Depth Just as Important as Quarterback Decision for Bears in 2024
The Chicago Bears need depth just as much as they need to figure out who should be playing quarterback next season.
By Tim Healey
Most of the offseason discussion will center around whether the Chicago Bears should keep Justin Fields or draft Caleb Williams, Drake Maye or another one of the incoming quarterbacks. And that is, obviously, an important question to answer. But there is more to be done.
For example, the Bears wide receiving corps doesn't seem particularly deep beyond star D.J. Moore. Darnell Mooney has been inconsistent, Equanimeous St. Brown is more of a blocker than a pass catcher, and Tyler Scott has work to do. Tight end Cole Kmet is a solid target, but the Bears need more than just two consistent receivers, no matter who is taking the snaps under center.
Similarly, the offensive line has been improved since 2022 but still is too leaky -- and a lack of depth has shown its face as injuries often prevented the Bears from putting forth their best line combination.
This may sound like I am advocating for the Bears to keep Fields and trade the number one draft pick in order to build a team around him. And I am on record as advocating that. However, even if the Bears move on from Fields, they will still need to fill out this team around whoever they draft next year.
Selecting Williams or Maye won't be enough on its own. Should they trade Fields, they'll need to get a good return. They will also need to maximize what they can do in free agency and the rest of the draft. This also applies if they keep FIelds and draft a QB. That's perhaps an unlikely scenario but it is not inconceivable.
The focus on the quarterback position is understandable. It's the most important in sports and nabbing a great one can change an entire franchise's trajectory. That said, even the best young QBs are useless if the offensive line can't block and their receivers can't get open and/or catch the ball. The quarterback also doesn't play defense or special teams.
So yeah, deciding whether Fields or someone else should be at quarterback next season is a huge choice. But as much focus as there might be on the QB position or the next offensive coordinator, the Bears also need to build the rest of their roster as well.
If they don't, it won't matter much who is under center.
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