Predicting the future of a team is never easy. Chicago Bears fans are well aware of this after last year's disappointing 5-12 season, which was supposed to be the team's bounce-back year.
ESPN took a crack at it with their future power ranking, which looked at how teams will be ranked over the next three years. The Bears were tied for 18th with the New England Patriots as Chicago got the following scores and rankings:
Category | Score | NFL Rank |
|---|---|---|
Overall Roster (minus QB) | 78 | 15 |
Quarterback | 78.8 | 18 |
Coaching | 82.3 | 15 |
Front Office | 69.8 | 27 |
Ben Solak, the first ESPN analyst, shared his thoughts on why fans should have hope for the Bears' future.
"The Bears might have one of the NFL's best young cores -- if Ben Johnson is the coach we think he is, if Caleb Williams is the quarterback prospect we think he is and if Rome Odunze is the wide receiver prospect we think he is. The early-drafted rookies on offense also contribute, and the defense benefits from the key free agent additions of edge rusher Dayo Odeyingbo and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett. There are too many ifs for a higher ranking right now, but the ceiling is sky-high."
Louis Riddick was up next as he added why there should be concern about the Bears.
"Last year, I focused on the Bears' coaching staff, particularly offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and his ability to competently guide Williams through his rookie season. That didn't end very well, as Waldron was fired nine games into the 2024 season. My focus now turns to Williams and whether he has the makeup to take advantage of and utilize an upgraded coaching staff led by Johnson and start to deliver on the immense physical potential he possesses."
Seth Walder concluded with his bold prediction for Chicago.
"A yet-to-be-drafted Bears running back will lead the league in rushing yards. Not only is the career peak of running backs in their first couple of seasons, but by 2027, the Johnson/Williams offense will also be in full swing."
What does the Bears' future look like?
An interesting aspect of the article that wasn't discussed was the front office's low grade and its ranking of 27th. The Bears just extended general manager Ryan Poles before training camp, and many have credited him for bringing in good talent over the years, but after the recent struggles, there might not be as much faith that he can turn it around.
What every Bears fan knows is that the future hinges on the success or failure of Williams at quarterback. That's why Johnson was brought in to develop Williams and get the offense rolling under him. Any franchise that has never had a 4,000-yard passer should raise all kinds of major red flags to everyone.
Poles and Johnson, on paper, have done a great job constructing this roster with a focus on rebuilding the offensive line and adding young offensive weapons in the NFL Draft. The only reason the offense would fail for Chicago at this point is that Williams is not the right man. Any excuses should be ignored.
Read more: Bears 53-man roster prediction sees former third-round pick avoid being cut
The sample size is currently too small to accurately diagnose whether the Bears will be good or bad. Everyone jumped ahead last year with praise for Chicago before the season, and look at how that turned out. Let's wait until Week 1 of the regular season to start having the discussion.