It did not take long for the NFL offseason to dominate the sports world, as NFL free agency started last week after the NFL combine had just concluded. Team representatives have been able to speak with each other, creating rumors about the draft, free agency, and other information that would inevitably leak to insiders like Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter.
That is just the beginning of a highly anticipated offseason that included the top overall pick being moved and quarterback question marks across the league.
With the bulk of major names being taken off the market by their respective teams, it is now time to assess how teams walked away from the NFL Free Agency period.
We will begin with the free agency winners.
2023 NFL Free Agency Winners: Chicago Bears
When you have over $90 million to spend and the first pick in the upcoming draft, it is easier to win the early portion of the offseason but give Ryan Poles and the Bears credit. Chicago wasted no time putting its stamp on the NFL offseason.
It first began when the Bears moved the first overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft to the Carolina Panthers. In return for the first pick, the Bears received the ninth overall pick, the 61st overall pick, a 2024 first-round pick, a 2025 second-round pick, and wide receiver DJ Moore.
Not only did Chicago get immense draft capital that will allow the organization to build a more complete roster, but the team finally gave Justin Fields a legitimate go-to option on the outside.
Moore has compiled multiple 1,000-yard seasons with the likes of Sam Darnold and Cam Newton, among others. The 25-year-old wideout is also under contract through 2025, giving the Bears stability at the wide receiver position. Moore will be joining weapons like Darnell Mooney, Chase Claypool, and Cole Kmet in an offense that is looking to take a leap in 2023.
With so many holes on the roster, and as stated earlier, over $90 million in cap space, the Bears had more than enough to be aggressive in free agency.
On the “first day” of free agency, which is the legal tampering period in the NFL, Chicago signed former Eagles’ linebacker TJ Edwards to a three-year, $19 million deal. A cheap deal for a 26-year-old linebacker that recorded 99 tackles, seven passes defended, and two sacks in 2022 in a loaded Philadelphia defense.
Beefing up the interior offensive line was the next line of action for Chicago, signing former Titans Guard Nate Davis to a three-year deal.
It was clear that the Bears wanted to be better in the trenches on both sides of the ball, and that was magnified when Chicago made their first splash signing by inking linebacker Tremaine Edmunds to a four-year, $72 million deal. Despite already being in the NFL for five seasons, Edmunds is still only 24 years old and has proven to be one of the best linebackers in the league. He will now take on more responsibility in Chicago’ defense starting in 2023.
Smaller signings made by the Bears include D’Onta Foreman, Robert Tonyan, Andrew Billings, Travis Homer, DeMarcus Walker, and PJ Walker. Nonetheless, the Bears have added a lot of pieces to the team, and that is not to mention all the talent they will collect through the draft.
It would have been nice if the Bears were able to grab one of the top available offensive linemen like Orlando Brown Jr. or Mike McGlinchey, but there should be stable, cheap options at offensive line help at the ninth pick.
Chicago is going to look a lot different this season if Fields can make that necessary jump, we have seen from quarterbacks in their second or third seasons after adding immense talent.