3 Moves Bears Must Make to Return to Super Bowl Contention

Coming into the 2019 campaign, the Chicago Bears were forecasted to be one of the last teams standing in the playoffs. After all, they finished 12-4 last season and were a Cody Parkey double-doink away from defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round last campaign.

However, Matt Nagy's side were a bonafide dumpster fire in 2019, stumbling to an 8-8 record, all while failing to establish an identity on offense.

Led by Khalil Mack, Chicago's defense deserves to wreak havoc in the postseason. Heck, with a little more competence on offense, that unit could lead the Bears to the Super Bowl. BUT, not if Chicago doesn't make these three moves this offseason.

3. Sign QB Marcus Mariota as Insurance for Mitch Trubisky

As little sense as it makes, we are OK with the Bears keeping the faith in Mitchell Trubisky. What isn't acceptable, however, is rolling the UNC product out there following a disastrous run of form. Though we'd love to see what a Cam Newton or Teddy Bridgewater could do under center for Chicago, that just isn't in the realm of possibility. That leads us to believe that Marcus Mariota would serve as perfect insurance for Trubisky's unpredictable shockers. Tennessee is committed to Ryan Tannehill, and the Oregon product is undoubtedly looking to rid himself of the failed project he turned out to be with the Titans. A marriage with Chicago is a match made in heaven for the Bears and Mariota. Trubisky's leash should be tighter than ever next season.

2. Sign OG Brandon Scherff

We'd absolutely love to see the Bears tweak their wide receiving corps behind stud Allen Robinson. However, championship teams are built inside-out, not the other way around. Tailback David Montgomery averaged a paltry 3.7 yards-per-carry in his rookie season. While that is surely a domino effect of Trubisky's troubles that led to stacked boxes, Chicago's offensive line left a lot to be desired. Montgomery ranked seventh in the NFL in terms of broken tackles with 28. Imagine what he could do with more holes to probe. Scherff, a three-time Pro Bowler with the Redskins, would serve as an immediate band-aid, as he's conceded just 2.5 sacks since the 2018 campaign.

1. Trade for OJ Howard

Chicago's tight end unit was an unmitigated disaster in 2019. They had no security behind starter Trey Burton, who doesn't inspire much confidence to begin with, and once he was placed on injured reserve, Mitch Trubisky was let without a reliable security blanket. Heck, the Bears often didn't have a TE run routes for long stretches of games. That's inexplicable. With Tampa Bay indefensibly failing to release the athletic freak that is Alabama product OJ Howard, general manager Ryan Pace must get the Buccaneers on the phone. If Howard isn't for sale, Chicago should target free agent Eric Ebron on the cheap. Addressing the TE position this offseason should be a top priority for the Bears.