Comparing New Bears To Whom They Replaced............

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Changes have been aplenty for the Chicago Bears this offseason. After another disappointing year in 2017 the team decided it was time for a change. General manager Ryan Pace cleaned house on the offensive side of the ball and with head coach John Fox. New head coach Matt Nagy came in with a brand new offensive coaching staff and convinced defensive coordinator Vic Fangio to stay.

After making those changes, Pace then turned his attention toward the roster itself. He then got rid of big-name contracts for guys like quarterback Mike Glennon, linebackers Pernell McPhee and Willie Young, safety Quintin Demps and wideout Markus Wheaton. He used free agency to bulk up areas of need at wide receiver, tight end and at quarterback. He then used the NFL Draft to add more young talent to an already young roster. Pace got the team a young stud on defense in Roquan Smith and added two players in the second round in Iowa center James Daniels and Memphis wide receiver Anthony Miller who have a chance to make big impacts this season. The rest of the draft saw the team add other players, such as Delaware's Bilal Nichols and Utah's Kylie Fitts, who can make impacts as rotational players this season.

Just below we take a look at some of the team's biggest additions this year in comparison to the players they are replacing this season. Additionally, we have added a verdict on whether or not that player is an upgrade over his predecessor or if Chicago would have been better off in the short term to hang on to that player.

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The Bears were quick to change up their outside linebacker corps this offseason, letting go of Willie Young early in the process. The team has remained relatively quiet in terms of adding to the position, but they did draft Utah's Kylie Fitts in the sixth round of this year's draft. During his time at UCLA and Utah, Fitts recorded 68 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, 11 pass deflections and five forced fumbles. Last year he recorded 23 tackles, three tackles for loss and three sacks. With Fitts the Bears have a talented pass rusher who has struggled with injuries throughout his career.

Young led the Bears in sacks in his first season with the team in 2014 when he racked up 39 tackles, 10 sacks, two pass deflections and one forced fumble in 15 games. The next year he made the move to outside linebacker and racked up 6.5 sacks. In 2016 he recorded 38 tackles and 7.5 sacks before recording two sacks in four games last season. He missed 12 games due to injuries.

Verdict: Fitts has a lot of upside but Young still could have provided the Bears with something this season given his track record.

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The Bears swung for the fences last year when they signed Mike Glennon to a three-year deal worth $45 million. He began the year as a starter but was benched after throwing for 833 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions in four games. Replaced by Mitch Trubisky, Glennon never saw the field again for the Bears. Chicago released him this offseason before he signed with the Arizona Cardinals.

Chicago took a safer approach this offseason when it came to signing another quarterback, inking veteran Chase Daniel to a two-year deal worth $10 million. Daniel lacks much, if any, NFL experience, but he has been around since the 2009. He also knows head coach Matt Nagy's system. He has thrown for just 480 yards with one touchdown and one interception on 78 passing attempts.

Verdict: Glennon may have a better overall track record and more starting experience but the Bears are better off with Daniel's knowledge and price tag.

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Mitch Unrein was an unheralded player for the Bears the last few seasons. In 2015 he racked up 18 tackles and one sack in 14 games before recording 26 tackles and one sack in 2016. Last year he had one of the best statistical seasons of his career, recording 32 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 12 games. He signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent this offseason and will play defensive tackle.

In the fifth round Chicago took Bilal Nichols out of Delaware. He has the ability to move around on the defensive line and could become an instant contributor for the team as a rotational player along the line of scrimmage.

Verdict: Unrein was solid against the run but struggled with injuries last season. Simply because of his upside, Nichols gets the nod here.

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Connor Barth faced an uphill battle with the Bears from the moment he signed. Added to replace Bears legend Robbie Gould, Barth struggled over the course of two seasons in Chicago. In 2016 he made 18 of his 23 field-goal attempts before making 11 of 16 field-goal attempts last season. After 10 games he was let go. The Bears then gave Cairo Santos a shot before he landed on injured reserve. Mike Nugent closed out the season for the team.

The Bears then opted to ink Cody Parkey to a long-term deal this offseason to help fix the position. The former Pro Bowler has made 76 of his 88 field-goal attempts in his career, including 21 of his 23 attempts last season. At just 26 years old the hope is he can be a long-term solution for the Bears.

Verdict: It's Parkey by a landslide.

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Pernell McPhee was signed in 2015 to be the face of the Bears 3-4 defense. McPhee handed out plenty of great soundbites but struggled to stay healthy with the Bears. In 2015 he saw action in 14 games with 12 starts, recording 53 tackles, six sacks, three pass deflections and one interception. A nagging knee injury forced him to appear in just nine games the following year. He capped off that season with 16 tackles and four sacks. Last year he recorded 21 tackles and four sacks before he was released this offseason.

To help offset McPhee's departure, Chicago signed Aaron Lynch to a one-year deal this offseason. After racking up 12.5 sacks in his first two years in the league, Lynch has just 2.5 sacks the last two years. The last two seasons he has seen action in just 14 games and has recorded 22 tackles.

Verdict: This one is tough because Lynch still has upside, but when healthy McPhee proved he could be a force for the Bears. Lynch still has to prove it.

Anthony Miller
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Kendall Wright was sneaky effective for the Bears in his one season with the organization. In 16 games with four starts, Wright caught 59 passes for 614 yards and score one touchdown. His catches and yards were the best numbers he put up since 2014 when he caught 57 passes for 715 yards with the Tennessee Titans. He was an effective weapon for Trubisky out of the slot but the Bears moved on from him this offseason. He signed with the Vikings earlier this year.

Chicago moved up into the second round of this year's draft to take Miller with the 51st overall pick. The explosive young wideout went from a walk-on to a record-setter at Memphis. He has speed, athleticism and great hands. The Bears plan on using him out of the slot this season.

Verdict: It is difficult taking an unproven rookie over a veteran, but all signs point to Miller having a big year in Chicago in his first season.

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Josh Sitton fell into the laps of the Bears just before the start of the 2016 season. Following a Pro Bowl career with the Packers he was let go before the start of that year. In his first year in Chicago he appeared in 13 games with 12 starts and went to the Pro Bowl. This past season he started 13 games. Chicago declined his $8 million option earlier this year before he signed with the Miami Dolphins.

In the second round of this year's draft the Bears took James Daniels with the 39th overall pick. A center by trade, Daniels is expected to be the team's starting left guard this year. He has size and athleticism but will have to prove at the NFL level that he can handle his own against strong interior defensive linemen.

Verdict: Daniels may end up being a long-term starter in the NFL but he is not at the Pro Bowl-level Sitton is still at right now.

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Jerrell Freeman was a tackling machine for the Bears during his first season with the organization in 2016. In 12 games he racked up 110 tackles and four pass deflections. He was also suspended four games that season. He began last season as the starter alongside Danny Trevathan and recorded 10 tackles in the season opener against the Atlanta Falcons. He suffered a pectoral injury and missed the remainder of the year. Freeman was suspended again 10 games and retired earlier this offseason.

With the eighth overall pick the Bears took Roquan Smith out of Georgia in this year's draft. The talented Butkus Award winner recorded 252 tackles with 6.5 sacks in his three years with the Bulldogs. He gives the Bears tremendous speed from sideline to sideline and is someone who will immediately slot in as a starter next to Trevathan.

Verdict: Freeman was tremendous when on the field for Chicago, there's no question about that. With that said, Smith is an upgrade who only stands to get better as the year goes on.

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Markus Wheaton was supposed to be the diamond-in-the-rough signing for the Bears last offseason. He inked a two-year deal with the Bears following an injury-plagued 2016 campaign. Those injuries carried over last season for the young wideout. In 11 games he recorded just three catches for 51 yards. Chicago let go of him after the season and he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles.

To add some speed to the lineup, Chicago signed Taylor Gabriel to a four-year deal this offseason worth $26 million. In four NFL seasons with the Cleveland Browns and Atlanta Falcons he has caught 132 passes for 1,819 yards with eight touchdowns.

Verdict: Just like the Parkey vs. Barth battle this one is simple: Gabriel in a landslide.

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Cameron Meredith was supposed to be Chicago's breakout player last season. Unfortunately for him, he missed the entire season with an ACL injury. Prior that injury he caught 77 passes for 1,008 yards with four touchdowns in two seasons. He had a big year in 2016 when he caught 66 passes for 888 yards with four touchdowns. Chicago placed an original-round tender on him as a restricted free agent and saw him sign a contract with the New Orleans Saints. Instead of matching the Bears opted to let him go.

The biggest offseason signing for the Bears came in the form of Allen Robinson. The former Pro Bowler is also coming off an ACL injury. In four NFL seasons he has caught 202 passes for 2,848 yards with 22 touchdowns.

Verdict: Meredith has plenty of upside but he lacks the pedigree Robinson already has. Robinson is a proven commodity and should vastly improve Chicago's passing game.