The 2023 NFL Season is here, and the Music City Drive In is getting you ready. Check back each day from now until September 3 as we look at each team and make award and playoff predictions. Agree? Disagree? Let us know in the comments.

The Bears began the Matt Eberflus era in uneven fashion in 2022. The team bested the San Francisco 49ers on opening day but wins proved few and far between much of the rest of the season. The Bears finished 3-14, earning the No. 1 overall pick. The team used that to re-build this off-season, hoping to take another step forward in 2023.

Off-Season Changes

The Bears did bid farewell to a few key contributors. Top on that list is running back David Montgomery, who played with the team for all of his four-year career. He headed off within the division to the Detroit Lions. Backup quarterback Trevor Siemian also departed, signing with the Cincinnati Bengals. Meanwhile tackle Riley Reiff departed for the New England Patriots.

The Bears used free agency and the draft to build up the offense and the defense. Defensively, the Bears brought in Yannick Ngakoue and DeMarcus Walker to bolster the line and Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards to bolster the linebacker group. In the draft, the Bears grabbed defensive tackle Gervon Dexter and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson in the Second Round.

On offense, the Bears used the No. 1 overall pick to acquire a franchise receiver in D.J. Moore of the Panthers. Moore has 364 receptions for 5,201 yards and 21 touchdowns in five professional seasons. He figures to have a huge impact on the Bears’ offense. The team also added veteran tight end Robert Tonyan and running back D’Onta Foreman. In the draft, the Bears used a First-Round pick on tackle Darnell Wright and grabbed running back Roschon Johnson in the Fourth Round.

Fantasy Impact

For fantasy, Justin Fields was already a winner in 2022. He finished as QB6. That came mostly thanks to his rushing efforts, as he had 1,143 yards and eight rushing touchdowns. The Bears are hoping to see some progression in his passing in 2023, especially with better weapons. But with his rushing upside, he’s a QB1.

In the backfield, the team has a trio of options in Khalil Herbert, Foreman and Johnson. Herbert is the most interesting to me, as he’s contributed well the past few seasons. He 1,164 yards rushing and six touchdowns in two seasons, averaging 5.7 yards per carry in 2022. I like him to take the lead position with RB2 upside. Johnson is more of a long-term bet for me, with Foreman as veteran depth.

In the passing game, Moore figures to be the top option with the Bears adding veterans Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool. I like Moore as a high-end WR2. Mooney feels more like a WR4, while Claypool is a depth piece to me. At tight end, the Bears have Cole Kmet, who finished as TE8 a year ago. Tonyan is in the mix, but Kmet is the one I’d rather have. That being said, I see him as more of a TE2.

Prediction

The Bears were fun to watch at times but not successful in 2022. I think they’ll still be fun to watch and maybe a bit more successful in 2023. Rebuilds take time. I expect them to be in the six-to-eight-win range and take a step forward this season.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.