(1) Yes. And this itemized post that you just made also proves it. In the biz, we would call this prima facie evidence. Last year this team shed contracts and traded stars with the intent on getting as high of a draft pick as possible. You are ignoring the facts of the matter as if you werent paying attention.
It's nice that you think that they made those trades to tank. That you've actively bought into the media narrative that NFL teams tank for a better draft pick and that the Bears somehow followed a formula to "tank".
Here's why the media driven narrative that the Bears were tanking is absolute bullshit a step by step guide.
#1 The Bears were 3-4 and not out of the playoff hunt because the Lions Packers and the Vikings had done nothing to establish themselves with the division as clear favorites. The Vikings were continuously winning games by one score and in danger of a collapse. The Packers had chemistry problems between their rookie WRs and Aaron Rodgers and the Lions were still the Lions (the Lions won 7 straight to close out the year)
#2 Justin Fields and the offense had just run through the Patriots and were the talk of the league. The offense had just put together their best effort and were allegedly on the verge of making a run
#3 They traded for Chase Claypool to add an additional immediate weapon for Justin Fields and Poles stated it was a move to be made for a playoff run.
#4 Trading away Robert Quinn who was having very little impact after his 18.5 sack season was about moving playing time around to give the fifth round pick Robinson a shot to learn on the job. He flashed against the 49ers and for some reason lost playing time. If your fifth round pick is having equal impact as the tenured veteran you give the young guy a chance by trading away the guy who is having minimal impact.
#5 Roquan Smith wasn't having the type of impact they envisioned him having and they knew they could trade him away move Jack Sanborn up to the starting role and have minimal production drop off because Sanborn was playing so well.
You add up those 5 things and they don't equal a deliberate effort to lose 11 straight games.
Evidence from last year to this year that Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus don't know what they're doing and that's why this team has lost 22 of their last 28 games are as abundant last year as they are this year.
#1Eberflus is a horrible coach, Getsy is a horrible offensive coordinator. Both of those are factors in the Bears losing last year and this year.
#2They have one good receiver in DJ Moore but teams can take him away because there's no other weapon at WR on the roster.
#3The offensive line is still in shambles because Braxton Jones is overrated and just about every fan on this message board has him being replaced if they stick with Fields. They have no center and they have no depth and trading for Feeney was a panic move to try and fix the problem Ryan Poles has created.
#4. The front seven is still one of the worst in the NFL. Draft picks and free agent signees are not playing to up snuff in terms of starter impact and depth impact. They had to trade for an average pass rusher and then way overpaid for a guy that benefitted from having one of the best pass rushing DTs in the game playing next to him. A player that's never had a 10 digit sack season.
#5 The secondary is a mess that is among the worst in the NFL in forcing turnovers. A hard hitting safety that doesn't force fumbles or get picks or make any impact plays. No consistent INT production from three major players added in Gordon Smith and Stevenson.
#6 I don't even need to talk about Justin Fields but rest assured I will if someone is dumb enough to argue that the above 5 things are affecting his game.