2021 Offseason post draft

    The incredible happened on draft night, with the 11th pick, Ryan Pace along with Matt Nagy and the Chicago Bears drafted HOPE for the 2021 season by picking (some would say STEALING) QB Justin Fields, my #1 player of all the draft dropped enough for Pace to go get the QB that me and a bunch of other people in the interwebs truly believe he has arrived to break the cycle of bad QBing that the Bears and fans have suffered since the creation of the NFL and even further back. There is no denying Pace got extra lucky, Fields could easily been picked by the Broncos but the rumors of a potential Aaron Rodgers trade was too real for them to ignore and instead went and drafted the best CB in the draft, then the Eagles traded up to get the last of the top three receivers and most likely ruined the Giants plans which created the opening for the Bears to trade up with them, Pace then gave Bears fans around the world something to be thrilled about this year. Of course there is still a chance Fields is not all that, but its less probable than any other QB the Bears have had. Pace ended giving away the 20th pick and a 5th rounder of 2020 along with the 1st and a 4th rounder's of next year, I would say that the 5th rounder wasn't necessary but if all goes well it will not matter what so ever, with news that Vikings and Saints were interested of trading up, it makes it even more understandable. Not giving up on the 2nd and 3rd rounder's of 2020 was huge, this gave chance to the other big move Pace made by getting Fields necessary protection and drafted Teven Jenkins with the 39th pick, Jenkins was slotted to be the Bears 20th pick on many mock drafts. With the limited amount of picks Pace had after the trade up for Fields, he used the 3rd rounder and got arguably exactly what the pick was worth to get up on the board to 39 while getting a 5th in return, any other pick wouldn't have gotten the Bears high enough to get Jenkins on time, so Pace did  exactly what he needed to do to get him. Recent news of Charles Leno being cut gives Jenkins his spot at LT which I'm not worried about, I'm confident Jenkins can do it better than Leno but I do agree that these cap hits are hurting the Bears roster to get rid of players that can be bargain chips for future picks if taken the proper time to find a trade partner. Kyle Fuller being cut was gut wrenching, how do you cut your best CB just like that without getting any incentives? the same could be said about Leno, even if he is average, he still played one of the most respected positions in the game and that counts for something, but again the Bears got nothing in return.

   The acquisition of Larry Borom, Khalil Herbert, Dazz Newsome, Thomas Graham and Khyiris Tonga will create necessary competition. Borom played RT and didn't look bad doing it, he seems to struggle against edge speed rushers but can maybe help himself somewhat if he slims down a bit, he could try to play guard but he would need to get stronger. Herbert  is very patient and fluid, not fast but quick to decide when picking his lane and has good size, he can help Montgomery rest and maybe make Damien Williams expendable for next season. Newsome is a smallish slot receiver that can contribute at return duties immediately, he isn't a burner but is quick in his cuts which makes him elusive and will leave defenders behind if they are not careful, he can become a field stretcher if he pans out. Graham I don't know much about, he looks to be a ball hawk and was viewed to go much sooner in the draft, he has prototypical size for a CB and the Bears are in real need for someone to step up at the position to replace Fuller. Tonga is your typical plug NT, short, stout and all strength to stop anything coming from the middle of the line of scrimmage, he can help Eddie Goldman get a breather as a rotational player.

   I would give this draft a B+, the two first picks made can be game changers for this organization, it attacks the weakest spots on the roster, the other picks fill an already solid team that is aging and is in need of youth. The reasons I have for not giving this draft class an A- is that there where other players I would have preferred they picked that I considered better players but there is value on the ones they got, the loss of picks this year and the next hurt but were reasonable loses for what they got in return and finally even if its not fair to evaluate this draft for it, it really was a bummer that they couldn't bring more talent at WR, TE and OL with a bunch of UDFA that where available. Terry, Yeboah, Ealy, Philyor, Pooka Williams, Imatorbhebhe, Hutcherson, Vasher, Alaric Jackson, Cade Johnson, Warren Jackson, Adams Jr. and Jamie Newman where players I really valued as draftable and none of them got picked by the Bears.

   As of right now the offense looks way more promising than last year obviously, even if the best route for a rookie is to sit until he has more feel of the offense, I believe that Fields can be ready to play on week 1. The OL has a bunch of players to compete for every spot that is not LT, that will be Jenkins and Jenkins alone which is the only part that is worrisome, there isn't anyone else that has experience at LT. At wideout maybe Pace can now convince Robinson to stay for a couple of years more along with Darnell Mooney, the WR3 spot is open for competition with Anthony Miller and Riley Ridley getting another crack at it, Marquise Goodwin and Newsome will try to help Mooney open the field for his teammates. TE hasn't been upgraded this offseason so I believe Jimmy Graham isn't going anywhere and will play more as an outside receiver with Kmet as the inline TE.

   This defense starts as it should, with the DL, and doesn't look to have downgraded one bit with Akiem Hicks still leading the charge with a whole crew of versatile players, this group is still the best group the team has. EDGE will still be solid as long as Khalil Mack is playing, lets hope the new guys can help him loosen up a bit. LB was the other area not addressed, its obvious that Danny Trevathan has lost a step and may be on his final days as a solid starter, this is the most troubling issue I believe the roster will face this season. DBs has, I hope, enough bodies to compete and group a solid secondary unit.

   I cant say it enough and I'm not going to lie, I wasn't expecting good things to happen this 2021 season, Pace got a break and didn't hesitate to take advantage of it, even if it depends on when Fields steps into the field, its something I can look forward to.