Franchise tag still possible for cornerback Kyle Fuller — Bears GM

“Now I feel like we’re going to be a lot more creative and have defenses off-balance”.

It’s so young, 29-year-old guard Kyle Long is the oldest player under contract for 2018.

Because they hitched their wagon previous year to quarterback Mitchell Trubisky with the second overall pick, the Bears have no need for any of the four or five quarterbacks who will be drafted in the first round. When they signed Glennon to a three-year, $45M contract on March 7, 2017, most thought that that was the solution for the meantime.

“We know that and Ryan knows that”, Colbert said. There are multiple factors that go into that. Leonard Floyd is really the only one on the roster. So, it was kind of two-fold.

The Bears were No. 6 in the National Football League in sack percentage a year ago, even though defensive lineman Akiem Hicks, with 81/2, was their only player with more sacks than Floyd’s 41/2. With the hole at guard, right tackle also needs to be shored up by the Bears so a heavy dose of offensive linemen in the draft is expected from the team.

“We have to go after some receivers. we definitely have to get some receivers in and help Mitch”, Howard said. “For us, it just so happens to be a few guys that are higher in age”.

The Bears now have shed Young and Pernell McPhee and are thin at outside linebacker and cornerback as free agency approaches.

What’s more likely is the Bears will look for upside in a player like Kony Ealy or Alex Okafor, the latter of whom was drafted by the Saints during Pace’s time with the organization.

This is another move that is probably in the best interest of the team, but it is also one that will disappoint some Bears’ fans. Finding undervalued gems like they did with Akiem Hicks in 2016 will be incredibly important for the Bears going forward. We’re still evaluating the process. And if they have playmakers in the secondary with Eddie Jackson and Adrian Amos. One of Chicago’s main offseason objectives will be to upgrade at the position. “They knew what was coming pretty much every play, so it was pretty easy for them to stop us”.

Releasing him will create $9M of cap space.

“It’s a young team”, Pace acknowledged. “Especially before the Combine, I think it can benefit those players”.

If Robinson is healthy, he could be a top 10 wide receiver, and signing him would be a no-brainer for the Bears.

In light of more recent developments, that need has become critical.

“We can compete with anybody in the NFL”. Washington’s Trent Murphy would fit better in the Bears’ scheme – he’s only 27, and he had a career-best nine sacks past year.

Glennon was named the Bears’ starter from the first day he was signed. You’ve always got to be confident. “It’s always a deep position, usually in both areas”.

Coach Matt Nagy said the team remains undecided about which direction it will take.