Bears a sleeper pick to contend for postseason in 2023

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles saw enough from Justin Fields in 2022 to go all-in on the 24-year-old as his franchise quarterback.

That willingness to add pieces around Fields instead of taking a flier on another first-round quarterback is what, according to Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox, could make the Bears a surprise postseason threat in 2023.

“The Bears could be this year's version of the 2021 Bengals or 2022 Jags,” Knox wrote. “It's hard to point to a single move here, though acquiring (D.J.) Moore in the trade with Carolina is a big one. … With (a better supporting cast), Fields should improve as a passer. He's already one of the most dangerous scramblers in the game and opposing offenses won't be able to just keep him off the field by running the ball.
A massive improvement in the win column should be coming. Even if the Bears don't claim the NFC North, they'll be dangerous and a heck of a lot of fun to watch.”

Chicago has arguably improved the most of any team over the last two weeks. In trading the No. 1 overall pick to the Carolina Panthers, Poles gave Fields a bona fide No. 1 receiver in D.J. Moore to pair with Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool. 

He also signed former Packers tight end Robert Tonyan to pair with Cole Kmet, added both D’Onta Foreman and Travis Homer to complement Khalil Herbert in the backfield, and he swiped guard Nate Davis from the Titans to bolster the offensive line.

Poles also added some much-needed pieces in linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards plus defensive end DeMarcus Walker to help revamp Chicago’s defense, which ranked 29th in the NFL in 2022. The Bears are rumored to be targeting Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter with the No. 9 overall pick as well.

With the Packers expected to trend downward in the post-Aaron Rodgers era, and Minnesota looking to be a team in transition, the Bears may have improved just enough to turn some heads next season.