Which Bears players do you expect to take the biggest step in play in 2024?

There are relatively high expectations for the 2024 Chicago Bears, and if they are to reach that playoff potential, they'll need to get exceptional play from a number of players.

Today's question is: Which Bears players do you expect to take the biggest step in play in 2024?

In Taylor Doll's latest Making Monsters podcast, she and I discussed this subject, but here's what a few of our team had to say.

Sam Householder: Gervon Dexter Sr. By not addressing the defensive tackle position, the Bears are saying they expect Dexter to break out and really establish himself as the starting three-tech. His snap count rose throughout his rookie year and he finished the season playing a smidgen under 50 percent of the snaps.

Ken Mitchell: I'm going with Austin Booker. Why the 2024 fifth-rounder? Because, unlike a lot of the others who are in the spotlight needing to break out to even make the team (Velus Jones, Tyler Scott, etc.), Booker has basically an unobstructed path to playtime, being part of the defensive rotation. Expectations are low for a rookie who is considered to be a "project," so his path to be considered a breakout player, a player who takes the biggest overall step, is wide open.

Can he? Will he? I guess we will find out.

Honorable mention: Teven Jenkins, who just needs to play a full season for his "big steps" and payday confirmation.

Josh Sunderbruch: Darnell Wright. He was already showing why he was a top draft pick, but he had typical rookie struggles. With an offseason to heal and that experience under his belt, he should be a beast.

Erik Duerrwaechter: I firmly believe that, out of any player poised to make a big jump, I'm going with Jaquan Brisker. The Bears are going to have more versatility and balance in their coverage assignments thanks to the arrival of All-Pro veteran Kevin Byard. We've already seen a shift from last year's true Tampa-2 approach of rotating the free and strong safeties due to the strength of the opposing offense's lineup to more of a "Rip/Liz" approach as patterns matching concepts are being blended together with the Tampa-2. This is possible only because Kevin Byard is stout in coverage and filling in against the run. All these shifts will allow for Jaquan Brisker to play more freely in coverage, and opposing offenses won't be able to isolate him as much in terms of matchups. It's more reminiscent of the style of defense Jaquan excelled at while playing for Penn State.

Jeff Berckes: I think it's Tyrique Stevenson. He showed a lot of growth as a rookie and will enter the year as a pivotal piece with Jaylon and Kyler. If he can build on last year and take that sophomore leap, the Bears' secondary could be the best in the league.

Taylor Doll: Tyrique Stevenson - I think this Bears secondary has the chance to be one of the best in the league. Last year, unfortunately, injuries interfered as every starting DB missed time at some point. In that, it showed the depth they had in moments, but I do expect another year under Tyrique's belt, along with Brisker and Gordon's development and practicing against some of the best weapons in the league, but 'Rique will have a breakout year.

I saved mine for the pod, but Taylor had to get her number one out there! You can check out her show in the two embeds below, where we go a little more in-depth on our reasoning and give our top three each.

Podcast version here:

Video version here:

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