NEWSLETTER
While GM Ryan Pace stares directly into the face of a rebuild, the fact is he has done his fair share of tear-down work since arriving in Chicago – specifically on offense.
The Bears were one year removed from one of the best offensive seasons in franchise history when Pace took over in January 2015. The 2013 Bears finished second in the NFL in scoring average (27.7 per game), fifth in passing yards (4,281) and eighth in total yards (381.8 per game). However, head coach Marc Trestman was ousted when things took a major step back in 2014, and the players who helped produce the closest thing the Bears have had to an offensive juggernaut would follow in short order.
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Since Pace took over, he has traded two Pro Bowl pass catchers (Brandon Marshall, Martellus Bennett) and let another (Alshon Jeffery) walk in free agency. Also gone is Matt Forte, a Pro Bowl running back who was allowed to take his talents elsewhere after an eight-year career with the Bears.
In case you were wondering why Jay Cutler and the rest of the Bears’ quarterbacks struggled to put points on the board in the last two seasons, just re-read the paragraphs above.
Moving forward, it appears as if Pace is trying to load up on offense during this free agency period in a move that is a long time coming. Rich Campbell examines the playmaking abilities of the newest Bears in the Chicago Tribune, while ESPN Chicago’s Jeff Dickerson digs into the money handed out to the newest Bears tasked to right the ship. With these two pieces as our guide, it is clear that the Bears – despite missing out on the market’s top options – are using their ample cap space to spend on starters.
This spending spree is highlighted by four new offensive skill position players, three (Mike Glennon, Markus Wheaton, Dion Sims) will combine to make $27 million in guarantees without counting the yet-to-be-confirmed guaranteed money of Kendall Wright. However, it’s worth noting Glennon and Wright have been steady starters (at some point) during their NFL careers.
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It is a stark contrast compared to what the Bears have done in the previous two free agency cycles under Pace, in which Eddie Royal ($10 million) was the only offensive skill position player to receive any guaranteed money.
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The risk in loading up on short-term free agents is in potential blocking of talent acquired in the draft. Frankly, however, none of the players listed above is the type you’d absolutely require to block a draft pick with potential. However, it’s worth asking how much time will head coach John Fox be willing to spend developing players in the third year of a four-year contract after two losing seasons.
All things considered, the Bears should continue to add playmakers in the draft so they won’t have to continually spend on short-term assets in the future.
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