Top 2021 NFL draft needs for the Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears had as much of a roller-coaster season as a team can get in the NFL, and their chaotic 2020 finished with a loss to the New Orleans Saints in the wild-card round of the playoffs.
Though they have one of the most expensive rosters in the league, they still have several glaring needs, and the 2021 NFL draft will give them the chance to address those weaknesses.
Here are some of their biggest needs heading into the offseason:
Quarterback
Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports
The Bears are likely stuck with Nick Foles' contract for 2021 barring an unforeseen trade, and Mitchell Trubisky will hit the open market this offseason. Neither of them should be trusted as the team's quarterback option going forward, though. Though the Bears averaged 30.2 points per game after their Week 11 bye, they did so against poor competition. When faced with legitimate defensive competition, both Foles and Trubisky faltered. It may be difficult for them to find a franchise quarterback at the No. 20 pick in the 2021 NFL draft, so a trade-up could be in the cards.
Offensive Tackle
Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
The Bears roughly paid Charles Leno Jr. and Bobby Massie a combined $18.6 million in 2020, and they saw a disappointing performance from their expensive investment. Releasing Massie with a post-June 1 designation would free up $8 million in cap space, and with the 31-year-old coming off of an injury-plagued season, the Bears would be wise to cut ties. They haven't selected an offensive tackle above the fifth round since 2011, and considering how deep the 2021 draft class is at the position, if there's any year for them to break that streak, it's this year.
Wide Receiver
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Allen Robinson was far and away the Bears' best offensive player in 2020, and with his long-term future with the organization in doubt, Chicago could find themselves in a rough situation at the wide receiver position. Darnell Mooney was impressive as a rookie, but he shouldn't be trusted as a true No. 1 weapon quite yet. The Bears could target one of the receivers in this talented draft class if Robinson doesn't stay with the team. Even if they're able to come to an agreement on an extension with the former All-Pro, 2018 second-round pick Anthony Miller hasn't lived up to the hype, which could prompt the Bears to target a slot weapon fairly early.
Tight End
Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports
Cole Kmet showed plenty of promise in the second half of his rookie year after a slow start to the 2020 campaign. Jimmy Graham also scored a team-best eight touchdowns and served as a reliable red-zone target. So why is tight end a need for the Bears? Ultimately, it comes down to cap space. The Bears would save $7 million by releasing Graham, and while he certainly surpassed expectations this year, he is 34 and isn't as dynamic as he used to be. If the team wants to make that move and help out their unenviable cap situation, they could consider drafting a 'U' tight end to complement the in-line Kmet.
Defensive Line
(AP Photo/John Bazemore)
The Bears have plenty of raw talent on in their front-seven, but they put forth a relatively average performance along their defensive line in 2020. A change at defensive coordinator could help them generate more pressure, but they could still stand to make some additions to their defensive line. Key rotational linemen Roy Robertson-Harris, Mario Edwards Jr., and Brent Urban are all on track to hit free agency this offseason. Bilal Nichols is in the last year of his rookie contract and could prove too expensive for the Bears to extend next year, and Akiem Hicks is also 31 years old. They could look to add a lineman in the draft to help put them in a more comfortable position going forward.
