Bears 2018 Draft Plans Have Intensified With Trade Explorations

The coaching staff is largely set following the retention of defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. Now GM Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy are free to begin their Chicago Bears 2018 draft plans. No doubt this was one of the benefits of getting things done quickly. While other teams still haven't even found their head coaches yet, the Bears are free to start exploring what they want to do. Of course it starts with free agency which arrives in the next two months. Depending on which players get cut or not, the Bears should have plenty of money to spend in remaking their roster. Not to mention the hopeful retention of key players like Kyle Fuller. There is one other thing worth noting here. Will Pace be aiming to gain more draft picks? Something to remember is that John Fox is gone. With him go the personal loyalties he had to several players on the roster. So name one might think are untouchable may not be so any longer with a new coaching staff in place.

Bears 2018 draft plans could include a number of trade moves

Don't forget it's not completely unheard of for Pace to churn the roster by dealing certain players to other teams. He did it frequently early on in his time with the Bears. Even if the move only nets mid to late round picks. He's open to anything. A source informed me that the team is begin explorations around the league for possible moves to make.

"Bears have begun exploring ways to gain multiple picks. That includes trading players they don't view in their plans for the future. Several Names drawing interest."

It's important to note that this doesn't mean a massive series of moves is at hand. Pace himself has said the Bears are always open to hearing offers. Much of the time it never gets beyond a phone conversation. That being said I was told if any specific names were being mentioned. Among the most notable were Willie Young, Dion Sims, Jonathan Bullard and Nick Kwiatkoski. Young isn't a surprise. He's an aging veteran who might have some pass rush left to offer a team that needs it. Sims is a steady blocker with average pass catching skills. He may not fit the offense the Bears plan to run. Bullard flashed at times this past season but still hasn't quite taken off. It feels like he may just not be a good fit in the defense Fangio runs. The biggest surprise is Kwiatkoski.

Christian Jones emergence likely a factor

It looked like Kwiatkoski was starting to come into his own in 2017. He started six games, made 45 tackles, got two sacks and forced a fumble. Many feel he's poised to assume the starting job alongside Danny Trevathan at inside linebacker. At least that seemed like the plan before Christian Jones threw a wrench in it. The former undrafted free agent came into his own as a starter after Jerrell Freeman was lost for the year. He made 84 tackles, got two sacks, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble. His ability to make impact plays was something that hadn't been there before. He is set to become a free agent this March and will only be 27-years old. The Bears may wish to move forward with him, thus making Kwiatkoski expendable. None of this is clear at present and it's too early to make accurate predictions. Nonetheless it's apparent Chicago plans to be active in the months to come.