Bears' 6 Biggest Priorities After 2024 Minicamp

This is once again an important season for the Chicago Bears. Head coach Matt Eberflus enters year three as their head coach and aims to improve upon their 10-24 mark in his first two seasons.

There's reason to believe he can lead them to an improved record after the work general manager Ryan Poles has done. Poles not only added USC quarterback Caleb Williams and Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze in the top 10 of the 2024 NFL Draft, but he also added a lot of talent to put around their star rookies.

Chicago has the best roster we've seen from them in years but before they can worry about contending in the NFC North, they first need to focus on these six priorities after the conclusion of minicamp.

6. Decide on a kick returner

There are new rules for the NFL kickoff this season, and if the league likes the way it works out in 2024, the rule could become permanent. Teams suddenly care much more about having a return specialist and the Bears are no exception.

Chicago already had two options in Velus Jones, Jr. and Tyler Scott but added another name to the mix when they signed DeAndre Carter. A 31-year-old journeyman, Carter has been on the active roster for six different teams and has spent time with 10.

One of those was the Bears, who had Carter on the team in 2020 for four games. He had just 30 yards on four returns that year but had more success since then. In all, Carter has 2,646 yards and a touchdown as a kick returner and 1,294 yards on punt returns.

Jones, who has yet to live up to his draft status, is no pushover when it comes to the return game. Scott can also make some noise but his roster spot isn't tied to special teams — which could be the case for both Carter and Jones. It might not be the biggest camp battle, but it's one to watch in Chicago.