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Disclaimer: I am not a professional or a psychic. Your guess is as good as mine, unless it's something really crazy.
2014 Record: 5-11
Cuts: Khaseem Greene, Roberto Garza
Losses: Charles Tillman, Josh Morgan, Chris Conte, Stephen Paea
Trade: Brandon Marshall to the Jets for a fifth
Signings: Eddie Royal, Pernell McPhee, Sam Acho, Jaquizz Rodgers, Mason Foster, Antrel Rolle, Will Montgomery
Draft Class: Kevin White, Eddie Goldman, Hroniss Grasu, Jeremy Langford, Adrian Amos, Tayo Fabuluje
New Coach: John Fox
Questions:
Can the Bears get some young defenders to step up?
How will the Bears replace Brandon Marshall?
Is Matt Forte near the end?
Can Jay Cutler stop turning the ball over?
Defense:
The Bears defense should be better this season, if only for the fact that it's hard to trot out a historically inept defense two years in a row. The Bears signed multiple veterans this off-season but they need some of their young players to step up. The Bears hope that Pernell McPhee can help an ineffective pass rush and they hope that LaMarr Houston can return healthy to join McPhee. The Bears also hope that they can get effective inside linebacker play from Christian Jones and Shea McClellin. The Bears also need the defensive line to step up and they drafted Eddie Goldman in the second round to help with that.
Offense:
The Bears traded away Brandon Marshall in the offseason, but they still have Alshon Jeffery and Martellus Bennett. The Bears also have a host of runningbacks who can contribute in the passing game in Matt Forte, Ka'Deem Carey, and Jacquizz Rodgers. The Bears signed Eddie Royal and drafted Kevin White, but Royal has never been a Pro Bowl caliber receiver and White might not even play this season with a shin injury. The Bears plan to be a run-first team and they have no shortage of runningbacks to keep Matt Forte fresh. They signed Jacquizz Rodgers in the offseason, they drafted Jeremy Langford, and they have Ka'deem Carey returning. The main improvement that the Bears can make on offense is for Jay Cutler to reduce his number of turnovers, as Cutler led the league in that category during 2014.
Best Case Scenario:
The Bears defense doesn't allow the opponents to march down the field with no resistance on every drive and a run-first Bears offense can have fewer turnovers and more wins.
Worse Case Scenario:
The Bears defense doesn't improve, which means that the Bears can't establish a run-first offense and Cutler keeps turning the ball over.
Predictions:
Matt Forte has the worst season of his career.
Jay Cutler throws for 3,600 yards with 25 Touchdowns and 18 Interceptions. The Bears get rid of him after 2015.
Alshon Jeffery and Martellus Bennett both have 100 receptions in 2015.
Pernell McPhee has 8 sacks.
The Bears defense is ranked 19th overall.
Wins: Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins
Losses: Green Bay Packers (Twice), Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, San Diego Chargers
Record: 5-11