For the last seven years, the Bears have entered the offseason with no question about who their right guard would be come the start of the season.

But following Kyle Long’s announcement that he will be stepping away from the Bears and the NFL, the Bears will need to fill that spot at right guard on an offensive line that will be under new management in Juan Castillo, who was hired to replace Harry Hiestand as offensive line coach.

There are different routes the Bears could turn to replace Long — including in-house, free agency or even the NFL Draft.

Here are five candidates that could take over for Long at right guard in 2020:

1. Alex Bars

Under contract, Chicago Bears

The popular candidate to replace Long at right guard is rookie offensive lineman Alex Bars, who the Bears fought hard to keep in Chicago. The Bears paid Bars more money to remain on their practice squad — rather than him choosing to join the Patriots active roster.

Bars was promoted to the active roster on Oct. 15, although he didn’t get any significant reps in the final half of the season. Still, the Bears clearly have plans for Bars, and you’d have to believe it involves giving him a chance to win the starting right guard job in training camp.