After a disastrous 5-11 season which saw both general manager Phillip Emery and head coach Marc Trestman fired (Trestman after only two seasons at the helm), the Chicago Bears are looking to rebuild for 2015. They command the 7th overall pick and have a large war chest to dip into. If they wish to explore free agency, the Bears could see a marked improvement on 2014.
The Jay Cutler Debate
While many would have quarterback listed as a priority (it could become a glaring issue in the coming weeks), for the moment Jay Cutler is the team’s starter and he has a fresh start in the eyes of management. Cutler’s contract is horrendously team unfriendly, as he has $16.5 million guaranteed in 2015 and an astonishing $19.5 million dead money penalty if cut this year. Add to this the fact that $10 million of next year’s salary becomes fully guaranteed on the third day of the league year (March 12th) and you have a player they can ill afford to part with.
If the team does part ways with Cutler, it would have to be to a very quarterback-needy team with a lot of unused cap space. It is unlikely the Bears would get more than a late round pick for him, and with a free agency and the draft as thin at quarterback as it is this year, it may prove prudent to stay the course with Cutler. While it is unlikely, the Bears have not been afraid to kick the tires on a former quarterback, Josh McCown, who played under new head coach John Fox in Carolina and is a former Bears player.
Chicago Bears 2015 Offseason: Top 3 Needs
Defensive Line
With a new coaching staff and new defensive ethos, it is expected that the Bears will switch from a 4-3 base defense to a 3-4 scheme. Jared Allen and Trevor Scott are ill equipped to fill the tackle positions, as they are traditionally “hand in the dirt” pass rushing defensive ends. It is difficult to see them transitioning well in this new scheme.
While it is possible for the team to explore free agency, new general manager Ryan Pace has said that he wishes to emulate the Green Bay Packers and build from the draft. That being said, defensive line should be a high priority come April.
Linebacker
Again with the switch in the defensive scheme, many of the players currently on the roster are unlikely to fit any of the proposed positions. With the move, a pass rushing linebacker will need to come into the fold and many commentators predict Chicago will use their first-round pick at this position. Another option is for Jared Allen to fill this roll, but Allen has lost a step and has always preferred playing on the line. In fact, Allen stated a disdain for such a role last offseason.
Linebacker will be addressed early and often in the draft, as both outside and inside linebackers are sorely needed. The team’s best player at the position in 2014, Lance Briggs, finished the year on injured reserve and is unlikely to return at the age of 34.
Safety
Chicago needs help at both cornerback and safety and only standout cornerback Kyle Fuller’s job is safe. After finishing 30th in passing yards conceded and 31st in points allowed in 2014, there is little wonder why so many jobs are on the line. Starter Chris Conte is a free agent and unlikely to be back while the other starting safety, Ryan Mundy, has no guaranteed money left in his contract so changing the position entirely is within the realm of possibility.
As I have discussed in a previous article, the position of safety is particularly thin in the draft and many analysts have only one player listed as going in the first round. If this position is to be addressed properly, it will have to involve free agency, where there are several starting caliber players available who will not break the bank.
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