Matt Nagy comes to the Second City after yet another disappointing season under John Fox. How can the Bears get better now without sacrificing long-term growth?
They’re close. No, really. It feels weird to say about a team that hasn’t won more than six games since 2011 and hasn’t been a playoff team since 2010, but it’s true.
In building a franchise, it starts with the quarterback. Mitch Trubisky probably wasn’t worth trading up for and may never be better than Deshaun Watson or Patrick Mahomes. On top of that, he struggled mightily as a rookie and the Bears had to hide him for much of the year.
That said, the team loves what he brings, his ability to throw on the move and use his legs. New head coach Matt Nagy should provide a creative framework in which to work.
Beyond that, the Bears have a pass rusher teams have to worry about. In fact, they have two with Leonard Floyd and Akiem Hicks. And if they have playmakers in the secondary with Eddie Jackson and Adrian Amos.
If they can re-sign Kyle Fuller, this defense should be solid once again and that’s before adding any talent.
The run game powers this team with Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen who Nagy should love designing offense for and this team could take a significant step forward if they can just make a few tweaks this offseason. Here are five places they could go.
5. Get Trubisky a No. 1 passing game option
Let’s start with the “duh” portion. That’s the thing about teams that aren’t very good: it’s obvious where they have flaws.
Kevin White can’t stay on the field. Cameron Meredith didn’t play in 2017 and despite being an underrated receiver, isn’t a centerpiece of any passing game. Not any good one anyway.
Calvin Ridley makes sense for the Bears in the draft, but there are also some intriguing options in free agency though no true No. 1’s unless the Jaguars really are crazy enough to let Allen Robinson walk out the door.
Don’t be surprised to see the Bears use multiple draft picks on a receiver.
I also purposely left this open-ended. Even though they drafted Adam Shaheen last year, there are some quality move tight ends in the draft and free agency. Chicago could add one and use him the way Nagy used Travis Kelce in Kansas City.