Ranking the positions the Chicago Bears should target in 2023 free agency

It’s one thing to have a lot of money to spend in free agency. It’s another to spend it the right way. The Chicago Bears have the most money to spend in the NFL, but GM Ryan Poles has made it clear he’ll spend wisely and in a way that doesn’t hinder the Bears’ roster flexibility in the future.

It should be no surprise that Chicago’s current roster needs an overhaul. Teams don’t end the season with the No. 1 overall pick for no reason, the Bears are bad, and they need an injection of quality veteran talent to expedite their rebuild.

The 2023 free agency class isn’t great, but a few positions offer big-time upgrades at big-time positions of need for the Chicago Bears.

Here’s our take on how Poles should prioritize his spending during free agency.

Top Priority: Offensive Line

We all know the drill: The Chicago Bears’ No. 1 goal is to keep Justin Fields safe and sound. If they fail to do that, the fans will riot.

The days of fielding Sam Mustipher and Larry Borom and Riley Reiff are over. They have to be. Poles has a chance to sign an established right tackle in free agency. Whether it’s Mike McGlinchey or Jawaan Taylor or Kaleb McGary… any of them are upgrades over what the Bears have become accustomed to in recent years.

This year, the 2023 season, is different. There’s an urgency to make sure the franchise quarterback, maybe the first true franchise quarterback in team history, isn’t taking unnecessary hits that could limit his explosive effectiveness.

The offensive line upgrades can’t be limited to tackle, either. The Bears have to get it right at center. Interior disruption is en vogue, and if Chicago Bears don’t have a stud at the pivot, Justin Fields will — again — be running for his life.

Ethan Pocic? Connor McGovern? Garret Bradbury? Come on down.

Almost (but not quite) the Top Priority: Defensive line

As important as it is to keep Justin Fields protected in 2023, the Chicago Bears” defense needs to harass and sack opposing quarterbacks as well. The Bears were the worst — the absolute bottom-of-the-league-worst — at sacking the quarterback in 2022. There’s no way this team can compete for a playoff spot without applying more pressure.

The first position the Bears need to bolster on defense is the three-tech defensive tackle. Justin Jones was fine last year, but Chicago needs a more explosive disruptor for Matt Eberflus’ defense to do its thing.

Javon Hargrave (Eagles) is the big fish, but Denver’s Dre’Mont Jones is younger and still ascending as a player. He could be the better investment, even if the returns blossom in 2024.

The Chicago Bears need a boost at edge rusher, too.

Marcus Davenport (Saints) is the most effective of this year’s free-agent class but also the most injury-prone. Arden Key (Jaguars) has 11 sacks over the last two seasons, and while that isn’t a super exciting number, it at least proves he has a pulse as a pass rusher.

There’s also Yannick Ngakue (Colts), who looked like one of the NFL’s up-and-coming sack artists at one time in his career. While he’s never quite returned to his 12-sack from in 2017, he’s totaled 65 sacks over eight seasons and would be a great veteran presence for the position group.

Gotta Get But Don’t Overpay: Wide Receiver

It’s great that the Bears have the most money to spend in free agency, but it’s a downer that there isn’t a wide receiver on the open market who warrants a mega payday.

Jakobi Meyers (Patriots) is boring, but he’s the best of the bunch. And he’d be the presumptive WR1 in Chicago if the Bears signed him. Is he the ideal acquisition for Bears fans? No. Check out any social post suggesting the Bears should add Meyers, and the fan reaction is pretty easy to understand.

But a boring receiver who’s productive is still a productive receiver. And that’s what the Chicago Bears need. Just, don’t overpay for him.

If not Meyers, then who? Juju Smith-Schuster (Chiefs)? No thanks. Odell Beckham Jr.? Uh, this isn’t 2015.

The Bears could dig deep in the bin of bargain receivers and come away with D.J. Chark Jr. (Lions) and Mecole Hardman (Chiefs) to add juice and downfield playmaking to the passing game. Again, not the worst thing in the world, but hardly the splash “offensive weapons” the Bears need to add.

Remember: Anything is better than nothing regarding the Chicago Bears wide receivers. They cannot go into draft weekend with the current wide receiver depth chart. At least one veteran starter is a must.

The bottom line? The Bears will improve in free agency, even if they don’t target these positions. But the best way they can make a Jacksonville Jaguars-like turnaround is by strengthening their offensive and defensive lines and adding some juice to the wide receiver room.

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