4 Bears players who could be nice surprises in 2024

2 offensive players who could be a nice surprise in 2024

1. Darnell Wright, T

Maybe surprise isn't the best word in Wright's case, since it wouldn't be that shocking to anyone if last year's 10th overall pick played well. And there was a lot to like from Wright's rookie season: he started all 17 games at right tackle, played over 1,000 snaps, and finished the season about halfway down Pro Football Focus' tackle rankings (52 of 81).

While most Bears fans will agree that he showed more than enough to be considered the right tackle of the future, there are a handful of things he could clean up heading into Year 2. Penalties were an issue for him at times last year, ending the season as the 6th-most penalized (11) tackle in the NFL.

Overall, he graded better as a run-blocker, and even with Justin Fields' tendency to hold on to the ball too long, Wright's 11 sacks allowed is a lot. So the 'surprise' would be less that Wright plays well, and more that he takes that next step in becoming an elite offensive tackle.

2. Gerald Everett, TE

I hate to play it safe again (a case for Velus Jones would be so much more fun) but Everett's just unavoidably set up for success in Chicago.

Cole Kmet's going to get his targets, but Shane Waldron loves two tight end offense enough to keep Everett on the field for a bunch of snaps. And while he's mostly an in-line or slot tight end, he's versatile enough (70 snaps out wide in 2023) to create matchup problems alongside Keenan Allen and DJ Moore (and Rome Oduze?!).

As the Bears' 5th best option, averaging anywhere between four and five hundred receiving yards per season is just fine.