The 2024 Chicago Bears season was always going to be a fever dream of hype and "what-ifs." Honestly, when you look back at the bears roster 2024 depth chart, it’s a weird mix of generational rookie promise and veteran stopgaps that almost, almost worked. Everyone was obsessed with Caleb Williams. Rightfully so. But the real story of that roster was how the depth—or lack thereof—in the trenches defined their 5-12 record.
People see 5-12 and think "trash." It’s more complicated. You’ve got a rookie QB setting franchise records while the offensive line was basically a game of musical chairs.
The Caleb Williams Era Begins
Basically, Caleb Williams was the sun that the entire 2024 roster orbited around. He started every single game—a rarity for a Bears QB. He finished with 3,541 passing yards and 20 touchdowns against just 6 interceptions. Those 6 picks? That’s the wild part. He went from Week 6 to Week 17 without throwing a single interception. That is 353 consecutive passes. Only guys like Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady have done better in a single season.
Behind him, the depth chart was thin. Tyson Bagent was the primary backup. Case Keenum was the veteran "break glass in case of emergency" guy who eventually joined the room. But the roster was built for Caleb to sink or swim.
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The Skill Position Explosion
On paper, this was the best receiving corps in Chicago history. DJ Moore was the clear WR1, hauling in 98 catches for 966 yards. He was the safety net. Then you had the veteran Keenan Allen, who still managed 744 yards despite missing some time, and the rookie Rome Odunze.
Odunze is the guy everyone forgot about mid-season because he wasn't putting up 100-yard games every week, but he still finished with 734 yards. If you’re keeping track, that’s three receivers with over 700 yards.
The running back room was led by D'Andre Swift. He was the big free-agent splash from Philly. Swift put up 959 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns. Behind him, it got a bit crowded. Roschon Johnson and Khalil Herbert were both there, but Herbert eventually became the odd man out as the season progressed.
Why the Offensive Line Struggled
This is where the depth chart gets messy. The projected starters were Braxton Jones (LT), Teven Jenkins (LG), Coleman Shelton (C), Nate Davis (RG), and Darnell Wright (RT).
It rarely looked like that.
Nate Davis was a constant source of frustration for fans and coaches alike. Eventually, Matt Pryor stepped in at right guard and actually played better than the guy making the big money. Ryan Bates was supposed to be the versatile depth piece, but injuries hampered his impact. By the end of the year, guys like Bill Murray (the lineman, not the actor) and Doug Kramer Jr. were seeing snaps.
When your rookie QB is getting sacked 68 times—the most in the league—your depth chart has failed.
The "Tez Effect" and the Defense
On the other side of the ball, the bears roster 2024 depth chart was actually legit. Montez Sweat was the anchor. He finished with 5.5 sacks, which sounds low, but his presence opened everything up for Gervon Dexter Sr., who had a breakout year with 5 sacks from the interior.
The linebacker duo of T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds was easily the most consistent part of the team. Edwards is a tackle machine—155 combined tackles and a knack for being in the right place.
The secondary was the crown jewel.
- Jaylon Johnson: The lockdown corner who earned his massive extension.
- Tyrique Stevenson: The aggressive, sometimes-too-aggressive playmaker.
- Kyler Gordon: The "Spider" in the nickel.
- Kevin Byard III: The veteran safety who replaced Eddie Jackson.
They were a top-15 defense by most metrics, but they couldn't overcome the 10-game losing streak that tanked the season.
The Coaching Carousel
You can't talk about the roster without talking about who was calling the plays. Shane Waldron started the year as OC. He didn't finish it. Thomas Brown took over mid-stream to try and save Caleb's development. Matt Eberflus survived the season but the staff was a revolving door. Even the ownership changed—Virginia Halas McCaskey passed away just a month after the season ended, marking the end of a 105-year era.
The Final 53-Man Breakdown (Recap)
If you're looking at the core of who actually suited up in 2024, here’s the gist of the final rotation:
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Offense
- QB: Caleb Williams, Tyson Bagent
- RB: D'Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson, Khalil Herbert
- WR: DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, Tyler Scott, DeAndre Carter
- TE: Cole Kmet, Gerald Everett, Marcedes Lewis
- OL: Braxton Jones, Teven Jenkins, Coleman Shelton, Matt Pryor, Darnell Wright
Defense
- DL: Montez Sweat, Gervon Dexter Sr., Andrew Billings, DeMarcus Walker
- LB: T.J. Edwards, Tremaine Edmunds, Jack Sanborn, Amen Ogbongbemiga
- DB: Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, Kyler Gordon, Kevin Byard III, Jaquan Brisker
Specialists
- K: Cairo Santos (The most reliable player on the team, honestly)
- P: Tory Taylor (The "Punting God" rookie who actually lived up to the hype)
- LS: Scott Daly (Stepped in for Patrick Scales)
What We Learned for 2025
The 2024 season was a bridge. It proved that Caleb Williams is "The Guy." He has the poise, the arm, and the scrambling ability (489 rushing yards) to lead a modern offense.
But it also proved that you can't ignore the offensive line.
The biggest misconception is that the Bears were "close" because they beat the Packers 24-22 in the season finale. Winning that game snapped a legendary losing streak against Green Bay, but it shouldn't mask the fact that the roster had massive holes in pass protection.
Moving forward, the focus has to be on protecting #18. The skill positions are set. The defense is playoff-caliber. The depth chart just needs more "boring" wins in the draft—guards, tackles, and a consistent edge rusher to help Sweat.
If you're tracking this roster for your dynasty league or just general fandom, watch the "inactive" list every week. In 2024, the Bears' inability to find a consistent five up front was the "silent killer" of an otherwise historic rookie QB season.
Actionable Insights for Fans
To truly understand where this team is going based on the 2024 performance, keep an eye on these specific metrics:
- Sack Rate: If this doesn't drop by at least 30% in 2025, the roster construction is fundamentally flawed regardless of who the QB is.
- Gervon Dexter’s Growth: He is the key to the defense. If he becomes a 10-sack interior threat, the Bears have a top-5 unit.
- Rome Odunze’s Targets: In 2024, he was the third option. In 2025, he needs to be 1b to DJ Moore’s 1a.
The 2024 roster was a blueprint. It wasn't the finished house, but for the first time in a decade, the foundation didn't look like it was built on a swamp.