It was quite the offseason for the Chicago Bears defense, and in more ways than one. Now, as a different group approaches training camp, we’ll see just how good they can be.
As he took over an aging roster, general manager Ryan Poles made it a priority to set his team up to get younger and more talented; not just this year but down the line, too. He decided to cut ties with veterans like Eddie Goldman, Akiem Hicks, Danny Trevathan and Jeremiah Attaochu.
Poles also pulled off a polarizing trade, sending All Pro pass rusher Khalil Mack to the Los Angeles Chargers for a pair of picks. Seeing Mack leave Chicago was the ultimate signal that these Bears were going full-on rebuild.
Now, the defense looks a whole lot different after free agency and the 2022 NFL Draft. How will they come together in camp?
Chicago Bears training camp could give us pleasant surprises within the defensive group, but concerns remain.
Poles used his first two draft picks this year on the secondary, which was not the direction many thought he would decide to go. However, adding two premier defensive backs in Jaquan Brisker and Kyler Gordon was too good for him to pass up.
Free agency brought the Bears Al-Quadin Muhammad and Justin Jones up front on the defensive line, along with veterans Nicholas Morrow and Matthew Adams at linebacker. When the starting defense gets sorted out, it’s going to be a much different-looking group.
Training camp is going to mean a lot for this offense, and a new scheme being installed, but defensively the Bears really need this time to come together on the other side of the ball as well.
This should be a surprisingly good defense, but what concerns are there as we head into camp?
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