Durkin: Bears' Top 2016 Offseason Needs
By Dan Durkin--
(CBS) When you've accumulated only 11 wins over the past two seasons, as the Chicago Bears have, the short and snarky answer to what the team needs is, well, everything.
One can make a legitimate argument for any position on the field being the team's biggest need heading into the 2016 season.
Over the past week, general manager Ryan Pace has made decisions to part ways with veteran players like running back Matt Forte and left tackle Jermon Bushrod. Both moves underscore Pace's desire to reshape the roster with younger players, but they leave a leadership void in their wake.
As most front offices do, the Bears are assessing the perceived strengths of the free-agent class with those of the upcoming draft class. Such planning allows them to plot a course for how and who they will target in free agency, which officially begins on March 9, with the legal tampering period starting on March 7.
Flush with nearly $60 million in free cap space (assuming a $155 million team cap limit), the Bears are in a prime position to make targeted, tactical moves in free agency that ideally position them to take the best player available with the 11th overall pick in the draft.
Despite having an extensive list of needs, certain positions are weighted more heavily than others. Let's take a look at some of these positions as the personnel department prepares to cast a wide net.
(Please note, the positions below aren't listed in terms of priority.)
Defensive end
For a position that features no more than two players in a base package, the fact that 11 different players got snaps at last season illustrates the Bears are seeking answers at five-technique.
The team's most steady performer was Jarvis Jenkins, who was adequate in spurts. As a pending free agent, his play hardly warrants immediate attention in free agency. Signing Jenkins and the regrettable decision to offer the troubled Ray McDonald to one-year holdover deals foreshadowed the team would be looking for longer-term solutions this offseason.
When you look back at defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's time with the 49ers, Justin Smith was the lynchpin of the defensive front. He was a two-way performer, stout at the point of attack against the run and relentless off the edge and on stunts to move the pocket.
Fortunately for the Bears, there will be several viable options available both in free agency and the draft.
Here are the Bears defensive ends currently under contract for 2016 (age, contract expiration):
Keith Browner (27, 2017)
Ego Ferguson (24 2018)
Greg Scruggs (25, 2017)
Will Sutton (24, 2018)
Cornelius Washington (26, 2017)
Inside linebacker
When Fangio was in San Francisco, the catalysts of his defense were inside linebackers Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman. Both players were coordinators on the field, trusted generals who set the front and coverage scheme, then read their keys to allow their instincts to take over and get to the football. They were two of the most consistent playmakers over the middle of the field and were difference-makers both against the pass and run.
Narrowing the scope down to the 2015 Bears, Fangio dealt with an entirely different situation. His group of inside linebackers were young, inexperienced players still adjusting to the speed of the NFL, let alone the nuances of calling a defense.
In all, four different players got time at inside linebacker-- Shea McClellin, Christian Jones, Jonathan Anderson and John Timu. This rotation was needed both due to talent shortcomings and injury. Rotating linebackers from base to nickel -- as Fangio was forced to do -- isn't sustainable.
Much like defensive end, the Bears will have several solid options in both free agency and the draft.
Bears inside linebackers currently under contract for 2016:
Jonathan Anderson (24, 2017)
Lamin Barrow (25, 2017)
Christian Jones (24, 2017)
John Timu (23, 2018)
Guard
The Bears' miscalculation at offensive tackle left them in a bind just a week before the season. The preseason competition between Jordan Mills and Charles Leno Jr. didn't produce a winner, and the team was forced to move Pro Bowl right guard Kyle Long to right tackle. Then an early season injury to center Will Montgomery shuffled the line again, and the group was a liability.
In all, the team used six different offensive line combinations with three different sets of guards. Matt Slauson has proved to be an invaluable member of the offensive line and the "glue guy." He's best served at left guard, but the duo the team used in place of Long -- Vladimir Ducasse and Patrick Omameh -- are best suited as emergency backups.
The free agent class has some strong options at guard for the Bears to consider, while the draft class quickly thins out.
Bears guards currently under contract for 2016:
Matt Slauson (29, 2018)
Safety
Since 2009, the Bears have gone through 22 different starting combinations at the safety position. After not missing a start over the previous five seasons, veteran Antrel Rolle was brought in to help stabilize the position. However, made only seven starts and ended the season on injured reserve.
The Bears found a keeper in rookie Adrian Amos, but his play took a significant drop when he was forced to move from free safety to strong safety. The Bears are rumored to be interested in Broncos strong safety David Bruton, which doesn't come as much of a surprise given Amos seems better served to play the free safety role.
However, Amos must improve his ball production. He played 1,027 of the team's 1,030 defensive snaps yet finished the season with only four passes broken up and no interceptions.
Bears safeties currently under contract for 2016:
Adrian Amos (22, 2019)
Demontre Hurst (24, 2017)
Anthony Jefferson (23, 2018)
Harold Jones-Quartey (22, 2018)
Antrel Rolle (33, 2018)
Edge rusher
As the Broncos proved, you can never have too many pass rushers. Considering John Fox was in Denver when those pass rushers were acquired, you know he puts high value on the position.
Pernell McPhee was an impact player last season and the Bears' most reliable two-way edge player. However, even prior to injuries catching up with McPhee, he's not a speed rusher. The Bears need to get more speed and athleticism off the edge to collapse the pocket.
Veterans Willie Young and Lamarr Houston both came on strong late in the season, which makes sense given the major lower-leg injuries they suffered in the 2014 season. However, Young's a free agent after the 2016 season, and Houston isn't a speed rusher but rather a relentless hand-fighter who wins with power moves.
There are some potential splash edge rushers in free agency who may draw interest from the Bears, but the draft isn't as strong.
Bears outside linebackers currently under contract for 2016:
Lamarr Houston (28, 2020)
Danny Mason (25, 2017)
Pernell McPhee (27, 2020)
Willie Young (30, 2017)
Cornerback
Free agent Tracy Porter went from potential training camp casualty to the team's best cover cornerback. Heading into unrestricted free agency, Porter played himself into a priority status as the team looks at retaining their own talent.
Opposite Porter, Kyle Fuller had an up-and-down season. While he made a few impressive plays, he hasn't had the impact expected from the 14th overall selection in the 2014 draft. What's even more painful about that is looking at the impact that players drafted immediately after Fuller have had for their respective teams.
Undrafted free agent Bryce Callahan was a nice find as Chicago's slot cornerback, but the fact that there was a noticeable drop-off when he was unavailable speaks to the need for upgrades at the position.
The draft class is loaded with talent at the cornerback position.
Bears cornerbacks currently under contract for 2016:
DeVante Bausby (23, 2017)
Bryce Callahan (24, 2017)
Kyle Fuller (24, 2018)
Jacoby Glenn (22, 2017)
Dan Durkin covers the Bears for CBSChicago.com and is a frequent contributor to 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter at @djdurkin.
