Free Agent Gambles The Chicago Bears Should Consider
The Chicago Bears have made the majority of their big free agency moves. Their focus has shifted to college pro days in the past week, hoping to gather what data they need for the upcoming draft. That said, GM Ryan Poles indicated the team was far from finished on the veteran market. They have more than enough roster spots to continue adding. Money also isn’t an issue. They still have the most cap space of any team in the league. It’s about finding deals that make sense for the organization.
This might also be a good time for Poles to start thinking about taking some calculated risks. Players aren’t in a position to play hardball anymore. They’ll have to accept short-term deals at discount rates if they want to get on a roster. It is either that or taking the risk of an injury happening somewhere and having a team get desperate. There is a reason many of the bigger names out there are available. That shouldn’t stop the Bears from taking a gamble on one of them.
The Chicago Bears should consider these calculated swings.
Jadeveon Clowney
Probably one of the strangest careers in NFL history. Clowney is one of the most gifted athletes in recent memory. When in a groove, few can block him one on one. So why has he played for four different teams in five years? It is a mixture of him struggling to stay healthy and being inconsistent on the field. Since 2019, Clowney has missed 19 games with various injuries. He was excellent in 2021, with nine sacks and 19 QB hits. Then he regressed to three sacks and four QB hits last year. It is impossible to know which Clowney will show up from year to year. Yet the fact remains that the 30-year-old is many times better than anybody the Bears have.
Shaquill Griffin
Nobody can say the Chicago Bears are hurting at cornerback. Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon make for two solid starters, while Jaylon Jones provided unexpected depth. However, they still feel one dependable starter short of being good. Griffin was a Pro Bowler in Seattle, playing a style of defense that would make him a great fit. Sadly injuries and constant coaching turnover led to struggles in Jacksonville the past two years. He’s only 27. There is no reason to think he can’t rebound. The price tag to acquire him will be low at this stage of free agency.
Isaiah Wynn
The former 1st round pick did most of his best work in New England as a left tackle. However, they shifted him to right tackle last season out of necessity. Most would say he was terrible. In truth, most of the ugly stats came from two games against Green Bay and Cleveland. For the remaining five, he was perfectly adequate. It probably didn’t help that he had no semblance of proper coaching. There would be more stability in Chicago. Wynn also has the quickness, mobility, and finisher mentality in the run game the Bears look for. He’d make for the perfect swing tackle, at the very least.
Kenyan Drake
Signing D’Onta Foreman was a savvy move for the Bears, keeping their 1-2 punch backfield intact with Khalil Herbert. The problem is that duo offers very little in the passing game. Chicago still needs somebody that can be a threat receiving out of the backfield. Drake has more than 300 receiving yards in three of the past four seasons. Though 29 years old, he should have enough gas in the tank to play a limited role in the offense as a weapon in the receiving game who can also take carries when necessary.