The Chicago Bears defense has long had to suffer for the deficiencies of the offense. Now after GM Ryan Pace became the latest in a long line of successors to flub the quarterback position, a really good unit must endure the consequences of his mistakes. Word out of Halas Hall is Kyle Fuller will be released shortly unless the team can find a trade partner. Akiem Hicks was also granted permission to seek a trade as well.
This is a gut punch to the defense. Fuller and Hicks are two of their best. Arguably #2 and #3 behind Khalil Mack. Losing both of them in the same offseason is not something that will be easy to recover from. If the team is under pressure to win in 2021, how in the world can the defense be expected to do the heavy lifting again without them? That is why several inside the locker room are not happy according to Chris Emma of 670 The score.
Upon learning of Fuller’s impending exit and the possibility that Hicks could be out too, the Bears had several key players who were “pissed,” as one source close to the team described.
This is to be expected.
Eddie Jackson was among the most vocal about it on Twitter after the news emerged. Saying the words “At this point” with a face-palm emoji. There was no subtlety in that statement. He later deleted the tweet but was evidence enough he wasn’t thrilled.
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A huge part of the frustration not just from the defense but fans in general is this. What exactly is Pace trying to do? Does he even have a plan? At this point it looks like the Bears are just jettisoning talent because they need cap space. The GM and head coach Matt Nagy both said they needed to have a plan attacking this offseason. So what is it? Nobody knows yet. All they can see is a semi-good roster being dismantled because Pace went for it all while Mitch Trubisky was still on his rookie deal.
Now he’s paying the price for that hubris.
Chicago Bears defense will have to adjust
Losing Hicks and Fuller is going to hurt. That is inevitable. Yet it’s not like this unit will suddenly be devoid of talent. They still have Mack. Eddie Goldman is returning. Roquan Smith played like a Pro Bowler in 2020. Jaylon Johnson emerged as one of the best rookie corners in the NFL. Jackson is one of the highest-paid safeties in the league and should be better next season. They have enough bodies to remain effective, if not dominant.
Meanwhile, it at least appears like Pace is trying to balance the roster out by investing more in the offense. Word is the Bears were aggressive in pursuit of Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams before he landed a monster contract from San Francisco. They also recently met with former Lions wide receiver Kenny Golladay. It looks like for the first time they are trying to shift their identity more towards that of their head coach. One about scoring points.
Sadly that can’t come without sacrifices.
Fuller and Hicks were great in 2018. They aren’t those players anymore. Fuller is 29 this year and Hicks will be 32. They should still be solid players elsewhere, but for how much longer? The Chicago Bears defense already showed last season they aren’t what they were before. Pace decided it was as good of a time as any to break things up and reshuffle the deck. It sucks, to be sure. Yet it was also inevitable.