GM Ryan Poles hinted from the start that helping Justin Fields on offense was his top priority. This is the right thing to say. Then again, it is also something Chicago Bears fans have heard before. Then the GM would spend the first pick of a draft or a hefty contract on the defensive side. It isn’t clear yet if Poles can resist the temptation, especially if someone like Tyrann Mathieu might be interested in coming to Chicago.
The Pro Bowl safety had another excellent season for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2021. He finished with three interceptions, including a pick-six, six passes defended, a sack, and 76 tackles. With his 30th birthday approaching, he’ll become a free agent next month. This figures to be the last chance he’ll have to secure a lucrative payday. It isn’t clear if that will come from the Chiefs or someplace else. Insider Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network talked about this, indicating three teams that make sense if the Honey Badger decides to go elsewhere.
“The Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, and Chicago Bears make sense for Mathieu as potential destinations. However, the most likely spot remains in Kansas City.
Mathieu had multiple NFL teams interested in his services the last time he was a free agent. The former LSU star figures to have plenty of interest if he hits free agency this offseason.”
It shouldn’t be a surprise the Bears are mentioned here.
It is easy to connect the dots with Poles becoming their new GM and his deep connections to Kansas City. He was part of the front office that signed Mathieu. There are also lingering concerns at safety for the Bears defense. Eddie Jackson is still under contract, but everybody else is not. Tashaun Gipson, Deon Bush, and DeAndre Houston-Carson are all free agents. That creates a lot of uncertainty on the back end.
The big question is whether Poles is interested in throwing a lot of money at Tyrann Mathieu. Again, he’s turned 30, and the Bears have already sunk a ton of cash into older players. There is no telling when his effectiveness may start dipping. It isn’t like the team has a ton of cap space to throw around anyway. The idea of Jackson and Mathieu as a pairing is fun to think about, but not at $14 million per year.
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