The Chicago Bears have two games left in 2019. They remain focused on trying to finish strong and carrying some good feelings into the offseason. One that will certainly involve plenty on the to-do list. It includes finding help at tight end. Reshuffling the offensive line. Getting a true pass rusher opposite Khalil Mack and figuring out who to pay between Danny Trevathan and Nick Kwiatkoski. GM Ryan Pace will certainly be busy.
It won’t be easy either. In terms of resources, the Bears will be on a tight budget. They’re projected to have somewhere between $13-14 million in salary cap space barring any cuts or trades of notable contracts. That’s not a lot of room to work with given they have no fewer than 21 pending free agents to juggle going into next spring. Even more interesting will be the draft where the Bears have no picks in the 1st or 3rd rounds.
Their focus will be on two selections in the 2nd round, their own and the one they got courtesy of the Khalil Mack trade last year. So where do they sit on that front? With two games remaining and both the Bears and Raiders losing on Sunday, they hold the 46th and 49th spots in the draft next April. This puts both within the top 20 selections of that round. Based on the past 10 years, each has proven its worth of finding quality talent.
#46 pick
- Connor Barwin
- Linval Joseph
- Stephon Tuitt
- Mychal Kendricks
#49 pick
- Max Unger
- Mitch Morse
- Jarran Reed
- Dallas Goedert
Chicago Bears likely will have a chance to get help
While obviously having a 1st round pick is always helpful, the fact is the Bears aren’t in the worst position going into this draft. Both of those picks have considerable value and should be able to land them a quality pair of players. Presuming of course that Pace decides to stay in each of those spots. There is also the fact that he has a fairly strong track record regarding 2nd round picks. Eddie Goldman, Cody Whitehair, and Anthony Miller being considerable bright spots on the roster. James Daniels is also a solid addition.
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So this offers hope that the Bears should at least be able to acquire solid, starting-caliber football players for their team next year. Guys who might be able to contribute right away, which would be ideal. It comes down to, as Pace always likes to say, how the board falls. There is no telling which players they may or may not target because it’s impossible to predict who will be available.
