Now that Wildcard Weekend is in the books, there are only eight teams left in a quest for the Super Bowl.

Following the weekend’s games, several teams now enter their offseason which are full of big questions.

Which players stay? Which players go? Do we see any of them retire?

For the Chicago Bears, they’ve been in offseason mode for a couple of weeks now. Looking at this weekend’s crop of losing teams, Chicago has plenty to be excited about when it comes to free agency. Let’s take a look at a few names who now enter their offseason and could find a new home.

Free agents for the Chicago Bears to pursue from Wildcard losers: Poona Ford, DL

One of the weakest aspects of this Bears football team in 2022 was the defensive line, and you could argue it was in fact their weakest link. Chicago couldn’t stop the run. They couldn’t rush the passer. They couldn’t do much of anything up front.

That’s why defensive lineman Poona Ford makes a lot of sense, who’s possibly entering a new chapter after five years with the Seattle Seahawks.

Ford, 27, is one of the more underrated defensive linemen available in free agency, but a great player. As an interior lineman, Ford created 22 pressures, 14 hurries and came up with 15 stops, to go along with his 3.0 sacks.

The Bears need plenty of help, and ideally through somewhat experienced guys with some years left in them. Ford would be a phenomenal start to their free agency.

The Chicago Bears are getting ready to shop the first overall pick around as they try to improve their chances at a brighter future.

With the fact that they have their franchise quarterback in place and there is no generational-type player at another position, there is no reason to keep the pick without trying to get a haul for it.

Chicago also has the most cap space of any team in the National Football League. That might allow them to add some pieces that help them develop into a much better organization going forward.

It would be a good idea for them to consider adding a receiver that can help them develop Justin Fields who showed in 2023 that he has the potential to be a fantastic player in this league. The problem is a lot of his electricity came in his run game but his passing left a lot to be desired.

The Chicago Bears need help in the wide receiver room going into 2023.

The Bears made a trade to add Chase Claypool but he wasn’t very effective. He gets a pass because Fields wasn’t where he needs to be in his passing game but 2023 will need to see some growth from both of them.

Darnell Mooney is also there but he needs some help. In an ideal world, Mooney would be a three and Claypool would be a four. It might be hard to land a one or a two but there are plenty of them out there.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who were just eliminated by the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night, have two guys that the Chicago Bears should strongly consider adding this offseason:

The Chicago Bears did not have a lot of success during Matt Eberflus’ first season as head coach. The Bears finished with the league’s worst record. Although, the fault does not completely lie with Eberflus.

General manager Ryan Poles gutted the roster last offseason. He then traded away Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith before the trade deadline. After those deals were completed, Don Shula probably would not do much better with the roster Eberflus had to work with.

Then again, there was a coach who possibly could have gotten a few more wins-Brian Daboll.

Look no more for proof after he just guided the New York Giants to a 9-7-1 record. Daboll just won his first playoff game and will take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional round.

The Giants hired Brian Daboll last offseason. The Chicago Bears did have him in for an interview.

Ryan Poles got the general manager job shortly after Daboll was interviewed and Poles decided to go with Eberflus.

Daboll got the Giants job two days later after he developed Josh Allen into a franchise quarterback in Buffalo. He also had a prior working relationship with the Giants’ new general manager Joe Schoen.

Daboll inherited a team with a salary cap mess worse than the Chicago Bears. The Giants bottomed out at 4-13 in 2021. He took over a team that came off having the league’s second-worst offense in yards and scoring.

The Giants’ offense jumped to 15th in scoring and 18th in yards gained this year. The Giants quarterback has thrived under Daboll.

Quarterback Daniel Jones went from not getting his fifth-year option picked up to be in line for a nice payday this offseason.

Jones completed 67.2% of his passes as he threw for 3205 yards, 15 touchdowns, and just five interceptions this year. Last year, Jones threw for 2428 yards, ten touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 11 games because of injuries.

Jones showed a ton of growth this year under Daboll’s tutelage and in his offense. Still, even his improvement should not mean the Giants are a playoff team.

It is not like the Giants made a lot of offseason moves to dramatically turn the roster into a playoff-winning team. They dealt with some injuries at wide receiver.

New York’s success has come from running back Saquon Barkley getting back to playing at a high level, solid play from Jones, and a defense that could complement the offense. It is not like the offense is high-powered.

They are getting it done on the ground as they are in the top ten in the league in rushing yards and attempts.

The Giants have a familiar feel. They entered the season with a young quarterback who could run, but it was unknown if he could develop into at least a solid throwing quarterback.

A team with a young quarterback that likes to run the football and did not do a ton last offseason because of salary cap restraints sounds like a certain team that plays at Soldier Field. Yet, the Bears went 3-14 and will have the No. 1 draft pick while the Giants are a victory away from getting into the NFC Championship Game.