The Chicago Bears face another pivotal offseason. Thankfully they have the assets to alter the team for the better.
The Bears project to have $63 million in cap space according to Overthecap.com. That is the seventh most cap space next offseason. They will have two first-round picks that project to be in the top 10. There is a good chance the Bears could end up with the No. 1 overall pick for the second year in a row thanks to owning the rights to the Carolina Panthers first-rounder.
If the Panthers lose on Sunday, that pick will be no lower than the No. 2 pick. If Carolina loses its last two games, then the Bears have the top pick.
That means general manager Ryan Poles could use the pick to take USC quarterback Caleb Williams who is considered a generational talent. Poles could decide to stick with quarterback Justin Fields and trade the top pick away like he did in last year's draft. He got wide receiver D.J. Moore and what is guaranteed to at least be a top-four pick in a deal with the Panthers.
Poles will need to decide the fate of head coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Luke Getsy. The defense has improved tremendously under Eberflus, but the team should be 9-6 and not 6-9. A big reason for that is blowing three games in historic fashion where Eberflus turtled in the end. Fields' struggles to develop as a pocket passer are partly his fault. Getsy's playcalling has not helped either.
The Bears will need to add a center and a couple of wide receivers. The team also could use an upgrade at left tackle. The team could use a stud three-technique defensive tackle. Overall, just adding more talent is required for the Chicago Bears to move up in the 2024 standings.
The Bears are going to have to let some players go to get better. In some cases, it is because production has declined. For others, it is for salary cap purposes. In one player's case, time has simply run out.
There are six players most likely on their way out once the season ends.
Justin Fields
His future with the team has been a hot topic, especially among Bears' social media. Go on X, formerly known as Twitter, and you will see this topic debated endlessly. There is a group that wants the team to move on from Fields. There is another that wants the team to continue to build around Fields.
At least Fields has blocked out the noise to focus on the present.
More Justin Fields on if the constant big-picture questions have made him more philosophical: "I just worry about what’s going on today. Shoot, I don’t process what’s gonna go on in the future. I don’t think anybody does, to be honest. Shoot, I don’t know. You all don’t know.…
— Josh Schrock (@Schrock_And_Awe) December 27, 2023
The only person's opinion that will matter is Ryan Poles. He has indicated he will do his due diligence when it comes to the quarterback prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Williams has been compared to Peyton Manning. He has a great arm and is already better at playing in the pocket than Fields.
Fields has played better since a miserable start to the season. It has still not been to the level to leave no doubt that he is the long-term quarterback.
He is still flashes of potential from the pocket. Where he has been outstanding is on the move. The problem is that Getsy has been inconsistent in calling plays that fit Fields' strengths. That is why the debate rages on as we do not have a clear answer on Fields' ability to operate within the pocket to complement his running ability.
With the No. 1 overall pick staring the franchise in the face, there is a good chance the team will move on with Fields because Williams is too good of a prospect to pass up. Also, it will reset the rookie quarterback contract clock. Poles must decide on exercising Fields' fifth-year option.
Instead, he could go with Caleb, trade Fields for additional picks, and use the cap space Williams' contract provides to continue to add impact players in free agency.
Darnell Mooney
Mooney is a far cry from his career-best 2021 season where he caught 81 passes for 1055 yards and four touchdowns. The lack of talent around him and injuries last season cut his production in half. This year he has been a non-factor.
Some of that is because Fields tends to target D.J. Moore and Cole Kmet. The other part is Mooney still appears to be recovering from that ankle injury. He has not been as explosive as he was once. Also dropping a potential game-winning Hail Mary catch against Cleveland and then making excuses has not helped his cause.
After this season, he is set to be a free agent and has been playing like a No. 4 wide receiver. Those are easy-to-replace players.
Cody Whitehair and Lucas Patrick
The plan was for Whitehair to be the starting center. Teven Jenkins' early season injury delayed that plan. When Whitehair was inserted as the center, he failed to do the main part of the job--snap the ball.
Thankfully, Justin Fields had a baseball background to catch Whitehair's wayward shotgun snaps. It got so bad that Whitehair had to be benched for Lucas Patrick.
Whitehair is now the swing guard and is playing because Jenkins suffered a concussion. Since he will be 32 next season with a $10.15 million cap hit, it is highly unlikely he will be back next season. Ja'Tyre Carter is still on his rookie deal and has proven to be a capable backup.
Patrick has never lived up to the hope Poles had when he signed him as a free agent in 2022. Injuries ruined his season last year. Poor play has done him in this year. The Chicago Bears need to upgrade at center and letting Patrick walk in free agency is the first step in addressing that.
Eddie Jackson
Jackson was having a renaissance in 2022 before an injury cut short his season. Eddie has one interception this season. He is set to have a $14.05 cap hit in 2024. The Bears would have a $12 million dead cap hit if they cut him before June 1st. They would also save around $5 million in cap space.
The Chicago Bears simply cannot have that type of cap hit for so little turnover production. Jackson is in the same position in Whitehair as he will be 32 and the Bears have cheaper and younger options. Elijah Hicks has played well when given the opportunity.
Poles could also use a draft pick to play next to Jaquan Brisker. He could also bring in a replacement through free agency.
D'Onta Foreman
The running back was a healthy scratch to begin the season. Then he became a major part of the offense when Fields went down with an injury.
He pretty much beat the Las Vegas Raiders and Carolina Panthers on his own. Well, he had the help of the offensive line. Foreman was a nice free agent addition by Poles. He is also a running back.
You just do not pay running backs anymore.
Khalil Herbert still will have one year left on his rookie deal. Roschon Johnson will probably get a bigger workload too. Instead, the team will be better served signing another veteran or drafting a running back late in the draft to round its running back trio next season.