2019 Offseason

   Its August, football is back... sort of. Its still a ways to go for meaningful football but something is better than nothing I guess, this period is mostly for the rookies to show their guts so they can be considered to be part of the final 53 man roster or the practice squad. Football news is blowing up and the only thing I'm interested in is to not hear that someone in the team got hurt.

The draft is a thing of the past, free agency and trade options are mostly over for the Bears who are very limited in cap space, it would be really surprising if they did something significant at this stage of the season. So, now a recap of the additions to the team from this offseason.

   With limited picks in this years draft Ryan Pace did what he has been doing since being GM for the Bears and that is getting his guys no matter what and no matter where they competed.

   David Montgomery - Ryan Pace made yet another move, went up the board and drafted someone I didn't imagine would be available in the third round, Montgomery was my favorite RB to get drafted by the Bears, so yeah I loved this pick. I believe Montgomery will do well in Matt Nagy's system, it will all depend on how fast he can digest the playbook and how healthy he can stay. He wont have to do it all on his own the first time around with good depth at the RB position. Running the ball is extremely important but it helps that every RB in the roster right now is descent at catching the ball.

   Riley Ridley - A good route runner with size and good hands, comes in to make the depth at WR even deeper, I don't know if there was another time the WR position was this talented and versatile. 

   Duke Shelley - I didn't see any gameplay of Shelley until he got drafted and I was surprised that he wasn't really considered on draft boards or talked about more by analysts, he looks to be a very fierce nickel corner with quickness, tenacity and ball skills.

   Kerrith Whyte - A speedy running back who can punish defenses if they don't pay attention. Speed is something that the Bears have lacked for some time, its good to have it at hand.

   Stephen Denmark - A very raw CB with size and a nasty tackler, can go up and get it as he has WR experience but has no feet technique and is not fluid enough to be called a corner yet, still relies to much on his physique and speed.

Free agent rookie signings that caught my eye,

   Alex Bars & Sam Mustipher get to reunite with their Oline coach ones more, familiarity can only help them get to speed much quicker.

   Emanuel Hall was considered by some analysts to have slipped at the draft, an all around WR that will help to generate competition in an already crowded and talented WR core.

   Chuck Harris the successor of Khalil Mack at Buffalo will be following the footsteps of his former teammate and hopefully learn as much as possible from him. 

   Dax Raymond was one of my favorite TEs in the draft who is still raw but has good potential to be a big red zone threat once he gets the hang of things. He will be pushing for Ben Braunekers spot in the depth chart.

   Mathieu Betts gets to show why he was drafted 3nd overall in the CFL. In games he has shown good strength and a big motor as a pass rusher from the edge, him and Harris will have to show big potential to catch up to RRH and Aron Lynch.

Even with good money spent on big talent already on the team, Pace got some needed help via free agency to fill some holes on the depth chart and strengthen other areas.

   Mike Davis mixes well with what the Bears already have at the RB position, brings experience, shows good speed and agility, not afraid to lower the shoulder and can catch out of the backfield.

   Buster Skrine was brought in to replace Bryce Callahan, is similar in size but with a better health record although he hasn't put the numbers Callahan has, still with the drafting of Shelley I don't believe the nickel position will be given to Skrine and will have to compete for it, which is how it should be.

   Cordarelle Patterson is one of the best pickups at free agency for the Bears, hopefully he can get the offense in much better position with some good returns on kickoffs. He has shown to be a dangerous returner and can be a gadget player in Nagys offense to confuse the defense even more than last season lining him up at WR or RB.

   HaHa Clinton-Dix could be considered the best pick up in terms of value, talent and need. Still, it will be interesting to see two deep safety's on the field at the same time but it could end up being fun watching opposing QBs think twice when wanting to go deep.

   Marvin Hall another speedy receiver to the mix who I see as backup to Taylor Gabriel and at the return game.

   Ted Larsen returns as an experience interior lineman who, if he gets to be on the team, I hope doesn't get to play one down.

   Time to see some rookies develop and may the football gods have mercy on our starters.