Five Players Chicago Bears Should Cut And Who Should Replace Them
As training camp approaches, the Chicago Bears have decided to stand pat with their roster. That isn’t a surprise. They want to see what they have once the pads go on. That is the fastest way for a team to determine its strengths and weaknesses. Until then, GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus won’t make any determinations. With that said, there are certain moves they could do right now that would make the team better.
They aren’t even adjustments that would cost a ton of money. Thanks to the time of year, most veteran free agents still out there can’t expect to secure much cash in any contract they sign. Such opportunities are long gone. Now it’s about waiting for a team they want or any opportunity they can get. Here are five moves the Bears can make right now that would improve the roster without breaking the bank.
‼️ ADAM HUMPHRIES BAY BAY ‼️
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The Chicago Bears can get better with these minor moves.
Cut: Tajae Sharpe
Replacement: Adam Humphries
Sharpe had one decent year as a rookie but hasn’t done much since then. He was a non-entity in Minnesota and served as an okay backup in Atlanta. Humphries has repeatedly proven that he can be a great safety blanket on third down when given opportunities. He isn’t flashy but reliable and knows how to get open with savvy route-running. Humphries would be the perfect #4 receiver rather than relying on Sharpe or Equanimeous St. Brown.
Cut: Sam Mustipher
Replacement: Ereck Flowers
Mustipher has played nothing but center in his career dating back to his first year of college. It’s what he knows. Last year he often came across as a weak point in the Chicago Bears offensive line. Now he is shifting to guard, where he might be at an even bigger disadvantage. Nobody would accuse Flowers of being a stud, but he proved over the past couple of years that he is steady at guard. He allowed just 26 pressures in over 600 snaps last season.
Cut: Julie’n Davenport
Replacement: Sam Tevi
GM Ryan Poles signed Davenport because he’s big, long, and a natural athlete. None of that seemed to matter at previous stops, where he proved time and again to be no better than a human turnstile. Even as the swing backup, he is not what the Bears want protecting Justin Fields in an emergency. Tevi was never anything special, but he showed improvement during his time with the Chargers. His 2020 season was his best, allowing only 33 pressures in 630 snaps. He is healthy and still only 27 years old.
Anthony Barr with the INT in OT! #SKOL
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Cut: Joe Thomas
Replacement: Anthony Barr
The middle and weakside linebacker spots are secure with Roquan Smith and Nicholas Morrow. It’s the strongside spot that remains unresolved. Matthew Adams is the only option for them, and he’s a career special teams guy. They need more credibility. Barr is a four-time Pro Bowler and still productive despite some recent health issues. He is a perfect fit for Eberflus’ 4-3 defense. If the price tag isn’t too steep, this is a no-brainer for the Chicago Bears.
Cut: Kindle Vildor
Replacement: Kevin King
There were high hopes for Vildor as a 5th round pick in 2020. Sadly those hopes never materialized. The cornerback has proven to be an outright liability whenever on the field, allowing eight touchdowns and a 70% completion rate in two seasons. Nobody would ever accuse King of being a good cornerback, but he was at least reliable during most of his run with the Green Bay Packers. He’s got size and athleticism. He isn’t too old at 27. The price to get him won’t be high. From a pure depth perspective, he is a significant upgrade.