Predicting Chicago Bears' Biggest Roster Moves This Offseason
Following a disappointing regular season, the Chicago Bears have just one game left to play in 2014. Viewed as a legitimate contender in the NFC before the season began, Chicago has struggled on both sides of the football this year.
With no playoff appearance in sight, the Bears will play their final game of the season this Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings before turning their focus on the 2015 offseason.
Currently, there is plenty of uncertainty about who will be the head coach of the team next season. According to Dan Bernstein of 670 The Score, Marc Trestman is unlikely to be the team's head coach next season:
"Source: #Bears ownership met last night. Trestman likely fired at season's end, Emery's fate still undecided.
— Dan Bernstein (@dan_bernstein) December 16, 2014"
Even though there is uncertainty surrounding Chicago's coaching staff moving forward, the team can still make plenty of roster moves this offseason.
Will Jay Cutler be traded? Will he be released? Will a big-name veteran get cut? Who will be signed in free agency? These questions and more are addressed inside as we predict some of Chicago's biggest roster moves this offseason.
Jared Allen Will Be Cut
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Chicago needed to bolster its defensive line this past offseason and did so by signing Jared Allen, Lamarr Houston and Willie Young in free agency.
Young has had a stellar season, posting a career-high 10 sacks, but both Houston and Allen have been disappointments. Houston injured himself celebrating a sack against the New England Patriots and was largely ineffective as a pass-rusher up until his injury. Allen has played all but one game this season but has registered just 4.5 sacks.
His sack totals have not been due to a lack of effort, according to NFL columnist Dan Pompei:
"13. Jared Allen doesn’t have a lot of sacks, but if everyone on the team played with his intensity the Bears wouldn’t have 9 losses.
— Dan Pompei (@danpompei) December 16, 2014"
670TheScore.com's Dan Durkin keyed in on Allen against the Saints in Week 15 and was not impressed with Allen's performance:
"Have focused on Jared Allen this entire series, his pass rush sets have no life. No counter moves, no power in his punch, static path/lane.
— dan durkin (@djdurkin) December 16, 2014"
Because of Allen's underwhelming season, Durkin believes Chicago will need to make a decision this offseason about whether Allen is back in a Bears uniform in 2015:
"#Bears already have $109M committed to 38 players in 2015. Huge decisions looming with top two on list - Cutler and Allen.
— dan durkin (@djdurkin) December 18, 2014"
According to Pro Football Talk back in March, Allen is set to make $12.5 million of guaranteed money in 2015. While that number is certainly a big one for the Bears to eat, it may be necessary to let Allen go if they can draft a pass-rusher in this year's draft. Additionally, Young and Houston are both set to return in 2015, and there may not be enough snaps to go around.
Team Will Bring in a True Slot Receiver
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Even though the Bears have two of the best big-target receivers in the NFL in Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall, Chicago's offense would benefit in 2015 by having a legitimate slot receiver.
Marshall has spent time in the slot in Trestman's offense, but if the head coach does not return, Chicago could look at some unheralded veterans in free agency to play in the slot.
Second-year man Marquess Wilson looked to be on track to take over the No. 3 wide receiver position this past offseason before a clavicle injury kept him out of the lineup for much of the year. He has just 15 catches for 122 yards with one touchdown.
He could still contend to take over in the slot in 2015, but the Bears could bring in one or two veterans to compete for the spot.
Dallas' Cole Beasley has hauled in a total of 31 catches for 363 yards with four touchdowns this season. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), he has run 265 snaps exclusively out of the slot with 27 catches on 35 targets for 324 yards. His 77.1 catch rate, which is the percentage of receptions compared to targets on balls thrown when the receiver is in the slot, is second best in the league among those who have taken 50 percent of snaps.
Unfortunately for the Bears, Beasley is a restricted free agent, meaning they'd likely have to give up a draft pick in order to sign him.
If Beasley's price tag is too high, San Diego's Eddie Royal could be another legitimate option. In seven seasons he has hauled in 334 catches for 3,655 yards with 25 touchdowns. He has 58 catches for 683 yards with seven touchdowns this season.
According to Pro Football Focus, he has run 424 routes out of the slot this season and has a 71.7 catch rate.
In addition to being a solid contributor in the slot, Royal had his best season playing with Jay Cutler in Denver back in 2008, finishing with 91 catches for 980 yards with five touchdowns.
If Cutler remains in Chicago next season, Royal may just be the speedy threat in the slot this offense needs.
Rey Maualuga Will Be Signed to Bolster Linebacker Corps
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Despite having a bevy of injuries and poor play at the linebacker position last season, the Bears opted to do little to improve the group as a whole this past offseason.
Veterans Lance Briggs and D.J. Williams both returned as starters at the weak side and middle linebacker positions, respectively, leaving Jon Bostic and Shea McClellin—who moved from defensive end to linebacker—to battle it out for the strong-side linebacker position in training camp.
McClellin came away with the role but has struggled at times this season. Both Briggs and Williams were recently put on injured reserve, which left the team to use Bostic at middle linebacker with undrafted rookie Christian Jones at weak-side linebacker.
Briggs is set to become a free agent and does not believe he will be back with the team next season.
"I understand this is probably my last year as a Chicago Bear,” he said after he was placed on injured reserve, via Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune. “I’m OK with it. I can look back on my career at the games, all I put on tape, the way I fought with my teammates and be a happy man.”
In addition to Briggs likely not returning, it would be unlikely for the 32-year-old Williams to return next season after signing a one-year deal this past March.
With Briggs and Williams out of the picture, the Bears will need to upgrade their linebacker corps.
Bostic showed flashes this season at all three linebacker spots, but he needs to be locked into one position moving forward. Jones has the athleticism to play all three linebacker spots and will likely get a look at the strong-side linebacker position in training camp next summer.
If Bostic is penciled in as the starter on the weak side with Jones on the strong side, the team will need to find someone who can hold down the middle of the field.
Enter Rey Maualuga.
A former second-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals in 2009 draft, Maualuga has held down the middle linebacker spot for the last six seasons.
He has some limitations in the passing game but has developed into one of the league's best against the run. The biggest knock against him is he has only started 16 games in a season once due to injuries. Throughout his career he has practiced and played as if it was going to be his last opportunity.
“Your spot on the roster is never promised. Each year you have to fight and claw for that one spot that is given to some people,” Maualuga said earlier this year, via Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. “When I’m out there practicing, I just give it my all."
Signing Maualuga would not solve all of Chicago's woes at the linebacker position, but he would help bring some stability to a group that has struggled against the run the last two seasons.
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They Will Bring in a Proven Veteran to Compete at Free Safety
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For years the Bears have tried to solve their issues at the free safety position through the draft and free agency, but they have been unable to find a long-term solution.
The team could look to draft a free safety in late April, but there should be a handful of attractive options in free agency.
The name likely at the top of the team's wish list will be New England's Devin McCourty. He currently has 64 tackles, one forced fumble and two interceptions this season.
Pro Football Focus ranks him as the league's seventh-best safety with a plus-12.4 grade. Quarterbacks are registering just an 84.7 quarterback rating when throwing at him this season.
He started his NFL career as a cornerback in 2010 and was named to the Pro Bowl after his rookie season. Due to injuries in the secondary, McCourty moved to free safety in 2012. He received high praise from teammate and All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis earlier this season.
“Probably the best safety I’ve been around in all my years,” said Revis, via Shalise Manza Young of The Boston Globe. “I’ve played [with] some great guys, and nothing to take away from those guys I’ve played with in the past, but I think he has the total package, just because he played corner, as well. He knows how to play both positions."
Because of his versatility, McCourty's price tag may take him off Chicago's radar when free agency begins in March. If he is too pricey, the team could look at veterans like Stevie Brown or Louis Delmas.
Brown has had trouble with injuries in the past but has played well against the run throughout his career. He has struggled against the pass but has shown he has enough speed to make up for his deficiencies. He would not be looked at as a solid long-term option, but he would be the type of player who could hold down the position until a draft pick can develop.
After suffering an ACL injury in early December, Delmas could be a player the Bears keep tabs on throughout the offseason and training camp. According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, Delmas is on track to return in time for training camp:
"Source says Louis Delmas should be ready to go by the start of training camp next season.
— Armando Salguero (@ArmandoSalguero) December 8, 2014"
Chicago obviously would not sit around idly and wait for Delmas to get healthy, but he could be a guy the team would take a look at if it does not feel comfortable with the free safety position when training camp begins next summer.
Jay Cutler Will Not Be Traded
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In a surprising move last week, quarterback Jay Cutler was benched for Chicago's game against the Detroit Lions in favor of Jimmy Clausen, who finished the game with 181 yards through the air on 23 completions with two touchdowns and one interception.
According to Marc Trestman, he decided to go with Clausen because he felt he would give the team a spark.
"I think we need a lift at quarterback," Trestman said, via Kevin Fishbain of ChicagoFootball.com. "I think we need a spark. The weight of the world should not be on Jimmy Clausen. He’s going to get an opportunity to play, and I’m hoping that our team, against a very very good defense, we all know that, they’ll be some response from our football team."
Even though Cutler was demoted to backup, he made it clear in a press conference last Thursday he wants to stay in Chicago.
"I would like to stay here," Cutler said, via Fishbain. "I really like it here. I love the guys in the locker room that I get to play with. Clearly, it's a different circumstances now. But going forward, this is where I'd like to be."
A lot about Cutler's future is up in the air without knowing for sure who will be the head coach or the general manager, but because of the money he is owed next season, Chicago will likely not let him go without getting some sort of return on its investment.
The NFL Network's Albert Breer broke down the money remaining on Cutler's contract:
"Cutler's deal currently contains $38M guaranteed. $22.5M of that has been paid, meaning Chicago wld have to write a $15.5M check to cut him.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) December 18, 2014"
The team could try and trade him, but it would need to have a plan in place for the quarterback position. While Cutler has not played up to his seven-year, $126.7 million contract, there are not many better options available on the open market this offseason in free agency or in the draft.
"Yeah, you sign a seven-year deal and you think you're going to be here awhile," Cutler said, via ESPNChicago.com's Jon Greenberg. "I'm still hopeful that that's going to ring true, that we'll have another shot at this. But after that last game, a lot could happen, and we'll say we've prepared for it."
CBSSports.com's Jason La Canfora reported this past Sunday that Cutler is expected to be back with the Bears next season.
"While head coach Marc Trestman is all but certain of being fired next week and GM Phil Emery could meet the same fate," he wrote. "Cutler's hefty contract, his recent performance and other factors have created a climate where the Bears are effectively stuck with Cutler for two more years, numerous league sources said."
Unless the Bears are blown away by a trade offer and have someone waiting in the wings to take over at quarterback, Cutler will likely be back in 2015.
Record/statistical information provided via email from the Chicago Bears or NFL.com unless otherwise noted.
Matt Eurich is an NFL/Chicago Bears Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and a member of the Pro Football Writers of America.
Follow @MattEurich
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