The Chicago Bears are finishing out their 2021 season as they have only three games remaining before the offseason. With a head coaching and general manager change coming, there is a significant chance that the team could enter into a rebuild starting in the offseason. Due to a limited number of draft selections in the 2022 NFL Draft and several hard-to-move contracts on defense, it could be in the Bears' best interest to avoid a total rebuild for one more season.

The Bears Defense Will Have Pieces In 2022 That Will Make Them Competitive

Chicago's defense has been up and down this season as they have battled numerous injuries while allowing several last-minute scores, costing them victories. Despite giving up game-winning scores in back-to-back games to the Steelers and Ravens earlier this year, the Bears' defense has played well in other instances. Although Chicago has been without All-Pro linebacker Khalil Mack since week 8, the Bears' defense has continued to generate consistent pass rush pressure. Defensive end Robert Quinn leads the Bears with 16 sacks and is on pace to break the franchise record for most sacks in a season set by Richard Dent. The Bears' defense has recorded eight sacks in their last three games against Pro Bowl quarterbacks, including Aaron Rodgers, Kyler Murray, and Kirk Cousins. Although Chicago's pass rush has been impressive the entire season, their secondary outside of cornerback Jaylon Johnson has struggled significantly. Johnson has been one of the better cornerbacks in the league this year as opposing offenses rarely throw to his side of the field. The Bears' defender, who appears to be having the best season this year, is inside linebacker Roquan Smith, who has over 140 combined tackles this season. Smith is already viewed as one of the best linebackers in the NFL, despite not being named to the Pro Bowl the last two seasons.

With Mack, Quinn, and safety Eddie Jackson all under contract with significant money, it is unlikely that Chicago will find trade value in the offseason to move those contracts. The Bears will also have Johnson and Smith return on their rookie contracts, although Smith may request a contract extension before the 2022 season. Although Chicago will likely not re-sign defensive end, Akiem Hicks, the team will still have five of their starters from this year in place for next season, barring any blockbuster trades.

Since the Bears have only five draft picks in next year's draft but a lot of potential cap space, it may be in their interest to add to the defense rather than try to subtract. If the new front office and coaching staff can find mid-tier defensive free agents, Chicago's defense could make the team competitive in 2022. With the Bears being stuck with several unmovable contracts, it may make more sense to get the highest return on those contracts instead of being stuck and doing nothing. Making the playoffs in the first year of a new partnership would allow a new general manager and head coach to earn needed credibility.

The Bears Defense Deserves One More Season

Despite the injuries and the lack of talent in the secondary, the Bears' defense has shown that they can still be productive when fully healthy. If Mack had not been lost for the season due to a foot injury, both he and Quinn likely register double-digit sacks. Through the first six games this year, the Bears led the league in sacks with 21. Since Mack's injury, Chicago's defense has registered 19 sacks in seven games, with 10.5 coming from Quinn. With Smith's ability to stop the run and Johnson's ability to defend the pass, the Bears' defense will have a chance to be good in 2022, if healthy and still intact. If Chicago can address some of their defensive needs in free agency while drafting a defensive starter with their second-round selection, the Bears' defense could perform significantly better than they did this year.

Being competitive in year one for a new regime would make a massive difference when selling a potential rebuild to the Bears' fanbase. If the team can compete in 2022 and then begin to rebuild in 2023 when the larger contracts become more flexible to move on from while having more draft capital, including first-round selections, it could be a wiser direction for the franchise.

The Bears have too many young pieces on offense to be committed to a rebuild right away, given the contracts on defense. If rookie quarterback Justin Fields can make significant progression next season with the new head coach, it would be pointless not to give the Bears' defense one more season to try and compete for the playoffs. If Chicago could move on from the defensive contracts and had more draft selections to rebuild with this offseason, a total rebuild would make sense, but since they don't, it may be beneficial to try and be competitive in 2022.