5 things to watch for in the Chicago Bears offseason, including finding the right fit at QB, Allen Robinson’s next move and a defensive appraisal

A few days before the Chicago Bears lost to the New Orleans Saints in the playoffs, coach Matt Nagy talked about what it was like to watch the postseason unfold from the outside in previous years.

“Some people say, ‘Oh, you know I can’t watch it, it just makes me sick,’ ” Nagy said. “I’m not like that. I watch it. I just don’t want to watch it because I want to be there. So last year when we weren’t in there, it wasn’t any fun and you feel like you’re missing out on a party. We want to be a part of that party, and we have a chance right now.”

Of course, the Bears didn’t make it past the first week of the party, and Nagy and the Bears had to watch the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the rival Green Bay Packers for the NFC championship Sunday.

Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace have a lot of work to do this offseason if they’re going to make it back to the party after a second straight 8-8 season. As they zero in on what fixes need to be made to the roster over the next few crucial months, here’s a snapshot look at what’s ahead.

1. Pressing question

<mark class="hl_orange">Will the Bears find the right fit at quarterback?</mark>

As Pace said last week, finding the right quarterback is “what this whole offseason is about” for the Bears — and “everything is on the table” as they review their options.

That means considering trading for a veteran quarterback, including seriously examining a trade for Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson if he’s available or weighing the possibilities of acquiring the New York Jets’ Sam Darnold, the San Francisco 49ers’ Jimmy Garoppolo or the Detroit Lions’ Matthew Stafford, who is expected to be moved. It means looking at their free-agent options, from Jameis Winston to Cam Newton to Ryan Fitzpatrick. And it means examining whether they should draft a quarterback, either by using the No. 20 pick or trading up to obtain a better option.

It also means taking a look at in-house options Mitch Trubisky, who might be more likely to head to free agency, and Nick Foles, who seems likely to return in at least a backup role if he isn’t afforded a bigger opportunity as a placeholder for a rookie.

It will be the fourth starting quarterback Pace has picked, but it was clear from the season-ending news conference that Nagy will play a major role in the decision. Pace also noted input from offensive coordinator Bill Lazor and quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo as important to the process, though the Bears lost the voice of passing game coordinator Dave Ragone, who is the Atlanta Falcons’ new offensive coordinator.

“The key (aspect) to me is taking this on together with our scouts, and not just with Matt, with the coaches that he has around him,” Pace said. “I really feel strong, especially with the quarterback position, when you talk about Matt … and Flip and Lazor, and us just taking on a lot of these tasks together. That’s what gives me confidence.”

2. Player in the spotlight

Next to finding a quarterback, the Bears’ handling of the Allen Robinson situation is the biggest storyline this offseason.

The Bears and Robinson didn’t come to an agreement on a contract extension during the season. Now the Bears must either work out a deal before the new league year starts March 17 or use the franchise tag on Robinson to keep him from heading off to another team. Robinson indicated he would prefer not to be tagged, but when asked about that option, Pace said, “The league gives us tools for a reason.”

Robinson had a career-high 102 catches for 1,250 yards and six touchdowns in the third and final season of his Bears contract. If the Bears opt not to keep Robinson around, they will have a major task ahead replacing their best offensive player.

“When I think about the list of things we need to talk about this offseason, obviously that’s a big decision and a big part of it,” Pace said of Robinson. “You know how we feel about Allen, how respected he is in the building. But to get into specifics on his contract, you guys also know I’m not going to get into that.”

Beyond Robinson, there are other questions at wide receiver, at which the Bears at least will return Darnell Mooney after a strong rookie season. Most notably, what’s next for Anthony Miller, who was ejected from the playoff game for shoving Saints defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson? Miller finished with 49 catches for 485 yards and two touchdowns, a third straight season of not quite reaching high expectations. And what about Javon Wims, who was suspended after punching Gardner-Johnson earlier in the season and dropped a touchdown pass in the playoff game?

Bears Chairman George McCaskey weighed in on the ejections during an interview on WMVP-AM 1000 last week, but he said Miller’s future is not up to him.

“I have a bigger problem with Anthony’s ejection because they sat him down and they told him, ‘Listen, watch out for this player. He’s a punk. He’s going to try to get under your skin. And with Darnell Mooney out (with an ankle injury), we really need you to be in this game and help this team,’ ” McCaskey said. “And Anthony had the benefit of having seen Javon’s experience. So I think they need to be evaluated separately. And I have a bigger problem with Anthony’s ejection than I do with Javon’s.”

3. You should know

Pace said the Bears must seriously examine why the defense regressed in the second half of the 2020 season, when they allowed 25 touchdowns in the final eight games after allowing 14 in the first eight games.

He pointed to injuries as one factor. Cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Buster Skrine and defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris all missed significant time late in the year with injuries, and inside linebacker Roquan Smith sat out the playoff game with an elbow injury. Pace said Khalil Mack also played through a shoulder issue.

But Pace noted there was more to the dip in production than that.

“When we talk about taking a deep breath, and then analyzing our team, that’s one of the things we’ve really got to look at,” Pace said. “We had expectations on that side of the ball in the second half of the season. It was surprising and in some ways it was disappointing, and that’s something we’re definitely going to look at. And we all need to be better. That includes me adding more talent to that side of the ball.”

New defensive coordinator Sean Desai, who replaces the retired Chuck Pagano, will be tasked with examining how to get more out of players such as safety Eddie Jackson, who didn’t have an interception for the first time in his career this season, and outside linebacker Robert Quinn, who had a career-low two sacks in his first year of a five-year, $70 million deal.

Pace noted Quinn pressured quarterbacks more late in the year, with four quarterback hits in the last four games. But he also acknowledged it wasn’t enough.

“Robert is a player that’s had consistent pass rush production throughout his career in our league, and of course we would have wanted more production this season,” Pace said. “I know he’s really hard on himself. He feels the same way. There are a variety of reasons why maybe that didn’t happen.

“He sets really high standards for himself. We expect him to rebound. Having an offseason, being with us, that will bode well for him. But together, with him and with us and our plan, we’ve got to find a way to help him get more production, and I believe that he will.”

Among the key defensive players set to become free agents are safety Tashaun Gipson and Robertson-Harris.

4. Odds and ends

Nagy promised a “thorough” search to find the team’s next defensive coordinator, and the Bears conducted multiple interviews before landing on former safeties coach Sean Desai.

Among those the Bears interviewed were James Bettcher, the former defensive coordinator of the New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals, and Indianapolis Colts defensive backs coach Jonathan Gannon, according to the Tribune’s Brad Biggs, and Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary, according to the Athletic.

But the Bears instead promoted Desai, who has been with the team since 2013, first as a defensive quality control coach and then as safeties coach the last two seasons. He learned under former Bears coordinator Vic Fangio, who led one of the best defenses in the NFL in 2018.

“He is a person of high football intelligence, extremely detail-oriented, has a very strong work ethic and I cannot think of someone more deserving to lead our defense,” Nagy said in a statement. “Sean is a family man of high character, and the respect he has within our building from coaches, players and staff is unparalleled.”

Another significant change to the coaching staff could be the departure of highly regarded defensive line coach Jay Rodgers, who left to work for Brandon Staley’s new Los Angeles Chargers staff. Outside linebackers coach Ted Monachino also is expected to leave.

On the offensive side, passing game coordinator Dave Ragone and running backs coach Charles London left to join Arthur Smith’s Atlanta Falcons staff as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, respectively.

So Nagy has far more than just player evaluations to sort through.

5. Injury update

Pace said he didn’t anticipate any Bears players needing “major” surgeries this offseason.

Roquan Smith’s elbow injury in Week 17 against the Packers was the most significant development late in the year after he had the best season of his young career. Among the other notable players continuing their offseason recoveries are Jaylon Johnson, who missed four games with a shoulder injury, and guard James Daniels, who went on injured reserve in October with a torn pectoral muscle.

Pace also said running back Tarik Cohen’s recovery from suffering a torn ACL in September is ongoing.

“Obviously a player we missed,” Pace said of Cohen. “A huge part of our offense and huge part of our special teams. We’ll be excited to get him back. He’s been working really hard. Just to have him in our building rehabbing, just to have his energy around our team I think is important and infectious, and we’re hopeful to have him ready for training camp.”