NFL teams
Jeff Dickerson, ESPN Staff Writer 6y

Bears strengthen offense to support Mitchell Trubisky

The Chicago Bears ended their offseason program on June 7. Here’s a look at how they fared:

Offseason goals: The Bears knew they had to pump life into an offense that struggled mightily in the John Fox era (14-34 over three years). For that to happen, Chicago wanted to hire an offensive-minded head coach to work alongside quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, the second overall pick of the 2017 NFL draft. The Bears also knew that in order for Trubisky to reach his full potential, the club needed to surround the young quarterback with better weapons.

How they fared: Above average

Move I liked: Replacing Fox with Matt Nagy, who served as Andy Reid’s offensive coordinator last season in Kansas City. Nagy is young and energetic. The Bears have really bought in to the offensive system he’s installing, a scheme similar to what the Chiefs and Eagles ran in 2017. Nagy is a breath of fresh air after Fox. Plus, Nagy managed to retain defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who decided to stay after the organization severed ties with Fox.

Move I didn’t like: The Bears guaranteed $36 million to a pair of cornerbacks who combined for two interceptions last year. Kyle Fuller had a very good year last season, but he’s still the same guy who missed the entire 2016 campaign due to a routine knee scope performed in training camp. Prince Amukamara is a pretty solid player, but he hasn’t picked off a pass since 2015. The Bears attempted to sign free-agent cornerback Malcolm Butler but failed to do so.

Biggest question still to be answered in training camp: What kind of impact will wide receiver Allen Robinson have on Chicago’s offense? Robinson put up monster numbers for Jacksonville (80 catches, 1,400 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns) in 2015, but he sat out almost the entire 2017 season with a torn ACL. Robinson participated in only individual drills at the tail end of the Bears’ offseason program, so he still needs to bond with Trubisky. Speaking of Trubisky, the Bears still don’t know whether he’s a true franchise quarterback after making 12 starts as a rookie. By all accounts, Trubisky had a productive offseason, but the true test will be when the regular season begins.

Quotable: “The offseason program has been great. I told the players that -- that’s been the message. There really wasn’t a day where you look back and say, ‘Man that was pretty bad.’ There were some days that weren’t great, not perfect, but that’s expected for the most part.” -- Bears coach Matt Nagy

Salary cap space: $27,924,615

2018 draft picks: Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith; Iowa center/guard James Daniels; Memphis wide receiver Anthony Miller; Western Kentucky linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe; Delaware defensive tackle Bilal Nichols; Utah defensive end Kylie Fitts; Georgia wide receiver Javon Wims.

Undrafted rookie free agents signed: WR Matt Fleming, DB John Franklin III, OL Jeremi Hall, OL Matt McCants; OL Dejon Allen, DL Abdullah Anderson, DB Rashard Fant, WR Garrett Johnson, CB Michael Joseph, LB Nyles Morgan, RB Ryan Nall, LB Elijah Norris, S Nick Orr, DE, Bunmi Rotimi, CB Kevin Toliver II, LB Andrew Trumbetti, DL Cavon Walker, and P Ryan Winslow.

Unrestricted free agents signed: TE Zach Miller, LB Kasim Edebali, WR Marlon Brown, RB Benny Cunningham, DL John Jenkins, WR Allen Robinson, WR Taylor Gabriel, TE Trey Burton, CB Marcus Cooper, CB Sherrick McManis, K Cody Parkey, QB Chase Daniel, P Pat O’Donnell, LB Aaron Lynch, and LB Sam Acho.

Players acquired via trade: None

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