The Chicago Bears' offseason can be classified as nothing less than a success. Through trades, free agent signings, and the upcoming draft, general manager Ryan Poles has completely overhauled what was already a solid roster in Chicago.
After finishing in last once again in the NFC North, things needed to change for the Bears in order to get back into playoff relevancy and so far, the team has made sure those necessary changes have happened.
The Bears first major decision of the offseason was retaining head coach Matt Eberflus despite the amount of high profile coaches available. Then, the Bears rounded out his coaching staff with two top coordinators in Shane Waldron and Eric Washington.
As for the players on the field, the Bears biggest move was deciding to part ways with quarterback Justin Fields in favor of replacing him with a rookie selected with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. That rookie will also have a new top pass catcher to target in Keenan Allen and a dynamic player out of the backfield in D'Andre Swift.
Overall, the Bears' offseason has been a major success for the future of the franchise and getting the team back on the right path. In fact, some media outlets are considering the Bears' offseason to be one of the best in the entire league.
According to Blecher Report's offseason grades for all 32 teams, the Bears received an A+ grade for their moves this offseason. The Bears were only one of two teams to receive an A+ grade, joining the Detroit Lions.
Here's part of what the Bleacher Report piece had to say about the Bears' offseason:
"The Bears traded away Justin Fields, clearing the way for a new signal-caller to take over. They also upgraded the offensive supporting cast by signing D'Andre Swift, adding tight end Gerald Everett and trading for Pro Bowl wideout Keenan Allen. The Bears also added some depth to the offensive line by trading for Ryan Bates and signing Matt Pryor and Coleman Shelton... Add in the fact that Chicago locked up star cornerback Jaylon Johnson, and it's hard not to call this offseason a massive success."
Heading into the 2024 season, the Bears roster is stacked and will only look better following the upcoming draft class that will be brought in next week.
The Bears' new starting quarterback, which is expected to be Caleb Williams, will now have DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Cole Kmet, Gerald Everett, and Tyler Scott to throw to along with three talented running backs currently on the roster.
On defense, the entire core of Eberflus' top ranked defense will be retained, including stars such as Montez Sweat, Jaylon Johnson, Jaquan Brisker, Tremaine Edmunds, and T.J. Edwards who will be accompanied by a group of talented young players.
The Bears are in a fantastic spot entering next season and have the opportunity to return to playoff relevancy as soon as this coming season, and it's all thanks to the job Poles has done this offseason as the team's general manager.
More must-reads: