It’s time for the Bears to start looking towards the draft

The Chicago Bears lost again, and it’s time for them to start thinking about the upcoming offseason and how to reshape the roster.

Wide left. Eddy Pineiro watched as his kick missed in the final seconds of a 17-16 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, ending the Chicago Bears season.

At 3-4, Chicago is buried in the brutal NFC. The Bears also have one of the hardest schedules in the league, and a quarterback in Mitchell Trubisky who can’t consistently throw. It’s over.

Moving forward, it’s about the draft. It’s about free agency. It’s about figuring out the way to a Super Bowl.

It’s hard to believe that path includes Trubisky. Entering the fourth campaign of his rookie deal, it’s highly unlikely the Bears will exercise his fifth-year option. In short, quarterback is the place to start.

Normally, a first-round pick would be the move. However, the Bears are without one after acquiring Khalil Mack from the Oakland Raiders last year. The best Chicago can do is package later picks to move up in the round or use future firsts, but that’s a tough deal to make when you’re looking to trade up 30 spots.

If the Bears truly want to upgrade, it’s likely coming in free agency. Tom Brady and Philip Rivers are on expiring deals, but those appear to be pipe dreams. The reality is Jameis Winston, Ryan Tannehill, Marcus Mariota and Andy Dalton. Those type of signal-callers will be on the market, and maybe worth a look from general manager Ryan Pace.

Beyond quarterback, Pace needs to evaluate all options. Releasing Kyle Long would open up $8.1 million in needed cap space. Is Leonard Floyd worth $13 million? Mike Davis would also be a $3 million cap savings. One would imagine Pace will be mulling all these decisions over carefully.

Chicago came into the season with dreams of a Super Bowl parade down the Magnificent Mile dancing in the heads of many. Now? It’s all fallen apart horribly.