The 2020 NFL Draft in the books, but the work has only begun for the Chicago Bears ahead of the scheduled start of the regular season.
While the Bears addressed some issues on their roster — including cornerback, tight end, pass rush and wide receiver — there are still some unknowns continuing through this offseason as a result of the draft.
Here are five questions we have following the 2020 NFL Draft:
1. What’s the plan at strong safety?
Heading into the draft, there was a strong belief that the Bears were going to bring in a strong safety to pair with Pro Bowler Eddie Jackson. When guys like Antoine Winfield Jr., Grant Delpit and Jeremy Chinn were still on the board when Chicago’s second-round picks rolled around, it was a surprise when the Bears chose to bypass a safety for a tight end and cornerback.
The Bears currently have four safeties that figure to battle for that strong safety job — Deon Bush, Jordan Lucas, DeAndre Houston-Carson and Kentrell Brice. But none of those guys inspire confidence on a starting basis in the secondary.
Bush figures to be the favorite to win the job. But if the Bears were confident that Bush was the guy, they wouldn’t have brought in Ha Ha Clinton-Dix last season. There are still some safety prospects on the free-agent market, including Tony Jefferson, that the Bears could bring in. Otherwise, it’s likely we’re going to see Bush or Lucas opposite Jackson in 2020.
2. Adam Shaheen is a goner, right?
The writing is certainly on the wall for former second-round tight end Adam Shaheen. The selection of Notre Dame tight end Cole Kmet — who general manager Ryan Pace proudly declared as Chicago’s TE of the future — solidified just that.
During an offseason where Pace has been admitting mistakes, Shaheen feels like the latest admission. Shaheen has been a disappointment in his three injury-shortened years with the Bears. He has just 26 catches for 249 yards and four touchdowns in 27 games.
Shaheen already faced an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster. Three tight ends feel like locks for this roster at this point — Kmet, Jimmy Graham and Demetrius Harris. And Kmet and Harris are your “Y” tight ends, which leaves Shaheen, also a “Y” tight end, on the outside looking in.
3. Is Jaylon Johnson a sure-lock for starting right cornerback?
The Bears strengthened their secondary with the addition of Utah cornerback Jaylon Johnson, who many pegged as a top-three cornerback prospect in the NFL Draft. He fell due to injury concerns to his shoulder, and he fell right into Pace’s lap at pick 50.
Cornerback was a need heading into the draft following the release of Prince Amukamara, and Johnson certainly feels like — if healthy — he could step immediately into that starting role and contribute for the Bears.
Prior to the draft, it was presumed to be a three-man race between Kevin Toliver, Tre Roberson and Artie Burns for the starting job alongside Pro Bowler Kyle Fuller. But when you draft someone that high, the belief is that they’re going to make an impact sooner rather than later.
Obviously Johnson is going to have to earn the starting role. But from everything we’ve heard about Johnson, it sounds like he’s the favorite to win that right cornerback job opposite Fuller.
4. How high is confidence with offensive line?
The offensive line is near the top of the list in offensive concerns for the Bears this offseason, and they didn’t do anything in the early rounds to address it. They did draft a couple of developmental prospects in Arlington Hambright and Lachavious Simmons with back-to-back picks in the seventh round, but they’re not necessarily going to compete right away.
That says a lot about the confidence in new offensive line coach Juan Castillo to turn things around for a struggling group that consists of Charles Leno, James Daniel, Cody Whitehair and Bobby Massie. With a starting right guard job to fill after Kyle Long’s retirement, the Bears appear to be confident in the trio of Germain Ifedi, Alex Bars and Rashaad Coward to hold down that spot on the offensive line.
Castillo specializes in the run game, which was certainly an issue for the Bears last season. We’ll see what magic Castillo can work with this group of guys tasked with protecting either Mitchell Trubisky or Nick Foles and paving the way for running back David Montgomery.
5. What’s the plan at running back?
While not the biggest concern heading into the NFL Draft, the Bears failed to address the running back position. They’re in need of a back-up for David Montgomery. But based on what Chicago did in the draft, they must feel confident enough at this point with what they have.
Tarik Cohen is listed as the No. 2, but he’s a gadget player, not a three-down back. If Montgomery were to go down with an injury, the Bears need to have someone they feel comfortable with coming in and filling in for Montgomery. Perhaps the Bears are high on preseason darling Ryan Nall to serve that reserve roll in relief of Montgomery.
