2. Justin Jones, DT
Jones deserves a lot of credit for making 34 starts during two very lean years in Chicago. Before the Bears' defense traded for Montez Sweat and got, you know, good, Jones was plugging away as one of the few difference-makers on that side of the ball. It's not that he was good, per se, but he was certainly better than most everyone else he was playing beside.
While he did set a career-high in sacks last season, Pro Football Focus' grades show a player who has consistently been in decline since his 2020 season with the Chargers. The Bears still haven't come close to figuring out who's going to replace him – that's maybe what that 9th overall pick may be for – but a clear upgrade was needed. He got paid (3-years, $31 million) by the Cardinals, so all's well that ends well.
3. Nathan Peterman, QB
Any QB that manages to stay in the NFL for as long as Peterman has, despite playing like Peterman has, deserves some modest praise.
But Peterman was the QB on some of the most abysmal offensive lineups the Bears have run out there in some time, which is saying something.
It's not like current backup Brett Rypien is any more inspiring, but Peterman will always, in some part, remind Bears fans of that 14-game losing streak; not being one snap away from starting a QB who's only made five of them in six seasons is a welcome sigh of relief.