#216: 2020 Chicago Bears Offseason Plans (with Jacob Infante of Windy City Gridiron)

1. Earlier this week, Benjamin Allbright (Pro Football Network) reported that the Bears are looking at veteran QB options. While Trubisky is still going to get a shot to prove he’s the guy, his leash will be VERY short like Marcus Mariota’s was last season. He also noted that if the Raiders were to trade or release Derek Carr ($21.5M cap hit, $7.9M in dead money), they’d be interested. And another name he mentioned that the Bears are discussing is Andy Dalton. The Bears salary cap issues aside, which one of those two QB’s would be the best get for the Bears and why? 2. In order to get those QB’s, the Bears will likely need to free up more salary cap space. While they did just that yesterday by releasing Taylor Gabriel and Prince Amukamara, that only puts the Bears at an estimated $18M and change under the cap according to OverTheCap.com. Two other such moves that will net them more cap space are Leonard Floyd ($13.222M savings, $0 dead), Akiem Hicks ($8.8M savings, $3M dead). Do you see the Bears releasing one of those two players?  3. Another way they could potentially free up more cap space is with a contract extension for WR Allen Robinson, who is slated to count $15M against the cap this year. How realistic is it that a new contract (with a lower 2020 cap number) will be in place for ARob before the season? 4. The Bears made some coaching changes, particularly on the offensive staff. They fired OC Mark Helfrich and replaced him with former Dolphins and Bengals OC Bill Lazor. What potential upgrades over Helfrich does Lazor bring? 5. Another one of those coaching moves was puzzling to me was the firing of OL coach Harry Hiestand. Hiestand, to me, is a top-five OL coach in football at all levels. What did you feel about Hiestand’s dismissal? 6. What free agents do you see the Bears signing? 7. Bears 7-Round Mock Draft -(43): Julian Okwara -(50): Brycen Hopkins -(145): Devin Duvernay -(176): Antoine Brooks, Jr. -(180): Darryl Williams -(203): Salvon Ahmed -(210): Kindle Vildor