The free-agent negotiating window opens today. Where will Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears turn their attention first?
Ryan Poles came away with a plug-and-play wide receiver in D.J. Moore — who is instantly the Chicago Bears’ top target in the passing game — in his blockbuster trade of the No. 1 draft pick Friday.
Poles also added a second-round pick this year and future draft capital for sliding back to No. 9 in the deal he struck with the Carolina Panthers. The trade will become official after the new league year begins at 3 p.m. Wednesday.
Now attention turns to how Poles can begin to assemble the roster in free agency, in which the Bears general manager was a bargain shopper a year ago.
Poles has stressed repeatedly that he believes in building through the draft. He also has talked about seeing the process through with Justin Fields, and after providing the quarterback with a No. 1 receiver, now he has a chance to turn his attention to the offensive line. If the Bears can improve the talent around Fields, they can raise their expectations for the quarterback in Year 3.
The defensive front needs to be completely rebuilt after a disastrous season. The Bears probably need three new starters on the line, maybe four, and have to find a replacement for Roquan Smith at weak-side linebacker, among other positions of need.
Starting on the offensive line, it stands to reason the Bears will be shopping for a starting right tackle. Poles has spoken positively about how rookie Braxton Jones played at left tackle, but the Bears have used a different Week 1 right tackle for three consecutive seasons and lack options.
One source said the team is expected to have interest in the San Francisco 49ers’ Mike McGlinchey, which makes sense considering he’s experienced in the wide-zone running scheme the Bears use. McGlinchey and Jawaan Taylor of the Jacksonville Jaguars could command $15 million per season, perhaps more. Kaleb McGary of the Atlanta Falcons is another option.
The Bears might have interest in Wes Schweitzer of the Washington Commanders as an interior option on the offensive line. He worked with Bears offensive line coach Chris Morgan with the Falcons.
On the defensive line, it will be fascinating to see what happens with Denver Broncos tackle Dre’Mont Jones. The market for interior linemen got a boost Sunday when the Commanders reportedly reached agreement with Daron Payne — whom they secured with the franchise tag — on a four-year, $90 million contract. That will make Payne the second-highest paid interior lineman behind Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams.
Jones is believed to be seeking a contract paying him $18 million per season. Whether he can get that remains to be seen. Zach Allen of the Arizona Cardinals is another interior option who will be paid handsomely. The Bears could look to sign a nose tackle and try to fill the three-technique position in the draft.
The Bears can either look to sign a linebacker in free agency — Bobby Okereke of the Indianapolis Colts could arrive knowing the scheme — or try to fill the weak-side position via the draft. That’s one of the benefits of having two picks at the end of Round 2 and the first pick of Round 3. That can be a prime area to find an athletic linebacker.
The negotiating window opens at 11 a.m. Monday, and the past tells us some deals can be finalized quickly, though they can’t become official until after 3 p.m. Wednesday.
Poles and the Bears are flush with about $70 million in cap space after factoring in the acquisition of Moore, and they can remain committed to building via the draft while making key additions to fortify both lines.
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