Big changes that we could see the Chicago Bears make for the 2024 season
Moves the Chicago Bears could make to set themselves up for 2024
The first big move for the Bears will come before the season even ends coming at trade deadline week. Jaylon Johnson is currently on the final year of his current deal and statements made at the end of the week one game against the Packers are pointing towards him not looking to resign with the team come the end of the season.
Johnson was quoted in an article by the Athletic stating that he has been with the team for a long time now and it's the same thing over and over again. He is tired of it and wants to come in on Monday and celebrate a win as opposed to a loss.
Johnson will be 25 heading into next season and a great cover corner that many teams would love to have. A team that could look to make a move with the Bears for Johnson is the Jacksonville Jaguars The Jaguars are in need of a number one corner and could look to add Johnson to help with their Superbowl push. In this trade, the Jags will send this year first for Johnson and sign him to an extension closer to the end of the season.
Not only is there going to be a new set of coaches coming onto the team the Bears at the end of the year decide to also look for a new quarterback. Justin Feilds just hasn't taken that next step like many hoped he would. Both sides decide that it's time for a fresh start and it marks the end of the Justin Feilds era in Chicago.
Now at the end of the season with a handful of guys coming to the end of their contracts Poles is going to need to make some tough choices. The Bears will likely let a lot of guys walk in free agency. The one guy they do resign is Darnell Mooney. With whoever the quarterback is next season the Bears can't afford to not give him weapons. D.J. Moore alone won't be good enough and keeping Mooney will at least give a decent second weapon.
Other than Mooney it's going to be hard to justify keeping anyone else. So guys like Justin Jones, Yannick Ngakoue, Lucas Patrick, Chase Claypool, and Robert Tonyan are all going to be making their way out.
The last big move the Bears make before the start of free agency starts is by cutting ties with both Eddie Jackson and Cody Whitehair. Both are making a ton of money while also seeing their production drop. Many thought Whitehair would have been cut last offseason so moving into 2024 the move is almost set in stone.