3 Mistakes the Chicago Bears Can't Afford to Make This Offseason

The new year has been pretty hectic so far for the Chicago Bears.

Numerous changes have taken place within the walls of Halas Halls. The Bears named a new general manager in Ryan Pace, a new head coach in John Fox, a new offensive coordinator in Adam Gase, a new defensive coordinator in Vic Fangio and a new special teams coordinator in Jeff Rodgers, to name a few.

When a new staff takes over and is expected to make critical decisions shortly thereafter, mistakes sometimes are made due to a sense of urgency. So let’s review the biggest items the Bears cannot afford to miss on.

Not Moving Kyle Long to Left Tackle

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The starting left tackle on any given team should be that team’s best offensive lineman. Right guard Kyle Long is hands down the best lineman on the Bears’ roster.

The two-time Pro Bowl selection is one of four linemen in the NFL to play at least 75 percent of their team's snaps in 2014 while not allowing a sack, and he rates as the 10th-best guard in the league, according to Pro Football Focus.

Jermon Bushrod, the Bears’ current left tackle, was the 35th-best or 10th-worst tackle in the league this season. That’s not enough production from a guy who will count $8.05 million against the cap in 2015. The Bears can do better than Bushrod at left tackle.

With a new offensive coordinator—Adam Gase—set to take the reins, there’s no better time than now to make changes to the offensive line. Long moves to left tackle; Bushrod moves to right tackle in place of Jordan Mills, who struggled immensely in 2014; and then draft a guard to replace Long, or maybe even give Mills a shot in the right guard slot.

Giving Up on Jay Cutler-Brandon Marshall Combo (for Now)

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It would be a mistake for the Bears to release quarterback Jay Cutler or wide receiver Brandon Marshall. While both of them carry a good weight of baggage behind them, the salary-cap hit the team would take on each release and the cost of replacing each of them would be too great.

Cutler’s base salary in 2015 of $15.5 million is already guaranteed, so he’s getting that money no matter what. If the Bears were to release him, not only would he get the $15.5 million, his contract would count $19.5 million against the salary cap.

Marshall’s base salary in 2015 of $7.5 million is also guaranteed. Again, he gets that money regardless. Releasing him would cost $5.6 million against the cap.

So if the Bears were to move on from both Cutler and Marshall, the team would be paying them a total of $23 million to not play while counting as $21.1 million of dead money sitting on the cap.

Then you have to factor in who each of them would be replaced with. Looking at the free-agent market for quarterbacks, none of the soon-to-be-available names look to be an upgrade over Cutler. Mark Sanchez? No. Brian Hoyer? No.

Same goes for Marshall. Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb really is the only available name who could get close to replacing Marshall’s production.

If the financial ramifications of releasing them didn’t convince you, consider what Adam Gase’s arrival as offensive coordinator could mean for the offense. Two years ago, Gase was a shoo-in for the Cleveland Browns’ head coaching position. He passed on the job, likely expecting a better job to come available this offseason. Gase’s miscalculation benefits the Bears greatly.

The opportunity Gase has in front of him is the toughest challenge he’s faced as an offensive coordinator. If he can turn Chicago’s offense back into a top-10 unit, he no longer will have to stand in the shadow of his former quarterback in Denver, Peyton Manning, who is as much a coach as he is a player.

You have to figure if he’s any bit successful with this Bears offense, he’ll once again be interviewing for head coaching jobs. The Bears knew the risks involved with hiring a somewhat hot name like Gase. It would be foolish to think this scenario didn’t come across the brain of new general manager Ryan Pace and new head coach John Fox.

Not Selecting a Pass-Rusher in the First Round of 2015 NFL Draft

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Drafting a pass-rushing defensive end or linebacker is something the Bears must do with the No. 7 pick of the 2015 NFL draft.

With defensive ends Lamarr Houston and Willie Young both recovering from season-ending injuries, it will be tough for the Bears to count on either of them to produce as starters.

Bringing in a versatile youngster like Missouri's Shane Ray would give defensive coordinator Vic Fangio a lot of flexibility when it comes to defensive schemes. Ray can rush with a hand on the ground or standing up. It doesn't have to be Ray, either. The best guy available at the position would do.

Another reason to draft a pass-rusher in the first round is Jared Allen’s massive contract. Allen really underproduced in 2014, racking up only 5.5 sacks in 15 games. There’s a chance the Bears could move on from Allen, and if that’s the case, there will be no better place to find a replacement that won’t cost an arm and a leg than the first round of the draft.

The Bears badly need a cornerstone end, someone who brings it like a Robert Quinn or Justin Houston or Cameron Wake. Someone who the opposition will be forced to double-team on every single down.

Contract information provided by OvertheCap.com.