The 33rd Team, a website that employs former NFL personnel, reached out to Lewis and Zimmer for their thoughts on the Bears' early moves in the 2023 free agency period. Lewis, who served as head coach in Cincinnati for 15 seasons, and Zimmer, who led the Minnesota Vikings for 8 years, both had significant success during their tenures and had strong input in personnel decisions.
According to both coaches, the Bears are among the biggest winners of the early free agency period. Their acquisitions, including offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, address key needs and strengthen the team in both the short and long term.
While fans and analysts may offer valuable insights, the opinions of former head coaches like Lewis and Zimmer offer a unique perspective on how the Bears' recent moves will impact the team's success on the field.
The Chicago Bears have been praised highly by former head coaches Marvis Lewis and Mike Zimmer, who agree that the team's moves in free agency have been impressive. Of particular note is the Bears' upgrade at linebacker, with the addition of Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards at a significant discount compared to what Roquan Smith would have cost. The team has also added guard Nate Davis and defensive linemen Andrew Billings and DeMarcus Walker, all of whom are expected to start. Despite these additions, the Bears still have the most cap space in the league and ten picks in the upcoming draft. These moves have been characterized as smart and measured, suggesting that the team is moving in the right direction under GM Ryan Poles.