Non-Pass Rushers Who Could Interest Bears

Since the end of the draft, the drumbeat has been loud and building for Bears GM Ryan Poles to add an edge rusher.

Both he and coach Matt Eberflus have made statements acknowledging their pursuit of someone to help.

The names of the available are well known. They've been rehashed constantly, from Yannick Ngakoue to Justin Houston, Jadeveon Clowney, Melvin Ingram to Carlos Dunlap.

There are other positions with players available in free agency still who could be of benefit for the Bears.

These are not spotlighted positions like edge rusher, but support spots.

Here are three positions other than edge rusher where the Bears could benefit from extra free agent signings.

Tackle

They drafted right tackle Darnell Wright first, and have starter Braxton Jones in place at left tackle.

However, the swing tackle is currently Larry Borom. This could satisfy some because Borom has started 17 games over the last two years. He was regarded as the starting right tackle coming out of training camp last season.

Borom actually didn't do poorly either of his first two years playing the position. His Pro Football Focus blocking grades were average. He ranked 50th overall among tackles last year out of 81 graded, actually one spot better than the player who replaced him at mid-season, Riley Reiff.

The Bears do have another option in Alex Leatherwood, who has shown little since being claimed off waivers last year as preseason ended.

The problem here is if the Bears benched Borom last year in favor of Reiff, then kept Reiff on at starting right tackle the remainder of the season, how much confidence do they even have in Borom to be the backup? He already lost out to a backup last year.

This isn't to suggest Borom can't be the backup, just that they have shown little confidence in him. So if that's the case and they want to add a tackle as camp starts like they did with Reiff, here's who they could consider.

One choice who would be versatile enough to be of benefit is Jesse Davis.

There actually bigger names and better players but remember, this is not an attempt to land another starter for a high cost, just a backup who has starting experience. Unless those other potential tackle signings are willing to come in understanding they are the backup, then someone like Davis could be ideal. He was with the Vikings after free agency last year, so he has played in a similar blocking scheme to that of the Bears. He was then traded by the Vikings to the Steelers and served there as a backup tackle.

The good thing about Davis is he was also a starting guard for Miami at one point. He started for five years in the league. So this is a player like Borom and Lucas Patrick, who could help out as backup and has had experience at several line positions, starting or backing up.

This would be adding experience as a backup and not relying on players like Kellen Diesch or Leatherwood to be an extra lineman in an emergency. It would add versatility like they have in Patrick and Borom as an eighth offensive lineman.

If they wanted to go higher end, there is Taylor Lewan, a three-time Pro Bowl blocker in this style of offense with Tennessee. But he's been in only 32 games since the start of 20198 due mostly to a knee injury.

Another is George Fant, the former Jets starting left tackle. He has had so much experience as starter it could be difficult to bring him in for a reasonable mount. He's usually been a left tackle but played some right tackle with the Jets in 2020.

Cameron Fleming, the 30-year-old Broncos lineman, did experience some inconsistent play last year with seven sacks allowed and 28 pressures but started 17 games and played both left and right tackle. So, it would be difficult to find someone more capable serving as a swing tackle.

Safety

The Bears are one injury to either Jaquan Brisker or Eddie Jackson from turning their deep coverage over to a seventh-round draft pick with either 168 plays of NFL defensive experience or none. DeAndre Houston-Carson is still out there as a free agent, but bringing back their veteran special teams ace and DB seems unlikely now. They even gave his old jersey number to rookie seventh-round safety Kendall Williamson.

If they want some experience there is Lamarcus Joyner of the Jets, who was projected at $4.1 million a year by Spotrac.com in an estimate made long ago. At this point, the marketplace has spoken. Joyner is 32 years old and probably still thinks of himself as a starter, and that wouldn't work in Chicago.

Former Titans safety Andrew Adams still doesn't have a contract. He has been a starter, as well, but hasn't been able to ever play a full season and the former Giants and Buccaneers player would seem a good candidate for backing up two solid starters. He gave up two TD passes last year but had a 103.3 passer rating against when pressed into his most playing time since 2019.

John Johnson, Duron Harmon and Nasir Adderley are other safeties to ponder.

Harmon started the last three years for three different teams and was with the Raiders last year, but has struggled in pass coverage overall the last three seasons with passer ratings against of 114.6, 99.3 and 120.0. Adderley has started three straight years for the Chargers and after giving up six TD passes two straight years, last year had a strong season with an 83.6 passer rating against and 60.5% completions allowed. Johnson was released by the Browns in February and hasn't found a new team. Reports he'd go back to the Rams, his former team, haven't panned out. Whether he would be interested in backup duty isn't known but his passer rating against and completion percentages have all been solid as a starter five seasons. Last year's passer rating against was his worst at 82.8 and he allowed only 55.1% completions.

Tight End

The Bears signed Stephen Carlson as a possible third tight end and blocking type but there will be concerns about his health after two seasons away from the field due to injuries. They have two tight ends behind Carlson in second-year players Jake Tonges and Chase Allen, but Tonges has been on an NFL field for 16 offensive plays and Allen for two. The Bears might need to consider some help here as competition.

Among tight ends of note available is Adam Shaheen, who essentially has been a blocker more than receiver for the Dolphins since leaving Chicago in 2018. Former Packers tight end Marcedes Lewis is 39 years old and unattached, but the age would scare off anyone.

One free agent tight end who has handled both receiving and blocking wherever he has been but rarely gets asked to do a great deal is Mycole Pruitt, briefly a former Bear and a starter for the Falcons. He fought back from a difficult ankle injury at the end of 2021 to play 13 games for the Falcons and caught 16 passes. He has always been a respectable blocker, though not elite.

Cornerback

The Bears really have no pressing need for depth at cornerback but as far as a slot cornerback it's another matter entirely. It has become such a specialized position and a necessary one, that teams need three players capable of filling this spot.

Currently, the Bears have Kyler Gordon backed by second-year undrafted waiver wire slot cornerback Josh Blackwell. Adding one more for camp doesn't seem out of the question, and according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, they have beeen talking to Arthur Maulet.

Jaguars and Bears are among teams that have inquired on free agent corner Arthur Maulet, who requested and was granted his release from Pittsburgh in May. Maulet -- who had 59 tackles, two sacks and an INT last year --- is weighing options and plan to be with a team for camp.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) July 20, 2023

The former Steelers, Jets, Saints and Colts DB has their attention because he played extensively in the slot and had good seasons in 2019-20 after the Jets lost Buster Skrine to the Bears. He had passer ratings against of 74.4 and 91.5 and three times in the last four years was at 66.7% completions allowed or lower.

It's never easy to find inexpensive cornerback help. It's a little cheaper at slot but still cost prohibitive. If they wanted to revisit Bryce Callahan they could as their former slot is a free agent but most of the players available are starter types.

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