By: Mike Rifkin
The 2021 Chicago Bears finished the season with a 6-11 record, which was third in the NFC North. After the season the Bears fired GM Ryan Pace and Head Coach Matt Nagy. Pace who had been the Bears GM since 2015 and the team had a 48-65 record, including 0-2 in the playoffs. Nagy was also 0-2 in the playoffs but in his four seasons with the organization he had a 34-32 record. Nagy went 12-4 in his first season and never had a winning season again. The Bears hired Ryan Poles to be the team’s new General Manager. Poles was the executive director of player personnel for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2021, but spent the prior 13 years there doing various other jobs in player personnel and scouting. To replace Nagy the Bears hired Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. Eberflus had been the Colts defensive coordinator since 2018, before that he was the Linebackers coach for the Browns and Cowboys.
Their first goal is going to be to fix this offense that averaged 18.3 points per game. Poles and Eberflus are inheriting second year quarterback Justin Fields. Fields who the Bears moved up to get in the 2021 draft and included their first round pick this year to get him. Fields played in 12 games last season he had a 58.9 completion percentage , 1,870 yards, seven touchdowns and ten interceptions, while also adding 420 yards and two touchdowns rushing. In the 12 games Fields played he was sacked 36 times, the Bears as a team gave up 58 sacks.
Running Back David Montgomery had 849 yards and seven touchdowns in 13 games played last season. Montgomery also has the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield as last season he had 42 catches for 301 yards. Khalil Herbert added 433 yards and two touchdowns in his rookie season. The 2021 sixth round pick must have shown enough because today the Bears announced the release of veteran running back Tarik Cohen who was coming off a torn ACL in 2020 and didn’t appear in a game in 2021.
The Bears are going to have to replace receiver Allen Robinson who is likely to leave as a free agent. Robinson had a rough 2021 with just 38 catches for 410 yards and a touchdown in 12 games. In four seasons with the Bears Robinson had 293 catches for 3,561 yards and 18 touchdowns. Darnell Mooney led the Bears with 81 catches for 1,055 yards and four touchdowns. Receiver is going to be a position to target for Chicago this offseason.
When you think of the Chicago Bears you think defense. The Bears defense in 2021 gave up 23.9 points per game. The Bears defense was sixth in yards allowed allowing 316.7 yards per game. They were fourth in sacks with 49.0 led by Robert Quinn’s 18.5 which was second in the NFL. The Bears had a -13 turnover differential tied for 29th in the NFL. Their defense forced 16 turnovers. Khalil Mack. The Bears defense was sixth in yards allowed allowing 316.7 yards per game. They were fourth in sacks with 49.0 led by Robert Quinn’s 18.5 which was second in the NFL. The Bears had a -13 turnover differential tied for 29th in the NFL. Their defense forced 16 turnovers. The Bears decided to make a change on their defense, trading star edge rusher Khalil Mack to the Los Angeles Chargers for a 2022 second round pick and a 2023 sixth round pick. Mack had six sacks but was limited to seven games due to getting surgery on his foot. In four seasons in Chicago Mack had 36.0 sacks, 14 forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries. The team announced on Friday they were releasing defensive tackle Eddie Goldman. Goldman, a former second round pick has 174 tackles, 13 sacks and two fumble recoveries in six seasons with Chicago. Defensive tackle Akiem Hicks is also an impending free agent. Hicks in 2021 had 25 tackles, five tackles for loss, three and a half sacks, and nine QB hits. In six seasons in Chicago Hicks had 40.5 sacks. As for guys who will be on the Bears defense in 2022 linebacker Roquan Smith led the team with 163 tackles, three and a half sacks, 12 tackles for loss and an interception. Robert Quinn was second in the NFL with 18.5 sacks.
The Bears entered the offseason with 27 million dollars in cap space. By trading Mack the Bears created 6.15 million dollars, but created 24 million dollars in dead cap. By releasing Eddie Goldman the Bears created another 6.7 million dollars.
Free Agent targets
- Re-sign James Daniels/sign Eric Fisher – The Bears offensive line gave up 58 total sacks in 2021. They need to clean that up, Daniels was very good for them last year and Fisher, a former number one overall pick can replace Jason Peters at left tackle.
- Sign JuJu Smith – Schuster and Emmanuel Sanders : With Allen Robinson likely to depart via free agency the Bears can replace him with two receivers. Smith – Schuster coming off a torn ACL but is still only 25 years old and could be very important to Justin Fields development. Sanders brings a veteran presence to the locker room and is a reliable receiver.
- Sign Quinton Jefferson, Jarran Reed or Larry Ogunjobi : With Akiem Hicks being a free agent and Eddie Goldman being released Chicago has a need in the middle of their defense. All three of these players are coming off of very good years.
- Sign Bryce Callahan and Xavier Rhodes : Callahan is one of the better slot corners in the NFL and a return to Chicago could help the Eberflus led defense. Rhodes played for Eberflus in Indianapolis and could reunite with him in Chicago .
Draft
RD 1 : Traded to Giants for Justin Fields.
RD 2 (PK 39): Arnold Ebiketie – Edge Penn State: Now if one of the Ohio State receivers are here that’s the pick. Ebiketie is a skilled and disciplined pass rusher. He won’ t be Mack but has a lot of upside. Other names to watch : Damone Clark linebacker LSU, Roger Mccreary cornerback: Auburn, Justyn Ross Receiver Clemson
RD 3 (PK 71) : Christian Harris – Linebacker Alabama: When you think Bears you think defense and Hall of Fame linebackers. Names like Butkus, Singletary and Urlacher. Harris is a long, athletic linebacker who is great at stopping the run, not really a pass rusher. Other names to watch: Tyler Smith Offensive Tackle Tulsa.
The Sports Insanity Network 