Every team would love to be like the Pittsburgh Steelers. A team that has constantly built and rebuilt itself through the NFL draft. They have no need for heavy investments in free agency. However, the Chicago Bears are not yet in such a position. They’re in the middle of a rebuild that enters its fourth off-season. To this point GM Ryan Pace has remained careful on the free agent market. Could that change?
According to ESPN analyst and Hall of Fame GM Bill Polian, the Bears have yet to sign a free agent ranked in his top five since 2015. The closest they came was Akiem Hicks in 2016. He was Polian’s #8 ranked player. That of course is a move that paid huge dividends for the Bears as Hicks is now their best defensive player.
Pace though has remained careful with the pocket book to this point, never handing out contracts that are heavy in guaranteed money. Most will say the Mike Glennon deal but compared to other quarterback contracts that was the league average. Only one free agent has ever gotten a top five deal from Pace based on his position. That was Josh Sitton who was a Pro Bowler.
Is there reason to think that he is ready to get more aggressive this year?
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Ryan Pace finally has his foundation in place
One of the reasons that Pace was reluctant to go hard at free agency in the past? There was little point. Chicago had a laundry list of needs. Adding two or three big names on massive contracts wouldn’t have solved the half dozen others holes in the roster. He had to spread the wealth out, hoping to score a few hits while the draft became his source for finding his new talent core.
To that end he’s been modestly successful. Jordan Howard is a star. Mitch Trubisky has the look and feel of a good quarterback. Tarik Cohen and Adam Shaheen have proven they can be playmakers. Leonard Floyd, Eddie Goldman and Eddie Jackson are three promising pillars on defense. Add in a couple of big free agent scores like Hicks and Danny Trevathan? This team suddenly has something to build on. Perhaps one big push can get them over the hump.
Roster needs are more isolated and 2018 class equipped to meet them
One of the things that lends most to the idea isn’t that Chicago has money to spend. They’ve had that for years. It’s that their list of needs is decidedly less vast than they were before. Looking across the roster there are maybe two areas that seem like glaring concerns. The rest are minor depending on how the Bears handle their re-signings. Those two areas are wide receiver and edge rusher.
Receiver is obvious. When Kendall Wright is your best option available, you have problems. Trubisky needs better targets if he’s going to take the next step. As for edge rusher there is a growing concern with age and injury issues. None of their three primary guys were able to finish the season. Leonard Floyd, Pernell McPhee and Willie Young all ended up on injured reserve. They need more talent and depth.
Thankfully the 2018 free agent class seems ready to assist on both counts.
Wide Receivers:
- Jarvis Landry
- Allen Robinson
- Sammy Watkins
- Terrelle Pryor
- Josh Gordon
- Marqis Lee
- Paul Richardson
- John Brown
- Tyrell Williams
- Taylor Gabriel
Edge Rushers:
- Demarcus Lawrence
- Ezekiel Ansah
- Aldon Smith
- Trent Murphy
- Chris McCain
- Shaquil Barrett
- Jeremiah Attaochu
- Matt Longacre
Odds are a number of these names won’t reach the market due to extensions or the franchise tag. Even so there are quite a few who will and can be a huge help towards the Bears’ fortunes in 2018. Problem is other teams, some of them with more money to spend, will want them too. It comes down to how far Pace is willing to go.
