Coming off a disappointing 2019 season, there aren’t many that feel confident about the Chicago Bears’ chances in 2020. And they’re justified in that belief. Which is why this offseason is so important to shoring up their roster.
The Bears got better on defense with the acquisition All-Pro pass rusher Robert Quinn, who will patrol the edge with All-Pro Khalil Mack, and the re-signing of inside linebacker Danny Trevathan in free agency.
But they also lost some key contributors in inside linebackers Nick Kwiatkoski and Kevin Pierre-Louis, as well as safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and defensive tackle Nick Williams.
The Bears have added some depth on defense and special teams, with the signings of outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo, cornerback Artie Burns and strong safety Jordan Lucas.
But defense wasn’t the overwhelming concern for the Bears. It was their offense.
Chicago has spent free agency addressing some needs on offense — including acquiring quarterback Nick Foles and signing tight end Jimmy Graham and offensive lineman Germain Ifedi. But there’s not much reason to assume that the Bears’ abysmal offense will suddenly flip a switch.
Which is part of the reason why the Bears fell in Touchdown Wire‘s mid-free agency power rankings, clocking in at No. 18.
Previous ranking: 16
Key additions: QB Nick Foles, DE Robert Quinn, TE Jimmy Graham, OLB Barkevious Mingo, CB Artie Burns
The biggest question facing the Bears this offseason was how to handle the quarterback position. After general manager Ryan Pace traded up in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft to select Mitchell Trubisky, that gambit seems to have failed. Trubisky regressed last season, and Bears fans have been clamoring for someone to at least push Trubisky for the job next year.
That player might just be Nick Foles, who is a good schematic fit given his experience in West Coast systems such as Matt Nagy’s. The Bears needed to trade for him and take on his contract, so it is clear that Pace knows he has just a few cards to play as the pressure builds around him.
Quarterback will continue to be the talk of the offseason, even after general manager Ryan Pace brought in competition for Mitchell Trubisky in Nick Foles.
There’s no denying that the Bears got better at the quarterback position, as Foles presents an actual threat to Trubisky’s starting job and hasn’t been brought in simply to be another coach in the quarterbacks room.
But until the Bears find stability at quarterback this season, don’t expect them to rise considerably in power rankings.
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