still look like the projected starters. Not ideal. Well, the good news is Poles still has time to change that. He also has the resources. Not only will he trade for help, but he’ll double down by signing a veteran as well. One combo that makes perfect sense is Chase Young and Frank Clark. Young appears to be on the outs in Washington. His youth and upside are classic Poles targets. Clark has the necessary veteran presence this team could use as well.
Justin Fields throws 30 touchdowns.
Everybody is obsessed with how many yards the Bears quarterback will throw for because passing yardage determines how good he’ll be. Such absurdities aside, the truth is you win games by scoring points. Fields doesn’t need to throw for 4,000 yards every year. His mobility will always lead to high rushing totals. His biggest leap will come in the touchdown department, as his new supporting cast enables him to find the end zone far more often. He will become the first Bears quarterback in franchise history to crack 30 touchdown passes in a season.
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Terell Smith starts over Tyrique Stevenson.
Not only did the Bears take Stevenson in the 2nd round, but they traded up to get him. That automatically makes one believe he is a lock to start alongside Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon. However, Smith is already making noise in practice. His talent isn’t far from Stevenson’s, and he has the advantage of far better tape when playing in zone coverage. Stevenson is great in man situations but was burned an uncomfortable amount of times in zone. Smith will use that to seize the opportunity in training camp, earning coaches’ trust enough to swipe the starting job.
The new offensive line allows less than 35 sacks.
Pole made it his mission to upgrade the Chicago Bears offensive line this season, knowing how much of a beating Fields took last year. His approach is easy to appreciate. He replaced the entire right side of the line with veteran guard Nate Davis and 1st round right tackle Darnell Wright. Their arrival allows Teven Jenkins, their best guard from last season, to take over the left side while Cody Whitehair moves back to center. You could make a case the Bears upgrade four of their five positions up front. That is why the line will perform far better in 2023, especially pass protection. They allowed 58 sacks last year. Expect that number to fall below 35 by season’s end.
Tyler Scott outproduces Chase Claypool.
On the one hand, fans will hate this. It means the 2nd round pick the Bears gave up for Claypool was ultimately fruitless. On the other hand, it’s great news because it means Poles found himself a hidden gem in Scott. The 4th round pick out of Cincinnati has plenty of traits to like. He’s blazing fast, gets a great release off the snap, and displays strong hands. Poles compared him to Tyler Lockett. Thanks to his great vertical ability, he is a perfect fit for Fields. Their connection will bloom immediately in training camp and evolve during the season. Claypool, a victim of leaning too much on his raw talent, will be left behind.
