There are no shortage of needs for the Chicago Bears heading into the 2020 NFL Draft, which will make every one of general manager Ryan Pace’s projected seven draft picks even more valuable.
Obviously the focus of the offseason will be fixing the Bears’ anemic offense, which was ranked near the bottom of the NFL in nearly every statistical category. Obviously there needs to be a definitive answer at quarterback. Obviously they need to address the concerns at tight end and on the offensive line. But what are the Bears really in the market for at this point of the offseason?
Here’s what Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller learned from a Bears scouting source about the team’s early NFL Draft priorities:
The Bears don’t own a first-rounder after trading for linebacker Khalil Mack in 2018 but do have two selections in the second round: picks No. 43 and 50 overall. Tight end, offensive line and cornerback were listed as the team’s biggest needs from a scouting source with the club. Quarterback was not mentioned as a priority.
Considering every position mentioned by Miller is a priority, it doesn’t come as a surprise. Trey Burton and Adam Shaheen were complete disappointments in 2019 — and both, along with Ben Braunecker finished the season on injured reserve. Then there’s the offensive line, whose struggles were amplified this season in the run game and pass protection. Cornerback is also an area of concern with an aging and struggling Prince Amukamara, who the Bears could certainly move on from this offseason.
But the one surprise is that quarterback wasn’t mentioned as a priority in the NFL Draft. Maybe that means the Bears are content with Mitchell Trubisky; maybe that means Chicago will turn to free agency to address the position; or maybe it’s a smoke-screen, as it wouldn’t be the first time Pace did that.
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