Chicago Bears Could Make 2016 An All-Defense Off-Season

Don’t be deceived by the title.  It doesn’t mean the Chicago Bears will make every single signing and draft pick on the defensive side of the ball.  What it means is they can and should feel free to devote the bulk of their spending money and perhaps the top four picks on their draft board to that side of the ball without any fear of it impacting the offense this coming season.  Here is why.

Based on the current projections for the offensive depth chart, here is how it breaks down in terms of players likely to start and how old they will be this coming September when the season begins.

• QB:  Jay Cutler (33)
• RB:  Jeremy Langford (24)
• WR:  Alshon Jeffery (26)
• WR:  Kevin White (24)
• WR:  Eddie Royal (30)
• TE:  Martellus Bennett (29)
• OT:  Charles Leno Jr.  (24)
• OG:  Matt Slauson (30)
• C:  Hroniss Grasu (25)
• OG:  Vladimir Ducasse  (28)
• OT:  Kyle Long (27)

It’s always a good sign when the quarterback is the oldest player on offense because their longevity is considerably greater than any other position.  Tom Brady is still doing his thing at 38.  Given the fact Cutler is 33, it stands to reason he still has at least three or four good years left in that right arm.  The only other two players near him in age are Slauson and Royal and they will have just turned 30.

So the offense is largely set in terms of talent and youth.  Aside from some moves to improve the depth, there isn’t any pressing reason to spend big on that side of the ball aside maybe from replacing Ducasse at right guard and making sure to retain Jeffery who is a free agent.  That should give head coach John Fox and GM Ryan Pace the free hand they desire to seriously overhaul that 3-4 defense Vic Fangio is trying to build.

According to NFL.com, 11 of the top 20 pending free agents in 2016 are on the defensive side of the ball.  Seven of them are in the top 10.  On top of that, their current draft rankings have no fewer than 24 defensive prospects being rating high enough to go in the first round.  That means the odds favor the Bears landing at least two immediate starters for their defense if they use both their first and second round picks on that side of the ball.

So if fans are wondering how things might go over the next few months, don’t be surprised if 80-90% of the notable names who get added to the Chicago Bears roster will be thrown against Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford and Teddy Bridgewater on Sundays.