In the sixth of a 32-part series, we are featuring all National Football League teams with a prediction of where each team will finish within their division, key off-season acquisitions and their top fantasy stars. Here are the Chicago Bears.
Key Off Season Acquisitions
Unlike the Carolina Panthers, who made significant changes on offense, the Chicago Bears made improvements on defense. Among the new acquisitions were inside linebacker Tremaine Edmunds of Danville, Virginia (four years, $72 million), defensive end Demarcus Walker of Jacksonville, Florida (three years, $21 million), and linebacker T.J. Edwards of Lake Villa, Illinois (three years, $19.5 million).
Edmunds had 102 combined tackles (66 solo tackles and 33 assisted tackles), six tackles for a loss, three quarterback hits, one interception for four yards, one sack, and seven pass deflections with the Buffalo Bills in 2022. Walker had 32 combined tackles (23 solo tackles and nine assisted tackles), 16 quarterback hits, 10 tackles for a loss, and seven sacks for the Tennessee Titans last season. Edwards had 159 combined tackles (99 solo tackles and 60 assisted tackles), 10 tackles for a loss, five quarterback hits, seven pass deflections, one fumble recovery and two sacks with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022.
From an offensive standpoint, the Bears signed guard Nate Davis of York, Maine to a three-year deal worth $30 million, after he played last season with the New York Giants. Davis will be counted on to protect quarterback Justin Fields, who was sacked a NFL high 55 times last season. They also acquired wide receiver DJ Moore of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in a trade with the Carolina Panthers. Expectations will be high because the Bears traded the first overall pick to the Panthers to get him. Last season, Moore had 63 catches for 888 yards and seven touchdowns
Fantasy Stars
Fields of Kennesaw, Georgia is ranked 10th among NFL quarterbacks. In 2022, he completed 192 passes in 318 attempts for 2242 passing yards, and had 17 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions. Fields also had great mobility with 160 rushes for 1143 rushing yards, and eight touchdowns, and led the NFL with 7.1 rushing yards per carry. Meanwhile, Bears tight end Cole Kmet of Lake Barrington, Illinois is ranked seventh among tight ends. Last season he had 50 catches for 544 yards and seven touchdown catches.
Projected Finish
The Bears had the worst record in the NFL last season at three wins and 14 losses. Then they traded the first overall pick to Carolina. They should move up in the NFC North with the Green Bay Packers trading quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets in the offseason. I am projecting a third place finish for the Bears in 2023.
