Are the Chicago Bears the NFL’s most improved team?

Anytime an NFL team adds a quarterback with the first overall pick, like the Chicago Bears did with Caleb Williams in April, improvement is expected. But when coupled with additions on offense that include a Hall of Fame wide receiver, a blue-chip top-10 prospect pass-catcher, and a do-it-all explosive running back, those expectations go way up.

Indeed, rookie quarterbacks tend to struggle early in their NFL careers, so it’s important that Bears fans remain grounded when the season kicks off. But there’s no denying that this roster is significantly better than it was a year ago—so much so that NFL.com dubbed the Bears the NFL’s most improved team.

“The Bears came into this offseason with high expectations and they delivered in all ways possible,” NFL.com’s Jeffri Chadiha wrote. “They traded quarterback Justin Fields to Pittsburgh instead of giving him one more year to prove himself. They added more veteran help on offense — running back D’Andre Swift, wide receiver Keenan Allen and tight end Gerald Everett — and signed blossoming star cornerback Jaylon Johnson to an extension. Of course, the home run came in the draft. By taking quarterback Caleb Williams first overall and wide receiver Rome Odunze eight picks later, the Bears now have an offense that could become the most exciting in franchise history. This is a team that saw its defense grow considerably in the second half of last season. If Williams can make an immediate impact — which he needs to do — the playoffs are a real possibility for this bunch.”

What a time to be a Chicago Bears fan, one in which analysts like Chadiha think could feature the most exciting offense in team history.

READ: Is a contract standoff coming between Caleb Williams, Bears?

Are statements like that hyperbole? I don’t think so, not when you have a generational quarterback prospect under center and three elite wide receivers who individually would be most teams’ No. 1 pass catcher. It’s crazy that players like tight end Cole Kmet are often overlooked when discussing the Bears’ offense, too. Kmet isn’t a flashy playmaker, but he’s an effective red-zone threat who moves the chains as well as any tight end in the league. In seasons past, he’d be one of Chicago’s primary reads. As the fourth option in Caleb Williams’ progression? It doesn’t get much better than that.

It isn’t all good news for the Bears, though. NFL.com has the Detroit Lions as the fourth-most improved team this offseason, which is a scary thought, considering they were kings of the NFC North in 2023. Neither the Minnesota Vikings nor Green Bay Packers cracked the list.

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