CHICAGO BEARS 2021 WIN PREDICTION

BY ADAM GREENE

Regardless of what happens this season, the Chicago Bears set themselves up for the future by trading up in April’s NFL Draft to select quarterback Justin Fields out of Ohio State.

It added some excitement to a fanbase that had to be reeling after being connected with trades for both Deshaun Watson and Russell Wilson, only to see the team sign and promote former Cincinnati Bengals QB Andy Dalton as their QB1.

While Dalton is still a decent player and will be difficult for Fields to overtake in camp, no one expects the rookie signal caller to spend the year on the bench. Not unless Dalton can catch some kind of “Ryan Fitzpatrick” fire and send the Bears to a double-digit win season. I am not hopeful.

CHICAGO BEARS

Last season: 8-8, 2^nd place NFC North, NFC Wild Card team

2021 odds: over 7.5 wins -115, under 7.5 wins -115

2021 NFL Draft: Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State – Round 1, Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State – Round 2, Larry Brown, OT, Missouri – Round 5, Khalil Herbert, RB, Virginia Tech – Round 6, Dazz Newsome, WR, North Carolina – Round 6, Thomas Graham Jr., CB, Oregon – Round 6, Khyris Tonga, DT, BYU – Round 7

UDFAs: Daniel Archibong, DT – Temple, Gage Cervenka, OG – Clemson, Scooter Harrington, TE – Stanford, Brian Johnson, K – Virginia Tech, Caleb Johnson, LB – Houston Baptist, Sam Kamara, DT – Stony Brook, C.J. Marable, RB – Coastal Carolina, Khalil McClain, WR – Troy, Dareuan Parker, OG – Mississippi State, Dionte Ruffin, CB – Western Kentucky, Thomas Schaffer, DL – Stanford, Charles Snowden, LB – Virginia, Gunnar Vogal, OT – Northwestern,

Acquisitions: Desmond Trufant, CB – Free Agent, Marquis Goodwin, WR – Free Agent, Christian Jones, LB – Free Agent, Elijah Wilkinson, RT – Free Agent, Andy Dalton, QB – Free Agent, Damien Williams, RB – Free Agent, Jeremia Attaochu, Edge – Free Agent, Mike Pennel, DL – Free Agent, Angelo Blackson, DL – Free Agent, Austin Calitro, LB – Free Agent, Jake Butt, TE – Free Agent

Key Losses: Mitchell Trubisky – QB, Kyle Fuller – CB, Bobby Massie – RT, Buster Skrine – CB, Cordarelle Patterson – WR/KR, Jason Spriggs – LT, Eddy Pineiro – K

PRESUMED STARTERS

QB: Andy Dalton (for now)

RB: David Montgomery

WR: Allen Robinson II

WR: Darnell Mooney

WR: Anthony Miller

TE: Cole Kmet

LT: Teven Jenkins

LG: James Daniels

C: Cody Whitehair

RG: Alex Bars

RT: Germain Ifedi

LDE: Akiem Hicks

NT: Eddie Goldman

RDE: Bilal Nichols

OLB: Khalil Mack

ILB: Roquan Smith

ILB: Danny Trevathan

OLB: Robert Quinn

CB: Jaylon Johnson

CB: Desmond Trufant

SS: Tashaun Gipson Sr.

FS: Eddie Jackson

K: Cairo Santos

P: Pat O’Donnell

FORECAST

Starting a rookie quarterback against this schedule would never be ideal as there is no let up. From the opener at the Los Angeles Rams to a December stretch against the Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks and two against the Minnesota Vikings.

In addition to facing every team in the best division in the NFL (the NFC West), they also play the second best in the AFC North. It’s a tall order, but one that could easily flip the quicker they feel Fields is ready and, most importantly, if Aaron Rodgers is no longer a Green Bay Packer as he not only owns the Bears, but makes them dress up in a tutu and ride around on a unicycle.

Final Record Prediction: 7-10

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