Haugh: Expectation for Bears in 2024 should be to reach playoffs

The Bears’ moves this offseason suggests Ryan Poles believes he has the framework of a contender in place.

Chicago showed some promise in 2023, and has responded by going pedal to the metal this offseason. They’ve added Keenan Allen, Kevin Byard and D’Andre Sweat, among others, via free agency and trades. They own the Nos. 1 and 9 picks in next month’s draft, and are widely expected to take USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the top selection – especially after trading Justin Fields to the Steelers over the weekend.

The defense was already solid last season, and now they boast an impressive collection of skill players on offense between D.J. Moore, Allen and Sweat. The NFC North has seen improvement with the rise of the Packers and Lions, but you can dream up a scenario where the Bears are competitive in the division as soon at this season.

David Haugh laid out why playoffs should now be the expectation for the Bears during Monday’s Mully & Haugh Show.

“Well, it’s trending in the right direction,” Haugh said. “I feel like even though there is a lot of consternation and emotion tied up into the Justin Fields trade, when you look at this objectively – and it’s difficult to remove emotion from the equation, I get that, fans don't have to – Bears are making progress, and they’re heading in the right direction.

“They’ve done a lot of things on defense to secure their secondary, and certainly with Montez Sweat, they got him on a long-term extension. They’re very good, solid defensively. The Byard signing was a smart one. Offensively, they make the trade for Keenan Allen, they supplement their offensive line, they got another weapon in D’Andre Sweat. And now they’re about to embark on a new, young franchise quarterback.

“They’re taking big swings. That’s all you can ask. Look, Caleb Williams could be a bust, he could be a bust. He could be a guy who isn’t worth all of the hype and all of the things that we’re saying about him now. But the Bears are excited and they should be, because they’ve got to take this chance. They’ve got to take this risk, it could be worth the reward. Boy, this is the right direction to go.

“So, expectations next year, alright, flirt with a playoff spot. I would think that you should aspire to make the postseason in Year 1 of the Caleb Williams era if he is indeed the quarterback. CJ Stroud got the Texans to the playoffs in similar circumstances. This is the opening of a three-year window. You want to get to the Super Bowl, it’s all about a championship it’s gotta be. That’s driving this offseason, it’s got to drive every decision you make, and so playoffs next year, Super Bowl in three years, and those are the new expectations.”