Bears GM Needs to Be Gap Sound

The minimal goal in free agency for the Bears under all of their general managers has always been to cover every roster gap with a veteran and look for long-term answers in the draft.

So far Ryan Poles has stuck to this routine and did it last year. Hes in the process of doing it now.

The signing on Thursday of Dylan Cole covered them at linebacker to an extent, and they've used much of free agency to address other issues like nose tackle, defensive end and three technique and running back.

The Bears are 27 players short of the 90-man roster and have 10 draft picks to make. They still have gaps and it will be addressed as they add those 17 more players.

With $33 million in effective cap space available according to Overthecap.com, they can still help make sure they have enough depth.

Here is where to expect something more in free agency from Poles over the next few weeks before attention gets turned in full to the 2023 NFL Draft.

1. Defensive End

DeMarcus Walker fills a need there but he also is a player who can play three technique as a pass rusher. A defensive end who rushes off the edge is a potential target in free agency, and also the draft considering their lack of productive edge players overall.

2. Defensive Tackle

The addition of Andrew Billings helps, but last year they had four defensive tackles and even if you counted Walker as a defensive tackle at three technique instead of an end they would be short of players. After Billings and Justin Jones, they're also short of roster challenger types for the end of the bench.

3. Cornerback

They haven't brought in a cornerback because they had an army full of extra waiver-wire types they had brought in last year during the rash of injuries at season's end. However, someone to challenge Kindle Vildor or even a slot cornerback type would be an asset. Last year they covered themselves at slot cornerback with often-injured Baltimore free agent Tavon Young and he bombed out. They lived with using Kyler Gordon there and have Josh Blackwell training in that spot, as well. One more who does this can't hurt. Someone who challenges Vildor would be a longer-term type player, like a draft pick

4. Safety

Not much has been said about this, but if they don't sign DeAndre Houston-Carson they will need to add at least one safety if not two. They're not going to war with just 2022 draft pick Elijah Hicks as the third safety choice. He has much to prove after 156 defensive snaps and a 158.3 passer rating against when targeted, including two touchdowns allowed. Adrian Colbert is on the roster but was a waiver wire type. They had Dane Cruikshank last year and he spent the entire season bouncing back from one injury after another. They need a player of that ilk, a bigger safety for the run-heavy package.

5. Wide Receiver

They're not looking for some veteran expensive free agent but for players to fill the roster challenger slots. Currently there are eight receivers on the roster including Nsimba Webster and they'd be looking for someone fast who can also be a punt returner or for bigger wide receivers like they had with Dante Pettis, Tajae Sharpe and David Moore last year. Poles does have enough cap space now to add one moderately priced who can be a depth piece instead of someone for minimum wage.

6. Tackle

This is more left for the draft, but there would be a chance they would bring in a swing type depth piece later. Last year it was Riley Reiff, who wound up as a starter. This year the need isn't as great because Larry Borom and Alex Leatherwood are both experienced, young tackles who can also play guard. It's the starting role they need filled and that's why the first round of the draft is a strong possiblity rather than the street free agent.

7. Tight End

They did sign Robert Tonyan as the second tight end but a 13-personnel package requires three tight ends. They had Trevon Wesco in that role last year and unless they're ready to promote one of their two undrafted free agent tight ends—Chase Allen and Jake Tonges—as a blocking tight end, it's a spot they need to cover with another veteran.

8. Linebacker

This isn't the Vic Fangio era Bears, who ran a scheme requiring basically two linebackers all the time because the outside linebackers were their pass rushers. This base scheme requires three off-ball linebackers and their backups. The Bears now have four of those spots filled with experienced players, but can use one more. Sterling Weatherford and DeMarquis Gates are still on the roster but counting on either for more than special teams would be asking much from inexperienced, undrafted types.

9. Quarterback

It's possible the third would be a developmental type but it's still somewhat shaky to take a player who has seven NFL starts into the regular season or even training camp as your only backup to Justin Fields, as PJ Walker is right now.

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