The latest Chicago Bears 2020 mock offseason is made with a mixture of realism and hope. GM Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy run the show. So what do we know? Both are safe for this year. Both aren't necessarily on the hot seat either. However, expectations are at least to make the playoffs, if not go after a Super Bowl. They can't do that by simply maintaining the status quo. This team is no longer good enough for that.
Changes are required.
Not sweeping changes necessarily. It's clear though this roster needs a jolt in certain areas. Especially on offense. Could that involve a major change at quarterback? Unlikely. Mitch Trubisky will get some sort of competition. Just not at the level people might be hoping for. Instead the real move will be made around him. Improvements to his blocking and weaponry. A true final shake of the dice in hopes he can realize his full potential.
Chicago Bears 2020 mock offseason goes for it
Cuts:
Kyle Long (retired) - $8.1 million
The end of the story is tragic for the person. One would much rather see Long continue to dominate the trenches, but the NFL is rarely so generous. The guard's body just can't hold up anymore and he decided to step away. One can only wish him the absolute best in the next phase of his life.
Prince Amukamara - $9 million
The general belief is this will go one of two ways. The Bears will approach Amukamara about taking a pay cut this offseason. If he agrees, the corner will stay on the roster for another year. If he doesn't, he'll be cut. The arrival of Tre Roberson from the CFL gives them some needed depth and flexibility if the latter ends up happening.
Taylor Gabriel - $4.5 million
Gabriel provided some of that needed speed element in the passing game the Bears wanted in 2018. Unfortunately, it was absent far too often in 2019. Gabriel's lack of size and now history of concussion problems make it the best decision to move on without him.
Adam Shaheen - $1.27 million
This feels like a foregone conclusion. The Bears have waited patiently for Shaheen to turn the corner but the former 2nd round pick can't stay healthy. He's had three seasons and done practically nothing with them. It's time to cut bait and seek out somebody who can actually contribute.
Ben Braunecker - $1.5 million
While he's brought some nice value to special teams in the past, Braunecker is making too much money to warrant keeping around just for that. He had his opportunities to seize control of the starting job and failed. While a nice player for an undrafted free agent, the Bears must think bigger.
Salary cap: $39.258 million
Trades:
Tarik Cohen and 6th rounder to Redskins for Ryan Kerrigan and 7th rounder
One of the bigger disappointments of this past season was Cohen. His once trademark explosiveness and big-play prowess weren't present a lot on offense or special teams. He's in the last year of his deal and unlikely to get a new contract from the Bears. Washington has a new coaching staff, one that favors explosive running backs. They're also likely to draft top pass rusher Chase Young, making Kerrigan a possible cap casualty.
This deal is favorable for both sides. The Redskins get another offensive threat and a decent pick while the Bears get that need #2 pass rusher opposite Khalil Mack.
Leonard Floyd and a 6th rounder to Patriots for 4th rounder
Pace insisted the team still loves Floyd for his versatility as a run defender and ability to drop in coverage. That said, his price tag is way too high and it doesn't feel like he'd be open to an extension that would pay him considerably less per year. So the Bears make the sacrifice of sending him to New England, a team that often helps players of his type thrive. This helps net them another high mid round pick. Something Pace can put to good use.
Salary cap: $42.924 million
Re-signings/Extensions:
Allen Robinson - 3-year extension for $51 million (lowers 2020 cap to $10 million)
While it's not certain when it will happen, most agree Robinson's extension is only a matter of time. One can surmise he'll seek a raise and probably want to keep the years limited to three. This way he has a chance for one more prominent contract when he's 29. In this case, the new money averages out to $17 million per year, which is $3 million more than he was making previously.
Ryan Kerrigan - 2-year extension for $20 million (lowers 2020 cap to $10 million)
The Bears are absolutely wise to ensure they extend Kerrigan here. It keeps a quality veteran pass rusher under their control for a period of time at a fairly reasonable price. Kerrigan is 32 but when healthy remains one of the most underrated QB hunters in football. It's not crazy to think he has three good years left in the tank. If nothing else, this should buy the team time before they have to go find that young edge prospect to take over.
Nick Kwiatkoski - 4-year deal for $28 million
Danny Trevathan is beloved in the Bears locker room. That said, business is business. He's in his 30s now and coming off a gruesome injury. Kwiatkoski took advantage of his absence to have an excellent second half of the season. He's three years younger and has never had injury issues. In these situations, the younger guy always wins. So the team locks him up alongside Roquan Smith for the future.
Roy Robertson-Harris - 1-year deal for $2.144 million
He hasn't become that fearsome big pass rusher it looked like he would early in the season. That said, Roberson-Harris is still a quality rotational defensive end. He serves an important role that must be kept around as long as the price is still favorable.
Sherrick McManis - 1-year deal for $1.3 million
Age is catching up to the longtime defensive back but McManis is still one of the better special teams players in the NFL. That sort of value is hard to replace. Keeping him in the fold alongside Cordarrelle Patterson should maintain the strength of the Bears' third phase.
Deon Bush - 1-year deal for $900,000
Sacrifices will have to be made somewhere on defense. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix clearly wants to stay in Chicago. Sadly the price he'll command is just too much for the Bears to entertain. Having just made Eddie Jackson the highest-paid safety in football, they must think about finding a cost-effective alternative next to him. Deon Bush showed promise in the 2019 preseason. This could be his chance to finally step up.
Kevin Pierre-Louis - 1-year deal for $900,000
Losing Trevathan will make keeping the inside linebacker depth intact even more important. Pierre-Louis was outstanding when forced to start on defense after Smith went down with his torn pectoral. He's a veteran, athletic and seems to like playing in Chuck Pagano's system.
Patrick Scales - 1-year deal for $820,000
He's been a consistently efficient performer for the Bears going on several years now. The team has entertained new options at long snapper in that time but none have come close to unseating him as the starter. It feels unlikely that is about to change.
Rashaad Coward - 1-year deal for $660,000
While his status as a possible long-term starter became less likely towards the end of this past season, Coward proved he had value as a backup offensive lineman. Not just at guard but tackle too. Players like that are worth keeping around.
J.P. Holtz - 1-year deal for $585,000
Quite a find for the Bears brass during the season. Holtz was a no-name guy they scooped up from Washington who became one of their more versatile offensive chess pieces. Not only a tight end capable of catching a couple of balls per game. He was their fill-in at fullback as well.
Salary cap: $33.315 million
Free agency:
Vernon Butler - 4-year deal for $32 million ($6 million 2020 cap hit)
Switching to a 3-4 defense was the best thing that ever happened for Butler in Carolina. After three forgettable years as a defensive tackle, he broke out in 2019 with six sacks as a defensive end. He'll be 26-years old in June and is just scratching the surface of his potential. Truly a player who is ascending in his career. Put him alongside Akiem Hicks and Eddie Goldman with Mack and Kerrigan on the outside? That is quite a defensive front.
Marcus Mariota - 1-year deal for $5 million
Mariota has to know the current marketplace will make it almost impossible for any team to sign him as a starting quarterback. So if he wants that opportunity, he'll have to take a significant discount in 2020 in hopes of competing somewhere. The Bears make the most sense. Trubisky is uncertain. They run a QB-friendly system featuring a lot of concepts that made him a huge success at Oregon. It can be a mutually beneficial relationship.
Randall Cobb - 1-year deal for $4.5 million
The former Bears villain proved he still has gas in the tank after posting 828 yards in Dallas with three touchdowns. Cobb is a savvy receiver who understands how to get himself open and has enough speed to still be a threat down the field. While he's no longer that #1 target he was back in 2014, he provides some quality depth alongside Allen Robinson and Anthony Miller.
Beshaud Breeland - 1-year deal for $4 million
Probably one of the more underappreciated cornerbacks out there. Breeland isn't a star. That said, he continues to show he can be a reliable cover man. Quarterbacks completed just 48% of their passes in his direction this year. He is athletic and more physical than his size would indicate.
Greg Olsen - 1-year deal for $3 million
Chicago traded him away back in 2011 and have regretted that deal ever since. Now Olsen is a free agent. He will be 35-years old this year. No longer the dynamic weapon he was back then. Even so, Olsen is a crafty veteran who proved he can still be a reliable option on 3rd down and is certainly better than anything the Bears currently have.
Theo Riddick - 1-year deal for $945,000
Losing Cohen is a tough blow for the versatility of the Bears backfield. That is why signing Riddick makes sense. His receiving ability has made him a constant mismatch option for most of his career and he'd make for a nice compliment to David Montgomery in that role.
Salary cap: $9.87 million
The Draft:
2nd round (via OAK) - Lloyd Cushenberry, OL, LSU
It all starts up front as they say. If the Bears want their offense to get off the ground in 2020, they need to make sure the offensive line is situated. Cushenberry was a key part of LSU's offensive juggernaut en route to the national championship. He has all the tools: size, athleticism, power, experience, and nastiness. He should be able to start right away at any of the interior three positions.
- Trade - #50 pick to Seahawks for #59 pick and 4th round pick
2nd round (via SEA) - Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame
He isn't a standout in terms of special athleticism, but Kmet is a player who doesn't have any glaring weaknesses either. Is he big? Yes. Can he catch? Yes. Does he have some speed and can he run decent routes? Yes. Is he committed to blocking? Yes. The guy isn't flashy. He is effective though and has enough upside to make one think he can be a strong piece in any offense for a long time.
4th round (via SEA) - Bryce Hall, CB, Virginia
If not for an injury that ended his 2019 season early, Hall would probably go in the top 75 picks somewhere. He's a true man cover corner with size, athleticism, and physicality needed to handle receivers one-on-one. He's also highly lauded for his competitiveness and strength of character. A perfect fit for the Bears culture.
4th round (via NE) - Devin Duvernay, WR, Texas
Speed will be a focal point for the Bears as they look to add receiver help. Duvernay has that. He can get deep on opponents like anybody. However, what sets him apart is his uncanny after-the-catch ability. The guy has the lower body strength to run through tackles and keep going for extra yards. Something this team needs more of.
4th round (comp) - Cheyenne O'Grady, TE, Arkansas
Another of those well-rounded tight end types. He can catch and he can block. Not an elite athlete but capable enough to stay on the field. He'll be good for two or three catches a game. Most of them of the meaningful variety on 3rd down or in the red zone.
5th round - Antoine Brooks Jr., S, Maryland
A true downhill player with a relentless motor, tackling prowess, and physicality. He can live inside the box and be a big benefit against the run. That said, he has just enough athleticism and speed to not be a total liability in coverage. His instincts are also more than adequate.
7th round (via WSH) - Nate Stanley, QB, Iowa
The Bears should still be looking for depth at quarterback, even if it's a late-round flier. Stanley is the prototypical pro-style guy. He's lived in that kind of system at Iowa, capable of playing under center and is quite effective off play action. He has size and a decent arm. He can also move somewhat. Not the most gifted passer but smart, competitive and a leader.
7th round (via OAK) - Tipa Galea'i, EDGE, Utah State
If not for an unfortunate incident at TCU that saw him drunkenly beat up two fellow students, Galea'i would be getting more attention. Since transferring to Utah State, he's stayed out of trouble and had a lot of success. In 25 games he has 15 sacks and 22.5 tackles for a loss. Size? Length? Burst? He has the tools. Has he matured is the question.
7th round - Reggie Corbin, RB, Illinois
Another of those running backs who are so dangerous in the open field. Get him in space and he's going to make something happen. Good athleticism, quickness, and speed. Corbin is not a feature back but can be effective when paired with somebody who can shoulder the heavier part of the workload.
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