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With the 2014 NFL scouting combine in the rearview mirror and free agency about to begin, Insider's experts have produced an Offseason Blueprint for all 32 NFL teams. Included are each team's front-office priorities, projected 2014 lineups, draft and free-agency targets, cap situation and much more.
This is the Offseason Blueprint for the Chicago Bears.
Front-office priorities
What management's to-do list should include this offseason.
1. The first order of business for the Bears will be to get their cap in order, as they have face relatively tight cap space and are on the hook for a lot of cash in 2014 (John Clayton has more detail on this a little later). They have numerous unrestricted free agents whom they must make decisions on, and although they're in the need of numerous upgrades, they will not likely have the resources to address them all immediately.
2. With the commitment made to QB Jay Cutler, how does head coach Marc Trestman get him to take his game to the next level? Not just a "playoff" level, but a championship level? Cutler was good under Trestman last season, but he wasn't the best QB on the roster; he needs to execute Trestman's plan.
3. Mel Tucker and the personnel staff have a chance to redeem themselves after injuries and a lack of quality and consistency resulted in one of the worst defenses in the league. And it was weakest right where you can't be ... through the middle. They'll want to tighten things up there.