4 reasons to get super excited for Chicago Bears training camp and preseason
We are one week into training camp and Chicago Bears fans have plenty to be excited about. The 2023 offseason has been eventful, to say the least and Ryan Poles has done a masterful job of revamping this team in just one year to fit more closely to his vision. He admits that the team has more to go before it reaches its full potential, but as training camp is underway, there are plenty of reasons to be excited. In fact, here are five reasons for Bears fans to be hyped up right now.
Chicago Bears fans should be excited about the 2023 free agent signings
When the Chicago Bears reached the 2022 NFL trade deadline, Ryan Poles had already found a way to ship off Khalil Mack, Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith. Mack went early as a handshake deal was made before the official start of the 2022 offseason. Mack is an amazing player and likely headed to the Hall of Fame one day. Unfortunately, he didn't fit the timeline Ryan Poles envisioned for this team. Plus, Matt Eberflus doesn't covet elite defensive ends. Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith were traded near the deadline and the extra draft picks were more important at the time.
Although Ryan Poles hasn't really replaced Mack and Quinn, there is still time to upgrade that position. DeMarcus Walker is receiving high praise during camp right now and Terrell Lewis is having an amazing camp. Neither will amount to what Mack and Quinn have achieved, but they should improve upon what this defensive line did in 2022. Rumors are that Chicago could also still be interested in adding one of Justin Houston or Yannick Ngakoue. Let's focus on the players the Bears did add though.
Tremaine Edmunds and DeMarcus Walker have been the highlights on defense. T.J. Edwards is also being talked up a bit. The two new linebackers should vastly improve the run defense this year. Andrew Billing should help in that regard as well because the big man at the defensive tackle spot will help keep the linebackers free. These four are my favorite defensive free agents this offseason and players you should keep an eye on during training camp and preseason.
On the offensive side of the ball, the top signing is easily Nate Davis. Davis should help keep the interior of the line from collapsing instantly on Justin Fields this season. Robert Tonyan was the only other big signing, but if we count the trade of the first-overall pick to the Panthers in exchange for draft picks and DJ Moore, then Moore is easily the top "free agent" addition this offseason. I guess some might consider D'Onta Foreman worth mentioning as well, but he doesn't overly excite me.
Other signings include Travis Homer, P.J. Walker, Rasheem Green, Dante Pettis, Nathan Peterman and Dylan Cole.