The Chicago Bears have done a lot to upgrade their roster already this offseason. There were a lot of needs that had to be addressed, evident from the 10-game losing streak to end the 2022 season, which landed them the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
With the first overall pick and the most cap space in the league, general manager Ryan Poles was able to get to work. He made numerous splash signings, with the biggest ones coming on the defensive side to upgrade Chicago’s abysmal run defense.
On offense, the offensive line received an upgrade as did the weapons around Justin Fields. As part of the trade with the Carolina Panthers centered around the No. 1 overall pick, the Bears received wide receiver, D.J. Moore. Offensive guard Nate Davis was signed in free agency along with tight end Robert Tonyan and running back D’Onta Foreman as well.
The Foreman signing hasn’t garnered a ton of attention, but it is an important one. The Bears’ backfield needed to undergo some changes with David Montgomery leaving in free agency. Foreman had a career season with the Panthers in 2022 and will be a solid addition to fill that void.
However, the team could dip into free agency once again. What they will miss most about Montgomery was his work in the passing game in protection and pass-catching. That isn’t an area in that Foreman excels, so the Bears could give that shot to Travis Homer, who they also signed.
But, if they want to round out their backfield with another veteran, someone such as Ezekiel Elliott could make some sense. Elliott no longer has the burst that made him one of the best players at his position earlier in his career, but remains a very good short-yardage back.
That is a facet of the game Foreman didn’t always excel in last season with the Panthers, which could allow Elliott to carve out a niche role in the Chicago backfield. Despite the lack of big play ability, Elliott was one of only eight players to rush for at least 10 touchdowns last season. He still possesses the strength to move the pile when needing to convert in short-yardage situations.
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