​The Chicago Bears finished 2025 with a top-10 offense, fueling optimism for 2026, but ESPN’s Bill Barnwell has a different view. In his yearly ranking of all 32 NFL teams by offensive playmakers, he places the Bears 15th, a notable jump from 25th last year but far from the elite level many are hoping to see. He suggests: “This is a young group with real upside, but I also get the sense that it wouldn’t be quite as appealing or productive with a less compelling playcaller.”
The Bears’ young playmakers have plenty to prove. The wide receiver room took a step back this offseason after trading DJ Moore and watching Olamide Zaccheaus depart in free agency. To replace them, Chicago added Kalif Raymond and third-round rookie Zavion Thomas. Rome Odunze, the presumptive WR1, heads into the season as a question mark after a foot injury cut his 2025 campaign short; Odunze himself has acknowledged he might not be fully back to his prior form. Colston Loveland looked like a future star, but now he’ll need to show he can produce across a full season rather than just the latter half. Luther Burden III also flashed big-play ability, but defenses will be prepared for him from the outset this time around.
In the backfield, D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai combined for over 1,700 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns last season, contributing to one of the league’s top rushing attacks behind an rebuilt line. It’s also worth noting that Barnwell’s ranking omits offensive line quality. A line led by Joe Thuney helped Chicago allow just 24 sacks in 2025 (down from 68) and ranked third in rushing—crucial context for any evaluation of the playmakers.
Barnwell’s analysis credits Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams with boosting the perception of Chicago’s skill-position group, effectively removing the quarterback and playcaller from the equation. By that metric, Chicago’s numbers look different. The core argument remains that this Bears unit is young and capable of flashes, but it hasn’t yet proven it over a full season without substantial scheme and quarterback support. That reality likely explains why Barnwell’s ranking sits at 15 rather than higher.
The Bears’ 2026 outlook should improve once Caleb Williams and Johnson are fully integrated. Barnwell’s framing—suggesting the unit wouldn’t be as appealing or productive with a less dynamic playcaller—serves as a nuanced compliment to a group that leaped from 25th to 6th in a single year with the right leadership. If Loveland maintains late-season dominance, Burden builds on a strong rookie showing, and Odunze delivers a healthy breakout, Chicago could move well beyond 15th as the season unfolds.