(670 The Score) Following the Bears' second straight 8-8 regular season and a disappointing loss in the wild-card round, the organization's board of directors maintained its faith in general manager Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy.
"We need to see improvement," chairman George McCaskey said, stating the requirement for 2021.
But what did McCaskey and the Bears' leaders expect would follow? Chicago went into this offseason about $24 million over its adjusted salary cap of $190 million -- and with the quarterback position to still address. Pace had dug himself a salary cap hole from which he couldn't easily get out.
The Bears' best hope for significant improvement this offseason was to convince the Seahawks to trade them seven-time Pro Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson. Pace landed a meeting with Seattle general manager John Schneider and extended an offer that included three first-round picks, a third-round selection and two starters believed to be cornerback Kyle Fuller and defensive lineman Akiem Hicks, according to reports. The Seahawks weren't interested.
That's how the Bears got to their present situation, which features Andy Dalton as their starting quarterback, the former All-Pro cornerback Fuller released for salary cap relief and only minor additions in free agency who weren't enough to move Chicago significantly forward.
The Bears haven't gotten better this offseason but -- despite Chicago's displeasure over the Dalton signing -- aren't significantly worse either. They couldn't break the bank for significant signings and didn't make moves that begin a rebuild.
In other words, the Bears are still stuck in the middle. Let's take inventory of what has transpired.
Offense
Key additions: QB Andy Dalton, RB Damien Williams, OL Elijah Wilkinson
Key subtractions: QB Mitchell Trubisky (Bills); OT Bobby Massie (unrestrictred free agent), RB Cordarrelle Patterson (unrestricted free agent)
After several years of words, the actions from Nagy and the Bears proved clear as it related to the quarterback position. Their belief in Trubisky was gone.
You can debate how the talents of Dalton and Trubisky are similar enough, but Nagy simply felt Trubisky couldn't command his offense. That's what led the Bears to sign a 10-year veteran in Dalton, who Nagy believes can operate his scheme in a way Trubisky never could.
Dalton, 33, isn't a dynamic talent who immediately changes the Bears' offense, but the team views him as a more reliable presence for the other 10 players and Nagy.
The Bears can be improve offensively if they finally -- finally -- commit to the running game for a full season. The addition of Williams offers a third backfield option alongside David Montgomery and Tarik Cohen, which should allow Nagy to rely on the run with greater consistency. Keeping star receiver Allen Robinson was important for Chicago, as he offers Dalton the type of dynamic playmaker he had in Cincinnati with A.J. Green.
The Bears are also hopeful their offensive line can maintain its form from late in the 2020 season, which featured improved play after Sam Mustipher was inserted as the starting center and Alex Bars slid to the starting right guard role. The return of a healthy James Daniels (torn pectoral) will create competition for the interior positions. On the outside, Germain Ifedi's name is written in pencil on the depth chart given the Bears could draft a starting offensive tackle in April.
Short of a blockbuster trade for Wilson, the Bears' greatest opportunity to improve offensively rested with Nagy, who has said the right things. Now he has to act on it.
On paper, the Bears' offense looks slightly better after ranking 22nd in the NFL in scoring in 2020. But will it be enough to matter?
Defense
Key additions: CB Desmond Trufant, OLB Jeremiah Attaochu, DL Angelo Blackson, LB Christian Jones, defensive coordinator Sean Desai
Key subtractions: CB Kyle Fuller (Broncos), DL Roy Robertson-Harris (Jaguars), DL Brent Urban (Cowboys), S Tashaun Gipson, (unrestricted free agent)
The Bears made a prudent move by promoting Desai to be their new defensive coordinator in January. In doing so, they recommitted to the type of scheme that former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio ran and did away with the ill-fitting tweaks from Chuck Pagano, who filled the position for the past two seasons.
But Desai will face some great challenges. He inherits a defensive core that's declining and which is now without the steady presence of Fuller at cornerback.
The Bears robbed Peter to pay Paul, diminishing their once-dominant defense in an effort to support their offense. They released Fuller to be free of his $20-million cap hit and also let Robertson-Harris, Urban and Gipson all leave as unrestricted free agents. They did so as part of their plan to add Dalton and retain Robinson with the franchise tag.
The Bears' vision is for Desai and his scheme to give them a lift with a more aggressive brand of the 3-4 defense, though he'll have to implement it with a defensive staff that was nearly completely overhauled following Pagano's retirement. Desai understands the personnel well, having been in the organization longer than any current player on the defense. He was mentored by Fangio and recognizes which techniques and responsibilities can bring out the best in each individual.
However, it's unrealistic to expect this Bears defense to return to its elite form of 2018 -- not after so many significant departures. Chicago still has enough talent for its defense to be consistently good -- maybe even great in some games -- but there's no denying the unit suffered a setback from a talent perspective this offseason.
Special teams
Subtractions: KR Cordarrelle Patterson (unrestricted free agent), specialist Sherrick McManis (unrestricted free agent)
The band is back together, as the Bears said in one of their many odd tweets recently.
Kicker Cairo Santos signed a long-term contract extension that the Bears hope addresses a position that has given them fits for several years. Beyond that, punter Pat O'Donnell and long snapper Patrick Scales each have returned on one-year deals.
But the band isn't quite completely back together without Patterson, one of the greatest kickoff returners in NFL history. He surprisingly remains a free agent.
Could the Bears afford to sign him back without another subtraction on defense? It's unlikely.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.