The latest Chicago Bears 2021 mock offseason considers the one question that has dogged fans for a long time. Have previous changes made by ownership gone deep enough? It was reported five years ago that Chris Ballard wanted to make wholesale changes to the entire structure of the organization. Apparently, it was so significant that the McCaskeys balked and decided to go with Ryan Pace instead.
It's unclear what those changes would've been. Either way, it's clearer than ever the Bears need a clean slate. They've tried it their way for a long time and it just isn't working. Every decade it's the same thing. Great defense. Solid special teams. Bad offense and no quarterback. Maybe it might be time to think a little outside the box. At least in their terms.
With that, here is the newest idea for what they can do.
This Chicago Bears 2021 mock offseason is all about change
Front office and Coaching changes:
Ted Phillips fired as team president and replaced by Trace Armstrong People have called for the Bears to remove Phillips as team president for years. It's not hard to see why. Since he took over in 1999, the team has five playoff appearances. Five. Considering the man has a background in accounting, it was always baffling why the McCaskey family thought it was a smart idea putting him in charge of a football team. Shouldn't they have somebody in charge with a background in...you know...football? That is where this gets tricky. If the Bears are going to remove the 68-year old Phillips, they'll want somebody with a football background but won't want to lose the business sense that the guy had. That is what makes Armstrong so perfect. He played 211 games in the NFL, racking up 106 sacks as a defensive end. Chicago drafted him in 1989 and he was a standout for them until he was traded in 1995. During his playing days, he was elected as president of the NFL Players Association. A job he'd hold until his retirement in 2004. After that, he became an agent representing both college and pro coaches including Mike McCarthy and Tom Herman. So he's familiar with both sides. Business and football. He's also no stranger to leadership. The Bears could do a lot worse.Ryan Pace fired as general manager and replaced by Will McClay
Armstrong has strong ties down in Texas. McCarthy is the current head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. So he'll have a pretty good inkling of how that team is structured and certain people who have stroke in the organization. One guy who continues to generate buzz is McClay, their VP of Player Personnel. He's been in the Dallas front office since 2011 and started being part of major personnel decisions by 2014. With his help, the Cowboys secured players like Zack Martin, Demarcus Lawrence, Byron Jones, Jaylon Smith, Dak Prescott, Michael Gallup, Leighton Vander Esch, and CeeDee Lamb. He has a defensive background as a player and coach but clearly has a firm understanding of how to locate strong offensive talent. He also understands leadership. This guy is ready to be a GM. Matt Nagy hired as head coach and replaced by Brandon Staley Chicago at its heart is a defensive town. Armstrong was a defensive guy. McClay was a defensive guy. It shouldn't be a huge surprise they might target a defensive guy for head coach. Staley was outside linebackers coach in Chicago from 2017 through 2018. He followed Vic Fangio to Denver in 2019 before being lured west to L.A where he took over the Rams defense under Sean McVay. That defense ranks 2nd in total yards and 4th in points allowed. The guy's rise has been truly meteoric. He is already known for his high intelligence, tactical sense, motivational skills, and fierce competitiveness. All traits a good head coach needs to have. He's only 37-years old, which raises some concerns about his limited experience. At the same time, young head coaches are the norm these days. He looks ready for an opportunity.Cuts:
- Jimmy Graham - $7 million
- Charles Leno Jr. (post-June 1st) - $9 million
- Buster Skrine (post-June 1st) - $5 million
Trades:
Allen Robinson (tag-and-trade) to the Jets for a 2nd round pick It's clearer than ever that Robinson is likely on his way out. The only thing to determine is how he'll leave. Will it be as a free agent? Or will the Bears attempt a tag-and-trade scenario. Given the value the receiver has, there are bound to be a few teams out there willing to trade for him. The Jets have both the picks and the money he'll be looking for. He'll get to play with Trevor Lawrence in New York and the Bears get back a solid pick in exchange. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkjYtcSA6M0&t=2s&ab_channel=NFL Kyle Fuller to the Seahawks for a 2nd round pick Seattle loves to construct its defense through the secondary and their system with off-coverage and lots of zone is tailor-made for Fuller. His brand of football is everything Pete Carroll could love. That is a team in win-now mode with Russell Wilson at quarterback. They've put together some nice young pieces on defense. Now they need a strong veteran presence to bring it together. Akiem Hicks to the Broncos for a 4th round pick This will probably be the toughest loss of all. It's clear Hicks is the heart and soul of that defense. However, he's pushing into his 30s and is starting to get banged up more often. With this team headed for a reboot, it is best for both parties to part ways. Reuniting with Vic Fangio in Denver would have plenty of appeal for him, giving an already solid defense even more firepower. Salary cap: $45.088 millionRe-signings/Extensions:
Roy Robertson-Harris - 3-year deal for $18 million ($4 million 2021 cap hit) With Hicks being sent elsewhere, it's going to be a tough blow to the Bears defensive line. They would be wise to shore up the depth as much as possible without breaking the bank. Robertson-Harris may never be the force he should be but he's a decent pass rusher and a solid run defender. He can be a starter for them moving forward at an affordable price. Mario Edwards Jr. - 3-year deal for $9 million Another lineman who really surprised this year. Edwards has established himself as a capable rotational pass rusher good for some QB pressures, a hit, or a sack every week. He's done enough to earn a pay raise and some long-term security. Cairo Santos - 4-year deal for $17.2 million One guy who has firmly established himself as the unquestioned man is Santos. He's now hit his past 26 kicks in a row. The 28-year old is in a zone, playing his best football since 2016 before he got injured. Chicago has sorely missed stability at kicker. Now they have it.- Danielle McCullers - 1-year deal for $1.075 million
- DeAndre Houston-Carson - 1-year deal for $990,000
- Patrick Scales - 1-year deal for $990,000
- J.P. Holtz - ERFA tender for $850,000
- Alex Bars - ERFA tender for $850,000
- James Vaughters - ERFA tender for $780,000
- Josh Woods - ERFA tender for $850,000







