5 teams to watch during 2023 NFL free agency period
1. Chicago Bears
It was quite the unexpected 2022 season in the Windy City. Some felt that quarterback Justin Fields didn’t have what it took to be a standout player. The hiring of former Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus as the newest head coach of the Chicago Bears figured to make his side of the football better when it came to this team.
Instead, Fields set an NFL record for rushing yards by a quarterback in a season (1,143), to go along with eight touchdowns. The second-year pro put up respectable numbers as a passer, throwing for 2,242 yards and 17 scores. He was picked off 11 times and absorbed 55 sacks while losing only two of his 16 fumbles. Yes, there is plenty of room for improvement.
That would be an understatement when it comes to the Chicago defense. The Bears allowed the most points in the league, and finished 29th in the NFL in total defense. Only the Houston Texans were easier to run the ball against this past season.
General manager Ryan Poles has plenty of money to spend in free agency. The franchise has already been aggressive when it comes to adding veteran players. On Friday, he made a deal (which won’t be official until March 15 at 4:00 pm ET) with the Carolina Panthers to acquire wide receiver D.J. Moore and four draft picks for the first overall selection in April (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter).
Next. 2023 NFL Free Agency: Predicting where top 50 players will land. dark
The Bears will take a 10-game losing streak into their first game of 2023, but there’s already some excitement in the Windy City.