LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears open the 2024 regular season against the Tennessee Titans on Sept. 8 at Soldier Field.
The offseason was filled with moves that transformed the Bears' offense, from trading Justin Fields and drafting quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick to becoming the first team in NFL history to add a player with 100 receptions (WR Keenan Allen) and one with 1,000 rushing yards (RB D'Andre Swift) from the previous season.
Chicago's defense was one of the best in the league during the second half of the 2023 season and added safety Kevin Byard III. The secondary led the Bears to finish last season tied for the league lead in interceptions with 22.
Though the Bears have only made the playoffs twice since 2011, Chicago is primed to move past the rebuilding phase and into the category of contenders in its third year under the direction of general manager Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus.
"It's going to be hard to make this team now," Poles said. "It's going to be really hard to make this team."
Here is a 53-man roster projection as the Bears open training camp.
QUARTERBACKS (2): Caleb Williams, Tyson Bagent
Williams was named QB1 before his first practice with the Bears at rookie minicamp. The No. 2 job belongs to Bagent, who showed last season he is capable of winning games as a backup. Brett Rypien likely will be a practice squad player. Chicago believes the support system around Williams -- which includes offensive assistant Ryan Griffin, who spent 10 years as a backup QB to the likes of Drew Brees and Tom Brady -- gives the rookie ample resources for growth.
RUNNING BACKS (4): D'Andre Swift, Khalil Herbert, Roschon Johnson, Travis Homer
Chicago doled out a three-year, $24 million contract to Swift to become the featured back while adding an element in the passing game that the Bears haven't gotten from their backfield in recent seasons. The competition for the RB2 spot between Herbert, who is in a contract year, and Johnson, a 2023 fourth-rounder, will be one of the few position battles in camp.
WIDE RECEIVERS (6): DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, Tyler Scott, Velus Jones Jr., Dante Pettis
The race to 1,000 yards is on for the Bears' wide receiver room. In a matter of two months, this position went from being a weak link (aside from Moore's career year in 2023 with 1,364 yards and eight TDs) to one of Chicago's strongest units with the additions of Allen and rookie Odunze, who led the FBS in receiving with 1,640 yards. No one on the Bears roster will benefit more from the new kickoff rules than Jones, who will get even more opportunities as a returner.
FULLBACKS (1): Khari Blasingame
The Seahawks didn't utilize a fullback during Shane Waldron's three seasons as Seattle's offensive coordinator. It's possible Waldron will want to employ Chicago's third tight end as a blocker over a fullback, which makes Blasingame's special teams contributions (he logged the seventh-most snaps for Chicago in 2023) pivotal to making the roster.
TIGHT ENDS (3): Cole Kmet, Gerald Everett, Marcedes Lewis
Waldron's Seattle offenses used multiple-tight-end formations at the fourth-highest rate in the NFL from 2022 to 2023. Kmet and Everett form a strong duo, while Lewis' blocking and veteran leadership prompted the Bears to bring him back for his 19th NFL season.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (9): Braxton Jones, Teven Jenkins, Ryan Bates, Nate Davis, Darnell Wright, Coleman Shelton, Kiran Amegadjie, Matt Pryor, Ja'Tyre Carter
The Bears believe they've upgraded their biggest weakness along the offensive line with Bates, who enters camp as the favorite to start at center over Shelton.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (8): Montez Sweat, Gervon Dexter Sr., Andrew Billings, DeMarcus Walker, Austin Booker, Zacch Pickens, Jacob Martin, Dominique Robinson
Sweat proved to be a game changer after joining the Bears at the midway point of the season, but the Bears still finished with the lowest sack rate (4.64%) in the NFL in 2023. It's likely Chicago isn't done addressing its pass rush with several free agent edge rushers still on the market. The Bears are counting on a second-year leap from Dexter, a 3-technique, and also could use some depth on the interior.
LINEBACKERS (5): Tremaine Edmunds, T.J. Edwards, Jack Sanborn, Noah Sewell, Amen Ogbongbemiga
This group is as reliable as they come with the Bears' top two tacklers (Edmunds and Edwards) and a third option in Sanborn at strongside linebacker. Ogbongbemiga, who signed in free agency, played the second-most special teams snaps for the Chargers last season, and he figures to make his biggest contributions there in 2024.
CORNERBACKS (7): Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, Kyler Gordon, Terell Smith, Jaylon Jones, Josh Blackwell, Greg Stroman Jr.
Johnson's decision to bet on himself by not signing an early extension resulted in a career-best season and a four-year, $76 million contract. By pairing him with Stevenson on the outside -- combined with the strides Gordon has made at the nickel -- gives the Bears a strong foundation in the secondary. After investing heavily at cornerback since 2022, Chicago has one of the most talented and deepest units in the NFL.
SAFTIES (5): Jaquan Brisker, Kevin Byard III, Jonathan Owens, Elijah Hicks, Quindell Johnson
Byard replaces Eddie Jackson and brings eight years of experience and 28 interceptions to Chicago. Byard's fit with Brisker on the back end of Chicago's defense -- where two safeties have been playing sides (right and left) rather than swapping between free and strong safety -- is new this season.
SPECIAL TEAMS (3): Cairo Santos (K), Tory Taylor (P), Patrick Scales (LS)
The Bears raved about the potential to use Taylor as a "weapon" when they drafted him in the fourth round. Santos has converted on 90.4% of his attempts since joining Chicago in 2020, and he was rewarded with a four-year extension in December.