Are the Bears better after the first wave of free agency?

The Chicago Bears still have some work to do in free agency, but after a week of signing some players and losing some players, are they a better team now than they were a week ago?

Let’s examine the changes to the roster so far.

Quarterback

While many NFL pundits, local, national, and Vegas, figure Nick Foles to be the week one starter over Mitchell Trubisky, anything can happen once they get on the field. Even if you don’t feel like Foles is going to be the starter over Trubisky, at the very least you have to believe he’s an upgrade over Chase Daniel.

Outside linebacker

This is basically a Robert Quinn for Leonard Floyd swap, and while I thought Floyd was a better football player than some Bears’ fans did, I also think Quinn is an upgrade. The NFL is a passing league and Quinn can rush the passer, which is something Floyd hasn’t been able to do consistently since coming into the league. Quinn may not be as agile in coverage, but defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano has other players he can drop back.

Barkevious Mingo was added and Isaiah Irving was brought back, and if the Bears are smart they’ll let Aaron Lunch walk away.

Tight end

I wasn’t a fan of signing Jimmy Graham to a 2-year, $16 million contract, even though the odds are decent that he’ll only be in Chicago for a year, but he’s still an upgrade over what the Bears got out of the position in 2019. That’s more of an indictment about the awful production the Bears got from their collection of tight ends than it is praise for Graham, but Graham hasn’t missed a game since 2015 and availability matters.

Exclusive rights free agent J.P. Holtz is back to compete for a spot as well.

Inside linebacker

It would seem like the Bears valued Danny Trevathan’s leadership and all around play over Nick Kwiatkoski’s youth and physicality. If Trevathan is healthy he’s the better player, but health has kept him from playing all 16 games three of his four years in Chicago. They also lost Kevin Pierre-Louis, who I thought looked really good as the ILB3 in 2019.

Defensive back

The Bears lost starting safety HaHa Clinton-Dix, but they’ve re-signed safety DeAndre Houston-Carson and Deon Bush, and added corner Artie Burns and safety Jordan Lucas. Clinton-Dix had a solid season for the Bears a year ago, but the coaches have been high on Bush for a couple year snow. Could the 26-year old put it all together in 2020?

And they there’s former CFL corner Tre Roberson whom the Bears picked up before free agency really got rolling. Could he be the steal of the offseason?

Defensive line

Roy Robertson-Harris returned on a second-round tender and Nick Williams was signed away. Also, Brent Urban, who was a late season add in 2019, is back with the team.

Offensive line

Chicago lost back up offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas and have yet to make a move in free agency other than bringing Rashaad Coward back. You would think at some point they’ll look for some veteran help to play right guard, but so far it’s been crickets.

Specialists

Long snapper Patrick Scales is back!

I didn’t like giving up a fourth round pick for Foles and I didn’t like giving so much money to a 33-year old tight end on the downside of his career, but these two moves still make the team better than they were a year ago.

Vote in the poll above and let your voice be heard!