Nobody thought the Chicago Bears would be in this position. After a dispiriting loss to the Packers coming out of the bye week, their fifth in a row, everyone was convinced that was it done. The 2020 season was over. The remaining games were nothing but a death march that would inevitably end with the franchise cleaning house in January. Ryan Pace? Gone. Matt Nagy? Gone. Mitch Trubisky? Gone.
Then a funny thing happened. First, the offense started to click, hanging 30 points on the Detroit Lions. Then they coupled that with winning. In addition to knocking off the Texans and Vikings, they scored 36 and 33 points respectively. Nagy has the team playing inspired football. Trubisky has thrown for 8 TDs to just three interceptions. To top it off several recent Pace draft picks have begun to emerge.
This has led to serious speculation. Could Bears ownership decide to run it back another year? That would mean bringing all three back for 2021 to see once and for all if the formula finally works. There are plenty of people who have opinions on this. Rather than wade into that quagmire, let’s explore what the Bears will likely do this offseason if that ends up being the case.
Chicago Bears to-do list if they run it back in 2021
#1 – One-year extension for Ryan Pace
If Pace is to stay put, the Bears have to make sure he isn’t going into a lame duck situation. It will be hard enough to sign free agents as things are. How much harder will it be if players and agents know the GM is in the last year of his contract. Money matters but so does stability. The smart thing for Chicago to do would be extending Pace a year to line his contract up with Nagy’s. This maintains stability and allows the GM to do his job.
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#2 – Fire Chuck Pagano
Something is off with the Bears defense. While they aren’t “bad” by NFL standards, this group isn’t playing anywhere close to their customary level this season. Khalil Mack is the only one with more than five sacks. Eddie Jackson has now gone 14 games without an interception. The unit as a whole has now surrendered at least 27 points in a game for the third time in four weeks.
They just aren’t executing well. It is concerning. Especially given how much money has been sunk into that side of the ball. A lot of people point the finger of blame at defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano. Too often it appears like his defense plays soft in coverage and their energy and execution have run hot and cold all year. While a great person, it’s time to wonder if the Bears need a new voice in that meeting room.
#3 – Franchise tag Mitch Trubisky
One thing the Chicago Bears absolutely should not do is make the same mistake Jacksonville did back in 2018. Following a trip to the AFC championship game, they handed quarterback Blake Bortles a new three-year contract worth $54 million. A mistake they instantly regretted as he didn’t even last beyond the first year of that deal before being cut in 2019.
If Trubisky does finish 2020 strong, the smart thing for Chicago to do is see if he can do it again. That means putting him under the franchise tag. Current estimates put the number at $23.5 million. So Trubisky gets a solid payday but the Bears are protected from any long-term repercussions if it all turns out to be a mirage. Then they can go hunting for their next QB in 2022.
#4 – (Try to) Extend Allen Robinson
The Bears have tried to do this for almost a year now without any success. Rest assured that they remove their last trump card if they end up tagging Trubisky. This would free up Robinson to leave in free agency without any way for the team to keep him. That is unless they can somehow finally reach an agreement on a contract extension.
It would be challenging due to the tag number for Trubisky. The Bears would really have to do some heavy rearranging over their salary cap. Perhaps even making some tough sacrifices on defense. Even then it might prove difficult to convince him to stay. Robinson has said he loves Chicago but would he want to chain himself to this team for another 4-5 years after what has happened? It may cost a lot to make happen.
#5 – Draft offensive tackle and wide receiver help
If Trubisky is the guy for one more year, the smart thing for the Bears would be to do everything in their power to make it work. That means reinforcing the offense with more talent. One area that has long required attention is offensive tackle. Charles Leno Jr. remains average at best while Bobby Massie suffered a season-ending injury. They need fresh blood at that position to help complement their fortified interior.
Wide receiver will also require attention. Especially if Robinson ends up leaving. He is Trubisky’s favorite target. The Chicago Bears have nobody on the roster capable of replacing him. Either way, drafting another weapon in the passing game is not a bad thing. The more options a guy like Trubisky has, the better he’ll be. This 2021 class should feature plenty of strong choices.
