4. Unproven depth at ILB
While the defense isn’t as concerning as the offense, there are some questions that the top-10 unit faces from a season ago. Particularly when it comes to depth. Chicago is returning all but three starters on defense from a season ago, but they lost some key depth pieces at inside linebacker that is certainly concerning.
Following injuries to starters Danny Trevathan and Roquan Smith, the Bears turned to reserves Nick Kwiatkoski and Kevin Pierre-Louis, who shined in relief of the starting tandem. It also earned them new deals elsewhere in free agency, which leaves Chicago’s inside linebacker depth — which was a huge strength last season — vulnerable. But with Kwiatkoski and Pierre-Louis’ departures, that should give guys like Joel Iyiegbuniwe and Josh Woods an opportunity to step it up in a bigger role.
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