In the first offseason under a new coaching staff, it was vital that the Bears made some big moves in order to get ready for all of the changes ahead. Chicago brought in some veteran presences as well as some high-quality role players at various positions. They also made some trades to move around and get some established talent at positions of need. Overall, it was not an overly flashy offseason, but it was one that did what needed to be done and hopefully sets the team up for success in the near future. This new coaching staff is extremely inexperienced for this cycle, meaning the talent on the roster is going to be more important than ever. Let’s get into the free-agent acquisitions:
Free Agents
There was no bigger addition this offseason than veteran edge rusher Von Miller. He immediately steps into a starting role at a position of need and will be able to mentor younger players such as Aidan Hutchinson and Adam Anderson. Coming out of last season, the Bears were hurting badly at edge rusher, but now have three solid options that can all rotate (Miller, Hutchinson, Anderson) that will allow them to adapt on a weekly basis. Expectations are high for the former Super Bowl MVP, but there is little doubt that he will step in and do exactly what he is asked to.
Other key additions include offensive lineman Graham Glasgow, who will immediately start for this offensive line unit that is a sight for sore eyes. They are not the worst line in the league, but they leave much to be desired. He will bring consistency to a unit lacking it in the worst way. Despite his age, he could very well be a player who sticks around in the Windy City for the remainder of the cycle. Offensive linemen are hard to develop and even hardy to come by.
While those two are the only free-agent additions who are already penciled into the starting lineup, we also brought in a handful of players who can either compete for playing time or will provide much-needed depth. Quarterback Jacob Eason was a late addition during the preseason but showed potential with his rocket arm. He leaves a bit to be desired with his accuracy but has shown enough to give the coaching staff the confidence that he could step in when needed.
Filling out the offensive depth chart, the Bears also brought wide receiver Dante Pettis and tight end Jace Sternberger. Pettis will compete for the slot receiver spot, while Sternberger is going to be a solid TE2. The coaching staff is confident in the ability of both to be noteworthy contributors to this team if their number is called.
Overall, this is a free agent class that may not be commended by the wider public, but it is one that will do its job and helped fill out a roster in need of some rejuvenation. Von Miller brings in savvy veteran leadership for this locker room, depth was added at key positions that could always be hit by injury, and Dante Pettis gets another chance at a fresh start and playing time.
Stay tuned for a recap of the team’s draft class, trades, and superlatives!
