Position Check: Assessing Chicago Bears' Strengths and Weaknesses
At first pass, a three-win team like the Chicago Bears wouldn't have many strengths when examining the roster, even after free agency and optimistically heading into a draft.
But the Bears weren't a normal three-win team one year ago. Even stuck in the throes of a long-term rebuild under the guidance of general manager Ryan Pace, the Bears were competitive in most games despite boasting one of the league's biggest injured-reserve payrolls.
In a perfect world, the Bears hit next year healthy with smart additions both via free agency and the draft and improve on the three wins. Going forward with the understanding even hitting 8-8 in the middle stretch of a rebuild is a big win, fans would certainly have something to look forward to in the coming years.
As such, the Bears might have more strengths than one would presume when combing through the roster. Let's break down each position below and get a better idea of where Pace is content and how he might still address the problem areas.
Quarterback
1 of 10
Quarterback hasn't been a strength for the Bears in...well, let's just say it has been an incredibly long time.
The Bears swapped out Jay Cutler for Mike Glennon this offseason, a move the front office viewed as necessary to simply start fresh. Pace has liked Glennon in the past, so adding a 27-year-old quarterback with upside isn't a terrible move.
And Glennon absolutely has upside. If Bears fans thought last season was rough to watch, flip on the film of Glennon's days in Tampa Bay for quite a treat. Chicago provides him a more consistent environment, which could see him realize his potential and turn into a quality starter.
Either way, Chicago figures to hit the position as high as No. 3 overall in the April 27-29 draft. The rookie, regardless of round, won't be asked to start. If Glennon doesn't work after the first year, he's essentially on a one-year deal thanks to the contract structure.
Pace has a veteran and a likely incoming rookie who could turn this position into a strength. For now, though, nothing has changed.
Verdict: Weakness
Running Back
2 of 10
Like everyone predicted, a fifth-round rookie by the name of Jordan Howard helped Bears fans forget Matt Forte in a hurry.
He's also kept the position a major strength for the team.
Howard ran for 1,313 yards and six scores last year on a 5.2-yard-per-carry average, which is crazy considering at times many couldn't figure out why head coach John Fox didn't use him even more.
Still, Fox wanted to keep Howard healthy and the back totaled 252 rushes, which was usual Forte range for most of his time with the Bears.
Remember, Chicago still has Jeremy Langford behind Howard, meaning a quality committee approach if necessary. Future quarterbacks won't hurt for production from the backfield.
Verdict: Strength
Wide Receiver
3 of 10
On paper, Pace wanted wideout to be a strength by now.
Instead, Kevin White hasn't lived up to No. 1 status and has appeared in four career games. Cameron Meredith has upside, but he's just beginning to blossom. Veteran additions like Eddie Royal haven't panned out.
The good news? White still has time to blossom alongside Meredith. New addition Markus Wheaton is a quality deep threat who can even play on the outside, provided he stays healthy.
Another new addition, Kendall Wright, could function as one of the league's better slot players if he fits well. Considering his best year as a pro came under offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains in Tennessee, the chances he turns into a reliable contributor seem good.
Pace doesn't need to "fix" this weakness anymore. He targeted it well over the offseason. Now it's a waiting game, as guys need to develop and reach their potential together. Consistent quarterback play could only help.
Given the need to wait, though, it would be silly to classify the spot as a strength.
Verdict: Weakness
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Tight End
4 of 10
Believe it or not, the Bears actually have a quality one-two punch at tight end.
Bears fans know what Zach Miller can do as a receiver when he's able to take the field. That's been the problem for years, though, as he missed six games last year, one in 2015, 12 in 2011 and so on.
Miller now has a quality complement in new arrival Dion Sims, a guy who made the bulk of his money in the pros as a blocker at first. The Miami Dolphins expanded his role as a pass-catcher last year, though, meaning Bears quarterbacks have another reliable target who can move the chains or clear a path for Howard.
Chicago will probably want to grab a rookie in the draft as insurance. But Miller is a proven talent when on the field, and Sims is a 26-year-old player with plenty of room to grow, if not take over as the top tight end on the roster for a long time.
Verdict: Strength
Offensive Line
5 of 10
The Bears now have one of the best interior offensive lines in football.
Call it a bit of luck and genius. The former because rookie Cody Whitehair found himself shoved into a starting role at center to start the season and wound up as the fifth-best center in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. The latter because Pace was smart enough to gobble up Josh Sitton before the season after the Green Bay Packers surprisingly released him.
On the edges, Charles Leno is still just 25 years old with room to grow. Bobby Massie didn't pan out the way the Bears might've hoped, but as a bulldozing right tackle, the team can still do worse.
Heading into a miserable draft class for edge tackles, the Bears aren't going to find an upgrade. Adding a superb blocking tight end like Sims helps lessen the issues.
Verdict: Strength
Defensive Line
6 of 10
Defensive line is another mixed bag where the good outweighs the bad.
The Bears are set at nose tackle with Eddie Goldman, provided he can stay on the field. He ranked as the 20th offensive tackle at PFF in 2015 before only appearing in six games last season.
On one edge, Akiem Hicks was another great Pace signing. The veteran had a breakout year under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, chalking eight sacks and 32 hurries as the No. 8 3-4 defensive end in the NFL, per PFF.
The other end spot is the problem. Mitch Unrein is a stopgap rebuilding solution the front office has yet to replace, and the coaches didn't view rookie Jonathan Bullard as being ready last year. This is a spot the team could address as high as No. 3, though it wouldn't be the end of the world if it went untouched and the staff really gave Bullard some run.
Either way, two critical spots on a hybrid front look cemented, making the unit a strength.
Verdict: Strength
Linebacker
7 of 10
Linebacker is the best spot on Chicago's roster.
Pace aggressively attacked the position a few years ago, getting a pair of quality inside guys with Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman. The former had 66 tackles last season over just nine games, the latter 110 over 12.
For Trevathan, staying healthy is the focus. For Freeman, it's avoiding another suspension. Otherwise, the two are some of the best at what they do.
On the edges, Pernell McPhee is an impact leader when he can stay on the field. He's missed nine games over the past two years but has 10 sacks in the process. First-round pick Leonard Floyd blew up as a rookie, tallying seven sacks, two hits and 27 hurries, per PFF, but he also missed four games.
The Bears don't need to improve here, at least not much. Nick Kwiatkoski flashed as a backup on the interior last year, and a rookie rotational rusher would make things even better. Health is the major question mark for the unit, but when everyone is taking snaps, it's one of the best in the league.
Verdict: Strength
Cornerback
8 of 10
Bears fans are probably tired of hearing this, but cornerback is like the team's wideout position right now—lots of alluring upside, but nothing in the way of a guarantee.
Pace identified corner as the equal to wideout in what he wanted to attack this year, bringing on boundary guys Marcus Cooper and Prince Amukamara.
Cooper allowed four touchdowns and interceptions last year, per PFF, but could easily improve in a press scheme with Fangio. Ditto for Amukamara, who has had a so-so few years when teams haven't used him to his strengths.
Keep in mind the Bears still have former first-round pick Kyle Fuller looking to make an impact, which he could do on the boundary or even at safety. On the inside, the Bears have up-and-comers like Cre'von LeBlanc and Bryce Callahan to rotate in based on the situation.
Long story short, the Bears have a ton of upside here. It won't stop them from drafting a corner as high as No. 3. But the two veteran adds could be legitimate boundary starters under Fangio, and the roster has no shortage of slot or nickel players. Like wideout, the on-paper potential simply needs to translate to the field.
Verdict: Weakness
Safety
9 of 10
It shouldn't register as a shock that the Bears don't look so hot at arguably the toughest position to fill well not named "quarterback."
Pace has already addressed part of the problem this offseason with veteran Quintin Demps, an enforcer and leader who ranked as the 12th-best safety at PFF while grading positive in all areas and picking off six passes.
Demps might be 31 years old, but he never saw significant playing time for the first four years of his career, meaning he's an instant starter and upgrade for a few years at a minimum.
The slot next to Demps is the problem. This is where mock drafts love to grab the Bears a Jamal Adams at No. 3 or an instant-impact guy like Budda Baker at the top of Round 2. It's the only way the Bears can upgrade the spot now, and given the strength of the class, now is the time to try to find one of the rare players who can hold down the spot in today's NFL for five years or more.
If Pace hits a rookie wall and slaps him next to Demps, this will turn into a strength for a long time.
Verdict: Weakness
Special Teams
10 of 10
Chicago could remain in a holding pattern when it comes to special teams and it would classify as a strength.
Continuity is a big part of the equation for specials teams, so giving Connor Barth another chance after early struggles last year would make some sense. Pat O'Donnell doesn't look like he's going anywhere.
As far as returners go, Deonte Thompson and a deep crop of names give the Bears some interesting options.
On draft day or in the undrafted pool, Chicago could look to add some competition for Barth. Ditto when it comes to returners, as a rookie who calls it his specialty could carve out a roster spot.
Either way, the Bears have a nice foundation in place here.
Verdict: Strength
All contract information courtesy of Spotrac unless otherwise specified. Stats courtesy of NFL.com. All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus.
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