Chicago Bears: 5 offseason needs in 2020

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 22: Khalil Mack #52 of the Chicago Bears rushes against Eric Fisher #72 of the Kansas City Chiefs at Soldier Field on December 22, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. The Chiefs defeated the Bears 26-3. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

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GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – DECEMBER 15: Khalil Mack #52 of the Chicago Bears lines up for a play in the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on December 15, 2019 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

4. Rediscover the pass rush

In 2018, general manager Ryan Pace orchestrated one of the bigger trades in the league in recent years by obtaining 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack from the then-Oakland Raiders for first-round picks in both 2019 and ’20, as well as a sixth-round selection in ’19 and a third-round pick this year.

The Bears do have extra selections in both the second- and seventh-rounds this year. So the jury is still out on how this trade panned out for both organizations.

As for Mack, he was a high-impact sensation during his first season in the Windy City. He finished with 12.5 sacks and six forced fumbles in 14 regular-season contests. The Bears’ defense came up with 50 quarterback traps and Matt Nagy’s team forced a league-high 36 turnovers.

This past season, though, the takeaways were down to 19 (10 interceptions, 9 fumbles recoveries) and the club finished with 18 fewer sacks (32). Mack played in all 16 games but saw his QB trap total dropped to 8.5.

So does the addition of one-time first-round draft pick Robert Quinn help? He led the Cowboys with 11.5 sacks in ’19 but has usually done his best work as an end in the 4-3 defense. The Bears also added outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo this offseason. A healthy Akiem Hicks helps but Ryan Pace could look for more edge performers in the draft.

Next: No. 3

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