The Chicago Bears have been one of the most active teams thus far in the offseason, undergoing significant organizational changes under new head coach Ben Johnson in hopes of capitalizing on quarterback Caleb Williams’ rookie deal.
Despite having a strong roster and promising foundational pieces, the Bears are stuck in one of the hardest divisions in the NFL in the NFC North. The Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, and Minnesota Vikings are all perennial postseason contenders, making it more difficult for the Bears to consistently compete.
Even still, Chicago just managed to re-sign a player they poached from Green Bay, perhaps someone who could become a valuable contributor on defense with more seasoning.
Bears Officially Re-Sign DL Jonathan Ford and Four Other Players
According to Bears insider Courtney Cronin of ESPN, Chicago announced the signing of restricted free agent DT Chris Williams as well as four exclusive rights free agents: DL Jonathan Ford, DL Daniel Hardy, OL Bill Murray and DB Ameer Speed.
Ford, in particular, is an intriguing rotational lineman largely due to his Packers ties. Originally a seventh-round pick by Green Bay in the 2022 NFL Draft, Ford was on the practice squad before being claimed by the Bears in December.
He suited up for four games with Chicago, notching nine tackles. He graded a paltry 198th out of 219 qualified defensive linemen at Pro Football Focus, yet his size at six-foot-five and 338 pounds is exciting, illustrating why the Bears may make him a priority developmental player moving forward.
After ranking 30th in the NFL in opponent yards per play (5.9), Chicago clearly needs to find more impactful defenders. The players on the roster seem better than the sum of that production, and hopefully, better coaching will change matters.
For now, the Bears need to continue taking high-upside, low-risk shots to see if they can find diamonds in the rough. If those players come at a rival’s expense, even better. Here’s hoping Ford can prove Chicago’s optimism right and take a leap in 2025.