The Chicago Bears have a sense of urgency this offseason. Coaches are focused on preparing for anything and everything. Players arrived at training camp in shape. All of them focused on the task at hand. This is a team that is frustrated by what happened in 2019. They knew they squandered a golden opportunity to make a run at a Super Bowl. So they intend to not make the same mistakes again.

There may be another thing pushing them forward though. That being a sense that their window is already closing. The Bears have a talented roster. There is no doubt of that. Defensively they are stacked with All-Pro talents at every level. Allen Robinson and Cody Whitehair represent solid options on offense while David Montgomery, James Daniels, and Anthony Miller flashed plenty of potential.

Yet none of this seems to matter because they still can’t get the quarterback position right. This combined with the disastrous proposition of no college football in 2020? Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report fears this could end up forcing the team into another rebuilding phase.

“The Bears sit on the precipice of starting all over again. The lack of clarity at the quarterback position could very well waste years even though the team features a talented roster overall. If Mitchell Trubisky fails, quarterback must become a priority again since Nick Foles isn’t the long-term answer.

A quarterback is a massive investment that requires all levels of an organization to sign off on the decision. It’s even more difficult when a team isn’t in a position to select one of the elite prospects. In this case, the Bears probably won’t have an opportunity to choose Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence or Ohio State’s Justin Fields. Without seeing more of North Dakota State’s Trey Lance, Georgia’s Jamie Newman, Iowa State’s Brock Purdy, etc., the Bears will have a difficult time finding their guy.”

Chicago Bears aren’t panicking but know this year matters a lot

Age is becoming a factor, like it or not. Danny Trevathan and Akiem Hicks are already in their 30s. Khalil Mack and Kyle Fuller will join them not too long from now. This core is probably looking at its last year where they can perform at their absolute peak together. This is why people are staring nervously at the offense. If they can’t elevate to a point of respectability, the prime of another great defense will have been wasted.

All hopes hinge on Mitch Trubisky or Nick Foles. If one of them can show they can be the guy, the Bears will be able to avoid the QB question in 2021. GM Ryan Pace can use that riskier draft to focus on less pressing positions of need. Otherwise, the cycle of mediocrity will continue.