The latest Chicago Bears 2021 mock offseason must adhere to the changing winds. Out of nowhere, the team has rallied. A six-game losing streak seemed to spell the end for the entire Bears power structure. Yet to their credit, head coach Matt Nagy and GM Ryan Pace haven’t shown any signs of panic. They kept working towards getting things fixed and are seeing results. The Bears have won back-to-back games the past two weeks including a huge one over Minnesota.

Now they have a great chance to make it three in a row against the 1-13 Jacksonville Jaguars. That would mark the first time in franchise history the Bears have had a losing streak of six games or more immediately followed by a winning streak beyond two games. People can talk about bad competition all they want. It’s hard to win in the NFL. Never more so than when you’ve been losing for almost two months.

So what happens if they complete the turnaround? That means winning out, finishing 9-7, and possibly making the playoffs? One has to believe Nagy and Pace will be back. Maybe even quarterback Mitch Trubisky as well given his recent run of success. How would the Bears offseason unfold in such circumstances?

Chicago Bears 2021 mock offseason runs it back

Salary cap discussion:

Every mock to this point has gone with the projection of the cap in 2021 dropping to the projected $176 million due to the COVID-19 impact. However, insider Mike Florio reported a few weeks ago that new TV money and the arrival of vaccines might encourage the NFL to only lower the cap slightly with the belief revenue will return to normal next season. Perhaps no further than down to $195 million. If that proves true, then it would be a gigantic help to the Bears.

Salary cap: $21.563 million

Cuts:

• Jimmy Graham – $7 million saved
• Bobby Massie (post-June 1st) – $8 million
• Buster Skrine (post-June 1st) – $5 million

People kill the Graham signing but the fact is the veteran tight end worked out fairly well with six TD catches. Still, the emergence of Cole Kmet makes him expendable. Massie is getting older and injury-prone. As for Skrine, his age and the ascent of Duke Shelley and Kindle Vildor make it so the Bears can afford to say goodbye to his hefty pricetag.

Salary cap: $41.563 million

Trades:

Kyle Fuller and a 5th round pick in 2022 to the Raiders for a 2nd round pick

The Bears would still trade Fuller despite the unexpected salary cap bonus? If they’re smart, they should. Nothing about the decision is easy but if the Bears want the flexibility they’ll need, it’s a sacrifice they have to make. Las Vegas needs stability at cornerback in the worst way. They love tough, hard-nosed guys like Fuller and have never been shy about grabbing veterans. It’s a deal that should work well for both sides.

Salary cap: $52.563 million

Re-signings/Extensions:

Allen Robinson – 4-year deal for $80.2 million (2021 cap hit of $8 million)

Facts are facts. Odds are the Bears won’t be able to keep Robinson at his original asking price of around $18 million per year. It will be more. So they decide to make him a top 5 receiver at just over $20 million per. It’s expensive but he’s proven to be well worth it for what he means to the offense. In truth, this might be the only way to convince him to stay.

Mitch Trubisky – 1-year deal for $21 million fully guaranteed

If the salary cap ends up staying high, so will the franchise tag. The Bears have to avoid that scenario with Trubisky if possible. One way to do that? Offer him a nice one-year deal that is fully guaranteed. The $21 million is what Teddy Bridgewater is making, so it’s starter money and the team is protected from any long-term fallout if Trubisky’s late run proves to be a mirage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyBGCB4uFnw&t=16s&ab_channel=ChicagoBears

Akiem Hicks – 2-year extension for $20 million (2021 cap hit of $5 million)

Trading Fuller and extending Hicks might seem counterintuitive to some. In reality, Fuller had more value at this point of his career. Hicks wouldn’t have fetched much and is more valuable to the Bears on the roster. He’s still a fierce presence on the field and a locker room leader in every sense. This extension affords him some security and the Bears some extra wiggle room.

Eddie Jackson – Contract restructure – $4 million in cap space gained

Despite his somewhat quiet 2020, Jackson remains a key fixture of the Bears defense and should have better seasons in the future. Restructuring his contract feels like an obvious thing to do. Every bit of cap space the team can get helps with trying to improve their roster enough to make a run at a championship.

Cairo Santos – 3-year deal for $12.9 million (2021 cap hit of $3 million)

What this guy has done is nothing short of remarkable. Going from emergency signing for an injured Eddy Pineiro to one of the most accurate kickers in the entire league. Santos is 25-of-27 this year with 22-straight field goals hit and counting. It sure looks like the Bears may have finally found their guy after some agonizing years of searching.

• Mario Edwards Jr. – 1-year deal for $2 million
• Tashaun Gipson – 1-year deal for $1.075 million
• Pat O’Donnell – 2-year deal for $3.5 million
• Brent Urban – 1-year deal for $1.2 million
• Daniel McCullers – 1-year deal for $990,000
• DeAndre Houston-Carson – 1-year deal for $990,000
• Patrick Scales – 1-year deal for $990,000
• Alex Bars – ERFA tender for $850,000
• Josh Woods – ERFA tender for $850,000
• James Vaughters – ERFA tender for $780,000
• J.P. Holtz – ERFA tender for $850,000

Edwards Jr. was such a nice find for the Bears as a rotational interior pass rusher. Keeping him should be atop the priority list if the price is right. The same goes for Gipson and Urban. O’Donnel and Scale should stay put to maintain continuity on special teams. Bars is morphing into a potential starting guard and should be kept as well.

Salary cap: $17.738 million

Free agency:

Gareon Conley – 1-year deal for $2 million

The former 1st round pick just hasn’t been able to flip the switch yet in the NFL. He came in with a ton of promise out of Ohio State. Yet the ongoing problems with the Las Vegas defense failed to develop him. Since leaving for Houston he appears to have started playing somewhat better. The Bears are wise to pounce on the 25-year old now. There is a chance this coaching staff, loaded with DB experts, could help him blossom.

Jeremiah Attaochu – 1-year deal for $2 million

Trevis Gipson should see more snaps moving forward. He is showing signs of development as a rotational outside linebacker like the Bears hoped. That said, they still need depth. Attaochu has spent time under Vic Fangio in Denver and become a quality reserve with four sacks this season. He has always had pass rush skills but never got the right opportunity.

The Draft:

1st Round – Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan

It’s long overdue for the Bears to start investing in their offensive line. Especially at tackle. Their last 1st round pick at that critical position was Gabe Carimi in 2011. Mayfield has the look and style of a Bears blocker. He’s big, powerful, and physical. A force in the running game. Don’t be fooled. He has enough athleticism and length to hold his own in pass protection as well. A plug-and-play starter at right tackle who could bookend a line for a decade.

Inside Hand Torque by RT Jalen Mayfield

Nice work @4Warinner 💯 #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/CjBIIfthOb

— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) October 30, 2020

2nd Round – Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida

It might be a little premature to call Toney a true wide receiver but there is no mistaking the facts. This guy is a weapon. He’s got size, quickness, speed, and deceptive strength. All of which are on display after the catch. Get the ball in his hands and watch him go to work. If he eventually masters route running on the professional level? This guy is going to give defenses a lot of headaches.

2nd Round (via LAV) – Asante Samuel Jr., CB, Florida State

Sometimes football just runs in the family. Asante Samuel was a four-time Pro Bowler in the NFL. Now his son is looking like a future stud out of Florida State as well. In just eight games this season he’s grabbed three interceptions and forced a fumble. His coverage ability and ball skills more than make up for his average 5’10 size. He’s been raised by a guy who stood among the best of his era. The kid is ready.

3rd Round – Christian Barmore, DE, Alabama

With Roy Robertson-Harris departing in free agency and Hicks getting older, the Bears must be smart about continuing to load up their defensive line. Alabama is a factory for that position and Barmore fits the exact profile Chicago looks for. Massive, long, powerful, and nearly impossible to move off his spot without double teams. He also has loads of upside as an interior pass rusher.

5th Round – Feleipe Franks, QB, Arkansas

Even if they don’t take one early, this Bears 2021 mock offseason reflect the necessity that they still draft one. Something they haven’t done in almost four years. Feleipe Franks is the perfect developmental prospect. A big guy at 6’6 with a live arm and solid accuracy. He’s had a decent year at Arkansas with 17 TDs and 4 INTs. He still needs work but there is loads of untapped potential.

6th Round – Cole Van Lanen, OT, Wisconsin

Wisconsin has always been a school known for producing solid offensive linemen. Van Lanen appears to be the best they’ll produce in 2021. Nobody would call him an elite prospect but the kid is big and strong as a run blocker, showing he can open lanes for his back. Nobody would call him a premier athlete but his pass protection is functional.

7th Round – Reed Blankenship, S, Middle Tennessee

In terms of size and athleticism, Blakenship has the goods. He tends to be around the football a lot and demonstrates the sort of instincts and intelligence needed for NFL safeties. The questions around him are can he handle better competition and can he stay healthy? This is why he goes late in the draft.