Chicago Bears 2017 free agency felt like a mixed bag of results. While GM Ryan Pace was able to bring in a number of solid veteran players to help improve team depth, it felt like he’d failed to land any big fish. Every notable name considered a top guy that the Bears targeted went elsewhere. Fans were disappointed. Especially later on when the team ended up making just five draft picks in total.
In essence they were left with few sure things about this upcoming season. It would be largely based on hope. The hope that some of their additions would outdistance expectations. Otherwise this has the look of a roster that will need one more offseason before it’s ready to compete. Yes it’s a rebuild, but it’s also generally expected that results should be seen by the third year.
ESPN insider Field Yates believes at least one name might surprise some people. He listed his top 10 one-year flier deals that teams handed out in free agency. Pace has proven himself the king of such contracts the past three years. True to form one of his moves ended up making the list.
Chicago Bears 2017 free agency could rest with Prince Amukamara
Prince Amukamara has had an interesting career. A former first round pick, he’s intermixed periods of big success with ones of struggle. More often than not the struggles were with nagging injuries. Most believe he quietly had a strong 2016 season with the Jacksonville Jaguars and could be poised for something bigger in Chicago.
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“The value of cornerbacks took another leap forward this offseason, as free-agent signings Stephon Gilmore (New England) and A.J. Bouye (Jacksonville) got a combined $66 million in guarantees, and it was a record-setting year for defensive backs in the draft, with 19 picked in the first two rounds.
And yet Amukamara, the former first-round pick who was steady but unspectacular in Jacksonville last season, had to sign yet another prove-it deal. Positional economics are important to be mindful of, and the Bears landed a projected starter on a below-market deal who’s only 28. Amukamara is a low-risk option who could pay off for Chicago down the road.”
Put simply Amukamara has a chance to be a slightly more talented version of what Tracey Porter was for Chicago in 2015. Porter became a lynch pin for the secondary that year and the team finished fourth against the pass. Amukamara is younger than Porter at that time. So indeed the potential upside is hard to ignore. Provided the front seven plays up to expectations, there’s a chance he could end up having a surprisingly good year.
