The Cutting Edge for Bears Free Agency
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So much about the NFL offseason has yet to develop with four teams still remaining in the 2022 season.
It could become more apparent by the end of February but the great questions facing teams include some within the Bears division:
Will Aaron Rodgers be traded and if so does this mean the Packers gut the roster? They have more people under contract (61) than any team in the league, according to Spotrac.com. And they are one of 14 teams Overthecap.com has already over the cap for next year.
The Vikings defense was a disaster and only two teams are over the cap more for next year than the Vikings, so how are they fixing it?
Meanwhile, the Bears have fewer players under contract for 2023 than all but three teams and only one team, the Falcons, is even within sight of the $115 million they have available to spend in free agency.
Much can change for the Bears this offseason and must after three wins.
Seven of their starters are slated to be among the 26 Bears free agents of all types when free agency begins March 15.
They have a few in the group who need to be signed, a few they should try to replace and some who might be signed but should be challenged severely to keep their starting positions.
Here is a thumbs up, thumbs down for 2023 on Bears free agents.
Thumbs Up
RB David Montgomery*
It all depends on the money, as Ryan Poles said. That's not true, of course. What's also true is they could come up with someone they deem a better fit for their offense in free agency, but the qualifications all scream Montgomery. The starting running back position in this offense needs to run with power, be able to block and to catch passes in addition to gaining yardage either between tackles or by running behind the wide zone. Montgomery isn't ideal for what the Bears are doing now because his speed isn't as great as many backs, but he has almost everything else. So it would probably take a back like Saquon Barkley to supplant him unless they plan to draft a back in Rounds 1 or 2. Market value for Montgomery according to Spotrac.com is only $7.2 million. It's a drop in the bucket for a team with $115 million available.
FB Khari Blasingame
Most teams don't have fullbacks. The Bears spoke about Blasingame's blocking all year with reverence. So it would only seem they would want to keep him. But they only used him on 18% of offensive snaps. It's a niche position, no doubt. The Bears should be able to pay Blasingame more than the $985,000 they gave him last year but he might be able to find a team willing to use him more than they did.
S DeAndre Houston-Carson
They should have given their most valuable backup a new contract already. They keep giving him one-year deals but he should get a few years and a big raise. He not only leads their special teams every year but had to start six games last season after starting three the previous season. He had an outstanding passer rating against when targeted of 51.1, and that was playing with a bunch of substitutes on the field during their final five games when injuries claimed every starter in the secondary for two games or more.
G/C Dieter Eiselen
The South African weightlifter/rugby player finally got some playing time. He's an exclusive rights free agent so he's going nowhere anyway.
CB Josh Blackwell
Another exclusive rights free agent so he'll back. He could be a real find as a backup or starting nickel and led the team in special teams tackles.
Coin Flip
Nick Morrow*
He had to start at two positions and wound up playing the position Roquan Smith vacated when traded. They should aspire to someone better at both linebacker positions but they also could do worse than having him back as a third or fourth linebacker.
C Sam Mustipher*
He did everything asked of him and more, and improved his blocking according to Pro Football Focus grading. So his return shouldn't be in doubt. But it is because it depends on whether they upgrade at center. It's a position with several available talented free agents, and they could have two or three players on the roster already to challenge his roster spot. Doug Kramer spent the year on IR and Lucas Patrick might as well have. Mustipher is listed as restricted but because free agency requires submitting a tender offer based on his draft status, it's possible the Bears would either not tender him at all or tender him at the lowest possible level to retain first refusal rights. So essentially, he'd be as close as a player can be to unrestricted without being listed as one.
LS Patrick Scales
At what age do you worry about a long snapper being able to get downfield and help on punt coverage? He'll be 35 this season.
G Michael Schofield
They could do much worse for a backup guard. He had a PFF grade higher than Cody Whitehair and allowed three fewer sacks in about two-thirds the number of plays as Whitehair.
WR Dante Pettis
Because they have no other real punt returner, he'd be a flip of the coin. If they can address this problem in either the draft or free agency, then his contributions as a recevier doesn't really hold up.
Thumbs Down
Riley Reiff*
With Larry Borom and Alex Leatherwood under contract and the team needing to bring in another right tackle starter or starting competitor, it would seem there should be little interest in bringing him back. He'll be 35 years old when the season starts. Yet, he was one of their vital run blockers, according to Poles. Obviously he'd have to be willing to play as their swing tackle and not starting. It seems unlikely he'd even be interested in this when there might be a team somewhere else in the same situation the Bears were in last year, needing a last-second possible blocker. He should go to Green Bay because it's the only team he hasn't played for in the NFC North.
DT Armon Watts
A late pickup before the season started, he fought his way into the starting lineup but was part of the worst starting defensive line in the league.
LB Joe Thomas*
He wound up starting because of injuries to Matthew Adams and when Adams returned to health he was still starting. His knowledge of every position and special teams ability makes him a player they might want as a backup and special teams player. What they really need to do is bring in higher level players as backup and starting linebackers and they have the cash to do it.
LB Matthew Adams
They brought him in with several other Colts to help players learn the scheme and to make sure they had a strong side starter who knew the defense for about half the defensive plays. He spent much of the season with injuries and lost the starting spot to Thomas. They shouldn't need to bring in old Colts backups anymore as the defensive system is known to players now. They should pursue talent now over familiarity.
WR Byron Pringle
Took $4 million for one year and gave them 10 catches with two touchdowns in return. They can find much more for $4 million in the open market.
DL Angelo Blackson
Doesn't fit their one-gap scheme, never did and lost a starting job last year.
WR N'Keal Harry
If he wanted to come back for minimum wage again it would be worth bringing him back but he showed no ability to work within the offense. Justin Fields seemed impressed with his ability to catch jump balls but it seemed that's the only kind of pass he could catch.
TE Ryan Griffin
A colossal disappointment with eight targets and four catches in a season when he was available for 15 games.
TE Trevon Wesco
Was brought in because of his blocking ability but you should be able to find someone who blocks and is available for more than four targets on the season.
S Dane Cruikshank
The intention with Cruikshank was logical as a bigger safety who could step in on run downs and in the red zone. He couldn't stay healthy from the start of training camp and wasn't available in the offseason.
G Dakota Dozier
Never played after an offseason knee injury.
DT Mike Pennel
He played with great energy but didn't get much done and they need to replace all defensive tackles except Justin Jones.
QB Nathan Peterman
A journeyman who should journey again.
DB Breon Borders
A restricted free agent who will likely go untendered and would need to sign a minimum contract in an attempt to catch on in a crowded, younger secondary and has failed to catch on with six teams already.
LB Javin White
A safety/linebacker who suffered a torn ligament in training camp and is restricted.
*2022 Starter
Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven
