The Bears supplemented their roster weaknesses during NFL free agency and the trades made before it.

They were so aggressive acquiring top talent that many of them became strengths.

A quick recap: Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson added guards Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney in trade and center Drew Dalman in free agency. Then they added Dayo Odeyingbo and Grady Jarrett to the defensive front. They also added Olamide Zaccheaus to the receiver corps and Durham Smythe to the tight end spot.

RELATED CONTENT:

• Reasons the Bears believe in Jonah Jackson after his 2024 struggles with Rams
• How Bears’ Drew Dalman can ‘narrow the aperture’ for Caleb Williams
• Why Bears considered Dayo Odeyingbo a safe bet in NFL free agency
• Why Ryan Poles, Bears used trade routes to acquire Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson over NFL free agency

Interior offensive line. Defensive front. Slot receiver. Back up tight end.

Those were arguably the areas (save one, which we’ll get to) in need of significant improvement or addition.

Check, check, check and check.

That doesn’t mean the Bears are done. While free agency’s first and second waves have passed, the Bears can still supplement the roster with veterans. They also have NFL draft assets available, where most of their remaining imports will be added.

There’s an important note to be made here, as well. Just because an area was fortified in free agency doesn’t mean the Bears won’t add to it. The draft requires playing the long game, filling needs you don’t have yet but might in the future. It’s also about building depth. Keep that in mind as we examine where the Bears could still use some help.

Running back

This position group needs an extra body at least. More likely, it needs some dynamic talent. That wasn’t a strong possibility in this NFL free agency class, especially with a deep group of diverse skill sets available in the draft.

While Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty might be the ultimate luxury pick at No. 10 overall – I mocked him there last week – there’s quality available in the second round and beyond, something clear at the NFL Scouting Combine.

D’Andre Swift’s under contract for 2025 at least and could well be productive in Johnson’s system there was some context in the season before Detroit traded him, including some injury issues that led to low numbers.

Even if Johnson wants Swift as a feature player, he needs a true bruiser to flesh out the rushing attack even with Roschon Johnson there.

Edge rusher

As Poles astutely stated in his Wednesday press conference that “you can never have too many pass rushers.” That’s accurate. And while Jarrett, Andrew Billings, Gervon Dexter and Chris Williams can form a tough interior block, the edge isn’t finished creating its wave of fury.

Right now it’s Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo at the top with Austin Booker and Daniel Hardy behind them. That’s not much experience or enough talent on the back end, and there’s an opportunity to pick up quality on Day 2. Or the Bears could go big and add an upper-tier player at No. 10 to be a subpackage specialist in 2025. This is a deep draft at the position, with plenty who can help the Bears front.

Offensive tackle

The Bears starting lineup is largely set here, with Braxton Jones on the left and Darnell Wright on the right. They could use a swing tackle, even with Kiran Amegadjie in the mix. Jones is on the last year of his rookie contract, so the Bears could look for a left tackle of the future or to provide competition at that spot and provide options moving forward.

Receiver

DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Olamide Zaccheaus comprise a solid top end of the receiver corps, but the Bears need more there. A taller possession type might help, or a developmental project who could be a No. 3 in the future, with Zaccheaus on a shorter-term deal. This isn’t pressing any more, but the Bears could use to add depth.

Linebacker

The Bears have three-down options in T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds, but they need competition on the strongside and in reserve. They also might need someone to groom, considering Edmunds is expensive and Edwards sure seems close to a contract extension. It might be time to think about the future here.