Bears' Team Needs to Fill in 2023 NFL Free Agency
Will the Chicago Bears be among the biggest spenders of the NFL offseason? That isn't yet clear, but they sure have the capability to be near the top of that list.
According to Over The Cap, they are projected to have a little more than $98 million in available cap space, the most of any team in the league. They're unlikely to just hand out huge contracts without weighing the repercussions, but they could be in the market for some top free agents on the market.
Chicago has a franchise quarterback in place in Justin Fields, but it needs to surround him with more talent on offense. It also has quite a few holes that it needs to fill on defense.
Here's a look at the biggest needs the Bears have to address as they head into free agency, which begins March 15.
Defensive Tackle
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Justin Jones is the only returning defensive tackle on the Bears' roster with significant NFL experience. That makes it clear why the position is one of the team's biggest areas of need heading into the offseason.
It's possible Chicago uses the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft on Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter. If it does, then that will help bolster the center of its defensive line and give it a player to build around for the long-term future.
However, the Bears need to add more than one DT, considering Jones and one other player would be unlikely to play every snap of the season. They need depth, which is something they could fix via free agency.
If Chicago doesn't end up with Carter, then it must sign at least one defensive tackle in free agency, and likely more. No matter how it happens, the Bears greatly need to improve this position group.
Defensive End
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Along the same lines, Chicago needs to improve the ends of its defensive line as well. That's evident after the team recorded an NFL-low 20 sacks during the 2022 campaign.
Trevis Gipson is a solid edge-rusher, but the 25-year-old still notched only three sacks in 17 games this past season. He has the potential for more, as he showed with seven sacks in 16 contests in 2021. But he can't single-handedly fix Chicago's pass rush.
Another option for the Bears with the No. 1 pick in the draft will be Alabama edge-rusher Will Anderson Jr., but they'll likely need to acquire multiple ends this offseason to bolster the unit.
There should be some solid pass-rushers on the market, and Chicago has the money to land one of the best. It needs to strongly consider spending big so it can put more pressure on opposing quarterbacks next season and beyond.
Wide Receiver
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Darnell Mooney is the only proven top wide receiver on the Chicago roster. Chase Claypool has potential and could improve enough to reach that point, as could Velus Jones Jr., but neither is a sure thing for 2023.
If Justin Fields is going to reach the next level, the quarterback needs talented receivers to throw the ball to. That's been an issue over his first two seasons, and it would have been even worse without Mooney.
The WR free-agent market isn't great this offseason, as there aren't many top-tier options available. So the best move for Chicago could be to target a top receiver in the draft and build depth for the unit via free agency.
However it happens, though, the Bears must strengthen a receiving corps that could hold Fields back in his development if it doesn't improve.
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