As the 2020 season unfolded, fans held on to a great fear. Was the Chicago Bears defense wasting away before their eyes as yet another putrid offense failed to support them? Sadly it appears the answer is yes. After maintain a solid degree of play for most of this season, it seems the bottom has finally fallen out. A defense that was once the aggressor and seemed impossible to penetrate has become a pushover almost overnight.
It looks old and slow. After giving up 34 points to the Packers in Green Bay last week, they found a way to outdo themselves by giving up 34 points at home to Detroit. What made this one so much worse was the circumstances. The Lions were without their best offensive weapon in Kenny Golladay as well as promising young running back D’Andre Swift. Yet that didn’t stop Matthew Stafford from hanging over 400 yards and three touchdowns on them. That included a 96-yard drive late in the 4th quarter.
What made it so painful was how ineffective their stars looked.
Akiem Hicks, Khalil Mack, and Robert Quinn all failed to register a sack. Kyle Fuller and Eddie Jackson failed to record an interception. Danny Trevathan again looked like a liability in coverage. The Bears secondary hasn’t had an interception since Week 6. Defensively they have just eight sacks during their six-game losing streak. Keep in mind five of those guys make $10 million or more per year.
It’s becoming apparent that most of them aren’t worth that money anymore. They can blame the bad offense and iffy coaching all they want. The reality is those men are paid a lot of cash to produce. They haven’t done so. There are no excuses for that. It might be time to start shedding as much salary as possible in order to find those who can.
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Chicago Bears defense could look a lot different in 2021
Right now there are three defenders who stand out as obvious potential cap casualties. Kyle Fuller and Akiem Hicks would combine for $21.5 million in cap space if they are traded or cut this coming offseason. Given one is into his 30s now and the other is knocking on the door? It might be best to get whatever the Bears can for them now. In addition, one should expect Buster Skrine to get the boot as well, adding another $5 million.
After that, it becomes trickier. Mack isn’t somebody who can be cut though he could be traded for $5.246 million in space, though it would come with $21.4 million in dead money. The Bears could do a post-June 1st cut with Trevathan for $500,000 in space and a $4.525 million dead money hit. Quinn? They’re basically stuck with him. Nobody will trade for that contract at this point. Not unless the team sweetens the deal by including a draft pick.
It comes down to how big of a reset the next regime wants.
This defense does have some younger pieces they can build around moving forward. Jackson is 26, Eddie Goldman is 26, Roquan Smith is 23, and Jaylon Johnson is 21. A lot to work with. However, the best thing to do is probably get started on that overhaul sooner rather than later. It might be the only way to prevent a true pitfall the last great Chicago Bears defense had to endure.