When fans get their first look at the 2022 Chicago Bears during training camp later this month, they’re going to be seeing plenty of new faces both on and off the field.

The Bears had themselves a busy offseason from the jump when they hired a new regime and coaching staff in January,  retooled the roster in free agency in March, then built for the future by making 11 draft picks in late April.

It’s been an offseason of change and while it’s admittedly early to judge, some moves already seem better on paper than others. Here’s our ranking of the best Bears acquisitions of the offseason.

The Bears showed they’re serious about committing to the run game when they signed fullback Khari Blasingame away from the Tennessee Titans this offseason. While it’s not a sexy acquisition, it’s a very important one as Blasingame was a key part of the Titans prolific running game with star Derrick Henry.

According to Statmuse, Henry averaged 126 yards per game and 4.6 yards per carry on the ground with Blasingame in six games during the 2021 season. In two games without him, that number dipped to 90.5 and 3.2 yards per game. He’s going to open up holes for David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert this fall, potentially making the Bears one of the best rushing attacks in the league this season.

New Bears nickel corner Tavon Young isn’t getting talked about much this offseason, but I see him as one of Ryan Poles’ better signings. Just a few years ago, Young was considered one of the best nickel corners in the game with the Baltimore Ravens. But severe injuries limited his playing time since he signed a lucrative extension in 2019 as he dealt with a neck issue that season and missed 2020 with a torn ACL.

Now coming to the Bears on a one-year deal, Young has a chance to not only rectify his career, but give the Bears a solid nickel corner for the first time in years. The position has been a problem as of late and teams have exploited mismatches in the middle of the field. Young brings experience and athleticism to the team and while he’s likely going to be battling for the starting spot with Thomas Graham Jr., I expect him to play a significant role regardless of his status this season.

Byron Pringle picked a good time to have a breakout season. The 28-year old was used sparingly in the Kansas City Chiefs offense since he was signed as an undrafted free agent, but took over as the team’s WR3 in 2022 following the departure of Sammy Watkins. The result was a career year for Pringle. He caught 42 passes for 568 yards and five touchdowns. Pringle became one of Patrick Mahomes’ key targets and now will try to do the same with Justin Fields.

Signing a one-year, $6 million deal this offseason, Pringle projects to be the team’s WR2 behind Darnell Mooney. He has a knack for bouncing off tacklers and finds ways to get open, especially after plays might break down. Pringle should continue to build on last year’s numbers and approach the 700 or 800-yard mark when the season concludes.

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Rookie receiver Velus Jones Jr. is going to be someone Bears fans watch very closely this summer when camp gets underway. Drafted in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Tennessee, Jones was a late bloomer in college, but ended his time as a Volunteer with a bang. He caught 62 passes for 807 yards and seven scores in 2021, all career highs. His blazing speed also has been asset on special teams as well, where he stood out as a return specialist throughout college.

Now Jones enters the pros and will look to carve out a spot on the offense that best utilizes his talents. He’s been compared loosely to Deebo Samuel and Cordarrelle Patterson, given his versatility, but when it comes down to it, Jones is simply a great athlete who can be effective at a number of spots on offense and special teams.

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

The Bears got younger in their linebacking corps this offseason, saying goodbye to aging veterans Danny Trevathan and Alec Ogletree, and bringing in younger linebacker Nicholas Morrow. Coming over from the Las Vegas Raiders, Morrow is an ascending player. He’s still just 26 years old and has worked his way up the depth chart since coming into the league with the Raiders, starting a majority of the games for them in 2020.

Unfortunately, 2021 was a lost season for Morrow as he was placed on injured reserve prior to week one with a foot injury, missing the whole year. But now healthy, he’ll likely settle in as the team’s middle linebacker, playing next to Roquan Smith and will add speed to the position, a necessary attribute for the type of defense Matt Eberflus wants to run.

Defensive tackle Justin Jones may have been the Bears’ backup plan after they failed to sign Larry Ogunjobi due to a failed physical, but he’s still a talented and vital piece to the Bears defense. Jones signed a two-year, $12 million contract this offseason, coming over from the Los Angeles Chargers. Like many of the other free agent acquisitions the Bears have signed, Jones is still young and is coming off his best season as a pro.

The 25-year old played in 11 games for the Chargers last season, totaling 37 tackles, including five for loss, three sacks, and two fumble recoveries. He’ll be the team’s new three technique and will be leaned on to be that disruptive force in the middle of the defensive line to create havoc for opposing offenses. It’s a different role than what he played while with the Chargers, but it’s one he can excel in and could be one of the unsung heroes on an upstart Bears defense.

One of the biggest questions heading into the offseason for the Bears was how they were going to address the struggling offensive line. They moved quickly in free agency to shore up the interior, signing former Green Bay Packer Lucas Patrick to a two-year contract to likely become the team’s newest center.

Patrick showed versatility with the Packers during his career after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2016. He filled in at guard and center before earning a starting spot. He’s earned the praise of Aaron Rodgers and should be an important asset in Justin Fields’ development. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s joining one of his former coaches, Luke Getsy, with the Bears. Getsy and Patrick are very familiar with one another during their time in Green Bay. Patrick is going to be counted on as a key leader on offense and while his play should be solid, his leadership might be his best value to the team.

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

The Bears and Poles focused on defense early in the 2022 NFL Draft, selecting safety Jaquan Brisker out of Penn State with their later second-round draft pick. The selection of Brisker, the highest-drafted safety for the Bears since Danieal Manning, means they’re serious about shoring up their struggling secondary.

Brisker projects as the team’s starting strong safety and will play opposite Eddie Jackson. It’s an opportunity for both safety spots to improve, as Brisker’s performance may elevate Jackson after he’s struggled the last couple of years. Brisker has lit up the offseason program already and could be the most impactful rookie the Bears have this season.

Just before Brisker was selected in the draft, the Bears made cornerback Kyler Gordon their first selection of Poles’ tenure as general manager. The former Washington standout was selected early in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft and fills a massive need at one of the cornerback positions opposite veteran Jaylon Johnson.

Gordon is a fluid player who has the potential to become an elite cornerback in the NFL in a few years. His hip movement is sensational and he can keep up with top receivers, while also playing a physical style as well. He’s projected to play an outside position and should be a week one starter, as long as he’s healthy. Brisker may have the better rookie season, but Gordon may have the better professional career. It was a great first pick for Poles.

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

The Bears’ best offseason acquisition didn’t come from free agency or the draft. It came from other front offices around the league. It’s hard to overstate how badly the Bears needed a change from the Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy era. Their limited success was all thanks to smoke and mirrors, as well poorly investing in aging players. But in comes Poles and Eberflus, two men who appear to see things very differently.

Poles has shown to be more measured in his acquisitions, not overpaying for free agents and building through the draft with both quality and quantity. Eberflus, meanwhile, has been in the league for over 10 years in a number of roles with multiple organizations. He’s keeping people accountable and is already earning the respect of his players with his philosophies and intensity. And let’s not forget the new offense being installed with Getsy, designed to focus on the running game and get the most out of Fields without putting him in harms way.

The new staff and front office is a sharp right turn from the previous regime. It’s too early to tell how successful they’ll eventually be, but a change had to be made and the team is in a good direction moving forward.

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