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Chicago Bears 2021 Mock Offseason: Blowing It All Up

Erik Lambert
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Chicago Bears 2021 Mock Offseason: Blowing It All Up

The last Chicago Bears 2021 mock offseason had a simple premise. What happens if the team keeps the status quo? That means Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy stay put. They make a few necessary moves to gain some cap flexibility and execute a sort of soft reboot of the roster in hopes of staying competitive down the line.

This Chicago Bears 2021 mock offseason will go in the opposite direction. What happens if the organization decides to go for a fresh start under a new regime? Remember this is the second-oldest roster in the NFL. It’s not like time is on their side. Wiping the slate clean does make some sense if the Bears feel they’re not as close to a Super Bowl as hoped.

So let’s explore what could happen if they choose that direction. Just a fair warning? Some of these moves will be a wee bit depressing. Viewer discretion is advised.

Chicago Bears 2021 mock offseason peeks at blowing it up

Front office and Coaching staff changes:

Ryan Pace fired and replaced with Vikings assistant GM George Paton

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The reality is Pace did some good things in Chicago. Most notably the construction of that great Bears defense. Sadly, like previous GMs, he failed to capitalize on because he couldn’t get the offense figured out. Mitch Trubisky and Nick Foles are flops at quarterback. His head coach of choice hasn’t turned out to be the offensive guru many hoped. At some point, the misfires outweighed the hits.

George Paton checks all the boxes of a guy the Bears should like. He’s been assistant GM since 2012 for a consistently good team in Minnesota. He works under Rick Spielman, one of the best in the business. Best of all he was a scout and personnel director in Chicago prior to leaving in 2001. Among his highlighted acquisitions include Adrian Peterson, Jared Allen, Harrison Smith, Danielle Hunter, Stefon Diggs, and Dalvin Cook.

Matt Nagy fired and replaced with Panthers OC Joe Brady

Brady is in the middle of a meteoric rise. He was an offensive assistant for the New Orleans Saints back in 2018. A year later he was the offensive coordinator at LSU where they broke all sorts of records on the way to a national championship. Now he’s running the offense in Carolina where despite replacing almost the entire offensive roster, they still rank 15th in total offense through nine games.

The man clearly has a knack for orchestrating effective offense. He’s just 31-years old too. To have this much success this quickly? That is typically a sign he is going to be a pretty good head coach. Chicago has never gone with somebody that young as head coach. Maybe it’s time they broke with tradition.

Cuts:

  • TE Jimmy Graham – $7 million
  • LT Charles Leno – $6.2 million
  • RT Bobby Massie – $5.4 million
  • CB Buster Skrine – $2.8 million

If the Bears are going to do this thing right, they have to cut loose ALL of the dead weight. That means guys who are paid a lot of money and are older. All four of these names fit the bill. They’re into their 30s and have seen their play decline steadily over the past few years. They won’t have any part in the Bears’ long-term future.

Salary cap: $23.866 million

Trades:

Khalil Mack and a 3rd rounder to Miami for a 1st round pick

Mack should retire in Chicago but his value is still high enough to help jumpstart the Bears’ rebuild. He’s on course for another double-digit sack season and isn’t too old yet. Great pass rushers like this always have value on the market. The Dolphins are a team on the rise. They have their quarterback and a young, promising defense. Mack could be one of the key pieces to get it to the next level. They also have an extra 1st round pick to spare.

Allen Robinson to the Giants for a 2nd round pick

Odds of signing an extension with Robinson have dwindled with each passing week. It’s clear now he likely wants out. The Bears would be wise not to let that happen without getting something in return. A scenario using the franchise tag to retain his rights and then trading him is the most likely here. New York is desperately in need of more weapons for Daniel Jones. Pairing Darius Slayton with Robinson would certainly help.

Kyle Fuller and a 6th rounder to Seattle for a 2nd round pick

The Seahawks pass defense continues to be a huge weakness for them as was proven on Sunday against Buffalo. Part of the problem is they still haven’t found quality starters at cornerback since Richard Sherman left. Fuller is an absolutely perfect fit for the type of system they like to run. He’s playing his best football.

Akiem Hicks to Denver for a 4th round pick

The heart and soul of the Bears defense. Losing him might actually be the most painful. Still, he’ll be 31-years old in November. His value will continue descending from here. They’ll need that pick and the $10.5 million in cap relief. Vic Fangio is hard at work rebuilding the Broncos defense in Denver. Adding Hicks to the mix in between Von Miller and Bradley Chubb would certainly be fun to watch.

Anthony Miller to New England for a 6th round pick

The flashes of brilliance have always been there for Miller, but he just can’t seem to get over his inconsistencies. Now he’s been surpassed by a 5th round rookie in production this year. Maybe it’s time for a fresh start. New England loves sharp route running receivers like him. It wouldn’t be a shock to see them reload a depleted offense with this low-risk-high-reward move.

Salary cap: $51.822 million

Re-signings:

Mario Edwards Jr. – 2-year deal, $6.4 million

Losing Hicks is going to be a major blow to the Bears defensive line. Make no mistake of that. So retaining a guy like Edwards is important to at least maintain some of their depth. He’s been such a pleasant surprise this season deserving of a pay raise.

Roy Robertson-Harris – 3-year deal, $12 million

It looked like his tenure was set to end in Chicago after this season. However, the exit of Hicks would allow the Bears to retain him. He won’t command a huge price. Especially after landing on IR with a shoulder injury. Keeping him around isn’t a bad plan.

Brent Urban – 1-year deal, $1 million

The tough and dependable veteran has been one of those glue guys in the rotation who always seems to make one or two nice plays per game. Those types of players are worth keeping around for their energy but also their cheaper price.

Barkevious Mingo – 1-year deal, $1.2 million

Another of those unexpected surprises signed for cheap back in March who has overachieved. Mingo isn’t great at anything but he’s serviceable at almost everything from rushing the passer to playing the run and also special teams.

DeAndre Houston-Carson – 1-year deal, $990,000

Perhaps he’s done enough to earn a greater opportunity elsewhere. If not, Houston-Carson is an easy choice to keep in Chicago. He’s not only a regular on special teams but proved he could hold his own on defense whenever called upon.

Pat O’Donnell – 2-year deal, $4 million

The turbulence of the 2020 season has made it easy to miss how good of a year O’Donnell is having. His 46.9 yards per punt is just .1 yards off his career-best season. He is clearly kicking with confidence and remains a reliable part of the third phase.

Cairo Santos – 3-year deal, $12 million

The kid was an afterthought when the Bears first signed him. A mere holdover until Eddy Pineiro got healthy. Then a funny thing happened. Santos started hitting kicks. A lot of kicks. In fact, he’s hit his last 20 in-a-row at the time of this writing. That job belongs to him now.

Patrick Scales – 1-year deal, $990,000

Another fixture who has continued to outlast expectations on special teams. Nobody thought Patrick Mannelly could be replaced when he retired. Yet Scales has stood the test of time. Nothing has changed to indicate he won’t be back again in 2021.

Salary cap: $34.442 million

Free agency:

OT Cam Robinson – 4-year deal, $40 million ($5 million 2021 cap hit)

Having jettisoned both of their starting tackles, it was likely the Bears would have to find help in free agency to bolster the position. Robinson is just the sort of guy they could want. He’s only 25-years old with plenty of room to still grow. While not the most athletic pass protector, he gets the job done most of the time. His true value lay in his run blocking. The guy has length and power along with a nasty streak. Exactly what this front is missing.

WR Chris Godwin – 4-year deal, $70 million ($8 million 2021 cap hit)

If the Bears are going to lose Allen Robinson, they need a plan to find his replacement. One name that has to top their list is Chris Godwin. His 2020 season has been frustrating due to injuries, but when healthy this guy is a #1 receiver. He’s got size, strong hands, runs good routes, and has deceptive speed. Pair him with Darnell Mooney and the next QB should have some fun.

EDGE Carl Lawson – 3-year deal, $9 million

Supplementing the pass rush in some way with Mack exiting is a key decision. Lawson really looked ready to explode after his rookie year when he had 8.5 sacks. Yet the overall decline of the Bengals defense and a shift in the coaching staff has led to his misuse. If a team just lets him hunt the quarterback, he can be quite effective.

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick – 1-year deal, $4 million

Here’s the thing about Fitzpatrick. He’ll never be a long-term starter. However, if you’re a rebuilding team in need of a jolt under center? This is the guy you want to get. He’s a leader and finds ways to make plays even when he isn’t surrounded by the best talent.

CB Ross Cockrell – 1-year deal, $990,000

Having Jaylon Johnson in place will help the defense move forward without Fuller. They won’t be able to replace him immediately. What they can do is add some experience to the mix. Cockrell is a decent cornerback who has done well whenever given starter opportunities. He should make a fine #2 across from Johnson.

Salary cap: $13.452 million

The Draft:

1st Round – Wyatt Davis, OG, Ohio State

One thing the Bears have really missed in recent years is a tone-setter up front. Somebody who kicks butts and takes names. Kyle Long was that guy for a period of time before injuries struck. Since then they’ve been overpowered way too often. That would change with Davis in the fold. This guy is a powerhouse and he knows it. He loves to bully defenders and is good at it. He’s athletic enough to pass protect and blows open running lanes. A Day 1 starter.

1st Round (via MIA) – Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota

The Bears desperately need fresh blood on their offensive line. It’ll have been a decade since they last took a tackle in the 1st round. That was Gabe Carimi in 2011. Faalele doesn’t come with the same polish he did, but my word is this guy a tantalizing talent. His mixture of 6’8 size and standout athleticism has all the hallmarks of a franchise left tackle. The problem is he’s a bit raw due to a late transition from rugby and suffers from inconsistent fundamentals. Brady should get that cleaned up pretty fast.

2nd Round (via NYG) – Kyle Trask, QB, Florida

The Bears have to come out of this draft with a quarterback. Being able to secure Trask in the 2nd round should be considered a worthwhile venture. The Florida product is in the middle of a tremendous year with 22 TDs and just five interceptions in five games. He’s got size and is probably the most pro-ready QB outside of Trevor Lawrence. The guy throws with conviction and accuracy. His arm strength is just okay but he makes the most of it. A solid prospect.

2nd Round – Patrick Jones II, EDGE, Pitt

Replacing Mack is almost impossible. Still, the Bears have to do what they can to bolster their pass rush. Jones II is the kind of prospect teams quickly fall in love with. He has size, athleticism, and most importantly a motor that never stops running. His production at Pitt has remained consistently trending upward. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he’s producing 8-10 sacks every year in the near future.

2nd Round (via SEA) – Christian Barmore, DE, Alabama

Hicks is the other guy that will be so difficult to replace. One school that tends to produce quality big defensive linemen is Alabama. It’s kind of their thing. Barmore is no exception. He’s a big dude at 6’5, 310 lbs with room to grow. His power base is impressive and there’s enough quickness in his game that will make him a dangerous interior pass rusher if he can harness the technique subtleties.

4th Round (via DEN) – Tylan Wallace, WR, Oklahoma State

Two of the vital keys to success in the NFL for receivers is sharp route running and good hands. Wallace has both. He’s not too small and is deceptively strong as well. Something that shows up a lot after the catch. The Bears will also love him for his willingness to run block.

5th Round – Master Teague, RB, Ohio State

David Montgomery is a solid running back. However, it’s becoming apparent he’s more at the mercy of his blocking that a featured guy should be. The Bears need more explosiveness in the backfield. Teague is that sort of dynamic athlete who pairs it with an angry running style.

6th Round (via NE) – D’Eriq King, QB, Miami

King is undoubtedly one of the most exciting quarterbacks in college football. A freak athlete with all-world speed and uncanny improvisational skills. So why does he go this late? Two reasons. He’s only 5’10 and his arm isn’t exactly world class. He can’t really throw the deep ball well and his overall polish as a passer is limited. Still, he’s worth a look.

7th Round (via MIA) – Reed Blankenship, S, Middle Tennessee

If this guy played at a bigger program, he’d probably go in the top 100. Blankenship has good range and standout instincts for a safety. He is always around the football. He’ll fire downhill in the run game but can also make noise in coverage. Can he stay healthy? This is a question teams will have.

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