Insider Reveals Position Chicago Bears Are Most Concerned About

GM Ryan Poles was honest about the state of the Chicago Bears' roster going into the 2023 season. He feels he, the front office, and the coaching staff have managed to fix around 75-80% of the roster after two off-seasons of work. He wasn't specific about which areas he still had concerns about. All he said was there is confidence the Bears will be an improved team this year. Head coach Matt Eberflus has echoed the same. There is optimism around the wide receiver group led by D.J. Moore and their young, athletic secondary.

They also have a nice trio of running backs and two quality pass-catching tight ends. Much of this hinges on Justin Fields. His development will determine how far the Bears go this year. According to insider Jeff Hughes of Da Bears Blog, the team is excited about how much more command he's shown in training camp. They're also liking how the offensive line is coming together. The same can't be said for the defensive line.

It isn't hard to understand this. While the Bears did make new additions to their defensive front this off-season, it still looks like a position seriously lacking in star power. Yannick Ngakoue is a solid pass rusher and little else. DeMarcus Walker is a solid player but nowhere close to a difference-making presence. Andrew Billings is a decent run-stopper, and Justin Jones didn't show much as an interior pass rusher last season.

This Chicago Bears front will hinge on two players.

They are rookie defensive tackles, Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens. Poles invested 2nd and 3rd round picks in both of them, respectively. The Bears love their versatility and their upside. It is hoped at least one of them can develop into a force up front. Both showed encouraging flashes in the preseason. Pickens had a sack, Dexter had multiple pressures and some quality run stops. They have lots of work to do. Technical issues remain. Veteran blockers have managed to stymie them.

None of that is a surprise. Young guys need time to learn. Unfortunately, the Chicago Bears will have to make do in the meantime. This defensive line isn't as bad as last season's was, but that isn't saying much. A 4-3 system depends on its front four to stop the run and apply pressure on the quarterback. It's why the best versions often see their star power focused in that area. As of right now, the Bears aren't there yet. So their concerns are perfectly understandable.