When new Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson was entering the 2024 season with the Detroit Lions, he was more concerned about what the Bears could do in the NFC North than any other opponent. He believed the Bears — who finished the season 5-12 — were “a sleeping giant.

Johnson is a home-run hire for the Bears, but general manager Ryan Poles has plenty of work to do with this roster, between free agency and the 2025 NFL draft, to elevate this team. But it helps that Chicago has the resource to do just that with the fifth-most salary cap space and four picks in the Top 75 of the NFL draft.

The Chicago Bears drafted quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, which was a big step towards finally getting this offense to where it needs to be. This offseason, they hired Ben Johnson to be their head coach, which is the next step.