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The Chicago Bears are contending for offseason champions for a third straight season following the hiring of new head coach Ben Johnson and the slew of moves made during free agency to bolster this roster.
General manager Ryan Poles made some big moves to improve the roster this offseason, including trading for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson. Chicago also signed center Drew Dalman, defensive tackle Grady Jarrett and defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo while adding depth at skill positions including with tight end Durham Smythe and receivers Olamide Zaccheaus and Devin Duvernay.
While it's too early to judge where this team is among the rest of the league, it's clear that NFL experts are taking notice of Chicago's offseason moves and believe they could do something special. With that in mind, here's a look at where the Bears landed among different power rankings around the league -- where they're quickly climbing into the top half of the league.
Link to Article
Current Ranking: 15th
Previous Ranking: 24th
Author: Mason Cameron
Author’s Take: "After finishing 2024 as the No. 24 team in these rankings, the Bears made the biggest leap of any team this offseason. General manager Ryan Poles aggressively addressed Chicago’s interior offensive line, trading for Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson while also signing Drew Dalman. That said, the Bears are no strangers to “winning the offseason,” but translating that to on-field success has been a challenge. With Ben Johnson now at the helm, Chicago finally has the offensive mind to help this team take the next step."
Our Take: The Bears once again are winning the offseason after hiring Ben Johnson as their head coach and attacking the offensive line in a big way in free agency. The additions of Drew Dalman, Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson has retooled the entire interior offensive line and gives quarterback Caleb Williams an opportunity to thrive in Year 2.
Link to Article
Current Ranking: 16th
Previous Ranking: 22nd
Author: Eric Edholm
Author’s Take: "The Bears are offseason kings for three years running, but this year does feel a little different. Their additions have mostly been of the blue-collar variety, filling out the ranks on both lines of scrimmage. Did they maybe overspend on some? I think so. But what choice did the Bears have? Even coming off a 5-12 season that included 10 straight losses, their time to win is now, with Caleb Williams still playing on his affordable rookie deal. There's a reasonable line of thinking that goes something like this: Ben Johnson will make Williams better, which in turn will make an overburdened defense better, which logically should make the entire operation better. I tend to buy into that idea, even if we really have no idea how good Johnson is as a head coach. If he's as successful as he was as a coordinator, this thing might actually work."
Our Take: Everyone knows Chicago has what it takes to win the offseason. But there's something about this year that feels different. With the addition of Ben Johnson, it feels like the Bears are headed in the right direction. That was made clear with their moves to address the trenches both on offense and defense, where they're already significant better heading into the NFL Draft.
Link to Article
Current Ranking: 16th
Previous Ranking: 21st
Author: Nate Davis
Author’s Take: "Fool me once, shame on you. But with the arrival of Johnson to spark QB Caleb Williams' development, not to mention an entirely upgraded interior to the offensive line – to say nothing of the D-line reinforcements … we can't get fooled again."
Our Take: The Bears are a cautionary tale when it comes to offseason hype, as evidenced by the past two offseasons. But there's something about Ben Johnson's arrival that makes it feel like Chicago might actually live up to expectations -- especially now that they're prioritized the trenches.
Link to Article
Current Ranking: 16th
Previous Ranking: 18th
Author: David Helman
Author’s Take: "On paper, the Bears look like they’re ready to battle for the NFC North. It was a stroke of genius to rebuild the interior of the offensive line with three quick moves. Dayo Odeyingbo is an underrated player, too. But this is still the Chicago Bears we’re talking about. They’re well-positioned for success in Ben Johnson’s first year, but I’ve been fooled before. Seeing is believing with this organization."
Our Take: Again, it's no surprise that experts are wary about how Chicago's offseason moves will translate to success on the field. While no one is expecting the Bears to contend for a Super Bowl in Ben Johnson's first season, we've seen in the past how teams can go from worst to first -- or at least top 10 pick to playoff contender.
Link to Article
Current Ranking: 22nd
Previous Ranking: 22nd
Author: Courtney Cronin
Author’s Take: "The Bears got younger and faster at receiver behind their two top targets. Zaccheaus signed a one-year deal in Chicago after his bounce-back season with the Commanders (45 catches, 506 yards and three touchdowns). This is an inexpensive way to enhance the offense with a 27-year-old slot receiver who just played with another young quarterback. Coach Ben Johnson covets fast receivers and can get creative with where he lines up Zaccheaus, who took a handful of snaps in the backfield last season."
Our Take: Considering how quickly the Bears were able to overhaul the entire interior offensive line, it's shocking that they didn't make any movement among ESPN's power rankings. Sure, they still have plenty to prove, but this Chicago team is a heck of a lot better than it was before free agency. It is notable that ESPN dubbed Olamide Zaccheaus as an under-the-radar signing, and he serves to benefit from Ben Johnson's addition on offense.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 2025 NFL power rankings: Bears trending up after free agency
Continue reading...
General manager Ryan Poles made some big moves to improve the roster this offseason, including trading for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson. Chicago also signed center Drew Dalman, defensive tackle Grady Jarrett and defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo while adding depth at skill positions including with tight end Durham Smythe and receivers Olamide Zaccheaus and Devin Duvernay.
While it's too early to judge where this team is among the rest of the league, it's clear that NFL experts are taking notice of Chicago's offseason moves and believe they could do something special. With that in mind, here's a look at where the Bears landed among different power rankings around the league -- where they're quickly climbing into the top half of the league.
Pro Football Focus
Link to Article
Current Ranking: 15th
Previous Ranking: 24th
Author: Mason Cameron
Author’s Take: "After finishing 2024 as the No. 24 team in these rankings, the Bears made the biggest leap of any team this offseason. General manager Ryan Poles aggressively addressed Chicago’s interior offensive line, trading for Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson while also signing Drew Dalman. That said, the Bears are no strangers to “winning the offseason,” but translating that to on-field success has been a challenge. With Ben Johnson now at the helm, Chicago finally has the offensive mind to help this team take the next step."
Our Take: The Bears once again are winning the offseason after hiring Ben Johnson as their head coach and attacking the offensive line in a big way in free agency. The additions of Drew Dalman, Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson has retooled the entire interior offensive line and gives quarterback Caleb Williams an opportunity to thrive in Year 2.
NFL.com
Link to Article
Current Ranking: 16th
Previous Ranking: 22nd
Author: Eric Edholm
Author’s Take: "The Bears are offseason kings for three years running, but this year does feel a little different. Their additions have mostly been of the blue-collar variety, filling out the ranks on both lines of scrimmage. Did they maybe overspend on some? I think so. But what choice did the Bears have? Even coming off a 5-12 season that included 10 straight losses, their time to win is now, with Caleb Williams still playing on his affordable rookie deal. There's a reasonable line of thinking that goes something like this: Ben Johnson will make Williams better, which in turn will make an overburdened defense better, which logically should make the entire operation better. I tend to buy into that idea, even if we really have no idea how good Johnson is as a head coach. If he's as successful as he was as a coordinator, this thing might actually work."
Our Take: Everyone knows Chicago has what it takes to win the offseason. But there's something about this year that feels different. With the addition of Ben Johnson, it feels like the Bears are headed in the right direction. That was made clear with their moves to address the trenches both on offense and defense, where they're already significant better heading into the NFL Draft.
USA Today
Link to Article
Current Ranking: 16th
Previous Ranking: 21st
Author: Nate Davis
Author’s Take: "Fool me once, shame on you. But with the arrival of Johnson to spark QB Caleb Williams' development, not to mention an entirely upgraded interior to the offensive line – to say nothing of the D-line reinforcements … we can't get fooled again."
Our Take: The Bears are a cautionary tale when it comes to offseason hype, as evidenced by the past two offseasons. But there's something about Ben Johnson's arrival that makes it feel like Chicago might actually live up to expectations -- especially now that they're prioritized the trenches.
FOX Sports
Link to Article
Current Ranking: 16th
Previous Ranking: 18th
Author: David Helman
Author’s Take: "On paper, the Bears look like they’re ready to battle for the NFC North. It was a stroke of genius to rebuild the interior of the offensive line with three quick moves. Dayo Odeyingbo is an underrated player, too. But this is still the Chicago Bears we’re talking about. They’re well-positioned for success in Ben Johnson’s first year, but I’ve been fooled before. Seeing is believing with this organization."
Our Take: Again, it's no surprise that experts are wary about how Chicago's offseason moves will translate to success on the field. While no one is expecting the Bears to contend for a Super Bowl in Ben Johnson's first season, we've seen in the past how teams can go from worst to first -- or at least top 10 pick to playoff contender.
ESPN
Link to Article
Current Ranking: 22nd
Previous Ranking: 22nd
Author: Courtney Cronin
Author’s Take: "The Bears got younger and faster at receiver behind their two top targets. Zaccheaus signed a one-year deal in Chicago after his bounce-back season with the Commanders (45 catches, 506 yards and three touchdowns). This is an inexpensive way to enhance the offense with a 27-year-old slot receiver who just played with another young quarterback. Coach Ben Johnson covets fast receivers and can get creative with where he lines up Zaccheaus, who took a handful of snaps in the backfield last season."
Our Take: Considering how quickly the Bears were able to overhaul the entire interior offensive line, it's shocking that they didn't make any movement among ESPN's power rankings. Sure, they still have plenty to prove, but this Chicago team is a heck of a lot better than it was before free agency. It is notable that ESPN dubbed Olamide Zaccheaus as an under-the-radar signing, and he serves to benefit from Ben Johnson's addition on offense.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 2025 NFL power rankings: Bears trending up after free agency
Continue reading...
