Five Reasons Chicago Bears are contenders
2. The perfect offseason around a second-year quarterback
Ever since the new CBA, there has been a model for winning in the NFL. Rookie contracts have now become extremely cheap and having a talented rookie quarterback on one of those contracts is an extreme cheat code on the salary cap. Teams have noticed this and taken advantage.
We saw this with that Seattle Seahawks defense that was mentioned. Russell Wilson was placed into that defense as a rookie. After a nice run, the team put together a strong offseason. They added a dynamic pass-catching option in Percy Harvin and added two big-time pass rushers in Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett. That put a strong defense and a young quarterback over the top in year two.
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The Philadelphia Eagles did this just last season. Carson Wentz showed flashes as a rookie, but the team needed to build up the roster. The Philadelphia Eagles added Chris Long and Derek Barnett to highlight their pass rush rotation. They also added Alshon Jeffrey, and Torrey Smith to replenish the pass catchers. The additions put them over the top.
Now, the 2018 Chicago Bears. Mitch Trubisky has shown a flash here and there, but this roster needed an overhaul. First, the pass catchers. Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel and Anthony Miller turn a group around overnight. Then, the pass rusher. What can beat Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett? How do you match the four-man rush of Vinny Curry and Brandon Graham with Long and Barnett added? You add the best pass rusher in the NFL in Khalil Mack. The rewards have already shown.
Pass catchers, pass rushers. That is the recipe for making a second-year quarterback a Super Bowl contender. The Chicago Bears followed the recipe and are 3-1 due to the fact.