The Chicago Bears believe they are Super Bowl contenders, in large part due to their faith in quarterback Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson. Williams got some love from other coaches, executives, and scouts in the league, where he was ranked 10th among NFL QBs, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.
Despite that being the vibe around the team, there are still some clear questions around the league, especially on the defensive front.
FanSided's Jake Beckman released an article discussing the biggest gamble around every team in the NFL. In the Bears section, he called out Chicago for not adding an elite pass rusher.
"The problem is that they didn’t get a premium pass rusher. And for a team that has the chance to compete for a championship, that doesn’t really make much sense … and that lack of sense gets emphasized when a similar team like the Rams goes out and trades for Myles Garrett. The problem is that they didn’t get a premium pass rusher. And for a team that has the chance to compete for a championship, that doesn’t really make much sense … and that lack of sense gets emphasized when a similar team like the Rams goes out and trades for Myles Garrett."
And most fans would agree with this sentiment, as the Bears know they need more juice off the edge, but they weren't able to fill that void this offseason.
Bears fans already know what the team's biggest concern is
Last season, the Bears' defense relied heavily on turnovers. They ranked first in the NFL in turnover differential (+22), but at the same time, there were some less-than-appealing stats. The Bears were 23rd in pass defense (227.2) and tied for 28th in team sacks (35).
Montez Sweat led the team in sacks (10), but behind him, there's not much juice coming off the edge. They have hopes that Austin Booker can continue to take steps in his development, but there's no guarantee. Meanwhile, Dayo Odeyingbo was a big-ticket free agent for them, yet he's coming off a torn Achilles.
There's a reason that many people thought they were going to add a pass rusher via the NFL Draft, and they were connected to Maxx Crosby. There was even a short time when Myles Garrett's name floated as a trade option for Chicago, but nothing materialized.
Read more: Ranking most important Bears rookies (and Dillon Thieneman isn't first)
And with camp set to begin in a couple of weeks, the Bears will enter that portion of the offseason with the roster that they've built over the last few months. Edge is the biggest hole on this roster, making it clear this is the biggest gamble they've made this offseason. How that unfolds will be something to watch closely for the Bears.
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