Bears preview: Mitchell Trubisky waiting in wings behind Mike Glennon
Training camps are still in the distance, but USA TODAY Sports is providing five things you need to know about every team in the NFL to catch you up on the offseason. Today, the Chicago Bears ...
1. They didn’t overpay for Mitchell Trubisky
If Trubisky’s the quarterback they think, that is. Across the league, the North Carolina product was the consensus top QB in this draft class. The Bears got word out they wanted to trade down from No. 3, giving them a good idea of who wanted to trade up. The Cleveland Browns served as an effective boogeyman, considering they had ammo to leapfrog Chicago to No. 2 and public affinity for Trubisky. So, the Bears showed conviction and dealt three mid-round picks – which are fairly easy to recoup – to the San Francisco 49ers to make sure they got their man. Time will tell if the evaluation is right, but imagine the fallout in a QB-starved city if Trubisky became the player the Bears project somewhere else and they’d drawn the line at throwing in a fourth-round pick.
2. Mike Glennon’s the QB for now
The ex-Tampa Bay Buccaneers backup is guaranteed $18.5 million in the first 12 months of the free-agent contract he signed in March. From there, the Bears can decide what to do. And if Glennon plays well enough to keep the job, that’s a good problem to have. Sure, there’s more pressure now with a first-round pick behind Glennon. Ideally, though, Trubisky doesn’t take a snap in 2017, giving him time he needs to develop.
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3. They have some pieces on offense
Jordan Howard ran for 1,313 yards, second in the league, as a rookie last season. The interior of the o-line should be solid. They let top receiver Alshon Jeffery walk in free agency, but signed a high-character vertical threat (Markus Wheaton) and a slot guy who knows Dowell Loggains’ offense (Kendall Wright). Former No. 7 overall pick Kevin White, who has played in four games through two NFL seasons, is healthy again (for now). Another receiver, Cameron Meredith, could be primed for a huge year. The addition of veteran Victor Cruz further bolsters the wideout group. And while tight end Adam Shaheen – drafted in the second round after a trade down to get back one of those selections dealt for Trubisky – has a big adjustment ahead coming from Division II Ashland, his size/speed combination is intriguing. Little fourth-round back Tarik Cohen from North Carolina AT&T had some fans around the league, too.
4. Defense is the question
They have a chance to be stout in the front seven, led by nose tackle Eddie Goldman (assuming his ankle is OK), defensive end Akiem Hicks, edge rusher Leonard Floyd and linebacker Danny Trevathan (again, pending health). Who knows how the secondary shakes out, though. A slew of free-agent signings (Prince Amukamara, Quintin Demps, Marcus Cooper, B.W. Webb) will duke it out with the incumbent likes of Adrian Amos and Kyle Fuller, a former first-round pick who missed all of last season with a knee injury and had his fifth-year option declined.
5. Pressure’s on John Fox
Injuries played a significant role in the Bears’ slide from 6-10 to 3-13 in Fox’s second season as coach. But he’s 62 years old, has a contract that expires after the 2018 season and is sure to face scrutiny over whether he’s the man to see through the rebuild. Ownership’s willingness to let Ryan Pace pull the trigger on Trubisky after signing Glennon suggests the long-term thought is there with the Bears’ GM. Whether that extends to their coach probably depends how a young roster progresses.
Follow Tom Pelissero on Twitter @TomPelissero.
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