We talking about talent or results? Sure Mack was hurt, Hicks was hurt, ARob sucked. Daniels and Peters were mediocre. But 2 of those guys are HOF players, and the other 3 are getting paid big money like talented veterans do.
I actually believe the Bears will win more than the 6 games they won last year. Schedule is huge, obviously, but coaching better, QB should be better, defense has fewer holes overall. I think 2022 Pringle will outproduce 2021 Robinson. LT will be better than Peters whoever it is. Hicks and Mack's actual contribution won't be hard to replace either, but the actual talent level across the board is lesser, IMO.
The amount of salary actually spent on the active roster (excluding dead money toward cap), the actual draft pick capital used to build the team, all says "this is not a hugely talented team".
I think the salary actually says a lot of guys on rookie contracts and 1 year deals.
I would also say we are more talented at the postions that matter. Here is where I would say we are clearly more talented.
1. QB - Single most important position so getting better here pretty much makes us more talented than last year almost by itself.
2. CB - Gordon, Young and 2nd year Graham make this way more talented especially if 3rd year JJ also improves.
3. S - Brisker obviously improves this unit and DHC and Hicks look solid as depth.
4. Off Ball LB - Morrow is much better than DT or Ogletree IMO and Quan is Quan.
5. RB - Herbert in his 2nd year and Ebner make this a more talented unit.
Here is where I would say we are clearly worse.
1. IDL - Losing Nicholls and Hicks is a bigger loss than gaining Jones IMO.
2. Edge - Losing Mack and Quinn being a year older are bigger losses than the additions and Gipson going into 3rd year.
And here is where I would say it is a bit up in the air.
1. WR - Only loss was ARob but he sucked last year. I think Pringle, VJJ and others are potentially more talented than just having ARob but it is debatable.
2. TE - 3rd year Kmet is better than 2nd year Kmet and we are deeper. I have this as debatable only because Graham was a TD machine so remains to be seen who can be that RZ TE.
3. OL - Peters had more experience obviously but this is a deeper albeit inexperienced OL. How talented there are will really come down to the rookies and 2nd year Borom and Jenkins. So could go either way.
So I think we improved at 5 positions including the nost important one, got wprse at 2 and 3 can go either way. On balance that adds up to more talent especially if one od the 3 spots up in the air goes our way.
