Few questions are answered in the first week of exhibition games. But it is already clear that second-year Bears General Manager Ryan Poles has upgraded his team’s overall depth.

The one stat that stood out in the 23-17 victory over Tennessee last Saturday was the Bears’ plus-6 advantage in sacks. They dropped Titans quarterbacks eight times while their four quarterbacks were sacked only twice. The exact opposite dynamic played a huge role in a 3-13-1 season a year ago.

Through two deep drafts and one aggressive round of free agency, Poles has transformed the Bears from an underachieving team of veterans to a young, energetic roster loaded with potential. He has had plenty of cap space to make changes and continues to use that in collecting other team’s discards.

The Bears made seven waiver claims on the eve of the 2022 season, when teams were setting their final roster, and two of those players — guard Alex Leatherwood and cornerback Josh Blackwell — remain at Halas Hall. Poles isn’t waiting as long on his waiver claims this year, as the horrific record in ’22 gives the Bears the No. 1 waiver priority.

The Bears added fourth-year linebacker Mykal Walker on Monday, after he was dropped by Atlanta. They had previously claimed 330-pound nose tackle Bravvion Roy and guard Logan Stenberg.

Walker started 12 games for the Falcons last season and 20 over the last three seasons. He was Atlanta’s third-leading tackler a year ago but was released amid an overhaul of the team’s linebacking corps and the arrival of a new defensive coordinator.

He comes to a Bears team that is similarly shaking up its group of linebackers. On the team’s current two-deep depth chart, only 2022 rookie Jack Sanborn remains from last season.

Walker is expected to be given a chance to back up free-agent addition T.J. Edwards. He is immediately the most experienced player in a mix that includes Dylan Cole, rookie Noah Sewell (fifth round, Oregon) and undrafted rookie Micah Baskerville (LSU).

Walker carries a $2.73 million salary in the final season of his rookie contract. It is Poles’ biggest outlay for a player placed on waivers but the Bears still have almost $15 million in cap room.

History suggests the Bears will have more additions before the Sept. 10 opener against Green Bay.