Free Agency Questions for Bears to Answer

A broader look at issues awaiting the Bears as they approach the start of free agency.

Bears GM Ryan Poles has to be forgiven if he seems to approach the coming start of free agency with less unbridled enthusiasm than the average fan on social media.

They would have already spent all of George McCaskey's money.

Poles has already been through one free agency period and it began with disaster, so taking it a step at a time is best.

"The thing about free agency is you've got to be on your toes to adapt and adjust but at the end of the day, I'll put it very simply, but it's to improve our football team, get as many guys on our team that can help us do what we're trying to do, which is win a lot of games," Poles said.

It's not so simple, as Poles found out last year with the Larry Ogunjobi signing. That's where the flexibility came in with the signing of Justin Jones on the rebound when Ogunjobi failed a physical.

Jones was adequate, not dominant, but much has changed since last year's free agency.

That stack of McCaskey's money is the reason. It's effectively $88.4 million high according to Overthecap.com and no other team can approach this amount in this offseason.

Of course, the Bears won't spend all of it. Poles already alluded to being sound. He wasn't just saying it to be a cheapskate or stay in McCaskey's good graces.

Besides, a team can't do that. There is a minimum rule saying teams must spend at least 89% of their cap over a four-year period. Still, that four-year period makes it so there is some leeway to be cheap in given year. If a team doesn't spend that amount, they must pay out the remaining balance to all of the players on the team during that four-year period.

However, Poles' reasoning for being choosey makes sense.

"We don't want to waste this opportunity and do something that's not sound, that doesn't allow us to have this flexibility in years to come," Poles said.

Translated: They don't want to get into the same cap hell they just escaped from, the one former GM Ryan Pace put them in from 2015-21. They want to be able to spend in future years when they need the one receiver to get them over the top or the one pass rusher. They want to have cash available to extend Justin Fields if he proves he is worthy of it by improving as a passer.

The spending will be measured, aimed at players they know can impact them immediately and for the most time.

No one wants to spend tons of cash on a free agent who is at the end of his useful time in the league. Players coming off their first contracts are always valued most because the they're in the prime of their careers.

"Just like the draft, we have players that are going to be in certain buckets for values and this year we've got the ability to approach and go after a few of those guys," Poles said. "I think we're going to stay selective, we're going to have parameters that kind of match our values and our research."

They'll know better who's in those value buckets by Tuesday because that's the deadline for applying franchise tags to players. Already, it's been reported coveted defensive tackle Daron Payne will get tagged.

Then the actual negotiating begins March 13 and official signings on March 15.

Here are key free agency issues they face.

1. Is David Montgomery's Fit Right

He's their main free agent and an admired effort guy, a leader and a battler who runs through tackles. But does he have the speed and one-cut power running ability necessary to be the lead back behind a wide-zone blocking scheme? If not, then why sign him to a new contract? There had to be questions after last season when the really long runs came from Khalil Herbert and Justin Fields. There had to be more questions when he was given only 15% of the team's running plays inside the 5-yard line last year. That should be the tough runner's domain and Montgomery had three rushing attempts inside the 5 and only 36.9% (31 runs) of rushing attempts inside the red zone.

2. Can Pass Rush Trouble Be Reversed?

There might not even be enough money to correct their pass rush problems. That's how severe they were. 

Safety Jaquan Brisker led them in sacks with four. Their defensive ends and tackles combined for only 10 1/2. The idea for this scheme is a defensive line rotation, so they need a lot of them. Currently they might have three and need eight.

3. Are There Run-Stopping System Fits?

This is going to be more difficult considering their lack of a dominant three-technique tackle, any nose tackle/one-technique to work alongside him, and the absence of a weakside linebacker working in conjunction or off of the three technique. 

The other aspect of this run defense necessary is ends who hold the edge against the run while also being able to rush the passer. It's questionable whether they have any of these ingredients. 

They don't have a single starting nose tackle candidate under contract. Trevis Gipson was eighth for 2022 in run defense win rate for defensive ends according to ESPN, but didn't combine this with much pass rush. 

There is no starting weakside linebacker candidate right now. Nick Morrow is a free agent.

4. Are They Too Picky at Receiver?

It's not just a simple matter of throwing a bunch of cash at the best free agent receiver to get Justin Fields help. Teams valued their own productive receivers as Deebo Samuel, DK Metcalf and Terry McLaurin all got contract extensions. 

There is no clear dominant receiver available in free agency. Jakobi Meyers might be the best but hasn't had consistent success. 

Receiver help might need to come outside of free agency, like from veterans cut for salary cap purposes or the draft. 

Even then, the Bears seem very selective about the type of receivers they bring in. They tend to seek bigger types who are also good blockers and not the smaller, speedy targets. If you're picky, how much damage can you do in free agency with a pool as limited as this one?

5. Will Braxton Jones Be Moved?

One of the great triumphs of Poles' first draft was Braxton Jones' play as a fifth-round pick who started every game at left tackle. Pro Football Focus graded him 20th among all tackles, which is definitely an uncommonly high placement for rookies.

Now, there is great discussion over signing a tackle in free agency or drafting one.

In many cases, the subject of rumors is a left tackle. Does this mean they're moving Jones to right tackle? He hasn't actually played that position in college or the NFL. Why mess with what works?

6. Do They Scrap 2022 Free Agency?

They already retained Equanimeous St. Brown on a low-level contract but are there any other members of the 2022 free agency class returning or is it to be completely discarded as a group from a year without salary cap space. 

They have center/guard Lucas Patrick on the roster and haven't really seen him play. Are they going to simply let him go and sign another center or guard? The same is true of a few others, whether they have contracts or not. Morrow made eight tackles for loss as a weakside linebacker, twice the amount Roquan Smith had last year for the Bears. Would they just let him leave without a contract offer?

Fields said N'Keal Harry was the best player he had at leaping to come up with a 50-50 ball, but he is out of contract, as well.

7. Will They Go for Any Older Guys?

There are some free agents who could help and are not ideal because they are beyond their second contract.

Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave is 30 and could be going to his third team but is the highest-rated defensive tackle who isn't tagged. Wide receiver Michael Thomas is 30 and is believed to be headed for free agency. 

The Bears are a young team looking for free agents who seek their second contracts but with so little talent on the roster, can they afford to be age discriminators?

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