Chicago Bears roster breakdown: How the offensive players fared in 2023 and their contract statuses for 2024
General manager Ryan Poles has multiple critical roster decisions to make in the months ahead as he tries to build the Chicago Bears into a championship-contending team.
He already made two Thursday — releasing veteran offensive lineman Cody Whitehair and safety Eddie Jackson. Other big moves could be around the corner.
With the NFL scouting combine and free agency on the horizon, here’s a look at how the most significant Bears offensive players fared in 2023, what their contract statuses are and how Poles might evaluate each position.
*Contract numbers according to spotrac.com and overthecap.com. Stats according to Pro Football Reference.
Quarterbacks
Contract status: Entering fourth year of rookie contract; fifth-year option decision due May 2.
What to know: Poles’ most anticipated decision this offseason centers on Fields’ future, and that hinges on whether the Bears believe a quarterback in this draft, such as USC’s Caleb Williams, would be an upgrade. They must make that decision first, and then they can discuss either a trade of Fields or the fifth-year option, which is estimated to be about $22 million.
Contract status: Entering second year of a three-year contract.
What to know: Bagent joined the Bears as an undrafted rookie in 2023 on a contract worth $2.72 million over three years. He played his way onto the roster and became the backup, despite the Bears starting training camp with two veteran backup options. He ended up starting four games — going 2-2 — when Fields was injured. No matter the Bears’ decision on their starter, they can bring back Bagent as a developing backup.
Contract status: Unrestricted free agent.
What to know: The Bears signed Peterman to a one-year, $1.08 million contract last offseason to be their third-stringer behind P.J. Walker, whom the Bears eventually cut after a bad preseason. Peterman, who was in his second season as the No. 3 QB, provided veteran guidance in a room that included Fields and Bagent. Peterman played only four snaps.
Wide receivers
Contract status: Entering second year of a three-year, $61.9 million contract.
What to know: Moore signed a three-year extension with the Carolina Panthers through 2025, and the Panthers included him in the trade to the Bears for the No. 1 draft pick last offseason. The Bears have their top wide receiver under control for the next two seasons. Moore, who had a career-high 1,364 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in 2023, should be a difference maker with any Bears quarterback.
Contract status: Unrestricted free agent.
What to know: Poles opted not to sign Mooney to an extension before the fourth and final year of the wide receiver’s rookie contract. Mooney then had the worst season of his career, totaling 31 catches for 414 yards and a touchdown. Poles said after the season that he thought Mooney would bounce back, but whether that’s with the Bears remains to be seen.
Contract status: Entering second year of rookie contract.
What to know: The 2023 fourth-round pick finished with 17 catches for 168 yards in 17 games, with a catch rate of 53.1%. The Bears will want to see progress from Scott in his second season.
Contract status: Unrestricted free agent.
What to know: St. Brown dealt with hamstring and pectoral injuries and was limited to seven games in 2023. Primarily a blocker, he had five catches for 62 yards. St. Brown, who worked in Green Bay with former Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, signed one-year contracts each of the last two years.
Contract status: Unrestricted free agent.
What to know: Taylor, a six-year NFL veteran, joined the Bears on a one-year deal just before the season started because the Bears needed a returner who could reliably catch punts. He had 23 punt returns for 188 yards (8.2 per return) with two fumbles — both in the loss to the Cleveland Browns. He didn’t have a catch on offense.
Contract status: Entering third year of rookie contract.
What to know: Jones, a third-round pick in 2022, made his primary contribution on kickoff returns, with 16 returns for 435 yards (27.2 per return). He has yet to make the type of impact that might be expected of a third-round pick, especially on offense, where he had eight carries for 51 yards and four catches for 20 yards in 14 games. He was a healthy scratch twice in November.
Running backs
Contract status: Entering final year of rookie contract.
What to know: After top running back David Montgomery opted to sign with the Detroit Lions last offseason, Herbert received a career-high 132 carries for 611 yards and two touchdowns and had 20 catches for 134 yards and a touchdown. He missed five games with an ankle injury and was slow to restart upon his mid-November return, and his yards per carry dropped this season to 4.6. But he had two 100-plus-yard rushing games in December.
Contract status: Unrestricted free agent.
What to know: A season after rushing for 914 yards and five touchdowns for the Panthers, Foreman joined the Bears on a one-year deal. He had an odd, up-and-down season, which included the Bears making him a healthy scratch early and late in the season. In between, he helped the Bears rushing game survive Herbert’s injured reserve stint and also battled an ankle injury. He finished with 109 carries for 425 yards and four touchdowns in nine games. The Bears could go after another running back to supplement the group if they don’t bring Foreman back.
Contract status: Entering second year of rookie contract.
What to know: Johnson, a fourth-round pick, showed a lot of promise in his rookie season as a multifaceted player who can run, catch, block and play special teams. He had 81 carries for 352 yards and two touchdowns and 34 catches for 209 yards in 15 games. He missed two games with a concussion. The Bears should expect more all-around contributions from Johnson.
Contract status: Entering second year of a two-year contract.
What to know: The Bears signed Homer, a five-year NFL veteran, to a $4 million contract to contribute primarily on special teams. In 16 games, he participated in 61% of the Bears’ special teams plays.
Fullback
Contract status: Entering second year of a two-year contract.
What to know: The Bears signed Blasingame to a two-year, $3.6 million contract last offseason and then utilized him as their fullback on 17% of the snaps in the 16 games he played. Blasingame, who joined the Bears in 2022, also played more than half of the special teams snaps in his 16 games.
Tight ends
Contract status: Entering first year of a four-year extension.
What to know: Poles signed Kmet to a $50 million extension before the 2023 season that will keep the tight end in Chicago through 2027. Kmet then turned in the best season of his career with 73 catches for 719 yards and six touchdowns. Next to Moore, the 2020 second-round pick was Fields’ most reliable weapon. Kmet told reporters from the Sun-Times and CHGO Bears at the Super Bowl that he broke his right forearm in the season finale but it shouldn’t affect his offseason.
Contract status: Unrestricted free agent.
What to know: Tonyan knew Getsy from their time together in Green Bay, and they reunited when Tonyan joined his hometown Bears on a one-year deal last offseason. He had a quiet season with 11 catches for 112 yards and a memorable drop against the Browns. He played nearly half of the special teams snaps. The Bears will need tight end depth if he doesn’t return.
Contract status: Unrestricted free agent.
What to know: Lewis spent his 18th NFL season in a Bears uniform after signing a one-year, $2 million contract. Primarily a blocking tight end at this stage of his career, he played 29% of the offensive snaps and had four catches for 29 yards and a touchdown. At his postseason news conference, Poles singled out Lewis to thank him for his leadership during a rocky season. Lewis indicated he might want to play again in 2024 at age 40. He has played for only three teams in his career.
Offensive linemen
Contract status: Entering third year of rookie contract.
What to know: A year after starting all 17 games at left tackle as a rookie, Jones started 11 in 2023. He dealt with what he called a “fairly serious” neck injury that kept him out six weeks. Poles said after the season that he saw progress from Jones and believes he’s a starting left tackle in the NFL. But Poles also left open the possibility of adding competition if he sees a chance to upgrade.
Contract status: Entering final year of rookie contract.
What to know: Jenkins is among the players the Bears could consider for a contract extension this offseason. The guard showed his flexibility to play on both sides and was very good for most of the 12 games he played, though he admitted on social media he had a bad game in the season finale against the Packers. But the Bears also must consider the many injury issues that have limited Jenkins to 31 games over his first three seasons.
Contract status: Unrestricted free agent.
What to know: In the second season of a two-year, $8 million deal, Patrick played in 16 games for the Bears, missing only the finale because of a calf injury that landed him on injured reserve. The Bears must figure out how to move forward at center, whether that be drafting a replacement for Patrick or signing a veteran.
Contract status: Entering second year of a three-year contract.
What to know: Davis was the Bears’ biggest offensive free-agent signing last offseason, when he signed a $30 million deal. He missed six games, two early on after the death of his mother and four midseason with an ankle injury. He finally settled into his spot at right guard in mid-November for a seven-game stretch.
Contract status: Entering second year of rookie contract.
What to know: Poles and offensive line coach Chris Morgan spoke highly of the progress and potential they saw in Wright, the No. 10 pick in the 2023 draft. Wright started all 17 games of his rookie season at right tackle and logged invaluable experience against some of the best pass rushers in the game.
Cody Whitehair
Contract status: Released on Feb. 15.
What to know: Poles made one of his first big moves of the offseason when he released Whitehair and Jackson. Entering 2023, Whitehair had started 107 games for the Bears since 2016. He also started the first 10 games of the season before he was benched in favor of Jenkins, Patrick and Davis on the line’s interior. It marked a big shift for the 2016 second-round pick, and the Bears opted to cut the eight-year veteran to save more than $9 million in salary-cap space.
Contract status: Entering final year of rookie contract.
What to know: After starting 17 games over his first two seasons, Borom started six in 2023, filling in at left tackle when Jones was out with his neck injury. Borom can remain with the Bears as a swing tackle, but as mentioned with Jones, it will be worth watching how they decide to proceed at tackle.
Contract status: Unrestricted free agent.
What to know: The Bears acquired Feeney from the Miami Dolphins for a sixth-round draft pick before the season to boost the interior of the line while several players dealt with issues. He started only the season finale at center.
Ja’Tyre Carter
Contract status: Entering third year of rookie contract.
What to know: Carter, a seventh-round pick in 2022, started two games at right guard while Davis was out and could return as interior depth.
