The Chicago Bears added a decent amount of players in the 2017 free agency class, but how many of them are worth anything? Mike Sando, from ESPN, recently put together a collection of NFL executives’ opinions on free agency moves. The word used to describe the Bears, “baffling.”
“The Bears’ moves are baffling to me, and I actually had no problem with the Mike Glennon signing,” an exec said. “I don’t think they signed anyone who is really an above-average player. We looked at Markus Wheaton as a bargain guy at a lower number. Marcus Cooper has struggled. The over-under for Prince Amukamara is probably eight games. Dion Sims could be a good player for them.”
This is pretty easy to agree with. The Glennon signing, as much as it was seemingly hated by the fan base, wasn’t much of a commitment at all for the Bears. Sure, the guy has only thrown 11 passes in the last two seasons but they paid him as a below average starter and can cut him next season for less than $5 million if things don’t work out. Not a bad deal.
From there things got a little weird. Most feel the Bears overpaid for what appears to be non-elite talent. Not one player Chicago signed appeared in the top 40 of ESPN’s top 150 free agent list. However, the Bears spent the third most of any team in free agency when it comes to guaranteed money.
With just 26 catches last year, the Bears signed tight end Dion Sims to a $6 million salary for next season.
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Safety Quintin Demps, who turns 32 in June, pockets $5 million guaranteed in 2017.
Markus Wheaton, the front runner to replace Alshon Jeffery, is getting $6 million in total guarantees and missed almost all of last year with an injury that required surgery. This was after he failed to impress in Pittsburgh’s high-flying offense.
Prince Amukamara and Kendall Wright are both incredibly prone to injury. Combined they’ve played ONE full 16-game season in 11 attempts. (Amukamara did it in 2013)
Marcus Cooper, Chicago’s new “number one” cornerback, was burned repeatedly last season playing opposite Patrick Peterson. He earned a whopping 45.5 grade from Pro Football Focus ranking him just as low as the Bears current starters.
With the draft inching closer every day, people are still trying to figure out Pace’s “big” plan. Let’s just hope it didn’t consist of landing Stephon Gilmore, DJ Swearinger or any other big named free agent because the Bears struck out in that department.
“I just don’t know for sure what their strategy is to be good again.” NFL exec.
