What are the Chicago Bears five biggest needs heading into the 2020 NFL draft?
Over the past week, we have gone through the Chicago Bears depth chart to identify where they stand on the roster and which positions are of need. With the majority of free agents being signed, the rest are likely to wait until the NFL draft to see where they may want to sign.
With that in mind, the Chicago Bears have shifted entirely to the NFL Draft. The Bears have eight picks in total, but five in the top 200. They need to find ways to add at least one player at each of the following positions in this year’s draft
5. LB Depth
This may be a cop-out because it technically fills two positions, but they need to spend, one and maybe two draft picks on the linebacker position. Danny Trevathan is a great asset when healthy, but that aside is needed more than ever as health is a definite issue. Behind him is questionable depth, and not much of it as it is. On the outside, Robert Quinn was a big add, but Barkevious Mingo is signed for one year, and Isaiah Irving and James Vaughters are low ceiling contributors who could be upgraded.
There is a real chance that they address both spots, but they will certainly hit one. Fortunately for them, they do have listed starters at each spot, so they are drafting depth and backups. These will likely be with their day three picks, but they will be drafted.
4. Wide Receiver
There is no doubt that the Bears will be selecting a receiver at some point. They let go of Taylor Gabriel and have not replaced him at all. Gabriel is still around and may even sign back after the draft at a reduced price, but it does not mean that they should not look to draft a receiver.
There is a question of exactly how big of a need this is. The Bears have Allen Robinson and Anthony Miller. They are hoping to run more tight end sets with Trey Burton and Jimmy Graham, as well as two running backs with Tarik Cohen and David Montgomery. This will cut into the three-receiver sets.
Beyond that, do they see steps forward from Javon Wims and Riley Ridley? An early pick would say not.
This is a deep wide receiver draft, and in replacing Gabriel, they are looking for a specific skills set more than a complete overall player or project with upside. They can find role players on day three, and that may be the time when they take a shot on a wide receiver.
3. Cornerback
Similarly to losing Taylor Gabriel with no clear replacement, the team also moved on from Prince Amukamara, and it is not clear who will be across from Kyle Fuller. Amukamara is still a free agency, just like Gabriel, and while the Bears will consider this, they also will look to this position in the draft.
The Bears added Artie Burns and Tre Roberson in free agency. They can compete with Kevin Toliver, who showed upside in his limited starting snaps over the past two years. Toliver has taken strides in the past two years and is a leader in the clubhouse, but is a UDFA with less than 350 defensive snaps in his career.
The Bears also have Stephen Denmark, as well as Buster Skrine and Duke Shelley, although those two would play more slot. Still, there is depth in terms of numbers. There is not depth in names. That is what makes this a need, but not quite the number one most significant need.
2. Safety
The Bears re-signed Deon Bush and DeAndre Houston-Carson. They also brought in Jordan Lucas. Still, it feels like in losing Haha Clinton-Dix, they lost more than they brought back, and this is a position of glaring need.
While there are a few options to step in the start, like cornerback, there is not the same type of depth or investment shown in this position yet.
Deon Bush started for a few games when Eddie Jackson was injured in 2018. He saw the field in a limited role in 2019 as well. He would be the clear leader in the clubhouse as a starter heading into his fifth NFL season.
Bush is likely better in the box than playing high, so replacing Clinton-Dix may be a more natural transition than Jackson. Still, they signed Clinton-Dix cheap after seeing Bush in an extensive starting role. Could they have seen anything year to think more of Bush?
It makes you think that they may highly value this safety class. They may be thinking that they can upgrade over Clinton-Dix with a pick in the top 50. The depth of this safety class is interesting with Grant Delpit, Xavier McKinney, Ashtyn Davis, Kyle Dugger, Jeremy Chinn, and Antoine Winfield. It has be close to a lock that at least one of these names is on the board by the Bears first pick. Keep an eye on these prospects as the Bears hit a position of need.
1. Right Guard
The Bears addressed quarterback, the most crucial position. They addressed tight end, a position that Matt Nagy preaches and builds an offense around. Now, they need to find a way to improve the offensive line.
They took a shot on Germain Ifedi, and Ifedi has some experience at guard. He may profile best there, and currently would be looked at as the starter. They have Rashaad Coward, who started for them last season and Alex Bars, a UDFA who play up and down the line.
Still, between the three, it is hard to say that they should feel comfortable with who their options are at guard.
Another reason safety may surely be a top 50 pick is because this guard class has depth, but not much top 50 talent. Robert Hunt leads the way and is a top guard on many boards.
Ben Bredeson, John Simpson, Jonah Jackson, Solomon Kindley, and so many more guards may slide into the fourth or fifth round range.
The Bears hired Juan Castillo and likely will rely on him. They have to get this right. They have to identify the right guard in the right round and not be afraid to reach for it. More than any position, they have to walk away, feeling they have a potential starter at guard.