Windy City Gridiron
Let’s look at last year’s list and see how they did.
It’s become a regular staple of the offseason every June. Each year, we look at the 10 Chicago Bears with the most to prove heading into the season. It can be for a variety of reasons, perhaps they have competition at a position, perhaps they’re on the hot seat, perhaps they need to perform for a contract extension, but either way, it’s a big season for them.
As we are about to begin the 2025 list, let’s look back at 2024’s list and see how each player performed.
10. Zacch Pickens- Pickens made the list because he had a poor rookie season, and the premise was that if he didn’t improve in 2024, he might find himself out of the DL rotation in 2025. The result? Pickens didn’t perform well and isn’t expected to be a key part of the rotation this season.
9. Braxton Jones- The premise with Jones was that he needed to prove he was an invaluable piece of this offensive line so the Bears would know if they were set with him, or would begin to pivot to Kiran Amedgadjie or another LT not yet on the roster in 2025. The result? Ozzy Trapilo was selected in round 2, and many already expect him to potentially win the starting LT spot.
8. Gervon Dexter- Dexter rotated behind Justin Jones as a rookie, and Jones departed in free agency last year. The stance here was that Dexter was going to get an opportunity to start based on his improvement over the last two months of his rookie season. The result? Dexter continued to show that improvement and is now a part of the team’s defensive line rotation.
7. Velus Jones- The stance here was that the new kickoff rule might be the only thing keeping Jones on the roster. Once he proved he wasn’t valuable enough in that regard, he didn’t make it through the season.
6. Tremaine Edmunds- Edmunds received a huge deal before 2023 and did not perform well in his first year in Chicago. My stance heading into 2024 was that if Edmunds didn’t prove to be a key foundational piece in 2024, he was going to enter the 2025 season with his place on this roster sizzling hot. The result? Edmunds' seat in 2025 is sizzling hot.
5. Nate Davis- The premise here is that Nate Davis needed to prove he was worth the contract he signed and show that he wanted to be a part of the Chicago Bears football team. We all know the result. Davis didn’t even make it through the season.
4. Jaquan Brisker- Brisker made this list with the idea that he needed to improve his pass coverage so he could receive a contract extension in 2025, like Kyler Gordon eventually did. Brisker did make strides in that area, but a concussion derailed his entire season. Brisker may find himself on this list once again.
**3. Caleb...
