Bears ‘triplets’ rank in bottom half of the league

Every year, the good folks at CBS Sports rank every NFL team’s “triplets”, meaning their starting quarterback, running back, and top receiving option. The rankins offer a good idea of what to expect from each club’s top playmakers as we inch closer to the NFL season.

Last year, the Bears ranked 20th with the trio of Justin Fields, Khalil Herbert, and DJ Moore. There was definitely promise with this group but ultimately it failed to deliver. This time around, the Bears are one spot higher, landing at 19th overall with their trio of Caleb Williams, D’Andre Swift, and DJ Moore.

Here’s what CBS Sports had to say about this set of triplets:

“If we were able to include the entire skill-position corps in this rankings, the Bears would be even higher. Given where they were two years ago, the embarrassment of riches they now have is incredible. Not just Swift and Moore, but Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, Khalil Herbert, Roschon Johnson, and Cole Kmet. Williams is in arguably the best position of any No. 1 pick in recent memory. If he hits the ground running, Chicago should rank much higher next year.”

I initially found this to be a fair assessment. The Bears’ playmakers have the potential to be among the very best in the league, but since one of them is a rookie, it’s only fair that they prove it on the field first before they can be ranked much higher.

But one of the teams listed ahead of Chicago left me puzzled. CBS has the Colts at 17th overall, with a trio of Anthony Richardson, Jonathan Taylor, and Michael Pittman Jr.

Really? I’ll concede that Taylor is a much better running back than Swift, but Richardson played in just four games last year before an injury ended his rookie season. He is, essentially, still a rookie with a significantly lower floor than Williams. I don’t think many teams would take him over Williams right now if given the chance. And Pittman Jr. is a fine receiver, but DJ Moore has proven to be one of the NFL’s elite.

As Caleb Williams goes, so go the Bears.

There’s enough talent on Chicago’s roster for the Bears to be in the playoffs mix but, in what has become a common refrain this offseason, it only works if the quarterback is good. If Williams has typical rookie struggles, then the Bears will likely show minimal improvement, if any.

However, if Williams lives up to his generational billing, then the Bears could very well live up to the lofty best-case scenario that Rich Eisen laid out for them on his radio show: a spot in Super Bowl 59.