Need Positions and What's Left
In assessing the remaining free agents available as the new league year hits, it's best to understand what the Bears have been working with over the last year.
Pro Football Focus lists its top 200 free agents and runs it all the way to 210. The last-ranked free agent on their board is former Bears safety Eddie Jackson.
The Bears have watched the board thin out at need positions and here's what they have left at need spots in free agency.
Don't forget, there is going to be a long list of players who get released at the 3 p.m. deadline for cap purposes. Does GM Ryan Poles know something about players being released? After all, the Bears are sitting on about $45 million in effective cap space.
One of those players who might come free is Khalil Mack.
Hmmmm.
Wide Receiver
Mike Williams, Chargers
A 6-foot-4, 218-pound receiver who jumps out of the gym but hasn't produced catch or yardage numbers in the quantity required to get paid like one of the league's best. He does have 31 TD catches and is an excellent red zone threat. He's had only two seasons with more than 49 catches and two 1,000-yard seasons, but at his size and speed he could be a suitable X-type in the Bears offense. He could be in the role in Shane Waldron's offense that DK Metcalf had. He was released by the Chargers so they can get below the cap at the March 13 deadline.
Marquise Brown, Cardinals
The Bears need an X-type rather than a slot or Z-type receiver, but his speed would be inviting.
Curtis Samuel, Commanders
Ideal slot receiver for the Bears and a good friend of D.J. Moore who will get a team 50 to 60 catches a year. The price must be right.
Tyler Boyd, Bengals
Has had 58 or more catches six straight years and at 6-2, 203 he can play any position. Might be the best value on the receiver board.
K.J. Osborn, Vikings
Showed he's capable of more than the Vikings asked him to do with 48 or more catches each of the last three seasons.
Odell Beckham Jr., Ravens
Still capable but probably overpriced for what he's still capable of at age 31, after so many injuries later in his career.
Michael Thomas, Saints
Massive injury and age concerns.
Josh Reynolds, Lions
He always seems to kill the Bears so just getting him off the Lions roster would be worth the money to the Bears.
DJ Chark, Panthers
Explosive when he can get the ball, at 15.0 yards a catch last year, 16.7 in 2022. However, he doesn't get it enough whether it's his fault or someone else's.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Titans
Had the opportunities but hasn't had more than 38 catches in his career as a big X-type receiver.
Noah Brown, Texans
Houston went shopping for better targets but his 17.2 yards per catch last year and 43 receptions for Dallas in 2022 say he could help someone as a 6-2, 215-pound X-type. Has Buckeyes receiver pedigree, too.
Cedrick Wilson, Dolphins
Has been disappointing since he put up 45 catches for Dallas in 2021.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Chiefs
X-type size at 6-4, Z-type speed, waiver wire-type hands. Was released by Chiefs.
Braxton Berrios Dolphins
Trent Taylor type who returns punts and catches passes 7 yards downfield.
Donovan Peoples-Jones, Lions
Versatile underperformer who had 61 catches in 2022 with Cleveland but never more than 34 in any other season. Returns punts and has had 61 of them but had only one above-average year at it in 2022.
Mack Hollins, Falcons
Huge receiver at 6-4, 221, was buried in Atlanta receiver group but had 57 catches for Raiders in 2022. Now 30 years old.
Edge Rusher
Chase Young, 49ers
Took a while to get traction in San Francisco but eventually started getting sacks. Worth a signing at a bargain price as a situational pass rusher. Injuries in the past and run-stopping ability are concerns.
Jadeveon Clowney, Ravens
Visiting the Panthers this week.
Calais Campbell, Falcons
Huge, 2-gap size, ancient.
Emmanuel Ogbah, Dolphins
Twice had nine sacks in Miami but has since tailed off. Ideal size for a Bears edge at 6-4, 274, but does he stop runs sufficiently?
Mike Danna, Chiefs
Great experience and potential to produce as a starter or in a rotation. Started 16 games last year for world champions with 6 1/2 sacks.
Carl Lawson, Jets
Definite skill set to contribute as an edge rusher but he has a mile long list of injury concerns including past ACL and Achilles issues. Turns 29 this season.
Darrell Taylor, Seahawks
Run defense concerns and hasn't stepped forth despite great productivity in the pass rush with 21 1/2 sacks in three seasons.
Kyle Van Noy, Ravens
His sack total says he can still be a contributor but he's more of an outside linebacker in a 3-4 and will be 33 this year.
D.J. Wonnum, Vikings
The Bears will have him for a visit on Thursday. He was 144th on the Pro Football Focus list of available free agents to start free agency but two seasons with eight sacks says he can find a way to contribute and he's still only 26. Has interest in stopping the run, too, with 62 tackles last year, seven for loss, in 15 games.
Anfernee Jennings, Patriots
Check for pulse.
Bud Dupree, Falcons
Enjoyed back-to-back strong pass rush seasons with the Steelers, 11 1/2 sacks in 2019 and eight in 2020, but hasn't been at that level in other years.
Yannick Ngakoue, Bears
Been there done that.
Rasheem Green, Bears
Been there done that also.
Clelin Ferrell, 49ers
Underachiever with Raiders and Niners, never has had more than 4 1/2 sacks in five seasons and has 13 1/2 sacks for five seasons. Yet, he started every game last year.
Romeo Okwara, Lions
In 2020 the sky was the limit after 20 sacks. Since then it's been injuries and disappointment. Of his 25 career sacks in eight years, 17 1/2 of them came in two seasons and only five over the last three years.
Markus Golden, Steelers
Tailed off the last two years in production but in his first seven seasons he had double-digt sacks three times. So it's someone who knows what he can do.
Defensive Tackle
Arik Armstead, 49ers
Has the size like Matt Eberflus had with DeForest Buckner in Indy at 6-7, 290, but is 30 now and has had only 14 1/2 sacks over the last four years after getting to 10 in 2019. He had a few injury issues in the past but is healthy now. He can slide outside to end, as well.
D.J. Reader, Bengals
A nose type, not 3-technique at 335 pounds. Is trying to get over a December quad tear.
Teair Tart, Texans
Has been a nose and 3-technique but hasn't produced more than 1 1/2 sacks in a y ear and was released by the Titans last year before Houston signed him, and hasn't signed him back.
Sheldon Rankins, Texans
A steady performer who will produce occasional sacks and has played 3-technique or nose, 2-gap or 1-gap. He had a career-high eight sacks in 2018 with the Saints but didn't get close to that again until getting six last year for the Texans in 15 games.
Raekwon Davis, Dolphins
Nose tackle at 325 pounds who has two career sacks despite starting his first three years. He was a backup most of last year.
Shelby Harris, Browns
Journeyman 32-year-old who has played end most of his career but got switched to tackle by the Browns last year. The kind of player who can contribute off the bench still and he has had a real knack for knocking down passes despite being just 6-2, with 34 pass defenses in nine seasons.
Kevin Givens, 49ers
He's been with the 49ers five years without stepping up to another level of productivity and is a sub with 13 starts. He's more of a run-stopping 3-technique type than effective pass rusher and at 6-1, 285, he really needs to be more of a pass rusher.
Sebastian Joseph-Day, 49ers
Contributed but hasn't impressed rushing the passer at 6-4, 310 pounds, and is better at stopping the run. He'd be a nose tackle in the Bears defense.
Adam Butler, Raiders
Backup with ideal size at 6-5, 300 pounds. He was with the Patriots, Raiders and Dolphins and has shown some ability to apply pressure up the middle with 36 QB hits and 22 sacks in six seasons, but hasn't been effective enough to be a starter anywhere.
Poona Ford, Bills
Former Seahawks run-stopping nose tackle/defensive tackle who signed with the Bills but played in only eight games and made 8 1/2 sacks in six seasons. At 5-11, 310, he's too short to play in the Bears front.
Taven Bryan Colts
Has been a backup all but one season, in 2022 with Cleveland. He has 10 1/2 career sacks for six years.
Center
Connor Williams, Dolphins
Coming off a torn ACL, graded best center in the NFL last year.
Evan Brown, Seahawks
A former Lions lineman who was a capable center and started for the Seahawks. His grades weren't spectacular as a blocker but were better than what the Bears have had the last few years.
Brian Allen, Rams
Former Rams starter in a similar scheme to the Bears' new offense but has had a career ravaged by injuries and has 32 starts in five seasons.
Scott Quessenberry, Texans
Started 16 games for the Texans in 2022 but had been a backup with the Chargers prior to that, then suffered a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee last training camp.
Tyler Larsen, Commanders
Long-time NFL backup who started 36 games out of 100 played and has been largely limited to center.
Coleman Shelton, Rams
Rams starter last year and was with the team when Shane Waldron was there. He didn't become a starter until 2022, his fourth season, and hasn't been overly impressive.
Lucas Patick
Uh, just, no.
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