Four Bears not named Caleb Williams that can single handedly change the 2024 season
Heading into the 2024 NFL season, the Chicago Bears have a lot of high expectations following an offseason filled with a massive overhaul from top to bottom.The Bears have a lot of top returning talent on the roster mixed with headline-worthy new players joining them on the roster led by head coach Matt Eberflus.The player […]
Heading into the 2024 NFL season, the Chicago Bears have a lot of high expectations following an offseason filled with a massive overhaul from top to bottom.
The Bears have a lot of top returning talent on the roster mixed with headline-worthy new players joining them on the roster led by head coach Matt Eberflus.
The player with the most buzz on the roster is, of course, the first overall pick and new quarterback in town, Caleb Williams. However, here are four players outside of Williams who can single handedly alter the course of the Bears' 2024 season.
1. CB Jaylon Johnson
After a breakout campaign in 2023, cornerback Jaylon Johnson etched his name among the top cornerbacks in the league, in route to his first Pro Bowl selection.
The Bears' front office paid him handsomely for his efforts but he still has personal goals to achieve in 2024. Johnson still feels slighted by the league and the media after being snubbed from the First Team All-Pro list and wants to be known as THE best cornerback in the league.
If Johnson can get anywhere close to his 2023 performance, where he finished with the highest PFF grade among players at his position, he can continue to prove his claims. Another lockdown season out of Johnson will also help the team's defense force even more turnovers and stop more drives in their tracks in 2024.
2. DE Montez Sweat
Another 2023 Pro Bowler from Chicago that could be due for an even bigger 2024 season is defensive end Montez Sweat. After recording a career-high in sacks last season (6+ sacks with two different teams), Sweat could look to surpass that mark once again with a full offseason under his belt in Eberflus' system.
Sweat's true impact will depend on how well the rest of the defensive front preforms to limit any double-team looks he faces while rushing the passer. However, his dominant presence off the edge will be a major factor for the defense.
If Sweat can build off his 2023 debut in Chicago, Eberflus' pass rushing unit will finally get some respect among league circles. His pressure off the edge will also put the high-flying secondary in a great position to get after the football much more often.
P Tory Taylor
Am I really going to put a rookie punter on this list? The answer is yes. If fourth-round pick Tory Taylor can live up to his draft status and his college success at the next level, he will be a legitimate weapon for the Bears this coming season.
Having a weapon at punter is an underrated part of the game that not every team has the luxury of having. Taylor set NCAA single-season punting records last year with 4,479 yards and a 48.2-yard average while pinning 127 punts inside the 20-yard line.
"Tory is a weapon for the whole football team," Eberflus said after the draft. "The punt and pins are huge. This guy is a big talent, so we're excited to have him."
The field position game matters in the NFL, especially when you have a top caliber defense like the Bears do. If Taylor can do his role at a high-level and continuously pin opponents deep in their own territory, the results will speak for itself.
RB D'Andre Swift
A rookie quarterback's best friend is a dynamic weapon out of the backfield to help take the pressure off from the opposing defense. The Bears front office clearly understood this and quickly went out to lock up D'Andre Swift on a three-year deal as soon as free agency opened.
Swift's impact on the Bears offense has immediately been noticeable during OTAs and minicamp over the last month at Halas Hall. The former Philadelphia Eagle will dominate the touches out of the backfield and be a factor in more ways than one.
"He's a weapon out of the backfield, which is outstanding for our passing game," Eberflus explained. "It's going to create some mismatches for us and he can do a lot of things from the backfield. We can split him out wide and run the full route tree, so he's exciting to watch."
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They’ll need to step it up.
