10 biggest Chicago Bears needs going into the NFL Draft

The Chicago Bears also have some areas that need upgrades but it isn’t paramount.

6. Special Teams

The Chicago Bears have long snapper Patrick Scales and kicker Cairo Santos in the fold. They lost long-time punter Patrick O’Donnell to the Green Bay Packers in free agency.

The Bears also lost Pro Bowl kick returner, Jakeem Grant, to the Cleveland Browns. Also, long-time special teamers Deon Bush and Joel Iyiegbuniwe have signed elsewhere.

They have filled some of those holes with their free agency signings. The Bears could use some camp competition at punter. The Bears currently have Ryan Winslow on the roster.

Chicago’s offense will be a work in progress so field position will be more important than ever. That means having a good punt coverage game and a punter that pins teams deep in their territory.

The Bears could also use a dynamic kick or punt returner. These are needs that can be addressed in undrafted free agency.

7. Pass Rushers

Khalil Mack is gone. That is a big hole. The Bears still have their franchise single-season sack record-holder Robert Quinn on the roster. Trevis Gipson had a solid sophomore campaign and looks to get better in his third season.

Poles also signed Al-Quadin Muhammad who is very familiar with Eberflus’ defense based on their time together in Indianapolis.

Unless the Chicago Bears trade Quinn on draft day, there is not a pressing need for a pass rusher. If the Bears choose to add more bodies at that position, they will most likely go down the undrafted free agency route.

8. Tight End

The Bears started the offseason with just Cole Kmet and Jesper Horsted under contract. Poles has gone out and added James O’Shaughnessy along with Ryan Griffin.

The Chicago Bears tight end room has been sufficiently addressed. If the Bears want some depth at this position, adding an undrafted free agent makes more sense than using a draft pick in a weak tight end class.

9. Running Back

The Bears have added a fullback, Khari Blasingame. It has been a while since the Chicago Bears had a true fullback. Getsy’s offense requires having at least one.

Tarik Cohen was released in a salary-cap move and after it was determined his knee injury may never let him play football again.

Otherwise, the Bears are set at running back with David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert returning. Poles would be wise to add a couple of undrafted free agent running backs for depth heading into training camp.

10. Quarterback

Justin Fields is the unquestioned starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears. Poles went out and added veteran Trevor Sieman to back up Fields.

Poles is hoping to trade Nick Foles after the veteran spent all of last season as the highly paid third-string quarterback. Foles’ salary cap hit is $10.6 million so it will be hard for Poles to move Foles for anything more than a future conditional draft pick.

If Poles is unable to find a taker for Foles, look for the former Super Bowl MVP quarterback to cut after June 1st. With Ryan Willis on the roster, it looks like the Bears are set at quarterback heading into training camp.