The Bears are entering a pivotal season. They have a strong case for being crowned the champion of the offseason… for the third year in a row. All jokes aside, there are a few reasons to believe they could really turn the corner.
Most importantly, they landed the top head coaching candidate on the market in Ben Johnson. While he still needs to prove he has what it takes to lead a team, he should provide a significant jolt to the offense and get the most out of every player on that side of the ball. Oh, he has also been the best offensive play-caller in the league over the past three years, so he should also shore up the team’s previously abysmal situation there (to say the least).
Johnson is definitely Chicago’s biggest X-Factor this year. However, they also have a few players who can skyrocket the Bears to the top of the NFC if they can play at a high level.
Caleb Williams
Is the sky blue? Is grass green? Was Matt Eberflus in over his head and completely unqualified as a head coach? All of these questions have obvious answers. Caleb Williams being the Bears’ biggest X-Factor this year is somehow even more transparent.
Williams experienced his fair share of ups and downs during his rookie season, but it was honestly remarkable how well he played with how much (or how little, in some instances) was going on behind the scenes. Being able to thrive despite turmoil is one of the truest tests of a high-level player, and Williams passed that test with flying colors at times last year.
The 23-year-old should benefit more than anyone by the addition of Johnson. Not only will he get those daily film sessions he’s been pining for, but he will also get stability for the first time from a head coach and play-caller. Even with a difficult schedule, the marriage could turn the Bears into bonafide contenders as soon as this season.
The Bears will live and die with how well Williams performs. I’d say that makes him a pretty significant X-Factor.
Tyrique Stevenson
Tyrique Stevenson is most known for heckling the fans on the Hail Mary that led to the Bears losing to the Commanders. That’s honestly understandable. It was one of the most egregious and boneheaded plays I’ve ever seen. However, that moment unfortunately overshadowed what had been a promising start to his career.
Stevenson was expected to take the next step last season before his confidence seemed to take a major hit following the Washington game. He still showed solid play-making ability down the stretch, but he was also caught out of position time and time again.
Do the Bears need Stevenson to make the jump? No, they have solid depth behind him, and he still has two years left on his rookie deal. With that said, he is the biggest question mark in a very talented secondary (unless you factor in Jaquan Brisker’s health). They know what to expect from every other starter, but the same can’t be said for Stevenson. The secondary will truly be one of the best in the league if he can play at a high level.
The 2023 second-round selection still has a ton of untapped potential. It will be interesting to see if Dennis Allen can tap into it this year.
Ozzy Trapilo
Shockingly, the Bears’ offensive line is in a similar position to their secondary after massively improving the room during the offseason. Likewise, Ozzy Trapilo is also in a similar position to Stevenson, as he is the biggest (dare I say… only?) question mark along the line.
Darnell Wright has developed into one of the best right tackles in the game. The same can be said for Drew Dalman at center. Joe Thuney is THE top left guard in the league. Jonah Jackson was a Pro Bowler under Ben Johnson in Detroit. While the bar probably shouldn’t be set that high in the Windy City, he should at least provide stable play at the right guard spot.
Trapilo isn’t guaranteed the starting left tackle job by any means. Braxton Jones has proven to be a quality starter in his own right. However, he is entering a contract year and coming off a torn ACL injury. The odds of him resigning with Chicago next offseason appear slim. The Bears will probably want to see what they have in Trapilo this season so they can determine whether they need to add competition at left tackle.
The fact that Trapilo is moving to the left side (he played primarily on the right side at Boston College) will be a major factor in his ability to transition to the pros. Rookie growing pains are definitely to be expected, but he could be their most impactful rookie before it’s all said and done if he gets his feet underneath him quickly.
Dayo Odeyingbo
The Bears need to get more out of their pass rush this season. That’s no secret. They finished middle of the pack with 40 sacks last year, but their leading sack-artist, Montez Sweat, had only 5.5. They certainly expected more from him last year, but lingering injuries played a major role in his impact.
While you could say that Sweat is the team’s biggest X-Factor on the defensive line, I think he’s earned the benefit of the doubt. We’ve seen enough from him to know how good he is when healthy. I also believe they will get solid play out of the interior of the line after the additions of Grady Jarrett and Shemar Turner there this offseason. However, I don’t think anyone knows how good Dayo Odeyingbo is.
Last season was the first year of his career where he was a full-time starter for the Colts. However, he failed to build on the ’23 season that saw him nab eight sacks as a situational pass-rusher. The Bears front office saw enough to sign the 2021 second-round selection to a 3-year, $48 million deal this offseason, though.
From a size perspective, the 25-year-old fits Dennis Allen’s defensive philosophy like a glove. So that definitely played a role in the signing. However, it’s fair to wonder what Odeyingbo they will get.. The guy who nabbed eight sacks despite playing only 53% of Indy’s snaps in ’23? Or the guy who had three despite playing 123 more snaps the following year?
Rome Odunze
Rome Odunze fits the theme of every player on this list. Young, unproven, and talented. You can put an exclamation point next to Odunze’s name in the third category.
There’s a notion that Odunze’s rookie season was a disappointment, but I really don’t see why that was the case. I know you’d like to see your top-10 pick have more than 734 receiving yards, but normal expectations shouldn’t have ever been the bar for Odunze. He was entering a receiver room with two established veterans in DJ Moore, who finished the year with 39 more targets, and Keenan Allen, who had 20 more targets.
I already mentioned that Williams will be the biggest beneficiary from the signing of Johnson. However, Odunze would be the clear runner-up for the recognition. He is the perfect addition to get the most out of the talented pass-catcher.
Odunze was the ninth pick for a reason. Saying his ceiling would make him one of the premier receivers in the league wouldn’t be hyperbole. The Bears’ offense will truly be tough to stop if he comes close to reaching it this year.
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