The Chicago Bears used to be known for their defense– and it looks like they may be starting to move in that direction again.
At the end of last year, they were living up to that once upon a time “Monsters of the Midway” distinction, becoming one of the best defensive teams in the league over the second half of the season. The acquisition of fired up defensive end Montez Sweat from the Washington Commanders at the trade deadline helped a ton. Head coach Matt Eberflus assuming defensive play-calling duties helped even more. By the end of the campaign, the monsters were “Monsters” again.
Fast forward to the first quarter of 2024.
Offense, offense, offense.
Chicago Bears, Focused on Offense Over Defense?
The Bears were everybody’s headline story before and immediately after the NFL draft as they zeroed in on USC blue chip quarterback prospect Caleb Williams with their overall no. 1 selection.
And, yeah, drafting Williams was a big deal– especially as someone who’s already drawn comparisons to legends such as Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes. They bolstered their offensive focus by drafting wide receiver Rome Odunze with their other first round pick (no. 9 overall). Prior to that, they traded for Los Angeles Chargers star wide receiver Keenan Allen and signed running back D’Andre Swift, among other offseason moves made. Heck, the entire offensive coaching staff was pretty much replaced as well.
To be fair, they needed to do a house cleaning when it came to an offensive effort that, at best, was wildly inconsistent and, at worst, was a burning dumpster fire.
But now it’s time for defense…right?
Filling The Holes on Defense
The Bears have some holes in their game, despite their strong finish last season. Notably, the team needs edge rushing help, depth at linebacker, and more presence on the defensive line.
Could the team find help with the first two needs in the form of linebacker Shaquille Leonard?
The free agent Leonard is a six-year veteran and a three-time Pro Bowler. He played almost his entire career with the Indianapolis Colts, but was unexpectedly traded last year by the Colts to the Philadelphia Eagles for the final five games of the season after disagreements regarding his diminishing role with the team.
According to reports, the Bears have emerged as a favored landing spot for the 28-year-old Leonard.
Ethan Woodie of NFL Trade Rumors recently drew that straight line between the veteran and Chicago.
“Former Colts (Defensive Coordinator) Matt Eberflus is the head coach in Chicago, and that connection could be enough to get a deal done,” Woodie wrote. “Eberflus was in Indianapolis for four seasons from 2018-2021. He was on staff when Leonard was drafted and coached the best seasons of Leonard’s career. Much of Eberflus’ defensive staff with the Colts is now part of the defensive staff for the Bears as well. Eberflus has even cited Leonard as the prototypical middle linebacker he looks for.”
The familiarity with Leonard and the need for an additional veteran presence could make the signing an attractive one for team with a good amount of cap space still available and the feeling they may contend for a playoff spot this season.
A Word of Warning, Though
The one word of warning when it comes to signing Shaquille Leonard is that the Bears can’t expect anything resembling the prime “Maniac” who had a truly impactful field presence. A back injury (and subsequent surgery) that robbed him of most of the 2022 season, has seen him return to the league in a diminished capacity.
Until proven otherwise, Leonard is now a role player and not fit for every-down play. Experts have, however, rated rushing the passer, intercepting passes, and forcing fumbles as still part of his skill set– all things the Bears would love to improve upon.
Depth is always a big deal in the league, especially for a team that hopes to keep playing beyond the regular season. If the price is right, the Bears might do well to consider adding a depth piece like Leonard.
