The Chicago Bears team needs list is pretty much set in stone at this point. It’s also about to become a major topic of discussion as the team was officially eliminated from playoff contention following a loss in Green Bay and a Minnesota victory in Los Angeles. Honestly the fact they got this close is a minor miracle considering this team was 4-6 and completely lifeless a month ago. This latest stretch reinforces one thing.
This is still a good team but one that is in serious need of tweaking.
They have talent in several places but also a number of holes that popped up at inopportune times this season. GM Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy must work hard in the coming months to plug them. After all, their jobs will almost certainly be on the line in 2020. The problem is the resources available. Chicago is projected to have no 1st round pick in the draft and less than $14 million in cap space next year.
That is not a lot to work with. This means they will have to carefully prioritize what their biggest needs are in order to ensure maximum results. So where would such a ranking sit as of today? Let’s find out.
Subscribe to the BFR podcast and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
Chicago Bears team needs rankings looking to 2020
#1 – Tight End
If this is a shock to anybody, then they haven’t been paying attention to the Bears all season long. Nagy has made it clear on multiple occasions how vital the tight end position is to the execution of his offense. So one can imagine why the offense is struggling this year when the tight end position as an entire unit has managed 37 catches for 283 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games. That isn’t bad. It’s catastrophic. Getting such little production from that position has made life so much hard for the receivers and running backs.
Adam Shaheen is probably gone. His 2nd round pick status officially a bust. Trey Burton will likely be back if only because of his bad contract that would saddle the team with a lot of dead cap if cut. Jesper Horsted and J.P. Holtz look like nice cheap depth options who will stick. Yet the Bears still don’t have a true threat in the passing game. This has to change next year.
#2 – Edge Rusher
Khalil Mack gets a ton of heat for not generating more sacks this year (6.5 through 14 games). Here’s the thing. As great as he is, the man can’t do it all himself. Akiem Hicks was injured most of the season, which in turn exposed once again how inadequate Leonard Floyd is as the #2 edge rusher on this team. His coaches can talk up his “complete game” all they want. He’s primary paid millions of dollars to sack the quarterback. He has three in 2019. Three.
If the Bears defense wants to regain its dominance next year, they have to find somebody who can take proper advantage of the near-constant double and triple teams that Mack sees each week.
#3 – Offensive Line
If one phrase properly describes the Bears offensive line this season it’s “disappointing.” They came in with all sorts of optimism. All five starters were returning, two of them on new contract extensions. Then as the games went on, things started to fall apart. Kyle Long went on Injured Reserve yet again. His future is cloudy. Bobby Massie hasn’t returned for weeks due to a back issue. In their places, both Rashaad Coward and Cornelius Lucas have looked adequate at best. This doesn’t include Charles Leno who continues to be a penalty machine.
This group consistently failed to control the line of scrimmage all season. The Bears have the 28th ranked rushing attack and have now allowed 38 sacks. It feels like a shuffle to this front is needed for next year, particularly on the edges if possible.
#4 – Quarterback
Mitch Trubisky did not live up to expectations this year. It’s a simple fact. He was supposed to take a step forward and instead he took one back for most of the season. He’s been slightly better in recent weeks but that’s a small consolation. The Bears needed him to step up and he couldn’t do it. Sure not everything was perfect around him but good quarterbacks find a way to execute in tough conditions. While he’s had good moments, he doesn’t have them often enough.
Will the Bears outright replace Trubisky in 2020? Unlikely. However, they can and should look to start ratcheting up the pressure. Find somebody, be it a free agent or a draft pick who can come in and push him from behind. See how he responds to legitimate competition. Something the team never bothered to do with Jay Cutler.
#5 – Cornerback
Prince Amukamara looks nothing like the player he was in 2018. He’s over 30 now and injuries have started to catch up. Odds favor the Bears moving on from him next year, collecting $8 million in cap space along the way. This will leave the depth chart behind him in question though. Kevin Toliver has played decent in his limited snaps. Behind him is rookie Duke Shelley. That doesn’t look like enough talent to tangle with the pass games in the NFC North.
Odds are they will look to add somebody of value between March and April. If it’s a free agent, fine. If it’s a 2nd or 4th round pick, also fine. They just need another body who can offer some competition alongside Kyle Fuller and Buster Skrine.
