Chicago Bears 2021 Mock Offseason: Fixing The Unfixable

A Chicago Bears 2021 mock offseason may feel a bit premature just halfway through the season. Yet that is what this team does to us. After a 5-1 start, they've lost back-to-back brutal games to the Rams and Saints. They look nothing like a playoff team. More like one that is in dire need of a reboot. The first question to ask is what fate awaits GM Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy? Plenty of fans would prefer both of them are gone. As of right now though the Bears are projected to finish 10-6. That should be enough to get both men another year to figure out how to fix the real problem with this team. Its broken offense. There is no question that most of the available resources in 2021 should be devoted to that side of the ball. The problem is there are a lot of moves that must be done in order to accomplish that goal. Not all of them of the popular variety. Here is one possible way it could go down.

Chicago Bears 2021 mock offseason focuses on the obvious

Cuts:

Jimmy Graham - $7 million saved The Bears looked like they were onto something through the first few games of the season. However, it's becoming clear that Graham just doesn't have much left to offer at this point. That All-Pro phenom is long gone and even his red zone presence has dried up. His contract is will be a major drag on them going into a year where the salary cap is projected to drop $23 million. Cole Kmet is going to be the guy moving forward. So cut bait and move on. Bobby Massie - $5.4 million saved Changes are coming on the offensive line and the tackle positions are likely to be the focal point. It's a matter of the Bears figuring out where they should focus efforts first. While many might prefer Charles Leno to get the ax instead, the bottom line is Massie has been worse. Leonard Floyd beating him like a drum in L.A. was confirmation of that. Combine it with his growing list of health issues and he needs to go. Buster Skrine - $2.8 million saved The longtime slot corner was good in 2019 and seemed to start 2020 off strong. However, his play has leveled off and even begun to decline a bit over the past few weeks. It feels like age is starting to catch up to him and the Bears need to start the process of getting younger on defense. He's worth more to them off the payroll than on it. Salary cap: $19.269 million

Trades:

Allen Robinson (tag-and-trade) to the Jets for a 2nd round pick Anybody with common sense can tell that Robinson is becoming more and more inclined to avoid signing a contract extension in Chicago. He turns 28 next year and is running out of prime seasons of his career. With no end in sight for the Bears quarterback problem, he desperately needs to find a new home where he can thrive. The New York Jets are likely to land Clemson star Trevor Lawrence #1 overall. They'll no doubt jump at the chance to give him another big weapon. They have the money to pay him as well.

Kyle Fuller to the Cowboys for 2nd and 6th round picks This one is even more painful than Robinson if that's possible. Fuller has been so outstanding at cornerback for the Bears. Letting him go feels unthinkable. Yet the cold reality of their salary cap situation means a sacrifice must be made. With the presence of Jaylon Johnson giving them a potential #1 corner for the future, they decide to sell on Fuller while his value is still high. Dallas is desperate for help in their secondary and so jump at the chance to land the two-time Pro Bowler. Salary cap: $30.269 million

Re-signings/Extensions:

Akiem Hicks - 2-year, $20 million extension (Lowers cap from $12 million to $5 million) The Bears defensive leader has one year left on his current deal. It's true he is getting up there in age but the guy remains a fixture on their front. Giving him a two-year extension offers both the chance to keep him around a little longer while also lowering his sizable 2021 cap hit. A win-win for both sides. Tashaun Gipson - 2-year deal, $6 million ($2 million cap hit) Gipson has really been a pleasant surprise for the Bears on defense starting next to Eddie Jackson. His mixture of standout playmaking skill and steady tackling prowess make him a well-rounded option in the secondary. It's uncertain what his demands will be but given his age he'd likely take a nice pay raise to stick around for a couple more years. Mario Edwards Jr. - 3-year deal, $9 million ($2 million cap hit) Another guy nobody thought much about who has immediately become a steady contributor. Edwards Jr. found a niche right away as a rotational interior pass rusher for the Bears. He seems to fit right in with their scheme and plays with a lot of energy. This new deal basically doubles his original pay per year with two extra seasons tacked on.

Cairo Santos - 3-year deal, $10.5 million ($2.5 million cap hit)

After years of wallowing in mistake after mistake, the Bears seem to have stumbled across their answer at kicker. Santos was an afterthought ever since 2017 due in large part to injury issues. Now healthy he seems to have found his stroke and is kicking as well as he ever has. He's made Eddy Pineiro irrelevant and positioned himself to be the man in Chicago moving forward.

Jason Spriggs - 1-year deal, $990,000 All things considered, the former Packers backup actually had some nice moments against New Orleans. He's never going to be a starter but Spriggs could continue to have value as the primary reserve for both tackle positions. DeAndre Houston-Carson - 1-year deal, $990,000 The longtime reserve continues to show he is capable of contributing to this team when given opportunities. His two outstanding plays against Tampa Bay and Carolina prove that. Along with his special teams experience, this should be a no brainer. James Vaughters - 1-year deal, $780,000 (ERFA tender) Depth at pass rusher is never a bad thing to have. Vaughters isn't some sort of hidden gem but he's proven to be a decent QB hunter when given limited snaps. There is no harm in keeping somebody like that around. Especially at such a bargain price.

Patrick Scales - 1-year deal, $990,000

Nothing has changed in regards to Scales. He continues to be a steady and reliable presence as the long snapper. The Bears are in no danger of losing him to another team so this contract shouldn't be a huge issue for either side. Salary cap: $28.009 million

Free agency:

JuJu Smith-Schuster - 4-year deal, $65.2 million ($8 million hit in 2021) If the Bears stand to lose Robinson one way or another, they have to find a way to supplement the passing game with another good receiving target. Especially given how unreliable Anthony Miller continues to be. The Pittsburgh Steelers seem to have plenty of options at receiver so they won't be inclined to pay a big deal to Smith-Schuster. While he isn't at Robinson's level, the kid is only 25-years old and proved a few years ago he can be a true go-to guy with over 1400 yards. He's got decent size, sharp route running skill, and underrated speed. Combing him with Miller and Darnell Mooney should give the Bears some nice options in the passing game.

Ronald Darby - 1-year deal, $2.5 million The Bears have to find a way to keep the secondary up to strength. Replacing Fuller will be almost impossible but they still have to find another option at cornerback. Darby is a former 1st round pick who is having a decent enough year in Washington. He's still just 27-years old and shouldn't be too expensive to acquire.

Jacob Hollister - 1-year deal, $1 million

One has to feel bad for Hollister. It looked like he was a young player on the rise in 2019 with 349 yards in just 11 games. Now he's been relegated to the bench in favor of Greg Olsen and Will Dissly. He deserves an opportunity. With Graham and Demetrius Harris out, the Bears could use somebody alongside Kmet. D.J. Fluker - 1-year deal, $990,000 The former 1st round pick never quite lived up to his draft status. However, he's still managed to carve out a decent career. He's primarily been a backup in Baltimore but has plenty of starting experience. Somebody who can come in and compete for a job. Nick Dzubnar - 1-year deal, $990,000 A career backup, Dzubnar has never played for a team with the idea he's a starter in waiting. No his value lay with his prowess on special teams. The man has six tackles in the third phase in 2020 and would be a welcome addition in Chicago.

The Draft:

*Trade: #18 pick, 2nd rounder, and 3rd rounder in 2022 to Cincinnati for #11 pick 1st round (via Bengals) - Zach Wilson, QB, BYU Yes, it's well-known that trading up in the draft hasn't been kind to the Bears in years past. Yet the reality is simple enough. The odds of landing a difference-maker at quarterback outside the top 15 are remote. Thanks to their trades of Robinson and Fuller, they've acquired just enough ammunition to make a jump up the board. Cincinnati already has their QB of the future, so they might be open to moving down.

While he may not quite have the ceiling of a Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields, there can be no arguing Zach Wilson has looked every bit as good as those two this year. He has all the tools a team could want. A lively arm, accuracy, ability to see the field and find the open man, and the legs to get himself out of trouble. He plays the game with high confidence and seems to have a swagger about him. The Bears have had luck with BYU quarterbacks before too.

2nd round (via Cowboys) - Tyler Vrabel, OT, Boston College

The son of Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel. So you know right away this kid is well-educated on all things football. He shows it on film too. Tyler plays with an aggressive style, showing a great mixture of athleticism and punch. Looks solid in pass protection and has more than enough power in the run game to generate lanes. *Trade: #44 pick to Titans for #59 pick and 4th rounder 2nd round (via Titans) - Rashawn Slater, OL, Northwestern Though he's been a standout tackle at Northwestern since he arrived, the general belief is he has a much brighter future at guard. He is a good athlete with strong technique and plenty of power in his frame. He also plays a scrappy style. Slater likes to be a tone-setter who gets after it on every snap. Exactly what the Bears have sorely missed up front. 3rd round - Anthony Schwartz, WR, Auburn Another Darnell Mooney-type in that most will see him as a bit undersized at just 179 lbs but Schwartz doesn't play that way. He has a terrific blend of speed and agility to go along with a more advanced route tree than is normal for college receivers. He'll add much-needed explosiveness to the Bears passing game.

4th round (via Titans) - Tedarrell Slayton, DT, Florida One thing that became painfully clear over the course of the first half of 2020? The Bears sorely miss Eddie Goldman in the middle of their defensive line. His presence against the run was so underappreciated. So it should hardly shock anybody they go after a massive nose tackle like Slayton. He's 6'5 and 360 lbs. A slab of serious beef with major power who eats up blockers and is impossible to move off his spot.

5th round - Ambry Thomas, CB, Michigan

Has everything the Bears look for in a cornerback. He's got enough size and length to play outside, plays a physical brand of football, has good instincts and is effective in press. Some people will question his speed which is likely why he drops in the draft but this kid is a battler. Michigan tends to produce such guys. 6th round (via Cowboys) - Tariq Thompson, S, San Diego State With Deon Bush likely gone after this season, the Bears have to reload the back end of their safety position. Thompson has good size and athleticism to go along with sharp instincts. He's rarely caught off guard by what offenses are trying to do. He also tackles well. At the very least he'll be a big presence on special teams. 6th round - DeAngelo Malone, EDGE, Western Kentucky Malone was a breakout star in 2019 with 11 sacks and 20 tackles for a loss. His 2020 has been much quieter though. Not entirely his fault given how the year has gone. He's gone the body type of a classic 3-4 outside linebacker with the athleticism and explosion to go with it. The problem is he's exceedingly light with lacking strength. 7th round (via Dolphins) - Pooka Williams, RB, Kansas Kansa isn't a hotbed for football talent but Williams is worth taking notice of. He has a good mix of size, speed, and vision. All major keys for running backs in today's NFL. There is also a patience to his running style. He lets plays develop before finding and hitting the hold. He's not the strongest guy in the world, but he does a lot of things well.