The Chicago Bears are in full offseason mode now with the 2024 league year coming to a close last night in Super Bowl 59. A dominant 40-22 victory from the Eagles to prevent Kansas City of snagging the first three-peat in the Super Bowl marks a fresh start for everyone else across the league.
Free agency opens up in about a month and another significant draft for Chicago will take place at the end of April. After every Super Bowl, rankings and odds to win the big game for the next year flood the internet immediately.
New hope is on the horizon for the Bears based on everything that the organization has going for them ahead of Training Camp. A new head coach and a solid young core is already enough for fans to buy in, but having good draft capital and nearly $70 million in cap space takes things to a whole new level. Despite things pointing in the right direction for the Bears, ESPN isn’t as optimistic early on.
The Chicago Bears are not treated to kind in these rankings
The ESPN way-too-early rankings for the 2025 season were not in the Bears’ favor. Chicago’s brutal losing streak this past year is not a positive mark for the team entering a new season, and the fact that things will take time to get off the ground with a new coaching staff could hurt them early on.
Chicago ranked 22nd according to ESPN and the key to their offseason is something that fans have been echoing for months now.
Describe this offseason in three words: Build the O-line
“To create similar success to what he designed in Detroit, new Bears coach Ben Johnson said he’ll ‘calibrate’ an offense around quarterback Caleb Williams. That starts with adding offensive lineman to better protect Williams, who was sacked a league-high 68 times. Three of Chicago’s primary starters – Teven Jenkins, Coleman Shelton and Matt Pryor – are free agents. With the No. 10 pick and a projected $74.8 million in cap space, adding up front is general manager Ryan Poles’ top priority,” said Courtney Cronin.
The Bears’ line allowed a league-high 68 sacks a year ago and that’s something that cannot stand in 2025. It is always tough to bring in more starters than you are losing and the front office will have to attack the openings with full force.
The first round of the draft has a high chance of the Bears going with a guy like Will Campbell or Kelvin Banks Jr whether it’s at 10th overall or a trade back is made. A college tackle joining Chicago would likely result in a battle in camp between them and Braxton Jones. The winner would be the team’s left tackle and the loser would kick inside to play left guard.
The Ben Johnson era for the Chicago Bears needs to get off to a hot start
Along with the offensive line, another edge rusher and a third receiver are major needs for the Bears this offseason. Montez Sweat desperately needs help getting to the quarterback and a plethora of options through the draft and free agency could provide him with that.
Johnson’s new scheme foe the Bears offense will rely on speed and because of that, Keenan Allen should be on the move this offseason. A speedy wide out on the open market like Hollywood Brown would fit the mold for what Johnson might be looking for prior to his first season as the Bears’ head coach.
Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson believed to be targeting former player
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