The Chicago Bears followed up an impressive 2018 season with a dud in 2019 while going 8-8. They still sport an all world caliber defense, but the offense isn’t near the quality to be a contender. In my opinion, it starts at the top with Matt Nagy, he tries very hard to create gimmicks and tricks to cover the handicaps that his quarterback possesses. So, my goal here is to layout what I would do in order to get the Bears back to their 2018 form and possibly better.
We have to start out with assets. The Bears have the the 46th and 49th pick in this upcoming draft because of the Khalil Mack trade. Their draft haul will account for about $4.44 million. They are currently sitting at $5 million in cap, so that leaves $.56 million to resign players and acquire free agents. Kyle Long has retired, so his $8.1 million is taken off the books, so we’re back to about $8.7 million in space. That still is not enough. How would I clear space? I would start with a few cuts, Cordarrelle Patterson, Taylor Gabriel and Adam Shaheen. Cutting these guys will save $5.25 million, $4.5 million and $1.27 million. Gabriel and Patterson simply do not bring enough value to the team in the passing game. They are both limited receivers and I’m not paying a below average third guy that type of money. Cutting them also paves the way for Anthony Miller to get some more snaps. Why would I put Shaheen on the chopping block instead of Trey Burton? Well, cutting Burton saves about the same amount of money and if I am keeping one then I’m keeping the more experienced player. Burton can be an easy cut next year and will save much more than now.
I am also not picking up Leonard Floyd’s 5th year for $13.1 million. He’s a good player and compliments well across from Mack but he is not $13.1 million good. So, after the cuts and not picking up Floyd. We now sit with $32.82 million in space. Not flushed with cash but we have enough where we can make an impact signing and fill some holes. But, I still want more. So I look at potential trade guys who don’t get me much money for cutting them but could flip for a late pick. I think I could trade Buster Skrine and Bobby Massie to somebody and get a 5th-7th round pick for each of them. They are both at premium spots, so I believe a cap wealthy team would take a flier on them. Trading Skrine save $6.1 million and Massie $8.3 million. We’re back up to $47.22 million. Much better.
Now I need to look at spots on the team I need to improve. I have $47.22 million and 2 2nd round picks to fill these spots. I believe the Bears need a TE, 2 Offensive Lineman, a slot corner, safety, a slot receiver and a pass rusher. If I can grab a qb too, that would be great. In order to improve this team the way I want to, I need to decide, do I want to compete for not only the division but the NFC next year or do I retool? In my opinion, this defense is too talented to wait, so I’m going for it. That means the first move I’m making is trading for somebody in the qb carousel. I look at Nagy and see his past and his creativity so 2 guys come to my mind right away, Alex Smith and Cam Newton. Alex Smith is older and coming off of a terrible injury, so I take a shot that Cam Newton is healthy enough to play. He comes with a $21.1 million hit, but I’m hoping to be able to get the Panthers to take at least $5 million of that. So I send the Panthers a 2nd and 4th round pick this year and a 2nd next year, they give me Newton and $5 million. So I have about $31.22 million to work with, but I have a playmaker at quarterback with a creative head coach. I convince some team to take a 1 year chance at Trubisky for a late late pick and now am back up to $40 million in space.
Before we get into who we’re grabbing in free agency, we need to lock up some internal free agents. I’ll take Kwiatkowski as the MLB to pair with Roquan Smith. PFF predicts I can get him at $3.5 million. I need a backup to in case Newton isn’t as healthy as I hope, so I’ll pony up $4 million to keep Chase Daniel around. I am going to pass on Clinton Dix though, he is a good player but I think his price point will be too high for me. I think I can get a safety that is cheaper to pair alongside Eddie.
Cam is coming off injury and his best years were with Greg Olsen, so I need to find him a TE and a line. But I prioritize his health so I get a pass blocker. Enter Joe Thuney, PFF projects him to get a 5 year/$67.5 million deal and was the 5th rated guard in the league with the 2nd best pass blocking grade. I’ll gladly take him. Back down to $19 million.
Let’s bring some familiarity for Cam and for Chicago, Greg Olsen can come in here, be a leader for the offense and provide value in a limited role for $4 million. Him and Cam coming together will energize not only them but also the city. They will help this offense get a bit of their swagger back.
I still want a lineman, safety, slot corner and receiver and a pass rusher. I’ve got $15 million to play with and 1 high draft pick. I want to sure up my secondary, I am looking at Karl Joseph. The former first rounder from Oakland hasn’t panned out as expected. But he is a hard hitter who would compliment Eddie Jackson tremendously. PFF is projecting I can get him for $4 million. Yes please. A defense that is littered with scary players, just got a bruiser. Now as a qb, you not only have to worry about Fuller or Jackson picking you off but you have to worry about Joseph taking your receivers head off.
I am thinking about taking another flier on a former first rounder who didn’t pan out that great. Shaq Lawson, formerly of the Buffalo Bills. He’s only 25 years old and just a year ago graded out as the 19th overall edge rusher in the league. Not great, but paired with a front seven that has Mack, Hicks, Goldman and Smith, he will have an opportunity to get a lot of 1 on 1 looks and will be the forgotten man by offensive coordinators. I can get him for $4 million according to PFF. So now after the Joseph and Lawson signing, I am sitting at $7 million and still looking for a lineman, slot corner and receiver.
My next two pickups are guys I think can fill a role pretty well. First up is Kendall Fuller. 2 years ago he rated out as the best corner in the league playing the slot for Kansas City. The past 2 seasons have seen his grade drop but the Chiefs have played him at safety. I can get him for $4 million and slide him back into the slot where he excels. He had 4 picks and 8 pass breakups last time he played the slot for a full season, so this team gets another guy that is capable of making plays and putting fear into opposing quarterbacks. The Bears are able to make a strength even stronger with this signing. Next up is Danny Amendola. I don’t know if I’ll be able to get him with the $3 million I have left but I think he could be a very versatile target who doesn’t have a ton of responsibility being the 4th or 5th passing option on the team.
Now we just need a lineman, who we will target with our only 2nd round pick. I am eyeing Auburn tackle Prince Tega Wanogho. He is a raw player, which will cause him to fall to the second round at the earliest. Raw prospects are risky, we’ve seen them flop (Dion Jordan) but we’ve also seen them excel (Danielle Hunter), the Bears are in a spot where they can swing for the fences. Prince can be a staple that can play the left or right side, or he could become a backup swing player at worst. Either way, if I’m Ryan Pace, I’m taking a shot just like I have all offseason.
NFL by The Common Man 