With the dust all but settled after two weeks of free agency being open, I think it’s safe to say this wasn’t the FA period most Chicago Bears fans envisioned. (Well…probably could’ve said that after Day 1.)
No huge Maxx Crosby trade—what a saga that’s been. No Trey Hendrickson signing. Honestly, no “splashes” of any kind, aside from signing safety Coby Bryant and linebacker Devin Bush.
Some might complain the Bears did nothing meaningful with the cap space they created, especially if the goal was
to load up the roster for Caleb Williams’ last year or two of cost control. And, if the plan was indeed to do that, you’d be right.
I’m just not convinced it was. Because, as I wrote last week, that’s not generally how good teams operate. And the Bears are good, by the way.
What feels clear is that the Bears know where their areas of need are—basically the entire defense—as evidenced by their signings of band-aids like Kentavius Street, James Lynch, Neville Gallimore, and fan favorite Jack Sanborn.
They also made sure to bring in two viable starting options at left tackle (for the “they can just roll with Theo Benedet!” folks in the back) in Braxton Jones and Jedrick Wills. That way, when one of them inevitably gets hurt, the other can take over and go on IR the following week. (Okay, but seriously, like the idea behind that, especially without any great tackle options after the top few and so many other areas of need.)
The offense is more or less set again, thanks to the Garrett Bradbury trade, naturally setting the Bears up to use the majority of their draft picks to properly address those spots.
Right?
In this case, probably yes. That’s how the Chiefs, from whom Ryan Poles originally hails, have largely tried to do as they’ve built around Patrick Mahomes.
But it’s a delicate balance of prioritizing needs, fits, and the salary cap. Because if teams like the Chiefs and last year’s New England Patriots show us anything, it’s that shooting your shot at every top-flight free agent isn’t necessarily. (Nor is it wise when you have so many of your own guys to pay.) You have to pick the right guys—ones who fit what you want organizationally and schematically.
The Bears’ defense had a number of square pegs in round holes last year, and they’ve begun re-shaping the squad a bit more in Dennis Allen’s image this season. (Gallimore, Street, and Lynch, for example, are speed merchants and/or explosive athletes, unlike the admirable Andrew Billings or Chris Williams.) With that in mind, plan accordingly as far as who the Bears draft to slot in next to Gervon Dexter Sr. (aka probably not Kayden McDonald).
They also can still stand to land a multi-dimensional safety as a running mate for Bryant, and there are a whole litter of possible Day 1 starters at that spot in those first two days of the draft. Linebacker, meanwhile, can wait until later.
As far as edge, I’m convinced they don’t think it’s as important as the interior, and I would happily take a competent, productive Cam Jordan reunion with his old coach for one season while they prepare to unload some of the bad money they’ve spent outside.
All that sounds well and good. But it now requires the Bears to nail the draft—or to make a major move at defensive tackle that we don’t see coming. Because from where I’m sitting, adding a bona fide starter or blue-chip talent at defensive tackle, however you do it, will be the difference between success and failure for this defense next year. And that guy is not currently on the roster.
Give us Clemson’s Peter Woods, or maybe Georgia’s Christen Miller if that doesn’t work, and that’s more intriguing. But how it works in practice? Well, let’s just say this staff has its work cut out for it if it wants to meaningfully improve the defense. Because right now, it’s still not enough.
