To say that the Chicago Bears had a disappointing 2024 season would be an understatement, and that built a narrative around Caleb Williams that he couldn’t deliver and the Bears might have gotten their pick wrong last year.

There were not only times of poor play but also coaching malpractice, which led to two separate head coaches and three offensive coordinators that would ultimately lead to the team hiring Ben Johnson to be their new head coach. Looking back on last season, it’s easy to put the blame on Williams, but his teammates also didn’t step up when needed either.

ESPN’s Mina Kimes, considered one of the best minds in the NFL world, discussed the Bears’ selections of rookie playmakers Colston Loveland and Luther Burden, while also pointing to others around Williams who didn’t step up last year.

“What I really liked about them (Bears) taking two skill players early, I like the players they took, the value that they got them,” Kimes said on her podcast. “Caleb Williams struggled last year and made a lot of mistakes on his own, made a bad situation worse, but he was not just let down by coaching, and now you bring in Ben Johnson, but I thought the Bears skill players were one of the biggest disappointments of the NFL season last year. (DJ) Moore, some games I don’t know what was going on with him. I like the fact that they brought in someone who will push him, because Luther Burden will be asked to do similar things like screens, he’s really good at getting yards after the catch. (Cole) Kmet was really inconsistent too, so bringing in a tight end who I think has a much higher ceiling in Colston Loveland, I’m glad the Bears recognized that.”

Kimes brings up a question worth considering: Could Loveland and Burden pose immediate threats to the veteran counterparts? Chicago not only wants to build a roster full of offensive talent for their new head coach and young quarterback, but it wouldn’t hurt to add more competitive and potential long-term contributors in the process.

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