Identifying Three Areas Of Need Where The Chicago Bears Could Still Upgrade

[MacNasty]

Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images With the NFL offseason winding down and the anticipation for the 2024 NFL regular season ramping up, we’ll take a look at three areas where the Chicago Bears could still look to upgrade. While the 2024 NFL offseason might be coming to an end, it will not stop teams around the league from bolstering their rosters until Week 1. General manager Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears should fall squarely into the category of teams that will be looking to strike the right deal (or two). This roster has come a long way over the last three years. When Poles took over in 2022, the team was old and had many bad contracts. While no team will ever be perfect in regards to all contracts, Poles has done an admirable job of improving the situation. Fans should probably not expect an NFC North title in 2024, but this is a roster that should be ready to compete for a playoff spot. In today’s sports world, patience has a limit, and timelines for regimes can run shorter than expected. That’s not to say it’s Super Bowl or bust this season, but anything short of a winning record should be considered a failure. A big part of getting this franchise over the hump will rely on the quarterback play. Historically speaking, rookie quarterbacks tend to struggle more than they succeed. Even so, there are recent examples of rookies taking their team from zero to hero in Year 1. Whether or not Caleb Williams can do that in Chicago remains to be seen, but history should not deter Poles from putting the finishing touches on his competitive roster in 2024. Here are three positions where the Bears should be actively pursuing upgrades. 1) Defensive End Sound familiar to last season? In some ways, it is. The good news is that Poles was able to land Montez Sweat at last year’s trade deadline. While the situation isn’t as dire as it was in 2023, adding another veteran with the ability to get after the quarterback should be a priority. Luckily for Chicago, there are a few quality options that shouldn’t break the bank.

• Yannick Ngakoue
• Emmanuel Ogbah
• Carl Lawson
• Frank Clark
• Justin Houston

Of this list, Nagkoue makes the most sense on the surface. Sure, he had a career-worst year with Chicago in 2023, but his familiarity with the scheme and reduced role could be exactly what the Bears need to get this group over the hump. There are probably no true 10-sack-per-year players on this list, but I’m not sure they need that anyways. The biggest key for a Ngakoue return will be his price tag. $10.5 million again in 2024 seems far too high for a player of his caliber. Something closer to a base salary of $3 million with incentives to reach $6 million could be a good middle-ground. Ogbah and Lawson are also interesting names, especially in a reduced role. 2) Defensive Tackle In many ways, I would almost classify this as a bigger need than defensive end. The biggest issue is that, on the surface, no true upgrades remain available for free agency. Calais Campbell could have made sense, but he signed a one-year deal to go back home and play for the Miami Dolphins. If the Bears choose to pursue an upgrade, it’ll likely come from a trade or a surprise cut made closer to the start of the regular season from another team. Of all the needs remaining for Chicago, this is one I would have circled for closer to the trade deadline. 3) Offensive Line Maybe I’m in the minority here, but I do not believe Chicago did nearly enough in the trenches this offseason. Their lack of interest in a big upgrade at center has me concerned for the offense’s ceiling in 2024. Ryan Bates was brought over in a pre-free agency trade but has taken very few snaps at the position. Coleman Shelton started the past few years for the Los Angeles Rams but has struggled in pass protection. On a Top 5-10 offensive line, both players are likely better suited for depth. Chicago has a chance to do exactly that with one move: Connor Williams. His health had been a mystery for the better part of the offseason after an ugly ACL tear at the end of the last season. Last week, it was reported that he’ll be ready for the start of Week 1 and is actively speaking to teams. Maybe it’s wishful thinking, but this is exactly the type of players the Bears should be buying low on, especially with their depth already in place. It’s no secret that Teven Jenkins and Nate Davis have struggled to stay healthy for a full season. So, there’s still a good chance that one of Bates or Shelton would see considerable playing time. Williams is still just 27 years old and should have plenty of good years left in the tank. If he can’t return to full health, a one-year deal will not hurt Chicago in the long term. Other options include Greg Van Roten, Mason Cole, Nick Gates, and Connor McGovern are other names that could at least bolster depth. Williams stands out as the one true starting name that could come in and make an impact out of the gate.

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