The Bears were a five-win team in 2024 that started well and fell off the map following some difficult losses where they wilted under pressure both in games and between them.

The franchise fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and then head coach Matt Eberflus, but neither move could salvage the season. Chicago fell well below expectation in a campaign that exposed so many issues it became clear that culture change was necessary.

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Here’s the wild part about all that awfulness: the Bears aren’t that far away. They’ve got some assets in their corner that state they don’t need a full-scale rebuild. In fact, some smart offseason moves could launch them back into the competitive realm.

That’s because the Bears have some legitimate team strengths that are easily identifiable. We’ll go over some of them here in the second installment in our State of the Bears series:

The secondary

There are few areas where the Bears feature a combination of top talent and depth. The defensive backfield is one. There’s real quality in that position group, though they didn’t always play like it and gave up too many explosives both before and (especially) after things went sideways in a Week 8 loss in Washington.

You could blame a member of this group for the issue, when Tyrique Stevenson was jawing with fans as that fateful Hail Mary began. The group overall, though, is strong. Jaylon Johnson’s a true shutdown cornerback and getting paid like one. Kyle Gordon ranks among the NFL’s best slot corners and should get extended soon enough. Kevin Byard III is a quality safety and excellent leader. Jaquan Brisker is a real difference maker alongside him, which was evident when he was lost with a concussion.

There are two issues, though. Stevenson’s a talented player prone to big mistakes, though Terell Smith is also available as competition for a starting spot outside. Brisker’s health is ultimately unknown, though, and Elijah Hicks and Jonathan Owens might not be three-down starters. Everyone mentioned remains under contract, and it would make some sense to run it back with this group considering other needs.

The quarterback

Caleb Williams took 68 sacks last season and had some real rookie moments when it came to clock management, offensive operation and decision making. But there’s no denying his overall talent, which was clear on several flashes of pure brilliance. He has incredible arm talent, is mobile, athletic and smart. He also cares a great deal.

And, for as much as he did wrong, Williams’ 3,541 passing yards set a Bears rookie record and ranks fifth on the all-time list. He only threw just six interceptions and put the Bears in position to win several games they didn’t, including the pivotal loss in Washington.

Head coach Ben Johnson came right out and said Williams was a major attraction in joining the Bears. Pairing Johnson and Williams could help realize the No. 1 overall pick’s vast potential, especially with the Bears continuing to upgrade his protection while providing more schematic structure and hard coaching.

The coaching staff

I can read your Bair Mail submissions — do so at the bottom of this story — before you even send them. How on earth could I count a first-time head coach as a team strength? He’s unproven as a game manager and CEO. There’s no telling how he’ll build a culture and operate under the intense, unrelenting pressure of a passionate legacy fanbase.

We know, however, about Ben Johnson’s offensive credentials from three seasons as a Lions coordinator. We now understand his tenacity and drive and demand for accountability. We also know he hired an excellent staff full of experience that can advise him and assist with the transition to his new role.

Adding defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and assistant head coach/receivers coach Antwaan Randle-El was a coup, and adding so many veteran coaches will serve to aid his transition and culture change. The same couldn’t be said of the Eberflus era, but I believe this staff will help the team schematically, culturally and in big moments that matter most.

The top targets

DJ Moore is legit. No one’s gonna argue that. The veteran’s a hard worker and an excellent route runner who’s as tough as they come. His production is consistent, and his skill set should fit in well with Johnson’s scheme. He’s a guy who can get open at all depths and gain tough yards after the catch.

While Rome Odunze’s rookie stats weren’t super high, last year’s No. 9 overall pick has real potential and came through in the clutch several times in 2024. He’s smooth in and out of breaks and is a smart, even-keeled individual. He has already built important trust with Williams, considering the first-round pair will be together a long time.

Let’s Cole Kmet in this grouping, too. That make meet some resistance, considering his lack of involvement as a receiver last season, thought that production drop might’ve been a schematic/protection issue more than anything. Kmet’s a good receiver, as we saw a few times last year and a several more in 2023. Johnson made effective use of the tight end in Detroit. Kmet’s not quite as fast as the explosive Sam LaPorta, but he’s athlete who can be impactful if used the right way and Williams looks his way.

The salary-cap situation

We’ll go into greater depth on this topic in another State of the Bears installment, but it should be mentioned here that the team is in great standing with the salary cap. That should help Johnson and Ryan Poles make the necessary upgrades to the roster. They have $53.9 million in effective cap space, plenty of room to make splash signings and extend players like Kyler Gordon and possibly, though seemingly less likely, T.J. Edwards. Poles biggest signings have been impactful, and while he has swung and missed (i.e. Davis, Nate) the team’s in good shape overall.

Other teams at the bottom of the league, having just hired a new coach, wish they could be in Chicago’s spot. Poor cap standing slows everything down. The Bears, by contrast, are in position to move quickly.

Submit your Bears questions and comments below for inclusion in the next Wednesday mailbag. 👇