Bearly Open Window

Prepare for the worst and be surprised has to be the saying for Bears fan everywhere. With the dominant defense and young offense the double doink loss to the Eagles in 2018 sucked, but seemed like a lump for a team that will be back multiple times, but history says this window could already be closing.

Since the turn of the century the Chicago Bears have made the playoffs only five times with a record of 3-5 with three one and done appearances. Two seasons after putting together a stingy defense the cap is starting to stack up on that side of the ball; Khalil Mack, Robert Quinn and Eddie Jackson got paid this off season, Akiem Hicks, Eddie Goldman, Kyle Fuller and soon Roquan Smith. Four of the top five earners are on defense and the window of the cheap quarterback looks to be about over.

A key to success in the modern NFL is have a cheap quarterback and load up all around him to maximize the chances, but the number two overall pick may soon no longer have Chicago to call his home. It was quite clear the biggest problem for the Monsters of the Midway was their second year signal caller Mitchell Trubisky. General Manager Ryan Pace may have gotten the pick wrong, but credit for at least trying to do something about it

Management has already said it’ll be an open competition between Trubisky and newly acquired Nick Foles. While Foles has had an up and down career as a starter, there’s no denying his playoff success and is probably an improvement on Trubisky with a very talented team around him. The move alone signals management’s understanding of the clock ticking on them and the Bear’s chances to find success.

The closing window is also exacerbated by the fact Pace doesn’t have a first round pick in 2020, but no one is arguing against the Mack trade, but they do have the 43 and 50 pick in the second round. Chicago has two 2nd rounders, a 4th, 5th, two in the 6th and two in the 7th, though that’s unlikely what they’ll finish with. Plenty of mock drafts already have the Bears trading at least one of the 2nd round picks to get pack in to the 3rd or load up on some more day three picks. That seems very likely, though I’d expect Pace to make at least one of the picks in the 2nd to get an impact player like a WR, S, CB or OL.

Another impact WR next to Allen Robinson, more OL help to boost the running game (besides Germain Ifedi, a S next to Jackson and depth for the rest of the defensive levels are my needs for Chicago. A mock draft from fansided has Pace selecting:

OL – Erza Cleveland – Boise State

CB – Damon Arenette – Ohio State

WR – Tyler Johnson – Minnesota

TE – Harrsion Bryant – FAU

RB – Patrick Taylor Jr. – Memphis

S – Shyheim Carter – Alabama

DE – D.J. Wonnum – South Carolina

This draft gives them two possible day one starters at OL and CB, where they need the most help, another WR to give whoever is under center another weapon and depth at positions of need. Personally I think Chicago stays away from a RB and looks for line or LB depth.

In the NFC North the Bears talent has them up there near the top, the Lions are in a long rebuild in my opinion, but the truth is they won the division in a year of awful for Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers bounced back last season but many found their record inflated but Green has some of the most picks in the draft. Minnesota has a very talent roster, though it has started to lose some pieces and Kirk Cousins is still under center.

If we get a 2020 season, please let that be the case, it’s a make or break year in Chicago. Not only could Trubisky be on his way out but Pace and Matt Nagy could have their jobs on the line. The quarterback position has always alluded the Windy City and it could be the case where it’s back to the drawing board because Foles is not the long term answer. For 2021 when Chicago gets it’s 1st round picks back the new GM could be back looking for a signal caller while trying to maximize a defense that’s just getting more and more expensive.