'24 Preview: Chicago Bears
All Access Football previews the 2024 Chicago Bears. All Access. All Football. All The Time.
Volume XXIV Edition XXXVII | 2024 Preview: Chicago Bears
Today’s edition of All Access Football is presented by Sports Management Worldwide. Take your obsession and turn it into your profession. With over 80,000 alumni from 160-plus countries worldwide, SMWW can help jumpstart your professional sports career from the comfort of your own home. Search for various online courses of interest on their website and be sure to reserve your ticket to the 2025 SMWW Football Career Conference in Indianapolis, which coincides with the NFL Scouting Combine. See you there!
NFC NORTH || 2023 Record: 7-10 || AAF Preseason Power Ranking: 14
Team Brass
Owner: Virginia Halas McCaskey || General Manager: Ryan Poles || Head Coach: Matt Eberflus || Offensive Coordinator: Shane Waldron || Defensive Coordinator: Eric Washington || Special Teams: Richard Hightower
2024 NFLPA Report Card || Overall Ranking (10 of 32)
Offense Rankings
Total Offense: 323.2 (20th) || Passing: 182.1 (27th) || Rushing: 141.2 (2nd) || Points: 21.2 (18th) || Sacked: 50 (T-25th) || 3rd Down: 41.2% (12th)
Defense Rankings
Total Defense: 324.2 (12th) || Passing: 237.8 (25th) || Rushing: 86.4 (1st) || Points Allowed: 22.3 (20th) || Sacks: 30 (31st) || Turnover Differential: 3 (11th)
Top 10 Franchise Players
DE Montez Sweat (photo credit: Chicago Bears)
CB Caleb Williams
CB Jaylon Johnson
WR DJ Moore
WR Keenan Allen
LB TJ Edwards
LB Tremaine Edwards
TE Cole Kmet
OT Darnell Wright
WR Rome Odunze
Key Additions
RB D’Andre Swift (Eagles) || WR Keenan Allen (Chargers) || TE Gerald Everett (Chargers) || OT Jake Curhan (Seahawks) || S Jonathan Owens (Packers) || S Kevin Byard (Eagles)
Key Losses
QB Justin Fields (Steelers) || RB D’Onta Foreman (Browns) || WR Darnell Mooney (Falcons) || TE Robert Tonyan (Vikings) || C Lucas Patrick (Saints) || C/OG Cody Whitehair (Raiders) || DE Yannick Ngakoue || DL Justin Jones (Cardinals) || S Eddie Jackson
Breakout Players
OT Darnell Wright - The Bears chose Wright with the 10th overall selection after a trade down in the 2022 NFL Draft. It has proved to be one of general manager’s Ryan Poles’ best moves to date. Wright is just scratching the surface of his potential after an impressive rookie campaign in which he started 17 games at right tackle. He was honored with the Brian Piccolo Award, given to one rookie who best exemplifies the courage, loyalty, teamwork, dedication and sense of humor …
LB Jack Sanborn - An undrafted free agent in the ‘22 draft, Sanborn has become a big part of the Bears defense, starting at multiple linebacker spots, battling through injuries and totaling at least 64 tackles in each of his first two seasons. He’s projected to be their starting strong side linebacker as they break camp …
S Jaquan Brisker - After an impactful rookie year, Brisker struggled with injuries and lackluster play during the first half of his sophomore campaign. He managed to bounce back and finish strong down the stretch. With the Bears parting ways with All Pro Eddie Jackson in the offseason, Brisker must be more consistent.
2024 NFL Draft Class
No team improved themselves more than ‘da Bears,’ who, are back! The decision to double down at wide receiver with Rome Odunze after signing Keenan Allen, places Chicago in the upper-echelon of offenses, alongside the likes of Kansas City, San Francisco and Miami. Nabbing Troy Taylor, the best punter in the draft in the fourth round was a shrewd move and will help in flipping the field. Initial Overall Rookie Assessment: High Level Impact
Rd.1 No.1 - QB Caleb Williams, USC (photo credit: Chicago Bears)
Rd.1 No.9 - WR Rome Odunze, Washington
Rd.3 No.75 - OT Kiran Amegadjie, Yale
Rd.4 No.122 - P Troy Taylor, Iowa
Rd.5 No.144 - DE Austin Booker, Kansas
UDFA Watch
OT Theo Benedet, British Columbia
DT Keith Randolph Jr., Illinois
CB Roddy Steward, Troy
Top 10 Players Under 25
QB Caleb Williams (22)
OT Darnell Wright (22)
WR Rome Odunze (22)
CB Typique Stevenson (24)
CB Kyler Gordon (24)
DT Zach Pickens (24)
CB Terell Smith (24)
OT Kiran Amegadjie (22)
QB Tyson Bagent (24)
LB Jack Sanborn (23)
Prediction
Vegas O/U Win Total: 8.5 - Bears could back door their way into playoffs, 9-8.