*Leading up to the free agency period and the NFL draft, we’ll take a look at the Green Bay Packers NFC North rival’s needs and where we don’t want to see them go in free agency and the draft.

Heading into the 2018 season, the Chicago Bears appear to be in a full rebuilding mode.  Coming off of a 5-11 season, mostly led by rookie quarterback Mitch Trubisky, the Bears find themselves moving into the 2018 season with the eighth overall pick in the upcoming draft.  On top of that, they’ll enter the season with a new head coach in Matt Nagy and a roster that is already starting to turn around with the option declined on Josh Sitton and the waiving of both safety Quintin Demps and outside linebacker Pernell McPhee.  While injuries have plagued the last two cuts, the Bears seem perfectly content with getting younger.

Needs

Appearing to be in full rebuild mode, one of the Bears biggest needs is at the wide receiver position.  The only veterans on the squad are Markus Wheaton and Kevin White and both have lacked production and White has been injury plagued after having such high hopes upon being drafted.  Many of the mock drafts have the Bears going after a receiver like Calvin Ridley or Courtland Sutton with the eighth overall selection in the draft.  Very few rumors are out on the Bears and interest in the free agent market, but I’d hate to see them sign someone of the likes of Allen Robinson or Jarvis Landry to give the young Trubisky another major weapon.

Offensive line is the other biggest need of the Bears.  The release of Sitton makes it obvious that the Bears will be gunning for some young talent in the upcoming draft and some of the mock drafts have them looking at a guy like Quenton Nelson at guard out of Notre Dame with the eighth overall pick.  With the hole at guard, right tackle also needs to be shored up by the Bears so a heavy dose of offensive linemen in the draft is expected from the team.

Other holes that the Bears will be looking to fill are inside linebacker, defensive end, cornerback and possibly backup quarterback.  Some mock drafts show the Bears interested in an inside linebacker like Tremaine Edmunds high in the draft for his sheer versatility in a Vic Fangio defense.  The Bears defensive line is solid and they are just lacking a playmaker behind them to finish plays.  And with Kyle Fuller about to his free agency, the Bears will be expected to look at cornerbacks in the draft as well.  I wouldn’t be surprised for them to go with a corner like Denzel Ward should he be available at eighth overall.  If the team frees up some cap space, they make a play at a veteran corner in free agency as well.

Free Agents

The Bears have their fair share of free agents that could potentially hit the market come March 14^th and leave the team.  The biggest of names being thrown about is cornerback Kyle Fuller.  He, paired with cornerback Prince Amukamara, will leave a potential gaping hole should the Bears not be able to come to a deal to sign them.  A plethora of Bears receivers become unrestricted free agents as well in Dontrelle Inman, Kendall Wright, Josh Bellamy and Cameron Meredith. 

Looking Ahead

With the notion of the team being in rebuilding mode, some of the team’s veterans and stars are remaining very optimistic during this offseason.  Running back Jordan Howard, on the set of the NFL Network, proclaimed that the Bears are going to have a winning season in 2018 and will make the playoffs.  (Though some feel he was coaxed by the hosts into saying this)

But, the Bears do have reason to be optimistic.  Howard himself is one of the premier backs in the league and alongside running mate Tarik Cohen, the two make an outstanding backfield tandem.  A young and growing quarterback in Trubisky gives reason for the team to be hopeful as well.  Last, a new sheriff in town in Matt Nagy could provide a new spark for the team. 

So, here’s to hoping that the Bears don’t nail down a true number one wide receiver, stud cornerback and/or one or more beefy offensive lineman coming up in free agency and the draft.