The Chicago Bears have set their 53-man roster for the 2022 NFL season.
With this new season comes plenty of unfamiliar faces.
However, it also comes with the team taking a ton of chances.
The team no longer has several of their defensive stars this season.
They also have no big name talent outside Justin Fields, Roquan Smith, and Eddie Jackson, three Bears players everyone knows.
So what makes this 2022 roster so risky for Chicago?
Bears Lack Big Name Star For Fields
Every NFL quarterback needs a big name receiver to help them succeed.
However, Fields is playing in 2022 without a big name star at wide receiver.
While he has receivers like Darnell Mooney and Velus Jones Jr., they aren’t big-name stars like Allen Robinson or Odell Beckham Jr.
This isn’t a knock against them, as they could perform well in 2022.
It’s just the reality that these two main receivers for 2022 aren’t known as number one receivers.
However, Mooney posted his first 1,000-yard receiving season last year, something that brings some hope to Chicago.
Chicago Bears Darnell Mooney is coming off his first 1,000+ receiving yard season.
Mooney has been putting in WORK this off-season to prepare for 2022-2023 season as he wants to go to the next level.
What do you think his stat line will be this upcoming season? pic.twitter.com/Z08atRNJOj
— Just Another Year Chicago (@OfficialJAYCHI) July 15, 2022
But with him revealing he was playing hurt that season, and still getting over 1,000 yards, makes some feel he’ll do better this year.
To think that Darnell Mooney topped 1,000 yards and stepped up as WR1 last year, all while playing hurt.
A healthy Mooney in 2022 could be bad news for opposing defenses. #Bears https://t.co/mf4Q1hcxBU
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) August 27, 2022
While that news is music to the ears of Bears fans, the reality is he not 100% now.
This means the Bears should have gotten Fields a clear number one receiver.
However, Chicago will take their chances on their current receiving core.
Bears Never Got Replacements For Lost Defensive Stars During Offseason
The Bears spent their offseason parting ways with their defensive stars.
They ended up trading and releasing their defensive stars.
However, the team never got replacements of the same caliber or talent as those they lost.
Players like Khalil Mack, Eddie Goldman, and Danny Trevathan are now on different teams.
But the Bears never got their team players to replace them of the same caliber.
This now puts pressure on remaining defensive players Roquan Smith and Eddie Jackson to lead the Bears’ defense.
A great LB is like a QB for the defense. Center of everything, being a true Captain and in control.
Smith is the head of the defense and is necessary on both runs and passes. Bears have a history of keeping their LBs and making them happy. Why stop now when he is just as good?
— Blocker_17 (@17Blocker) August 9, 2022
However, a contract dispute with Smith might put a halt on their defense completely in 2022.
Not Extending Smith Is A Risky Chance For The Bears In 2022
While Ryan Poles is remaining hopeful for a contract extension for Smith, things are still at a standstill.
If there’s no deal between the two, Smith is more than willing to leave Chicago.
However, it’s a tough choice for him to make, as he loves being a Bear.
But he wants a contract worthy of his playing ability.
With him being the de facto leader of the defensive play calling, he’s got a bigger role in 2022.
So him asking for more money makes sense with these additional responsibilities.
Yet, the two sides haven’t come to terms, even though contract talks started earlier in 2022.
If the Bears fail to re-sign him, Smith has signaled he rather be traded to another team.
The Bears’ defense can’t afford to lose this valuable coverage linebacker.
Trading him would end up being the biggest chance the Bears could ever take in 2022.
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