There's a lot of work ahead for a team that finished with the worst record in the NFL in 2022. What have been the Chicago Bears' top moves this offseason?
The Chicago Bears were NFC North champions in 2018. The past four seasons have been quite different, despite the fact that the club reached the playoffs in 2020 albeit with an 8-8 record.
A year ago, former Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus was named the team's newest head coach. The club got off to a mediocre 3-4 start, but things would get much worse. The Bears closed out 2022 with 10 consecutive losses and would allow the most points in the league.
It's the second year for Eberflus, as well as general manager Ryan Poles. What three decisions have been the club's best to date this offseason?
Bears best offseason moves: 3. Providing the offensive line with more youth
In recent years, the organization has certainly addressed the offensive line via the draft. Guard Tevin Jenkins was a second-round pick in 2021. A year ago, general manager Ryan Poles selected tackle Braxton Jones in the fifth round.
That youth movement continued this offseason and included a free-agent addition. The Bears scooped up guard Nate Davis, a 26-year-old pro who was a starter in all four seasons with the Titans. Poles also used the 10th overall pick in April on University of Tennessee tackle Darnell Wright.
Thanks mainly to quarterback Justin Fields, the Bears led the NFL in rushing in 2022. Of course, he also absorbed 55 of the 58 sacks allowed this past season. It will be interesting to see how long this new-look offensive front takes to gel.
Bears best offseason moves: 2. Adding a pair of former Carolina Panthers
One came via free agency and the other courtesy of a huge trade. Now running back D'Onta Foreman and wide receiver D.J. Moore are teammates again, this time in the Windy City. This duo should completely change the look of a Chicago Bears' offense that finished 28th in the league in total yards per game, including dead last in passing.
Yes, the team did lead the league in rushing this past season, averaging a solid 177.3 yards per game on the ground. However, more than one-third of the team's yards came from quarterback Justin Fields, who set a new NFL record for rushing yards by a quarterback (1,143) in a season. David Montgomery, who was the team's top running back a year ago with 801 yards on the ground, is now with the Chicago Bears.
The well-traveled Foreman ran for a career-best 914 yards a year ago with Carolina and totaled 100-plus yards rushing in five of his final 11 outings.
Moore brings a solid but not spectacular resume to Chicago. The 2018 first-round draft pick from the University of Maryland has totaled 364 catches for 5,201 yards and 21 scores. He will stretch the field for the Bears and teamed with wideouts Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool, will give Justin Fields a lot of options.
Bears best offseason moves: 1. Upgrading the defensive line via free agency and the draft
Matt Eberflus was the defensive coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts for four seasons before taking over the top spot in Chicago this past season. Perhaps that is why it's so hard for some to believe that the Bears' defense was so disappointing in 2022.
The club gave up a league-high 463 points and surrendered 53 offensive touchdowns. Only three teams surrendered more total yards per outing and only the Houston Texans (170.2) allowed more yards per game on the ground (157.3) than Eberflus' club.
Yes, the club went all in on linebacker help with the additions of T.J. Edwards (Eagles), Tremaine Edmunds (Bills), and Dylan Cole (Titans) this offseason. However, general manager Ryan Poles signed three veteran defensive linemen in DeMarcus Walker (Titans), Andrew Billings (Raiders), and Raheem Green (Texans). He also used three of their 10 draft choices on interior defensive front help in the form of Gervon Dexter (2-Florida), Zacch Pickens (3-South Carolina), and Travis Bell (7-Kennesaw State).
This past season, the Bears were gouged for 200-plus yards on the ground in five of their 17 outings. Meanwhile, no team in the league gave up more rushing touchdowns in 2022 as Chicago defenders permitted opponents to run for 31 scores.