We'll soon know if the Bears plan to rebuild or reload

The most important decision general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus will have to commit to in their first year on the job in Chicago is whether to clean house and rebuild, or if there's a shorter path to the Super Bowl with a reload.

What both have stated clearly and consistently is they intend to "compete" for a division title this season, which pretty much takes a complete rebuild off the table.

It has also become basic NFL practice due to economics and math to do everything possible to build and contend with your quarterback on his rookie contract.

While Justin Fields has really proven nothing yet, there are few people whose opinions I trust that don't still believe he has elite tools and a shot at being a franchise quarterback.

So reload it is, but here's where things get complicated.

Entering the new league year, the Bears have 27 unrestricted free agents and eight more restricted or exclusive rights free agents.

With only five draft picks and nice, but not unlimited, cap space to spend in free agency, they will almost certainly re-sign a number of their own free agents, but which ones, and why?

The Bears begin the new league year with 13 starters from last season: Khalil Mack, Robert Quinn, Eddie Jackson, Eddie Goldman, Danny Trevathan, Jaylon Johnson and Duke Shelley (nickelback) on defense, with Cody Whitehair, David Montgomery, Cole Kmet, Darnell Mooney, Sam Mustipher and Fields on offense - and it is assumed Teven Jenkins and Larry Borom will start somewhere on the offensive line.

Whether or not that is the nucleus of a contender is certainly an open question.

They do have reasonable depth with Nick Foles at quarterback if he is retained, at running back in Khalil Herbert, and on the defensive line with Trevis Gipson outside and Angelo Blackson and Khyiris Tonga inside. Mario Edwards Jr. can line up anywhere along a 40 front, but that's about it.

They are dangerously thin at tight end, linebacker and safety, in addition to needing starters at the latter two and will need at least one more running back, probably two.

So, before Poles and company begin the spring shopping season they must decide one way or the other on their own free agents, whether they see them as future starters or necessary backups.

Among those eight restricted or exclusive rights guys - Xavier Crawford, J.P. Holtz, Teez Tabor, Alex Bars, Ryan Nall, Jesper Horsted, Lachavious Simmons and Mustipher - are there any potential future starters or key backups?

Whether it's remaining as the starter at center or becoming the key backup, it's hard to imagine Mustipher not being back. Also, as a guy who's played al five positions on the line and may still have quality starter potential at one of them, I'd expect Bars back, too.

And with Kmet the only tight end under contract, why wouldn't you keep Horsted?

Where things really get dicey is at safety and with missing starters and no quality depth.

Can the Bears really afford to let Tashaun Gipson, Deon Bush and DeAndre Houston-Carson all walk with Jackson the only safety under contract?

If they can't retain Gipson, who turns 32 in August, is Bush ready to step into a starting role?

For all the talk about needing to upgrade the cornerbacks' room, safety is actually a much greater need.

At linebacker, there's Smith and Danny Trevathan along with Jeremiah Attaochu and Sam Kamara, who to this point in their careers have been primarily 3-4 outside rush guys. The Bears also have Ledarius Mack, Caleb Johnson, Noah Dawkins and recently signed Joe Thomas.

The problem is it's unclear whether Smith belongs in the middle or on the weak side in the Bears' new 4-3 defense. Also, Trevathan is very likely to be a medical/cap casualty, and there are no guarantees any of the rest belong on an NFL roster let alone as starters.

Re-signing Alec Ogletree, Christian Jones or both - even though they're both 31 - could make sense as both can start or backup and can play any of the three positions.

Once we see which of his own 35 free agents Poles decides to keep we'll have a much firmer grasp on whether or not he really sees his team as a reload or rebuild.