The Chicago Bears biggest 2019 issues likely aren’t on the minds of most fans right now. That’s perfectly understandable. The team, for the first time in almost a decade is in the thick of the playoff race. They lead the NFC North with five to play and a chance claim the division crown by the end of the December.
Nobody thought this was a possibility when the season began. It’s a testament to the work done by GM Ryan Pace from his hiring of the new head coach to the massive overhaul of the roster that took place from March to September. One would think he’d been taking a break and enjoying the fruits of his labor.
Except there’s rarely any time for a GM to sit back and enjoy these days. The best ones are always thinking ahead to the next year or even a couple years beyond that. With plenty of time to rest before the next game, maybe it’s a good time to look at what the landscape shows for 2019. While there aren’t nearly as many issues to sort out as this year, the Bears will have plenty of tough decisions to make.
Chicago Bears contracts of Bryce Callahan and Adrian Amos
Most of the biggest names on the Bears defense are secured for the long-term. Akiem Hicks, Khalil Mack, and Kyle Fuller have all been locked up to extensions. The same is true for Eddie Goldman. Still, one would hope the team tries to keep what they have going for as long as possible. That means trying to secure every player possible. Not an easy task in this NFL era of free agency and salary cap.
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The two names they’ll be focusing on are cornerback Bryce Callahan and safety Adrian Amos. Chicago is projected to have just over $20 million in cap space next year. That may sound like a lot but it’s not. They have to set some of that aside for the inevitable Mitch Trubisky extension down the road. So it will take some serious negotiating by Pace to keep both of them.
Callahan has had a tremendous year with 42 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, and six passes defended. His presence at nickel corner is a huge part of the defense’s success. Amos remains one of their best run defenders with the secondary with 49 tackles, a sack, and a career-high two interceptions. Don’t be surprised if the Bears are forced to choose between them.
Vic Fangio’s candidacy for head coaching jobs
Losing either Callahan or Amos would be tough. Losing defensive coordinator Vic Fangio would be a minor disaster. He’s been the architect of this defense dating back to 2015. His ability to teach, develop, and craft game plans are second to none in the NFL. Chicago ranked in the top 10 last season and now they are ranked in the top 5.
It would appear other teams have taken notice. In a year where offenses are rampaging around the league, a quality defensive mind is a precious resource. The buzz is growing that finally, after so many years, Fangio is garnering real interest for head coaching positions at both the college and pro levels.
From @peter_king in Football Morning in America: “…when we hear the candidates for the 2019 class of the new head coaches, the only defensive coach I hear consistently is Vic Fangio.” https://t.co/p5wu2qjxNi
— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) November 26, 2018
It could prove difficult for him. He turns 61 next year and teams generally prefer younger coaches these days. Still, it only takes one team to make it happen. If Fangio does leave, replacing him is going to be by far the biggest challenge of the offseason.
The future of Jordan Howard in Chicago
Running the ball has been a challenge for the Bears this season, which is somewhat baffling. Jordan Howard ran for 1,000 yards in each of the past two seasons coming into 2018. For him to be struggling like he has is unusual. There are serious concerns that he’s just not meshing with Matt Nagy’s new system.
Some hold out hope it’s an issue up front with the blocking, which is true to an extent. However, it’s clear Howard is not the type of running back who can hit big plays without being fed consistently. That’s never been his game. Maybe they still find out how to use him but given Nagy’s desire to be a throwing offense, that seems doubtful.
Howard could be a prime trade piece next spring with him entering the last year of his rookie deal.
Shuffling the offensive line
All things considered, the Bears offensive line has performed well this year. They’ve allowed just 23 sacks on the season despite being a rather pass-happy offense most of the year. Bears quarterbacks have thrown for 22 touchdowns and 2,576 yards in 11 games. That said there are some notable concerns that will confront them next year.
First is the contract status of Bobby Massie. The big right tackle will be a free agent in 2019 and the team has to decide if they want to keep him. He’s allowed just one sack this year and his having the best season of his career. He’ll be 30-years old next year though so it will be a tough call.
An injured Kyle Long out on the field pregame pic.twitter.com/mvETLeznu3
— Brian Cassella (@briancassella) November 19, 2018
The other issue is Kyle Long. A fixture on the offensive line for the past five years, his body has taken a grievous pounding of late. Twice now he’s suffered season-ending injuries to his lower extremities. He’s in his 30s on top of that. At some point, the Bears have to determine if his contract is worth the price anymore.
Depending on what happens, the entire right side of the Bears offensive line could be different by next September.
