The Chicago Bears have made a lot of moves this offseason to improve the team and everyone around the NFL is taking notice. Colin Cowherd and John Middlekauff discussed the Bears' offseason moves and whether or not selecting Caleb Williams No. 1 overall in the NFL draft makes them an instant playoff contender in 2024.
Caleb Williams + Chicago Bears = Playoffs?
What have the Bears done in 2024? GM Ryan Poles has been busy bringing in the likes of Keenan Allen, D'Andre Swift, and Coleman Shelton. They added help in the secondary with Kevin Byard and brought in a dangerous red zone threat in tight end Gerald Everett.
The Bears also have such a unique opportunity with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft that it's almost hard to imagine them screwing it up. Most experts believe the Bears will draft Caleb Williams out of USC and if they do, does that make Chicago a playoff team?
John Middlekauff thinks the Bears might sneak in as a wild card team and Colin Cowherd gave Ryan Poles credit for the job he's done. Cowherd was originally unimpressed with Poles and thought he would be remembered for his bad decisions.
But the recent roster moves and navigation of the NFL offseason changed Cowherd's mind. Middlekauff shares some of Cowherd's views but takes it a step further. He believes the pressure is all on Matt Eberflus.
Middlekauff might be right if Matt Eberflus can't make any adjustments as every NFL head coach should be able to. In comparison, the Indianapolis Colts lost their starting quarterback in 2023 and were still in playoff contention with their backup.
This was a testament to Shane Steichen's coaching abilities and the locker room's faith in him. If the Chicago Bears face any kind of adversity that pushes back the "championship window" during Caleb Williams's first few NFL seasons and Eberflus was the reason they failed, he could be the fall guy just as Middlekauff explains.
But if Eberflus can make those in-season adjustments and Williams is who the experts believe he is, the Chicago Bears will be a fun playoff contender to watch for years to come.
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