Sorting Through Unsigned Bears

With the signings last week of tight end Trevon Wesco by Tennessee and running back Darrynton Evans by the Colts, the Bears list of unsigned free agents has dwindled to a mere 15.

It's safe to say very few of those are players they would want back even at this later date in free agency.

WR Byron Pringle

DT Angelo Blackson

WR N'Keal Harry

TE Ryan Griffin

QB Trevor Siemian

S DeAndre Houston-Carson

S Dane Cruikshank

G Dakota Dozier

G Michael Schofield

DT Mike Pennel

LB Joe Thomas

C Sam Mustipher

LB Javin White

CB Breon Borders

DT Armon Watts

It's quite a fall for Mustipher as he has gone from starting center the last 2 1/2 seasons to without a team entirely while the Bears have yet to even add a center who wasn't on the roster in 2022.

Many of those players on the list could be replaced simply with a draft pick.

However, there are three players on the list who could still be of use to the Bears and need to be discussed for a return.

4. DT Armon Watts

Watts didn't do much to indicate he needs to be a starter again or even back, and they signed Andrew Billings to be the starting one technique as a defensive tackle. However, Watts did enough to indicate he could be an option as backup nose if they don't secure another one in the draft. He arrived just as the season was starting and still started 12 times while playing in every game with 35 tackles, including four for loss, in 49% of defensive snaps.

3. G Michael Schofield

The Bears have plenty of guards on the roster, but one is Ja'Tyre Carter and he wasn't good enough to break into the lineup last year. In fact, the Bears had to go back and sign Schofield again after cutting him once, because Carter wasn't ready and Lucas Patrick was hurt. They also have Alex Leatherwood, Larry Borom and Lucas Patrick as possible guard backups behind Nate Davis and Teven Jenkins.

First, the problems with those backup options: Leatherwood did nothing last year after arriving on waivers and was on the roster all year; Borom is more of a backup tackle or even starting tackle and in his only two games at guard had poor Pro Football Focus blocking grades in the 40s; Patrick was injury prone, ended up on IR and struggled when he played guard last year (PFF grade 55.9).

Schofield came in and started five games, played in 11 and had a PFF grade higher (66.9) than all of those other possible backups as well as starter Cody Whitehair (65.9). He gave up one sack on 250 fewer plays than Whitehair, who allowed four sacks.

Not that he was real starting option, but for an emergency situation Schofield proved he was better than all other backup options until or if they bring in another guard in free agency or the draft.

2. LB Joe Thomas

Thomas was supposed to be a special teams type and backstop as a linebacker of last resort last season. He did everthing they could have possibly wanted and more.

While no one initially called him a real starting option, he started nine times because of the trade of Roquan Smith and injuries to Matthew Adams. He made 61 tackles, four for loss. That was the same number for loss as Roquan Smith had and tied for fourth-highest total on the team. Thomas also had the second-most special teams snaps played at age 31.

They have Jack Sanborn as the third linebacker and possible starting strong-side linebacker now behind Tremain Edmunds and T.J. Edwards. They also have Dylan Cole as a backup and special teams player. There would be roster openings for one or two more linebackers if they sought to bring him back.

1. DeAndre Houston-Carson

The ace of their special teams since the retirement of Sherrick McManis, DHC was second on the team with nine special teams tackles behind only Josh Blackwell. He has either forced a fumble or recovered one on special teams each of the last three seasons.

Last year he had to provide support as a starting safety more times than ever before with a career-high six starts. He had an outstanding 52.9% completion rate against when targeted and a 51.1 passer rating against when targeted, according to Sportradar. In fact, for his career, DHC has a rock solid 80.9 passer rating against when targeted and 66.6% completions against with three interceptions to two touchdowns allowed.

If it's more money he wants, he probably deserves it. He played for only $1.77 million last year in his seventh Bears season.

The other Bears backup safeties last year were Cruikshank, who disappointed with eight appearances and eight games missed due to injuries, and rookie Elijah Hicks.

Although there is glowing talk about Hicks based on his tackling, he allowed six completions in seven attempts for 176 yards and two touchdowns. This was a perfect passer rating allowed to QBs of 158.3. So he has a lot of improvements to make in order to justify optimism.

The best Bears backup safety option remains DHC and he's still available for any team in need of a special teams ace/backup safety.

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