During his first two years leading football operations at Halas Hall, general manager Ryan Poles sought to tear down the roster he inherited and rebuild the Bears.

The Bears endured two challenging seasons as part of this plan, though they entered this offseason back in January boasting hopes for the future. Now with the great work complete in free agency and the NFL Draft, the direction forward is much more clear.

This third offseason led by Poles was one in which the Bears filled their final voids on the roster and completed the rebuilding process in earnest.

Poles’ roster and vision are firmly in place.

“Now it’s time to start a new chapter for this organization,” Poles said.

The Bears are built well on paper and enter this 2024 campaign with hopes to emerge as a true contender. Led by rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, Chicago has an offense loaded with talent and a defense that hopes to plant its flag as one of the NFL’s best.

At Halas Hall, head coach Matt Eberflus is leading the Bears through the offseason program and forming plans ahead for this anticipated new season. The belief throughout the building is that the Bears are poised and ready for a breakthrough.

Here is where the Bears’ depth chart stands heading towards the season.

Note: Depth chart does not include undrafted rookies, given the expectation of significant turnover following this weekend’s rookie minicamp.

Quarterback

Starter (age): Caleb Williams, 22
Reserves (age): Tyson Bagent, 23; Brett Rypien, 27

Overview

After months of diligent scouting and leaving no stone unturned, it became a formality whom the Bears would covet as their next quarterback. That was Williams, the first overall pick in this draft who now carries expectations to become a franchise quarterback in Chicago.

When the Bears line up their first-team offense for the first snaps of OTAs later this month, it will be Williams under center. There is no present plan to sign a veteran stopgap starter and make Williams earn the starting role. Poles, Eberflus and their brass have already checked the boxes for Williams to assume the top spot as a rookie.

Beyond that, Williams won’t garner the first-year excuses like many of his draft classmates. He is a heralded prospect now leading a Bears team that believes it’s ready to contend this season. Williams must guide Chicago to success this season like C.J. Stroud did as a rookie with the Texans. But the Bears boast a supporting cast around Williams that is ready to win.

The second-year quarterback Bagent is expected to serve as the backup behind Williams, while Rypien offers continued depth at that position. The Bears are confident in their infrastructure around Williams and hopeful for what’s to come this season.

Running Back

Starter: D’Andre Swift, 25
Reserves: Khalil Herbert, 26; Roschon Johnson, 23; Travis Homer, 25

Overview

Though much of the spotlight for this Bears offense will be on Williams and the passing game, it’s important to remember this is still a run-based offense. The personnel set over these last three years is built for the outside-zone scheme that offensive coordinator Shane Waldron will lead forward.

That’s why the signing of Swift on a three-year deal was imperative for the Bears, who have had success rushing the football despite a revolving door at running back. Once David Montgomery left for Detroit last offseason – which coincidentally forced Swift out the door to Philadelphia – Chicago was in need of stability at running back.

Swift logged a career-best 1,049 yards last season with the Eagles, continuing his career 4.6-yards-per-carry rushing average along the way. He’s a multi-dimensional back who should also be a key target out of the backfield.

With the arrival of Swift, second-year back Johnson should serve as the leading complement – creating a speed-power combination between the two. But Swift’s addition might lead to Herbert as the odd man out of this mix.

Wide Receiver

Starters: DJ Moore, 27; Keenan Allen, 32; Rome Odunze, 21
Reserves: Dante Pettis, 28; Tyler Scott, 22; Velus Jones Jr., 26; Collin Johnson, 26; Nsimba Webster, 28

Overview

The Bears’ all-time leading wide receiver is a man by the name of Johnny Morris, who hauled in 356 career receptions for 5,059 yards and 31 touchdowns over a decade from 1958-1967.

In this era of NFL offenses, it’s a grand indictment of the Bears that Morris is still their top wide receiver in franchise history. That has to change now with Williams throwing to the trio of Moore, Allen and Odunze.

Moore thrived in his first season with the Bears, catching 96 passes for 1,364 yards and 8 touchdowns. He can only benefit from the arrival of Williams, a more polished passer than Justin Fields, plus the additions of Allen and Odunze to the mix.

Allen is a future Hall of Famer whose own career numbers with the Chargers would far surpass Morris’ leading totals for the Bears. He has 904 career catches for 10,530 yards and 59 scores in 11 seasons. Last year, Allen surpassed the 100-catch mark for the fifth time in the last seven years. He is expected to be a key target for Williams this season.

Then there’s the arrival of Odunze, the No. 9 overall pick in this draft who could form quite the tandem with Williams over the course of their respective careers. Odunze is a talented 6-foot-3 target who can excel in multiple roles within an offense.

The Bears are hopeful for continued development from Scott, who had just 17 receptions as a rookie last season. It’s likely that Jones’ days are numbered on this roster.

Tight End

Starter: Cole Kmet, 25
Reserves: Gerald Everett, 29; Stephen Carlson, 27

Overview

Arguably the greatest individual success story for the Bears last season came from Kmet, who shined in a career year. After signing a four-year, $50-million contract extension, Kmet caught 73 passes for 719 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Kmet earned his place as one of the better tight ends in the NFL. Now, he can continue to evolve with the arrival of key pieces around him on offense.

The Bears will once again rely on Kmet as a key target for their offense and an important red zone target to Williams. He’s also an excellent in-line blocker who’s part of the identity for this running game.

Bringing in Everett was also important to this passing game. He caught 109 passes and 7 touchdowns over the last two seasons with the Chargers as a reliable target for quarterback Justin Herbert.

Offensive Line

Starters: Braxton Jones (left tackle), 25; Teven Jenkins (left guard), 26; Coleman Shelton (center), 28; Nate Davis (right guard), 28; Darnell Wright (right tackle), 22
Reserves: Ryan Bates, 27; Kiram Amegadjie, 22; Larry Borom, 25; Ja’Tyre Carter, 25; Jerome Carvin, 23; Aviante Collins, 31; Jake Curhan, 26; Doug Kramer Jr., 25; Bill Murray, 26; Matt Pryor, 29

Overview

Many teams preach competition for their offensive line, saying they just hope to find the best five starters. The Bears boast continuity for this group and truly just one role to fill.

The Bears will likely feature a position battle at center between Shelton and Bates, a pair of veterans who would each slot well into the starting role. But Bates’ versatility may serve him better as the leading interior backup. Jenkins and Davis combined to miss 11 games last season at the guard positions.

While the third-round pick Amegadjie could eventually start at left tackle, he more than likely needs a developmental year behind the starter Jones. Meanwhile, the Bears are bullish on the future of Wright, who could emerge as a Pro Bowl player this season.

The Bears have strong depth on the offensive line behind a formidable starting unit.

Defensive Line

Starters: Montez Sweat, 27; DeMarcus Walker, 29; Andrew Billings, 28; Gervon Dexter Sr., 22
Reserves: Zacch Pickens, 24; Jacob Martin 28; Austin Booker, 21; Byron Cowart, 27; Michael Dwumfour, 26; Daniel Hardy, 25; Khalid Kareem, 26; Dominique Robinson, 25

Overview

Late last season, the Bears experienced the Tez Effect for their entire defense.

The addition of Sweat in a trade deadline deal with the Commanders transformed this entire defense. He made everyone around him better, and in particular his fellow defensive linemen.

Sweat led both the Bears (6.0) and Commanders (6.5) in sacks last season. After landing in Chicago, he helped this defense become a takeaways unit and live up to Eberflus HITS Principle.

The rookie Dexter in particular benefitted from the arrival of Sweat and proved his place as the 3-technique for this unit, while Billings earned a midseason contract extension to stay put as the Bears’ nose tackle.

This defensive front should feature a rotation on the other edge opposite Sweat, with Walker, Martin and Booker each factoring into the mix.

Linebacker

Starters: Tremaine Edmunds, 26; T.J. Edwards, 27; Jack Sanborn, 23
Reserves: Micah Baskerville, 24; Amen Ogbongbemiga. 25; Noah Sewell, 22

Overview

The Bears established one of the league’s top linebacking tandems last season by pairing free agents Edmunds and Edwards together.

Edmunds played at a high level and became a key leader for the Bears’ defense, while Edwards produced a spectacular first season in which he logged 155 combined tackles and a career-high 3 interceptions.

Sanborn shifted over to the strongside role and continued to be a reliable piece for the defense and special teams.

The veteran newcomer Ogbongbemiga should serve a key role in special teams as he did with the Chargers.

Cornerbacks

Starters: Jaylon Johnson, 25; Tyrique Stevenson 23; Kyler Gordon, 24
Reserve: Josh Blackwell, 25; Jaylon Jones, 26; Terell Smith, 24; Greg Stroman Jr., 28

Overview

The Bears were long searching for the starting cornerback to line up opposite Johnson. They found him in Stevenson, a second-round pick in 2023 who found success as a rookie.

Stevenson had 4 interceptions over 16 games as a first-year player last season, this as Johnson earned his place as a Pro Bowl cornerback and one of the game’s top players at his position. With Gordon serving in the nickelback position, the Bears have their cornerback trio locked in moving forward.

Johnson’s breakthrough season earned him a four-year contract extension, one of the most important orders of business for Poles to accomplish this offseason.
The Bears have great strength in the secondary and a threesome of cornerbacks who pose coverage challenges for opposing offenses.

Safety

Starters: Jaquan Brisker, 25; Kevin Byard, 30
Reserves: Adiran Colbert, 30; Douglas Coleman, 25; Elijah Hicks, 24; Quindell Johnson, 24; Tavarius Moore, 27; Jonathan Owens, 28

Overview

With the February release of Eddie Jackson, the Bears quickly moved to fill that void in their secondary by signing the two-time All-Pro safety Byard.

Byard remains one of the game’s top ballhawks in the secondary with 28 career interceptions over eight seasons. He is a reliable player who has never missed a game in his career – and has only missed practices for the birth of a child.

Byard is the ideal complement to play alongside Brisker, whose strengths are in the box just as much as coverage. The Bears believe that Byard and Brisker will mesh well together and make the back end of their defense a great strongpoint.

The Bears will be searching for youth to emerge at safety given Byard is 30 and playing just a two-year deal with the team.

Specialists

Starters: Cairo Santos (kicker), 32; Tory Taylor (punter), 26; Patrick Scales (long snapper), 36
Reserves: Corliss Waitman (punter), 28; Cameron Lyons (long snapper), 25

Overview

By selecting Taylor as a fourth-round pick, the Bears made a sudden shift for their special teams. Trenton Gill, the team’s two-year punter, was waived last week. Waitman is merely on the roster as depth for the offseason program.

Taylor joins Santos and Scales as part of a reliable special-teams battery, ensuring the third phase of this team is also in good hands.