Insider Reveals What NFL Teams Think Chicago Bears Have Planned

The Chicago Bears will begin the 2023 off-season with a clear game plan in mind. Nobody knows what it is. There is plenty of speculation on the subject. GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus haven't offered any hints. The two have remained busy since the season ended, working through preparations for free agency and the NFL draft. Both were in attendance at the Senior Bowl earlier this month. Next up is the scouting combine two weeks from now. Expectations are more information will start surfacing about their plans around that time.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler decided to get the jump on that. When writing a column on the current status of every NFL team, he had some interesting nuggets involving the Bears. From what he hears around the league, the expectations are that Poles and Eberflus will devote their resources toward upgrading their defensive line, both in free agency and the 1st round of the draft.

"Addressing the front of the defense will be a major priority for general manager Ryan Poles. This free agency class is loaded with high-end options, such as Daron Payne and Javon Hargrave, and the Bears have plenty of money to spend on several players. Armed with the No. 1 overall pick in April's draft, Chicago has the chance to trade back and still get a blue-chip defensive talent, a move many evaluators believe Chicago will execute. Then, it's time to build around quarterback Justin Fields with more playmaking and protection help."

This isn't much of a surprise. The Bears had 20 sacks this past season, easily one of the worst performances by the franchise in the Super Bowl era. What's worse is the defensive line only had 10.5 of those sacks. It was an awful group.

The Chicago Bears aren't being negligent.

Many will accuse them of that by not prioritizing Justin Fields. The reality is Poles must operate according to the strengths of the talent available. Right now, there is no question the defensive line is a major strength this year, both in free agency and the draft. If Poles operates appropriately, he could add three quality starters to his depth charter over the next three months. Free agency is strong at defensive tackle, while the draft might be the strongest at edge rusher. This off-season is quite fortuitous for a team needing talent in that area.

When that is done, there should still be plenty of money and picks left over to help the offense. One must not forget Eberflus is a defensive guy. He will feel most comfortable when that side of the ball is solid. The Chicago Bears have something cooking in their secondary with Jaylon Johnson, Eddie Jackson, Kyler Gordon, and Jaquan Brisker. Giving them a defensive line that can pressure the quarterback could make this defense one of the best in the NFC in a short period of time. Besides, like it or not, the best eras of Bears football are always defined by great defense.