Chicago Bears 2022 Mock Offseason: The Ryan Poles Era Begins

It has been a long time since the last Chicago Bears 2022 mock offseason. A big reason for that was the uncertainty about what was going to happen at the top. Now that the organization has found its next regime, it is a bit easier to project how things might go over the next three months. GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus didn't mince words in their first media appearances. They have a plan for this team. A clear vision. They want a tough, physical, and fast football team. No complications there. Easy to understand. The challenges in building that sort of roster though are obvious. It will take a specific approach this offseason what with the limited amount of resources they have. Some sacrifices might be required. Be prepared for a few surprises.

Chicago Bears 2022 mock offseason will see a different approach

Cuts:

• Jeremiah Attaochu - $1.9 million saved
• Angelo Blackson - $2.1 million saved
• Tarik Cohen - $2.25 million saved
• Danny Trevathan (post-June 1st) - $3.288 million saved

Most of these moves stem from practical decisions. Attaochu was brought in to play outside linebacker in Sean Desai's 3-4 defense. A scheme they will no longer employ under Eberflus and Alan Williams. The same goes for Angelo Blackson. A significant shift is coming up from for this team on defense. Cohen didn't play a single snap last season due to his knee injury and his future remains a big question mark. The new regime has zero loyalty to him. As for Trevathan, he was already on his way out. Too old and too injury-prone. Salary cap: $34.89 million

Trades:

Eddie Goldman to the Chargers for 3rd round pick in 2022 Goldman was drafted to play nose tackle in a 3-4 defense. Something the Bears no longer employ. His fit with this new up-the-field style is questionable. On the other hand, the Chargers defensive line was atrocious last season, ranking 30th in stopping the run. They sorely need help, and their head coach Brandon Staley has ties to the Bears as a former assistant coach under Vic Fangio. He knows Goldman well. Nick Foles to the Jaguars for 6th round pick in 2022 Some will argue that Foles should stick around due to his value as a backup. That is fair, but the reality is the veteran is worth more to this regime in a trade. Not just for the pick but also for the $8 million in cap relief they get if he's gone. With Doug Pederson the new head coach down in Jacksonville, the connection to Foles is obvious given they won a Super Bowl together. He would make a terrific mentor for Trevor Lawrence. Somebody that can help streamline the learning process for Pederson's offense. Salary cap: $49.56 million

Re-signings/Restructures:

• Bilal Nichols - 3-year deal for $18.6 million ($4 million cap hit in 2022)
• Alec Ogletree - 1-year deal for $1.12 million
• Jesse James - 1-year deal for $1.12 million
• Jesper Horsted - ERFA tender for $895,000
• Damiere Byrd - 1-year deal for $1.035 million
• Deon Bush - 1-year deal for $1.035 million
• DeAndre Houston-Carson - 1-year deal for $1.035 million
• Joel Iyiegbuniwe - 1-year deal for $1.035 million
• Pat O'Donnell - 1-year deal for $1.75 million
• Patrick Scales - 1-year deal for $1.035 million

An honest assessment of this Chicago Bears 2022 mock offseason suggested a lot of their in-house free agents lost their limited value once Poles and Eberflus took over. This was especially the case for right guard James Daniels. His failure to excel this past season and lack of traits that Poles seems to prioritize means he is likely gone. However, Nichols has the necessary skills to be a capable three-technique interior pass rush in the Tampa-2 defense. The remaining names returning are about depth and special teams considerations. Salary cap: $41.21 million

Free agency:

Brian Allen (C) - 4-year deal for $36 million ($7 million 2022 cap hit) Poles said he would be selective in free agency. So don't expect any gigantic splashes. However, that doesn't mean he won't be aggressive in certain areas. Particularly the offensive line. With the Bears shifting to a Shanahan-style offense under Luke Getsy, they need blockers who understand its intricacies. Allen learned the system well under Sean McVay in Los Angeles and is now playing in the Super Bowl. While not a dominating blocker, he has a more than competent all-around game that would upgrade over Sam Mustipher.

Byron Pringle (WR) - 2-year deal for $9 million It is a safe bet that Poles will seek out players he knows well from Kansas City to help the Bears. With a growing emphasis on speed, adding Pringle to the mix at wide receiver makes sense. He enjoyed a minor breakout year for the Chiefs, collecting 568 yards and five touchdowns while averaging a healthy 13.5 yards per reception. He won't be the #1 option but somebody that can be good for two or three meaningful catches every week. Jamison Crowder (WR) - 2-year deal for $10 million Probably one of the better slot receivers in the NFL for the past several years. Crowder never gets the attention he should because he has been stuck playing on some terrible teams. Most recently the New York Jets. For him to still post around 500 yards each year is a testament to his ability. The Bears have lacked a presence in the slot for a long time. He would be able to take full advantage of Darnell Mooney's presence on the outside.

Damien Wilson (LB) - 2-year deal for $10 million

Another former Chiefs player that Poles knows well. Wilson played middle linebacker for them in 2019 and 2020, both years they went to the Super Bowl. With Roquan Smith possibly shifting to outside linebacker in Eberflus' new system, they'll need somebody to take his place in the middle. Wilson isn't a star by any means but he's experienced and also coming off the best season of his career. K'Waun Williams (CB) - 1-year deal for $3 million Few positions are more critical in the Tampa-2 defense than nickel cornerback. Go back and look at the best versions of it, and you tend to find capable players at that position. Ronde Barber in Tampa Bay. Kenny Moore II in Indianapolis. Williams has steadily been one of the better slot corners in the league and proved again this season in San Francisco. He's a bit on the older side (31), but that didn't seem to bother him as he allowed only one touchdown pass all year. Nick Mullens (QB) - 1-year deal for $1.035 million With Foles out of the picture, the Bears will have to find some credible depth at quarterback behind Justin Fields. Mullens played under Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco for several years and wasn't fair competent whenever he had opportunities to play. He'd make a great sounding board as Fields tries to learn the system.

The Draft:

2nd Round - Zion Johnson, OG, Boston College Physical. Technician. Athletic. Johnson showed he is all of those things in college and is doing so again at the Senior Bowl. It's becoming a serious question where he'll go in the 1st round at this rate. If he doesn't, the Bears should be all over him. He exhibits all of the qualities Poles wants in blockers and also happens to attend the school the GM himself went to. This kid will be a plug-and-play starter wherever he goes. Someone that would be a great protector for the quarterback.

3rd Round - Jalen Tolbert, WR, South Alabama Small school prospects always come with unease, but people shouldn't worry about that with Tolbert. He dominated his competition, and it's not hard to see why. A 6'3 receiver with legitimate speed and the ability to win 50/50 matchups as well. He looks and feels like the total package. Getting him in the 3rd round would be tantamount to highway robbery. This is somebody that can become a legitimate #1 receiver given a year or two. Pairing him with Mooney, Crowder, and Pringle offers an intriguing young corps.

3rd Round (via LAC) - Mario Goodrich, CB, Clemson

Outside of Jaylon Johnson, the results at cornerback were unsatisfactory on defense. That is why there was no way this Chicago Bears 2022 mock offseason would conclude without a significant addition there. Goodrich feels like the type of player Eberflus would like. Good size, solid athlete, smart, physical, and demonstrates a solid eye for takeaways. His wide receiver background should help him get even better with more experience.

5th Round (via HOU) - Otito Ogbonnia, DT, UCLA With the arrival of this new defense comes a requirement for different defensive linemen. This will be an up-the-field, penetrating front four. One needs defensive tackles capable of shooting gaps with quickness and delivering strong bull rushes to squeeze the pocket. He won't be a terrorizing three-technique like Aaron Donald but he would make for a perfect 4-3 nose tackle that can stop the run and command multiple blockers. 5th Round - Cole Turner, TE, Nevada It is rather surprising that Turner isn't getting more attention among tight ends in this class. He was consistently productive at Nevada with back-to-back seasons over 600 yards with 19 total touchdowns. The 6'6 kid just made plays. He has good hands, runs solid routes, and has enough speed to stretch the field. If the Bears are looking for a Jimmy Graham replacement, Turner can be that guy.

6th Round (via JAX) - Isaiah Pola-Mao, S, USC

Remember the new philosophy of this defense. It will be all about takeaways. Eberflus wants players that can get their hands on the football. Pola-Mao showed he could do that for the Trojans. Four interceptions in 2019. An interception and three fumble recoveries in 2020 (in just six games). His 2021 season was a bit quiet but the evidence is still there. The questions with him are health and tackling efficiency. 6th Round - Dare Rosenthal, OT, Kentucky This offensive tackle class isn't good in terms of proven prospects. However, there is a lot of potential scattered around it—big, athletic guys with lots of upside. Rosenthal is one such example. He isn't a good pass protector right now because of the scheme he played in, but he moves well at 6'7 and 330 lbs with the long arms to handle most rushers. Where he'll win over Poles is his nasty demeanor and play-through-the-whistle mentality.