Why The Chicago Bears Will Approach 2023 Similar To 2004
The Chicago Bears seem to have a plan for what they want to do moving forward. Yes, the 2022 season hasn’t gone as hoped, but that doesn’t mean GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus are discouraged. They believe a foundation has been laid. Players are required to perform with effort, intensity, and intelligence. Despite obvious talent deficiencies, the team has upheld that standard. Quarterback Justin Fields looks every bit like the future franchise player this organization has lacked for decades. Young players like Jaquan Brisker, Braxton Jones, and Jack Sanborn have already established themselves as exciting additions.
The question moving forward is what the team will do going into 2023. Based on who runs the team and the overall needs of the roster, Bears fans should get reacquainted with what happened in 2004. One thing that was apparent coming out of the year prior was how weak they were in the trenches. The offensive line allowed 43 sacks. The defensive line was even worse, having only one player (Alex Brown) top the 2.5-sack mark for the season. So GM Jerry Angelo and new head coach Lovie Smith set their objectives.
Free agency:
- OT John Tait – 6-year deal for $34 million
- OG Ruben Brown – 3-year deal
Trade:
- WR Marty Booker and 3rd round pick for DE Adewale Ogunleye
Draft:
- 1st round – Tommie Harris, DT, Oklahoma
- 2nd round – Tank Johnson, DT, Washington
The Chicago Bears are poised to follow that same blueprint.
For one, it worked out well for them 18 years ago. Tait and Brown immediately helped to upgrade the offensive line. Ogunleye and Harris, meanwhile, invigorated the pass rush. Chicago’s defense quickly became one of the fiercest in the NFL by the next season in 2005. They won the division and hosted a playoff game. A year after that, the Bears were in the Super Bowl. It proved that investing heavily in the trenches is never wrong. Based on the recent outlook of 2023, it’s safe to assume Poles and Eberflus will do the same.
Current projections for the upcoming draft signal a 1st round that is heavy with top defensive line prospects compared to most offensive positions. If the Chicago Bears pick in the top five, almost every expert agrees they’ll take a defensive tackle or an edge rusher. Conversely, the free agent market should have solid options on the offensive line. Names like Elgton Jenkins, Orlando Brown, Jack Conklin, Kaleb McGary, Mike McGlinchey, and Isaiah Wynn could all be solid additions to their front.
There are multiple ways this can go down. It depends on how the market and draft board unfold. Either way, the objective will remain the same. The Bears will get bigger, faster, and stronger up front.