The 2025 NFL season is coming up quickly and the Chicago Bears are preparing to make a run at the playoffs. It has been some time since the Bears had as much excitement surrounding them as they have heading into this year.
Ben Johnson is the new head coach in town. After years showing off his offensive genius with the NFC North division rival Detroit Lions, he is expected to be a huge upgrade from what Chicago had with Matt Eberflus.
At quarterback, the Bears have second-year signal caller Caleb Williams. He is expected to take a leap in his sophomore season with the franchise.
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With that being said, Chicago still has a few areas on the roster that could use more attention.
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Later this month, training camp will get underway. Could the Bears consider pursuing another piece or two late in the free agency market?
That is exactly what Sports Illustrated NFL insider Albert Breer has suggested. He named three names, including running back Jamaal Williams and pass rushers Matthew Judon and Za’Darius Smith as possible targets.
“They’ll get a look at D’Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson at running back, and Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo (who plays some inside on passing downs) on the edges when the pads go on, and then maybe consider guys such as Jamaal Williams at running back or Za’Darius Smith or Matthew Judon as edge rushers,” Breer wrote.
Williams would be an intriguing pickup for Chicago. He would add more depth at running back and has had years of major success in the past.
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Adding to the pass rush would be crucial for the Bears’ defensive success. In a division with Jordan Love, Jared Goff, J.J. McCarthy, and stacked offenses, getting to the opposing quarterback is extremely important.
Only time will tell if Ryan Poles and the front office chooses to get aggressive. There are still very good players left in the free agency pool.
It’s worth keeping an eye on these three names that Breer has mentioned as possible late-offseason moves to put Chicago in an even better position to make a run at the playoffs.
Expect to see teams begin to dip into the remaining free agency roster in the near future. It would not be surprising to see the Bears be one of those teams.
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