Realistic Scenarios

[adam]

Based on the cap space, pending free agents and projected draft picks, this is what the team has to do in the offseason (based on starters only):

These are the 6 positions based on free agents or health that absolutely need a new starter in 2020: RG, TE, Edge, ILB, CB, S, if you add performance, you would have to add LT, RT, LG, and DE in there. 

1. O-Line, RG is a hole and LT needs to be addressed in some way. Due to contracts we are stuck with Leno, Daniel, and Massie to go with Whitehair. The Coward project didn't work, and Lucas looked horrible. You take a look at Bars, draft someone early to start Day 1, and bring in a vet to compete somewhere in the starting 5. If that means Leno or Massie move to rotational OT, so be it.  Need 2. This one will be tough, because any above average OLineman normally signs for an inflated price because they are so hard to find. I think we draft a tackle and bring in a veteran FA at RG. 

2. TE, even with Burton under contract, you cannot count on him due to soft tissue (between the legs) injuries. Shaheen is easily cut as he never evolved into anything more than an unathletic Lurch. Horsted and Holtz are good for depth, but not starting caliber TEs. This has to be addressed in FA or in the draft. Need 1. The good news is there are a lot of productive FA options this year, which should make for a decent market. Hooper, Henry, Eifert, and Ebron will all be UFAs. I think we go after one of the free agents as TE is such a huge part of Nagy's offense.

3. ILB, Trevathan is a UFA. The team needs to decide which of the 3 (Trevathan, Kwit, or KPL) are kept. Based on age and health, I would lean towards Kwit or KPL or both. Either way, we need 1. If we look outside of the organization in FA, these are some of the names under 30: Martinez, Littleton, Schobert, Bostic (haha), Hewitt, and Mayo. I think we sign both Kwit and KPL. 

4. Edge. Floyd cannot be back in a Bears uniform. If he is, I will be pissed. He has been the least productive defender on the field for most of his time with the Bears. We need a compliment to Mack. KPL is definitely under consideration here due to his speed. I would at least consider it, but we would still need depth here. So I would still say this needs to be addressed. Need 1. The market has a ton of guys available, which should make it easier to part ways with Floyd. They will definitely bring someone in here as I can imagine Lynch is also gone. 

5. CB. The Bears CBs were bad this year. Ironically corresponding with the lack of a pass rush. However, playing off 10-15 yards on a 3rd and 7 seems like an easy play for any NFL team. So I don't know why Fuller and Co. played like that most of the year. I believe I saw a stat where Fuller led the league in receiving yards against. That is crazy for a top 10 paid CB. Amukamara is clearly done and an easy cap cut. With Skrine locked into a bad contract, we will only have one hole to fill in 2020. If the team believes in Tolliver, they may go that route, but I still think they either draft or bring one in via FA. Need 1. There are a ton of names available in free agency, so we should be able to bring in at least a mid-level guy to compete with Tolliver.  The Bears will bring in a FA and draft one early.

6. Safety. HHCD is a free agent, and the more he played with Jackson, the more you saw they were not complementary players. They are too similar which basically negated both of their strengths, or so it seemed. Too many missed tackles for me. We need a new SS. Need 1. Minnesota seems to have a stockpile of good safeties and they can re-sign them all. Depending on what they do at CB might determine what they do here. I am thinking they need to bring in a veteran here. 

7. QB - I am putting this on here as another need, but not knowing which direction the team is going to go.

QB Options:

1. Younger Change of Scenery option: Mariota - similar style, coaches familiar with him, would be an interesting QB competition. Knowing this option, they would both be bad. 
2. Consistent Vet option: Keenum - has played decent wherever he has went, never sticks for some reason though, which would be the concern
3. Vet with no experience option: McCarron - played in some big games in college, limited physically, more of a game manager, would be cheaper option with little risk
4. Older Vet option: Matt Moore, comes from same system, had success recently, not much tread left on the tires.
5. Break the bank Vet: Bridgewater or Tannehill. These guys will command some big contracts and may be out of the Bears price range.

I think they go with someone like Keenum who can compete for the starting job but won't break the bank if he is the backup.