Chicago Bears’ 2025 Offseason Primer: Financial Outlook, Roster Needs & More

Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears can rest assured this offseason that they have found the answer at quarterback with Caleb Williams. Their only goal is to build the proper infrastructure around him to help him reach his full potential.

We have touched on it at times this season. But with the campaign out of the way, it is time for a deeper dive.

We will examine the roster needs and head coaching candidates. Before that, though, let’s recap the 2024 season. What went wrong in a situation purported to be the best a rookie has ever stepped in? Only after understanding that can we determine which direction the Bears need to take this offseason.

Bears 2025 Offseason Primer: Finances, Roster Needs & More

Bears 2024 Season in Review: Underperformed an Understatement

Preseason Projected Win Total: 7.5 (Vegas Insider)

Clocker Sports Record Projection: 7-10

2024 Record: 5-12

The Bears enter the offseason after snapping a 10-game losing streak against their most hated rival, the Green Bay Packers to end the season. That win, which featured several backup players on the other side, cannot mask the rest of the campaign.

Williams and Co. finished with the No. 29 scoring offense and were 32nd in yards gained this season. They were 13th in passing attempts, but 28th in passing yards.

Williams absorbed a league-leading 68 sacks.

He took the blame for many of them, noting that he could be prone to trying to make a play that was not there instead of taking a check-down, running, or throwing the ball away to avoid being taken down in the backfield.

The next Bears coaching staff can help themselves by also committing to the run more than they did this season.

Chicago ranked 23rd in rushing attempts and 25th in yards gained on the ground.

Notably, the Bears ranked 16th in yards before contact, per Pro Football Reference. However, they were 29th in yards gained after contact and 32nd in broken tackles. The Bears must determine if this was a personnel issue or a matter of an ill-fitting scheme. It could be both.

Former head coach Matt Eberflus began the season energized by a physical makeover, but his sideline shortcomings proved impossible to shake, costing him his job.

Most point to the Hail Mary to end the game against the Washington Commanders in Week 8.

While that moment was a flashpoint, the Bears entered that contest 4-2 having built their resume on teams who would finish the season 29-35. Three opponents that beat the Bears during their 10-game slide failed to make the postseason.

The Bears’ flat performance against the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots cost Shane Waldron his job as offensive coordinator.

Three straight losses by 3 points or less did Eberflus in.

The Bears allowed the two highest-scoring performances by their opponents in two of the three weeks after Eberflus’ firing and tied their third-worst mark. With Eberflus replaced by an inexperienced play-caller in Eric Washington – who also did not call plays in his last stop with the Buffalo Bills – the Bears’ roster deficiencies on that side were even more apparent.

They can hang their hat on allowing a league-low 17 passing touchdowns. But without 22 interceptions to buoy them – they finished with 11 – the Bears’ lack of a pass rush left them exposed at the second and third levels.

The Bears racked up 40 sacks, tied for the ninth-most in the NFL. According to PFR, the Bears had the sixth-highest pressure rate.

They must find a way to convert that into more sacks.

Too often opposing QBs escaped the Bears’ pass rush and found a target, usually down the field, leading to allowing 12.2 yards per reception – the second-highest in the NFL – the fourth-most passing plays of 20 yards or more, and the third-most of 40-plus yards.

They were even worse against the run, allowing the third-highest yards per carry, the fifth-most rushing yards, and the fifth-most rushing touchdowns.

Bears 2025 Offseason Overview: Finances, Draft Picks & Roster Needs

Cap Space: $80.1M (Over The Cap)

Total Draft Picks: 9

Pending Free Agents: 24 Offense, 20 Defense

The Bears’ shortcomings underscore where their resources need to go this offseason: the trenches.

They will have cap space and draft capital at their disposal. However, they have spent well the past two offseasons only to come up short. This past offseason was their most extensive overhaul of the offensive line and it still ended up the fifth cheapest in the league, per Spotrac.

They have one former first-round pick in Darnell Wright.

They also have one former second-rounder, Teven Jenkins. He struggles to stay on the field this season and is a free agent this offseason, though.

Their defensive line ranks as the fifth most expensive. But much of that is due to Montez Sweat ($25 million of the unit’s $42 million cap charge in 2024) with only role players and prospects opposite him this season. He needs a proper running mate.

Andrew Billings’ returning from injury would be a good thing.

Gervon Dexter also had a strong season, though 4.0 of his 5.0 sacks came in the first five weeks of the campaign.

The Bears can also bring back depth pieces in Chris Williams, who had a strong season, and Zacch Pickens who has not taken the steps forward anyone expected. But it still feels like the Bears need a true difference-maker.

That may be the other end opposite Sweat. Maybe it’s an interior complement for Dexter.

Whatever the case, the Bears have to shore up their defensive front, especially because this season highlighted the variance in play from their linebackers – namely Tremaine Edmunds – without a stout group up front.

The Bears do not need cap space. But parting with Bates, Byard, Everett, and/or Walker could help them create some more, as could extending one of Brisker, Edwards, or Gordon.

Bears Head Coach Search: Ben Johnson, Kliff Kingsbury Among Top Options

Assuming Ryan Poles stays on as general manager, which is far from certain given how the season has gone and what potential head coaching candidates may feel, the Bears have decreed their next head coach must be a “leader of men.”

Poles also commended Brown’s leadership in a difficult position, filling in two spots above the role he was hired for. Brown will also interview for the job in an official capacity.

Still, there is an extensive list of potential candidates.

Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson of the Detroit Lions figure to be busy with interviews during their bye week in the first round of the playoffs. The Bears will have to wait until the Vikings playoff run ends to interview defensive coordinator Brian Flores. He had a rough night against Johnson in the season finale.

They will also have to wait for potential candidates Joe Brady (Buffalo Bills), Kliff Kingsbury (Washington Commanders), and Liam Coen (Tampa Bay Buccaneers).

Then there is the pre-existing relationships aspect that is prevalent in the NFL.

Flores was teammates with Poles in college. That could be notable if the latter remains in place and sticks to his “leader of men” mantra. There is also rumored mutual interest between the Bears and Pete Carroll.

Also keep Bobby Slowik (Houston Texans), who is in the playoffs, and Zac Robinson (Atlanta Falcons) in mind. Anthony Weaver (Miami Dolphins DC) and Mike Kafka (New York Giants OC) have also been linked to the Bears. Mike Vrabel appeared to be a potential option before the New England Patriots job opened up.

Here is a running list of candidates, in alphabetical order, that the Bears have been linked to:

Bears HC Interview/Request Tracker (* indicates a completed interview)

Bears 2025 Projection: Roster Locks, Cut Candidates, Extension Watch

Roster Locks: Austin Booker, Braxton Jones, Caleb Williams, Cole Kmet, Coleman Shelton, D’Andre Swift, Darnell Wright, DJ Moore, Elijah Hicks, Gervon Dexter, Jaquan Brisker, Jaylon Johnson, Jonathan Owens, Kiran Amegadjie, Kyler Gordon, Rome Odunze, Roschon Johnson, Terell Smith, T.J. Edwards, Tremaine Edmunds, Tory Taylor, Tyler Scott, Tyrique Stevenson, Zacch Pickens

Extension Watch: Jaquan Brisker, Kyler Gordon, T.J. Edwards

Cut Candidates: DeMarcus Walker, Gerald Everett, Kevin Byard, Ryan Bates

2025 Opponents: H – Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers; A – Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Las Vegas Raiders, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Commanders.

Prediction: 8-9 – With 10 games against 2024 playoff teams on deck for 2025, and two more against teams that entered this past season with postseason aspirations, projecting a modest improvement seems prudent.