The Chicago Bears are coming off a disappointing 2021 season that ushered in the start of a new era with general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus. The hope is this Ryan-Matt duo will be able to guide the Bears back to relevance.
With the NFL draft fast approaching, Poles still has plenty of work to do with the current roster, which features some glaring holes at positions of need. Positions like wide receiver, offensive line and cornerback remain huge concerns.
Here at Bears Wire, we went position by position to break down where Chicago stands ahead of the 2022 NFL draft.
Quarterback
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For all intents and purposes, Justin Fields would be the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft this year. Luckily for the Bears, they traded up to nab him with the 11th overall selection in last year’s draft, which has Chicago with its hopeful franchise quarterback in place heading into the 2022 season. For the first time in awhile, quarterback is the least of the Bears’ worries. And that has everything to do with having a talented young QB on a rookie deal in place. — Alyssa Barbieri
>> Read our full QB draft preview
Running back
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The Bears have several needs on offense, but running back isn’t one of them. With David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert in place, Chicago is sitting in a good place at running back. They also have depth in Darrynton Evans, who’s flashed potential, as well as added a fullback in Khari Blasingame to aid the run game. Next year will be a different story, as Montgomery is slated to become a free agent. While Montgomery has been a leader on offense, it’s unlikely Chicago will re-sign him to the kind of contract he’s seeking when running backs tend to be a dime a dozen. — Alyssa Barbieri
>> Read our full RB draft preview
Wide receiver
AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh
While the…