After an 0-3 start to the season and coming off a shutout loss to the Seattle Seahawks, the Chicago Bears traded both defensive end Jared Allen and linebacker Jon Bostic on the same day. The immediate question that came to everyone’s mind was: Are the Bears having a fire sale?
The Bears are in rebuilding mode 3 games into the season
With Jared Allen and Jon Bostic out, could the Bears be having a fire sale?
While fire sales aren’t exactly common in the NFL, the Bears seem to have little chance at securing a playoff berth this year and the Super Bowl window may not open for some time. Even if Allen and Bostic were performing below expectations this season, their departures are significant. Allen, a five-time Pro Bowler, has slowed down but still managed 5.5 sacks last season, while Bostic was the team’s leading tackler in 2014.
It's unclear if either Allen or Bostic were being shopped prior to Chicago's disastrous Week 3 game against the Seattle Seahawks. But the day after the team gave up 26 points while punting on all 10 of its offensive possessions, it seemed to prompt the beginning of a fire sale. If so, who could be the next to go?
The first candidate is veteran running back Matt Forte. The Bears spent a fourth-round pick on Jeremy Langford in the 2015 NFL Draft, and he looks like he could be a future starter. If they want to get some value out of Forte, an eight-year veteran who likely wants to play for a contender anyway, he could be a good place to start. Forte is also playing on the final year of his contract.
Then there’s wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, a player who has consistently flashed No. 1 potential but who has been hampered by injuries throughout his career. Jeffery is playing on the final year of his rookie contract and his extensive injury history seems to be the primary reason the Bears haven’t extended him just yet. But if another team is willing to take that risk, Jeffery could be the kind of player to warrant a top pick for his services.
The Bears don't have the toughest schedule in the league, and the next handful of games -- against the Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions -- will certainly be easier than their first three against Seattle, the Arizona Cardinals and the rival Green Bay Packers. But the chances of them pulling out of this dive and turning an 0-3 start into a competitive, winning season are very slim.
Couple that with the fact that Jay Cutler is hobbled with a hamstring injury and is still routinely called out as having the worst contract in the NFL, and there doesn't seem to be much chance for John Fox's team to turn things around this season.
The Bears only have four players who they drafted from 2009-13 remaining on the team, but new general manager Ryan Pace already appears to be looking to future drafts. With the Allen and Bostic trades, they’ve grabbed a pair of sixth-round picks. If they decided to shop any other veterans, they could squeeze some more value out of those trades. At the very least, the Bears are well on their way to getting a high pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
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