The Chicago Bears have a long haul coming into the 2022 season.
With all new coaching and a lot of new players, the team is a shadow of its former self.
However, they still have a few veteran players that have been with the team for a while now.
With Eddie Jackson, Darnell Mooney, and Justin Fields being among the few returning players, they seem more like a rebuilding team this season.
While the team rebuilds, many fans want to know when the Bears will become contenders again.
That answer comes in two parts, as it’s not all on the Bears if they become contenders again.
When Aaron Rodgers Leaves Green Bay, The Bears Can Become Contenders Again
No Bears fan wants to hear the name Aaron Rodgers.
Unless they hear that he’s leaving the NFC North via a trade or retirement.
He’s the player Bears fans love to hate, and they let him know how they feel about him.
However, he gave it right back to the Bears by telling their fans he still owns them.
Rodgers run in the TD and tells bears fans he still owns them 😂😂😂 what a legend pic.twitter.com/qxv88EeNm1
— 52 Days 🧀 (@HailRodgers12_) October 17, 2021
While he only does well against the Bears when they don’t have a secondary on defense, he’s not wrong.
His record against the Bears is 22-5, making them the one team he’s beaten more times than the Detroit Lions.
So clearly if he’s out of Green Bay, it gives the Bears a chance to win some games against the Packers.
However, his contract doesn’t expire until the 2025 season.
If he sticks with the Packers, and doesn’t retire, Bears fans have to wait at least three more years before becoming contenders.
Chicago Can Speed Up The Process With A Great Offseason Next Year
While the Rodgers situation gives the Bears a 2025 date for contention, they can get there faster with a great offseason next year.
This means aggressive work with their young players like Fields, Braxton Jones, and Velus Jones Jr.
They are the future of the Bears offense, and getting them all on the same page means they can contend against the NFC North much quicker than 2025.
The Bears are going to be bad this year. People need to accept that. The defense should be better with Gordon and Brisker but the offense won't be much better. Poles had nothing to work with when he took over. Expect results in 2023 or 2024.
— Jeff W (@BearsSox4ever) May 5, 2022
However, they also need to either draft some defensive players or sign some during the offseason.
Getting Fields a top-tier number one receiver might also be something else they need next season.
While Jones is their slot receiver, Mooney will be their number one guy for 2022.
With him still young and unproven, it’s going to take a lot from him to show Chicago they won’t need to sign another receiver.
However, the issues with the defense need to be something Chicago examines over the next two years.
They can’t lose Jackson or Roquan Smith, the two remaining defensive cornerstones from the 2018 Bears defense.
Losing them would mean another rebuild of their defense.
With their current draft pick situation, they can’t afford to lose two top defensive players.
They need to use those picks to fill their current needs, not ones they could create later on.
However, if they do everything right, they could be contenders by the 2024 NFL season.
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