You can't win games during the offseason, but you can change a lot about your team. Such is the case for the Chicago Bears who have, on paper, changed the tone, direction, and optimism surrounding the franchise amid the flurry of changes they've made over the past two months.
It started with the hiring of Ben Johnson as the team's new head coach, and it continued with general manager Ryan Poles, along with Johnson, beginning to retool the roster.
That makeover started with the trades for offensive linemen Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney and continued with the free-agent signings of center Drew Dalman, defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo, wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, tight end Durham Smythe and return specialist Devin Duvernay.
All of the moves made by Chicago have significantly changed the public perception of the Bears following a disappointing 5-12 season. One person who took notice of the Bears moves is former Las Vegas Raiders general manager Mike Mayock, who believes Chicago has become an instant contender.
"I think the team that did what they needed to do the most was Chicago," Mayock said during an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show. "Because Caleb Williams is a big time talent, there's a lot of skill position talent on that roster, but the offensive line wasn't very good. Ryan Poles is a former offensive lineman, Ben Johnson is coming from a place where they prioritized offensive line. They went out and got three offensive linemen, they traded.
"What I love most about it, of course the talent infusion is critical, but he [Williams] is going to have three interior offensive linemen setting the edge right in front of him, even better than that, the communication amongst those three guys that will then leak back to the quarterback, it's going to be unbelievable. Those three moves [offensive line] I thought were critical and make Chicago an instant contender."
That's not only high praise for the Bears, but it raises expectations as Chicago once again appears to have been one of the biggest risers during the offseason. The offseason moves don't lead to a Super Bowl appearance or winning games on the field, but the moves the Bears have made has put a lot of people on notice.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Mike Mayock believes Bears are instant contenders in 2025
