With free agency less than two weeks away, the Bears have several needs heading into the 2020 season.
While the Bears are tight on salary cap space, they’re still expected to be active in free agency, particularly on the offensive side of the ball.
NFL.com’s Grant Gordon detailed the Bears’ three biggest needs heading into free agency, which include quarterback, tight end and offensive line.
Ideally following the Titans’ blueprint of last season, the Bears would do well to bring in a veteran QB who can push Trubisky in practice and occasionally whisper some wisdom into his ear (Andy Dalton might be perfect for this role) — and provide an upgrade from 2019 backup Chase Daniel in the event that all is not well with Trubisky.
Improvement is needed across the board for a unit that ranked as the No. 25 O-line in 2019, per PFF, but most notably at the guard spots and likely at center, after Cody Whitehair’s play waned.
As the maturation saga of a man named Mitch carries on, having a top-level tight end in Matt Nagy’s offense is of the utmost priority, and questions linger about Burton’s ability to fill that role.
Fixing the offense is of utmost importance for Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy this offseason, and free agency provides an opportunity for them to address arguably their two biggest needs: Quarterback and tight end.
The Bears continue to stand behind Mitchell Trubisky as their 2020 starter, but it’s imperative that they find an experienced veteran that can challenge Trubisky and provide some insurance should his struggles continue.
But there’s also been speculation about a possible trade for a quarterback, like an Andy Dalton or Derek Carr. It doesn’t matter where they find these quarterbacks — free agency or trade — as much as it’s about finding a quality backup that can fill-in if needed, like a Ryan Tannehill.
Then there’s the tight end position, which Chicago has already begun addressing. They’ve brought in tight ends coach Clancy Barone and signed Demetrius Harris, someone with experience in Nagy’s offense. But that’s only the beginning. The Bears are expected to test the free agent waters and target a tight end in the NFL Draft.
The offensive line is more tricky. While it’s certainly one of the biggest needs heading into free agency, Chicago isn’t likely to find the answer to their offensive line woes in the immediate future. Ultimately, they’re stuck with what they’ve got for the most part in 2020. Rather, the NFL Draft provides an opportunity to build towards the future.
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