In order for the Chicago Bears to take the next step in the rebuild toward sustained success, it’ll take young players turning into stars. Here are three names still on rookie contracts that could make that happen.
In three short years, general manager Ryan Poles has taken this franchise from a state of rebuilding to a team on the rise. Playoffs should be a realistic expectation in 2024 but a lot of that will rely on the team’s young core of players. Many of them are still playing on rookie deals.
Expectations continue to rise, and rightfully so. Even with a rookie quarterback under center, the time to win has come. Now, that doesn’t mean anyone should be realistically expecting a Super Bowl in 2024, but a winning record is a must, and a playoff appearance would be preferred. For them to reach the next step of this rebuild process, young players must make the next step.
Here are three players still on rookie contracts that will take a big step for the Chicago Bears in 2024.
1. Left Guard Teven Jenkins
Like Jaylon Johnson last season, Jenkins enters a pivotal Year 4 with the team. His play up to this point has been notable, but his durability and consistency are where things need to improve. Since coming into the league, Jenkins has missed 19 games. Durability plays hand-in-hand with a more consistent performance on the field. Sound familiar?
Jenkins came into the league as a left tackle, then he was shuffled to right tackle in Year 2 before being pushed inside to right guard, where he played the 2022 season. In 2023, he was slid over the left guard, after the signing of Nate Davis. That’s where he’s expected to play in Year 4. While there were many rumors floated that Jenkins was not happy to play guard, at his best, he’s a Top 10 guard in the league. Similar to Johnson last season, one career year in 2024 could lead to a lucrative contract extension next offseason. He’s already stated his wish to stay in Chicago. Having a young ascending guard locked down for four-plus years would be a win-win for both sides. Call it a hunch, but I believe Jenkins will follow a similar trajectory to Johnson last season.
2. CB Tyrique Stevenson
I debated going with Kyler Gordon here, but after his injury, Gordon was arguably one of the best nickel corners in the league. I’ll stay with the same position and nominate Stevenson as the next breakout candidate in the secondary.
There’s no denying that Stevenson’s rookie year started on a rough note. He was routinely targeted, and teams were successful in doing so. About halfway through the year, Stevenson turned a corner. He finished the season leading the team in pass breakups (16) and was tied for first with four interceptions. Down the stretch, he turned into a rookie playmaker at one of the tougher positions in football.
With quality players around him in the secondary, it’s not unrealistic to expect the former Miami product to take another big step in 2024. If he does, it’s hard not to imagine Chicago having one of the best secondaries in the league by season’s end.
3. DT Gervon Dexter Sr.
Although I’m not sure whether this is more of a hope rather than a projection, the emergence (or lack thereof with Dexter) could define how good this defense could be in 2024. Not only did Poles not make any big splashes on the interior defensive line, but he lost a key contributor when Justin Jones signed a lucrative three-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals.
It’s clear that he’s placing faith in a pair of 2023 Day 2 selections, but the onus will be on Dexter to take a big step this season. Much like Stevenson, Dexter’s production was more noticeable in the second half of his rookie year. The former Florida Gator had one of the better interior pressure rates over the final eight games of the season and had a few near-sacks that didn’t show up on the stat sheet.
It has been reported that Dexter showed up in better shape and with more explosions off the snap than last season. That’ll be a big key for him, especially as the starting three-technique. Dexter’s size, length, and overall athletic profile make him an intriguing project for any defensive coach, but Chicago will be hoping that new defensive coordinator Eric Washington can produce similar results to what he got out of Ed Oliver in Buffalo. Head coach Matt Eberflus has spoken plenty about the need for a pass rush inside, and their primary hope of generating that is firmly on their second-year defensive tackle’s shoulders.
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