Free Agency Fits for Bears

The consensus on draft picks for teams among media make it apparent they're easier choices to determine than a team's free agent choices.

It's difficult to find ideal free agents for the Bears, although the term "ideal" seems to be an obstacle. It didn't prevent several prominent websites from taking a stab at it.

Here's what it turned up.

Sports Illustrated

T Jawaan Taylor, Jacksonville

The Bears need tackle help and can afford to pay for it, and Gilberto Manzano of SI accurately writes. It's here where reality parts ways with the pick. He first points out how Orlando Brown Jr. will be available. This hasn't been established as the Chiefs are making a last-ditch effort to sign him before the deadline. If he is, Brown could be someone worth considering for the Bears but they also must be willing to both spend more on him than any tackle makes and move Braxton Jones to right tackle, a position he didn't even play in college.

Pro Football Focus might have faults but does a better job than any other independent source of grading off film, particularly on the offensive line. And last year they graded 81 tackles in the NFL. Taylor finished dead last as a run blocker, 81st. Even though he was highly ranked as a pass blocker, signing the worst run blocker in the league at right tackle for a run-oriented offense seems to defeat the purpose of free agency.

CBS Sports

C Bradley Bozeman, Carolina

Jared Dubin shows some deeper thinking on the Bears offensive line problem with this article, pointing out they need a veteran center who can help Justin Fields identify defensive fronts and set protections. It wouldn't hurt but this discounts Lucas Patrick as a veteran they brought in last year who didn't get the chance to play due to injuries, and he also dismisses Sam Mustipher. However, if you can upgrade, it should be done.

The problem here is Bozeman is not necessarily an ideal fit at center in the Bears offensive line. He played it in Baltimore but the Ravens didn't see the need to keep him. He is credited by this article with helping the Panthers' offensive line turn it around late last season but wasn't even starting all year. He missed six starts before getting the chance at center to start. Bozeman last season was graded one spot below Mustipher by PFF in 19th among centers. He also is 6-5, 325 pounds, which isn't necessarily ideal size for mobility from a center in the wide zone scheme. If he can get by in a scheme liek the Bears run, more power to him. Regardless, that doesn't seem like an ideal fit and that's what the point of the article was.

NFL.com

Frank Clark, free agent

Cut already by Kansas City, the veteran defensive lineman was called ideal for the Bears by Cynthia Frelund of NFL.com. There is an actual fit here, for one because the Bears are without many defensive ends on the roster, let alone good ones. But Clark had a stretch of 40 sacks in four seasons from 2016-19. Since then he hasn't had more than six in a season. Signing him to put into a defensive line rotation would need to be cost effective, and considering his lack of production in the last three seasons it might not be.

Pro Football Focus

An article on the top 50 free agents and their best landing spots written by Arjun Menon and Brad Spielberger sent three players to the Bears.

DT Javon Hargrave, Phildelphia

There can be no debating Hargrave would upgrade their defensive interior. They could do that any number of ways. There is a bit of a problem with age here. He's in is 30s and the ideal Bears addition on the defensive front would be younger. However, the Bears are so desperate for competent defensive tackles that Hargrave couldn't be excluded for this. Also on his side is the fact he could play either defensive tackle spot in the front. Still, Dre'Mont Jones looks like a better option as he comes off his first contract and can play either three technique or end.

T Mike McGlinchey, San Francisco

Rumors are flying he might wind up in Chicago and has extensive experience blocking the wide zone. Whether it's Fields, Khalil Herbert, David Montgomery or some other back, this is going to be important. McGlinchey has been an elite run blocker and an average pass blocker.

As Menon and Spielberger wrote, "they will still look to dominate on the ground with Fields; mobility, which plays into McGlinchey's strengths as a blocker."

LB Bobby Okereke, Indianapolis

Okereke has made no bones about his appreciation for Matt Eberflus and the HITS principle he brought to Indianapolis, so this one seems an ideal fit. Okereke became a weakside linebacker last year and the Bears could use someone at this position, if not a few more linebackers. PFF points out Okereke had a high run-defense grade last year, definitely something the 31st-ranked run defense could use.

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