Editor's note: This marks the seventh piece in a series of positional outlooks for the Bears' roster entering this offseason. Click here to read the rest of them.
(670 The Score) Last March, the Bears made a steep investment in veteran pass rusher Robert Quinn, signing him to a five-year, $70-million deal.
The Bears believed that pairing Quinn with star edge rusher Khalil Mack would create the NFL's top tandem and enhance the defense's window to be dominant. Instead, Quinn drastically underperformed his contract and the Bears ranked just 17th in the NFL with 35 sacks.
If the Bears are to find their top form defensively in 2021, their pass rush has to be much more disruptive.
Who's under contract
Khalil Mack, 29 -- Mack was held to single-digit sacks again with just nine, but he also played through four different injuries last season.
Robert Quinn, 30 -- Quinn recorded a sack on his first snap in a Bears uniform back on Sept. 20. It took three months for him to record a second sack, and those were his only two of the season.
Trevis Gipson, 23 -- A fifth-round pick if the Bears in 2020, Gipson played in just seven games and 71 defensive snaps last season.
Ladarius Mack, 24 -- The younger brother of Khalil, Ladarius joined the Bears on a reserve/future contract.
Free agents
Barkevious Mingo, 30 -- Mingo proved to be a valuable signing for the Bears, filling a reserve role at outside linebacker and working in 82% of Chicago's special teams snaps.
James Vaughters, 27 -- A reserve outside linebacker, Vaughters played in 14 games and recorded 1.5 sacks.
Quote to note
"We appreciate the way he fought through that. He played through that injury, and that was real."
-- Bears general manager Ryan Pace on Mack's season in 2020
What's ahead
New Bears defensive coordinator Sean Desai's goal is to maximize his players' individual talents with a few tweaks. That needs to be the case with the pass rush.
In particular, Desai has to find a way to get more out of the Mack-Quinn tandem to create a more consistent pass rush. Given their salary cap situation, the Bears can't afford to bring in another pass rusher. Their improvement at the position needs to come from within. It's up to Mack and Quinn to produce and Desai to create a scheme that helps them do that.
The Bears ranked 22nd in the NFL with pressures generated on just 22.4% of their defensive snaps in 2020. While Mack produced nine sacks and 31 pressures while handling double-team blocks and fighting through his injuries, Quinn had just the two sacks and 16 pressures.
Chicago must also develop depth at outside linebacker this offseason. Mingo certainly deserves the opportunity to return in 2021. After spending his rookie season developing, Gipson will be asked to play a larger role in the defense.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.