This assessment will strictly be through the eyeball test. Throw all the stats out the window. I don’t care what Justin Fields’ QBR was or what David Montgomery’s run efficiency was. This is how my eyeballs see the Chicago Bears as free agency approaches. I would expect to see the Bears make a couple of moves in free agency, but first, you have to figure out where it is needed most. So, without further ado here is a glimpse into my eyeballs. Strap in.
The Quarterback Room
Let’s start at the most important position in the modern NFL. The team lives and dies at the hands of the quarterback. With all the other uncertainty surrounding Chicago, it is at least nice to know who the QB is going to be in September. Fields got better as the year went on despite all the injuries.
Can I interest you in some Justin Fields highlights to hold you over until baseball starts again, my friend? pic.twitter.com/38mNbLZtpU https://t.co/9753MJVoIN
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) February 4, 2022
You notice when he has time to set and throw, the passes are absolutely stunning. He also has the ability to create with his legs and still find open receivers downfield. When everything goes wrong, like in the 49ers’ play, he has a knack to escape multiple defenders and score. My favorite play of the season was in Pittsburgh, in crunch time.
206 more days until we see Justin Fields do Justin Fields things ?⬇️ pic.twitter.com/YkaHGlIcwf
— Bears Nation (@BearsNationCHI) February 14, 2022
My goodness. Calm in the pocket, feels pressure steps up, makes a very difficult throw look routine to take the lead with less than 2 minutes left. Truly beautiful. As for the others. Having a veteran backup is nice, but Andy Dalton and Nick Foles are chewing up cap space. Dalton, a nice guy bad quarterback, will be leaving as he was only under a 1-year deal. Right now it seems like Foles will be the backup, due to his contract being hard to sell in a trade. I am super excited to see what Fields can do with a full offseason knowing he is the guy.
Running Backs
Establishing a good run game and letting Fields work play action off of it is going to be a very important part of the offense in years to come. David Montgomery is a leader of this offense and runs as tough as any back in the NFL. I love the way he runs the football. He is an embodiment of the city of Chicago.
Absolutely 0 running lanes = David Montgomery TD pic.twitter.com/kf04I4CYRy
— Bears Nation (@BearsNationCHI) September 15, 2021
Always bouncing off dudes and always falling forward. Thankfully, he is under a rookie contract for 2022, but decisions will soon have to be made. The other guy who showed flashes this year was rookie Khalil Herbert. He stepped up when Montgomery went down briefly with an injury. Herbert is another tough runner with more big-play ability.
Khalil Herbert goes untouched into the end zone! #DaBears
— NFL (@NFL) December 26, 2021
?: #CHIvsSEA on FOX
?: NFL app pic.twitter.com/xp41gSkjFi
A guy I would love to see back on the field is Tarik Cohen. Explosive guy who could do it all before his ACL injury in 2020. Still no word of his return and rumors of a trade. If he somehow did get healthy and return to his 2019 self, oh boy.
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— This Day in Chicago Sports (@ChiSportsDay) December 3, 2021
Tarik Cohen with the crazy punt return TD!@TarikCohen when you coming back?pic.twitter.com/BX0L4ROZuu
Lightning-fast with joystick moves to make any defender look silly. Would be huge to add him back to the offense.
The Ball Catchers
The playmakers on the outside can make all the difference. We saw the Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase connection take the Bengals all the way to the Super Bowl. Fields and Darnell Mooney began to develop a connection as the season went on. Mooney can go up and get it, but can also turn a screen pass into 6.
JUSTIN FIELDS TO DARNELL MOONEY AGAIN ??
— PFF (@PFF) October 3, 2021
pic.twitter.com/8OAFv30iNc
ANDY DALTON TO DARNELL MOONEY. NEVER IN DOUBT pic.twitter.com/DDRJZ9DwFx
— Barstool Chicago (@barstoolchicago) November 21, 2021
The Bears’ offense will have to find a way to get this guy more involved. The connection with Fields is there, I think Mooney will have a huge 2022 season. Everybody knows the struggles that Allen Robinson went through, probably no fault of his own. The coaching staff failed him and it was sad to see. Talent-wise the best receiver on the Bears, but just did not get the targets for whatever reason. With that said, he will most likely be looking for a fresh start somewhere else. A replacement in free agency for A-Rob would go a long way. With guys like Goodwin, Byrd, and Grant Jr. not exactly WR2 or even 3, I can’t help but think the WR room in Chicago will look a whole lot different.
The Quarterback’s Best Friend
Or maybe not. Usually the Quarterback’s safety blanket, the Bears have had a hard time establishing the tight end position. Lack of production and poor blocking. Cole Kmet was supposed to fix these issues and he has gotten better with time. The red zone threat isn’t there right now as he scored 0 touchdowns last year. Signs of improvement and flashes were seen throughout the year and maybe he can take the famous TE jump in year 3.
Kmet will have to have a breakout season and get rid of the drops to step up into the TE1 role. Jimmy Graham will likely be leaving, opening a space for the Bears to add through free agency or the draft.
Protect Justin Fields at all Costs
If you turned the Bears on at any given point this season you probably saw Justin Fields under pressure. At left tackle, Teven Jenkins will be the guy. A rookie who saw some playing time, hindered with an injury suffered in the offseason.
This is the type of stuff I love to see from a young guy. Protecting the franchise QB even if it means taking a penalty. More guys like him on the offensive line can lead to success. What I hate is Germain Ifedi getting upset with Jenkins for defending his QB. This leads me to RT where I can’t stand to see Ifedi in there. Larry Borom was a rookie last year. Borom is a fine replacement. The Center position is one that is going to be found through free agency. At left guard, Cody Whitehair should be capable of stepping up. He will be going into his 6th year and will need to step up and help this young offensive line. The Bears are stuck with him for one more year, so one can only hope he plays to expectation. At right guard, Chicago will most likely be looking to free agency, as James Daniels is expected to leave.
Offensive Wrap-Up Ahead of Free Agency
The Quarterback position is filled, which is always comforting heading into the next year. A lot of questions surrounding the weapons for Fields will have to be answered through the draft or during free agency. There are some good options that fit in the system and fit in the salary cap. I have optimism this offseason that the Bears can make moves in free agency to surround Fields with what he needs to be successful.
