Category: 2020 season

Latest 2020 NFL mock draft has Bears addressing defensive needs in 2nd round

In a new 2020 NFL Mock Draft, the Bears address two needs on defense: cornerback and edge rusher.

The Chicago Bears will have plenty of needs to address this offseason, both on offense and defense — and one could argue special teams.

General manager Ryan Pace will have a lot of work to do to free up salary cap space in the offseason — to resign free agents in-house and look elsewhere for assistance. But it’ll also be what he does in the NFL Draft that will be important for the future of this team.

The Bears currently hold the 47th and 49th picks in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, as they got Oakland’s second-round pick (No. 47) in the Khalil Mack trade.

In Draft Wire’s latest mock draft, they have the Bears addressing two needs on defense: cornerback and edge rusher.

With the 47th pick, they have the Bears selecting Ohio State cornerback Shaun Wade. In 12 games with the Buckeyes, Wade has 26 total tackles, including 4 tackles for loss, as well as one interception and two forced fumbles. With Prince Amukamara’s status in question heading into the offseason, the Bears will need to address the cornerback position. Second-year player Kevin Toliver has been getting playing time in place of Amukamara as he recovers from a hamstring injury.

Then with the 49th pick, they have Chicago taking Boise State edge rusher Curtis Weaver. In 13 games, Weaver has 13.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one interception and 50 total tackles. While the Bears picked up Leonard Floyd’s fifth-year option, Floyd hasn’t been able to capitalize opposite one of the league’s best edge rushers in Khalil Mack. Since notching two sacks against the Packers in the season opener, Floyd has just one sack. The Bears need some more quality pass rushers to pair with Mack.

While there are certainly other needs Chicago needs to address this offseason — tight end, offensive line and quarterback depth — there are going to be some holes for Pace to plug in on defense.

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Latest 2020 NFL mock draft doesn’t have Bears drafting a QB in 2nd round

While many mock drafts this year have called for the Bears to draft a QB in round 2, a new mock has Chicago targeting CB and OT.

For the last couple of months, many mock drafts have had the Chicago Bears drafting a quarterback in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Considering the struggles of third-year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who didn’t resemble a franchise QB earlier this year, it made sense.

But with Trubisky’s late-season resurgence, where he’s showing signs that maybe he can become the QB the Bears want him to be, some are leaning away from the Bears selecting a QB in the draft — at least in the second round.

After not having a first or second round selection last year, he Bears have two second round picks in the upcoming draft. They currently have the 45th pick (from the Khalil Mack trade with Oakland) and the 50th pick.

Draft Wire has the Bears addressing two other needs in the second round — cornerback and offensive line.

With the 45th pick, they have the Bears taking Utah cornerback Jaylon Johnson. Then, with the 50th selection, they have Chicago taking Tennessee offensive tackle Trey Smith.

The Bears have several needs heading into the offseason, among them cornerback, offensive line, edge rusher and tight end. With the Bears currently tight on cap space and with just six picks currently in the 2020 draft, general manager Ryan Pace will have to get creative.

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Bears tight on cap space as NFL projects salary cap increase as high as $201.2M in 2020

The 2020 NFL salary cap is projected to be between $196.8 and $201.2 million, leaving the Bears just over the salary cap for 2020 right now.

NFL teams are going to have a lot more money to play with this offseason as the 2020 NFL salary cap is projected to be between $196.8 and $201.2 million.

The salary cap is expected to increase by more than $8 million from the current cap of $188.2 million, but it’s still going to be challenging for Bears general manager Ryan Pace heading into a busy offseason.

The Bears have roughly $202 million committed to the salary cap in 2020, according to Over the Cap. Depending on where the NFL and NFLPA agree to set next year’s salary cap, the Bears need to clear between $1.8 and $6.2 million just to get under the projected salary cap.

It won’t be easy for Pace, but he’s managed to get creative in creating cap space. His offseason priorities are locking up some players in-house, including safety Eddie Jackson, receiver Allen Robinson and linebacker Kwiatkoski, who is an unrestricted free agent in 2020.

Among the Bears’ in-house free agents in 2020 are linebacker Danny Trevathan, safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, defensive back/special teams ace Sherrick McManis, defensive tackle Nick Williams, linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis and quarterback Chase Daniel.

Pace could manage extra cap space by releasing players like right guard Kyle Long, cornerback Prince Amukamara and receiver Taylor Gabriel, who combined would give the Bears an extra $20.6 million in cap space, among others.

Chicago has a lot of needs to address this offseason — be it in free agency or the NFL Draft — including tight end, offensive line, edge rusher and backup quarterback.

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Matt Nagy’s job appears to be safe heading into 2020

Despite a disappointing 2019 season, Bears coach Matt Nagy’s job is safe heading into 2020.

When it comes to expectations for the 2019 NFL season, Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy will be the first to tell you the team isn’t where he thought they would be with just four games to go in the season.

After bursting onto the scene as a rookie head coach and leading the Bears to a 12-4 record and an NFC North division title, the second-year head coach and his team had high hopes going into 2019. Instead of a repeat division title, however, the Bears are now clinging to a 5% chance of making the playoffs via a wildcard spot at 6-6.

The season hasn’t gone according to plan, but despite the struggles, Nagy isn’t expected to be let go during the offseason. According to a recent ESPN article rating the job security of all 32 head coaches, from 4 (on the hot seat) to 1 (on the cold seat), Nagy checks in at a mild 2, “on a cool seat…barring a disaster.”

ESPN Chicago Bears Reporter Jeff Dickerson, who rated Nagy, had this to say following the score:

Nagy doesn’t have the same job security he enjoyed last season when he was the NFL Coach of the Year, but it’s a stretch to think the Bears will fire him. The team has struggled across the board on offense — Nagy’s specialty — and the coach has shouldered his share of the blame. Still, the Bears are 18-10 in the regular season under Nagy. For comparison sake, John Fox went 13-34 in Chicago. Nagy isn’t going anywhere.

Dickerson’s reasoning stems from the long leash former coach John Fox had in his three seasons as head coach despite his dreadful record. Nagy isn’t anywhere close to that and nearly matched Fox’s total wins in just his first season. While 2019 can already be classified as a disappointment, it would be a major upset if team ownership shook things up again just one season removed from a playoff berth.

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