The Chicago Bears are trying to find a lot of answer this offseason. Answers that COVID-19 are making nearly impossible to uncover. This has led to a lot of debating between fans and media about where exactly this team is. Opinions have formed. Most of them are easy enough to get behind.
The defense? It's still loaded. Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks, and Robert Quinn form a potentially dynamite pass rush. Roquan Smith is on the cusp of stardom. Eddie Jackson and Kyle Fuller can still ball. If health prevails, that group should do some serious dominating this season.
At the same time, there are also opinions a lot of people might not agree with. Here are a few that probably fit that mold and what such opinions were formed.
Chicago Bears unpopular opinions to chew on for this month
Jimmy Graham was a good signing
Yes, the Bears likely overpaid. Graham got $8 million per year for two seasons from them just as he was about to turn 34-years old. Not to mention coming off his worst season in over a decade. Most would view that as a bad investment. In fairness though, Tyler Higbee got $7.25 million and Jack Doyle $7.1 million. Graham is superior to both of those players even at his current age.
He hasn't missed a game since 2015 which is significant given who the Bears had before he arrived. Then there is the nature of the offense. This system is designed to feature the tight end position in the passing game. Something that was not the case with the Packers in Green Bay. Was Graham an expensive signing? Yes. That aside, he can also still be a good one.
Kevin Toliver should start opposite Kyle Fuller
If people were to ask who should start as the second cornerback across from Kyle Fuller? Most would probably answer Jaylon Johnson. It's not hard to see why. The kid is a 2nd round pick who probably would've been a 1st rounder if not for some shoulder injury setbacks at Utah. Injuries he played through. He's athletic, tough, and a student of the game.
That being said, he needs to wait his turn. Kevin Toliver has spent two years as a primary backup behind Fuller and Prince Amukamara. Last season he was pushed into the starting lineup down the stretch and performed well against some top-level matchups in Amari Cooper and Davante Adams. He's 24-years old and has playing experience. The opportunity belongs to him and he is good enough to seize it.
Replacing Harry Hiestand with Juan Castillo was not an upgrade
Castillo has been around the NFL for a long time. He's had a lot of success in that time too. A guy doesn't hold a job for over a decade because he's bad at it as he did in Philadelphia. That said, it's hard to buy what the Bears are selling here. Castillo is a good coach but nothing about his track record says he's in any way superior to the departed Harry Hiestand.
People so easily forget the good things Hiestand did in 2018 for the Bears line. It performed really well. What happened last season was a mix of injuries and players lacking focus. Nagy's decision to remove him felt motivated less by coaching talent and more about coaching familiarity. This is why it is hard to feel optimistic that Castillo can improve this group that much from where they were last season.
Mitch Trubisky should start against Detroit
Let's be clear on this. I believe Nick Foles is the superior quarterback to Trubisky. Right now. However, I believe Trubisky's ceiling is still higher. Are the odds against him ever figuring things out? Yes. That said, this might be the best setup for a rebound season one could ask for. He's surrounded by one of the most QB-friendly coaching staffs in the NFL. More importantly, is the schedule itself.
In the past three seasons, Trubisky has debuted against Minnesota once and Green Bay twice. Two tough football teams. On paper, this matchup with the Lions in Detroit is by far the most lenient he's ever had. After that comes the Giants and the Falcons. Both of whom had weak defenses last season. Momentum can mean everything in a make-or-break year. Give Trubisky those three weeks.
If he looks blah? Then Foles will be ready to go by that point.
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