Who are the Chicago Bears’ X-Factors this season?

Every team has their cluster of players from whom you know what to expect. For the Chicago Bears, that includes names like DJ Moore, Cole Kmet, and Jaylon Johnson. No Bears fan anywhere is concerned that these guys might hold back the team in 2024.

But then there are those X-factor players who could either sink the team with costly mistakes or elevate the team to a much better outcome than the offseason speculation thought possible.

Who will be these X-factors for the Chicago Bears in 2024? Here are three.

Gervon Dexter Sr.

Dexter is arguably the most important non-rookie on the Bears as they head into 2024. After a rough start to his rookie year, his play improved drastically through the second half of the season. He arguably looked better during that time than the 9th overall pick, defensive tackle Jalen Carter.

Why is Dexter so important for the Bears?

The defense that head coach Matt Eberflus runs depends on a disruptive 3-tech. Right now, the Bears don’t have that. The defense can still work, as we’ve seen already, but if Dexter can take that next step in his development in 2024 and become that dominant presence in the middle, then this defensive line will be truly elite. Otherwise, a regression or stagnation from Dexter will likely return this defensive front to the ineffective unit we saw in 2022.

Tyrique Stevenson

Another second-year defender, Stevenson finished his rookie year on a high note after a stumble out of the gate. He even led all rookies with four interceptions. Now comes the critical point where he must prove that he wasn’t a flash in the pan.

If Stevenson can maintain the level of play he showed in the second half of 2023 or even improve, then that would give the Bears two lockdown boundary cornerbacks and a solid nickel cornerback in Kyler Gordon. If he doesn’t, you can add cornerback to the Bears’ list of needs in 2025.

Ryan Bates

While we still don’t know for sure who the starting Center will be when the 2024 season starts, I believe it will be Bates. GM Ryan Poles is a big fan of his, given that he pursued him in two different offseasons, finally acquiring him in March via trade. If Bates earns the starting job, he’ll be one of the most important players on offense.

The Bears have not had a reliable Center since Cody Whitehair’s Pro Bowl season in 2018, and that trend cannot continue into 2024, especially not with a rookie quarterback starting. It’s hard enough for rookie quarterbacks to transition to the NFL, it becomes unnecessarily hard if they worry about whether the Center can accurately snap the ball.

If Bates can play adequately in 2024, just a middle-of-the-pack Center, then the offensive line as a whole should be well above average. If he struggles just like his predecessors, it could be a long season for Caleb Williams and Bears fans.

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