Editor's note: This marks the fifth 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) The Bears were reminded this past season that their vision on offense can only go as far as their line will push them.
The Bears' offense was a complete mess for much of the 2020 campaign, as it was often incapable of sustaining drives and producing points. Those problems started up front on the offensive line, which required a midseason reboot to become functional.
As the Bears look to rebuild their struggling offense this offseason, they recognize the importance of stability on the line. Here's where the offensive line stands heading into the offseason.
Who's under contract
Charles Leno Jr., 29 -- The Bears' starter at left tackle since 2015, Leno has had ups and downs in his performance. But his pay is in the bottom half of salaries at his position, which is attractive for the Bears.
Cody Whitehair, 28 -- In November, the Bears moved Whitehair to his more comfortable position of left guard, and the entire offensive line seemed to benefit.
James Daniels, 23 -- After suffering a season-ending pectoral tear in early October, Daniels will have to work to reclaim a starting job this next season.
Sam Mustipher, 24 -- Is Mustipher the Bears' new starting center moving forward? He played well enough late in the season to earn that role.
Alex Bars, 25 -- Bars stepped in at right guard and provided the Bears more stability on their interior line. Like his former college teammate Mustipher, Bars could be in line to stick as a starter.
Bobby Massie, 31 -- Given his contract situation and recent injury history, the veteran Massie could be a cap casualty and be released this offseason.
Arlington Hambright, 25 -- A seventh-round pick of the Bears last April, Hambright played in nine games and started one in a pinch.
Lachavious Simmons, 24 -- Also a seventh-round pick in 2020, Simmons didn't play last season.
Badara Traore, 23 -- An undrafted rookie out of LSU, Traore developed on the Bears' practice squad last season.
Dieter Eiselen, 24 -- Eiselen is a former rugby player and Yale product who was part of Chicago's practice squad as a rookie.
Free agents
Germain Ifedi, 26 -- A first-round pick in 2016, Ifedi provided the Bears with depth this past season.
Rashaad Coward, 26 -- The experiment with Coward didn't work as the Bears had hoped.
How they got here
Last November, the Bears desperately needed to fix their offensive line. So they moved Whitehair from center to left guard, plugged in Mustipher as their new starting center and inserted Bars at right guard.
The Bears' offense showed improvement behind the reshuffled interior, surpassing the 100-yard rushing mark in each of the final six regular-season games after doing so just twice before in 2020.
Leno was the Bears' lone lineman to play the entire season at his same position.
Quote to note
"It's on us to make the right decisions, get creative when we have to, make hard decisions when we have to and make sure we shore up that position in every way we can. And that's what we'll do."
-- Bears general manager Ryan Pace on the team's offensive line situation
What's ahead
The Bears face key decisions this offseason relating to both their interior line and the tackle positions.
Pace must first decide whether to retain Leno and Massie for 2021. While Leno's contract is considered a discount for a left tackle, Massie is likely to be cut. The Bears would then be tasked with finding a replacement, perhaps with the No. 20 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
The Bears must also pick three of Whitehair, Bars, Mustipher and Daniels to start on their interior offensive line. Whitehair seems best suited at left guard, while Bars is more comfortable at right guard.
Given that Mustipher asserted himself well at center and Daniels has already been moved out before as the Bears' center, he could be the odd man out.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.