Gabriel: What's Next For The Bears?
By Greg Gabriel--
(CBS) The season's over for the 2015 Chicago Bears. It was a season that wasn't as bad as some people thought it would be and not as good as it should have been. Looking at their 6-10 record, the Bears finished a game better than a season prior. Assessing the team, these Bears were far better, being more disciplined and way more competitive.
While the six wins were a disappointment, I really feel that a good foundation was set for the future. Give this team about six more quality players, and it will compete for a playoff berth. Before the Bears look for new talent, decisions have to be made on the players currently here.
Did Sunday mark the final game for Matt Forte in a Bears uniform? If it was, he went out in class. He rushed for 76 yards and caught three passes for 34 yards and a touchdown. Having been involved with the drafting of Forte, I know who he is and what he is. The truth is he will go down in history as one of the great Chicago Bears of all time. He's the consummate pro and a strong team leader. I'm hoping that something can be worked out and Forte can finish his career as a Bear. He represents the Bears, his family and the city of Chicago all too well.
What will happen to receiver Alshon Jeffery? His contract is up, and he hits free agency in March. This was a frustrating season for both Jeffery and Bears management because injuries prevented him from playing to his optimum level. When healthy, he's a legitimate No. 1 receiver. The trouble was he wasn't healthy in 2015, playing in just nine games while dealing with various soft-tissue injuries.
Do the Bears offer him a multi-year contract or do they place the franchise tag on him? Receivers like Alshon are hard to find, and my guess is he will be franchised so that both the coaching staff and management can get another year to see just who he is.
A decision has to be made on Martellus Bennett, who's one of the better tight ends in the NFL. He can be a force as a blocker and a receiver but is a malcontent. Is it worth keeping him around? My guess is we have seen the last of Bennett in Chicago.
Going into the season, Jermon Bushrod was the starting left tackle. He missed time early in the season with injuries and was replaced by second-year pro Charles Leno. With a base salary of more than $6 million due next year and more than $2 million in a signing bonus, I assume he won't be here. If a club is going to pay a player nearly $9 million, it needs $9 million in production back.
Last spring, Bears management signed a number of veteran free agents with one-year contracts. They have to make a decision on which of these players they want to bring back. I would think that right off the bat, they want to re-sign cornerback Tracey Porter, who had a strong season and deserves a multi-year deal.
Tight end Zach Miller also has an expiring contract. He proved with his play down the stretch that he's a keeper.
Once the coaching staff and management decide what to do with all the veterans coming out of contract, the focus will then switch to the draft and free agency. The perfect scenario would be that the strengths of the draft and free agency complement each other and the Bears can fill their needs through a combination of the these two player acquisition routes.
In free agency, the pro scouting department has already done quite a bit of work on potential free agents. Now, the coaching staff will get more involved by evaluating players that the Bears could target in free agency. The same will hold true for the draft. Starting with the Senior Bowl, the coaches will now get involved with the evaluation process. Unlike last year when it was nearly mid-February before the staff got involved, this year the coaches can get a running start on the evaluating.
The coaches won't be asked to evaluate every player at their position, but more likely 20 or so players. They will get a chance to see some of these players at the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine, and they will see others at the various pro days.
Fans want to know who the Bears will be targeting in the draft, but right now it's almost impossible to know that. Free agency and the draft go hand in hand. Who the Bears sign and lose in free agency will have a strong effect on who they draft. The reality is it won't be until the beginning of April that we really know who the Bears might target. The important part to know is that the Bears have the 11th pick, so they'll have the opportunity to nab a player who can step in and be productive immediately.
The Bears will have what amounts to a bonus first round pick in 2016 because last year's top pick, Kevin White, will finally see the field.
It used to be that the offseason was dead time, but no longer. What the Chicago Bears will look like in 2016 will be determined with the decisions made over the next four months. For the evaluation staff, this is the most exciting time of the year.
Greg Gabriel is a former NFL talent evaluator who is an on-air contributor for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @greggabe.
