Prepare for the
worst and be surprised has to be the saying for Bears fan everywhere.
With the dominant defense and young offense the double doink loss to
the Eagles in 2018 sucked, but seemed like a lump for a team that
will be back multiple times, but history says this window could
already be closing.
Since the turn
of the century the Chicago Bears have made the playoffs only five
times with a record of 3-5 with three one and done appearances. Two
seasons after putting together a stingy defense the cap is starting
to stack up on that side of the ball; Khalil Mack, Robert Quinn and
Eddie Jackson got paid this off season, Akiem Hicks, Eddie Goldman,
Kyle Fuller and soon Roquan Smith. Four of the top five earners are
on defense and the window of the cheap quaterback looks to be about
over.
A key to
success in the modern NFL is have a cheap quaterback and load up all
around him to maximize the chances, but the number two overall pick
may soon no longer have Chicago to call his home. It was quite clear
the biggest problem for the Monsters of the Midway was their second
year signal caller Mitchell Trubisky. General Manager Ryan Pace may
have gotten the pick wrong, but credit for at least trying to do
something about it
Management has
already said it’ll be an open competition between Trubisky and newly
acquired Nick Foles. While Foles has had an up and down career as a
starter, there’s no denying his playoff success and is probably an
improvement on Trubisky with a very talented team around him. The
move alone signals management’s understanding of the clock ticking on
them and the Bear’s chances to find success.
The closing
window is also exacerbated by the fact Pace doesn’t have a first
round pick in 2020, but no one is arguing against the Mack trade, but
they do have the 43 and 50 pick in the second round. Chicago has two
2nd rounders, a 4th, 5th, two in the
6th and two in the 7th, though that’s unlikely
what they’ll finish with. Plenty of mock drafts already have the
Bears trading at least one of the 2nd round picks to get
pack in to the 3rd or load up on some more day three
picks. That seems very likely, though I’d expect Pace to make at
least one of the picks in the 2nd to get an impact player
like a WR, S, CB or OL.
Another impact
WR next to Allen Robinson, more OL help to boost the running game
(besides Germain Ifedi, a S next to Jackson and depth for the rest of
the defensive levels are my needs for Chicago. A mock draft from
fansided
has Pace selecting:
OL – Erza
Cleveland – Boise State
CB
– Damon Arenette – Ohio State
WR
– Tyler Johnson – Minnesota
TE
– Harrsion Bryant – FAU
RB
– Patrick Taylor Jr. – Memphis
S
– Shyheim Carter – Alabama
DE
– D.J. Wonnum – South Carolina
This
draft gives them two possible day one starters at OL and CB, where
they need the most help, another WR to give whoever is under center
another weapon and depth at positions of need. Personally I think
Chicago stays away from a RB and looks for line or LB depth.
In
the NFC North the Bears talent has them up there near the top, the
Lions are in a long rebuild in my opinion, but the truth is they won
the division in a year of awful for Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers and the
Packers bounced back last season but many found their record inflated
but Green has some of the most picks in the draft. Minnesota has a
very talent roster, though it has started to lose some pieces and
Kirk Cousins is still under center.
If
we get a 2020 season, please let that be the case, it’s a make or
break year in Chicago. Not only could Trubisky be on his way out but
Pace and Matt Nagy could have their jobs on the line. The quarterback
position has always alluded the Windy City and it could be the case
where it’s back to the drawing board because Foles is not the long
term answer. For 2021 when Chicago gets it’s 1st
round picks back the new GM could be back looking for a signal caller
while trying to maximize a defense that’s just getting more and more
expensive.