The Bears could have all they need at inside linebacker
The Bears began the 2019 season with what many believed to be the best inside linebacking corps in the NFL and finished it with a career backup and journeyman street free agent starting next to each other and little behind them to back them up.
That said, the talent to get back on top is right in front of them depending on the health of Roquan Smith and Danny Trevathan and what they decide to do with their own free agents.
In spite of a game lost to personal issues week four against the Vikings and less than stellar return to action in three consecutive losses after to the Raiders, Saints and Chargers, Smith bounced back week nine against the Eagles and continued to improve from there playing arguably the best game of his career on Thanksgiving in Detroit.
A week later he tore a pectoral muscle against Dallas and was lost for the season.
Nonetheless, still just 22 years old until April he should be ready for the beginning of the '20 season and is still considered one of the brightest young defenders in the league.
Trevathan went down for the count week 10 in the first Lions game with a grisly elbow injury and is now an unrestricted free agent facing his 30th birthday near the end of March.
He is a team captain and one of its most important leaders in the clubhouse but in four seasons as a Bear he has played just 9, 12, 16 and 9 games.
Nick Kwiatkoski was outstanding stepping in for Trevathan and was much more athletic in coverage than anyone expected. But like Trevathan he is now an unrestricted free agent and still just 26, he's earned himself a very nice payday somewhere.
Kevin Pierre-Louis is a Smith clone, signed last May after bouncing around the league. He was also excellent stepping in for Smith, but is a third Bears ILB unrestricted free agent.
Joel Iyeiegbuniwe rounds out the group after being drafted in the fourth round in 2018 but has shown little other than special teams chops and is unlikely to be able to carry Trevathan's or Kwiatkoski's weight.
2019 Matter of Fact: After finishing the 2018 season No. 1 in the league against the run and 4th in average gain allowed per attempt, the Bears fell to 9th and 6th respectively last season.
However some of that can be attributed to the early season loss of Akiem Hicks as well as the injuries to Trevathan and Smith.
Bears inside linebackers had 7 sacks and 16 tackles for loss in 2018 but almost matched that last season in spite of the injuries with 6 sacks and 16 more TFLs.
The main reason was Kwiatkoski adding 3 sacks and 8 tackles for loss after posting none a season earlier.
Cap Commitment: The Bears currently have just $2.8 million committed to Smith and Iyiegbuniwe, 2.7% of their total cap so they will be spending money at the position but the question is will they spend it on Trevathan, Kwiatkoski, Pierre-Louis, some combination of the three or new talent altogether?
The most likely scenario is they will sign Pierre-Louis and one of the other two and add a rookie through the Draft.
Offseason Need (1 Lowest, 5 Highest): The Bears need at inside linebacker is a 5 at the moment because of the free agents, but it drops to a 3 if they sign either Trevathan or Kwiatkoski, a 1 if they sign both, and a 2 if they sign one or the other and Pierre-Louis.
Available prospects to watch: The only free agents that might be better options than their own are Corey Littleton 26 (Rams), Patrick Onwuasor 28 (Ravens) or Reggie Ragland 26 (Chiefs) and all but Ragland will almost certainly command a lot more money than Trevathan or Kwiatkoski.
The Draft is fairly rich in day two prospects at the position including Zach Baun (Wisconsin), Patrick Queen (LSU) and Malik Harrison (Ohio St.) but unless the Bears actually have a first round grade on one of them it's hard to envision them using one of their second round picks at the position with so many greater needs on offense.
Twitter: @Hub_Arkush