Back to the Future: Analyzing the Bears’ long-term outlook at inside linebacker In the first article in an ongoing series, WCG’s Jacob Infante and The Loop Sports’ Jack Soble discuss the Bears’ future at inside linebacker. By Jacob Infante - 24 June 25th, 2019
Training camp is roughly a month away, and the anticipation for Bears fans is the highest it has been in recent years.
With a divisional title under their belt and most of their starters returning, expectations are high for Chicago to be a legitimate Super Bowl threat in 2019. They have taken advantage of Mitchell Trubisky’s rookie contract to bolster their roster with high-end free agent signings and extending Khalil Mack’s contract after trading for him.
As is the case with any contending team, though, the Bears will inevitably have to let some of their starters walk when their contracts expire. This offseason saw Adrian Amos and Bryce Callahan leave to secure expensive deals in free agency: a sign of what could happen in future offseasons. With the excess of talent Chicago has, they have to choose wisely which players they value enough to re-sign and keep around in the long haul. More expendable starters and backups will end up departing to sign costly contracts with other teams.
"As is the case with any contending team, though, the Bears will inevitably have to let some of their starters walk when their contracts expire."
This is why a team's draft picks are so very precious. Sure, you can be strategic a bit and deal away some draft picks, but you'd better be sure before you give up picks. And your scouting has to be exceptional so that when you DO use those draft picks each year you hit at a high percentage of studs. If a team fails to have new blood coming in, and high-quality players, then the team will obviously go downhill. Just gotta be reloading with quality talent every year, every draft.
I know we talk about this a lot in this forum about Belichick doing this. He is always able to reload with talent when he lets players go to other teams. He buys cheap and sells high. The guy is a genius when it comes to stocking the shelves with top-tier talent.