One thing to remember about team-building in professional sports is there is no rule against constantly making moves to improve your roster. Just because it looks like every position is settled doesn’t mean a GM should stop looking. That is what losers do. Ryan Poles has made it clear through his actions over the past three years that he is constantly on the lookout for players who can help the Chicago Bears. His trades for Chase Claypool and Montez Sweat are perfect examples. The same goes for signing Yannick Ngakoue.
This is likely why sports betting oddsmakers continue to believe the Bears will make another move before training camp begins in less than two weeks. BetOnline had them as favorites to add former Packers All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari. It turns out he wasn’t the only big name connected to the team. They also have the second-best odds (+600) to bring in former Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore. The 33-year-old cornerback played his most recent season with the Dallas Cowboys.
Signing Gilmore makes little sense for the Chicago Bears.
If there is one position group on their roster that is their biggest strength, it’s cornerback. Jaylon Johnson is an All-Pro. Kyler Gordon is one of the better young nickel corners in the league. Tyrique Stevenson had four interceptions as a rookie. Terell Smith showed tons of promise as a primary backup. Bringing in Gilmore would mean a demotion for somebody, most likely Stevenson, since he’s the other boundary cornerback opposite Johnson. That seems completely counterproductive to what the Bears want, which is to build through the draft.
Nobody can dispute that Gilmore has been a great player for a long time. However, he turns 34 in September and isn’t quite the shutdown guy he was a few years ago. He would also be expensive to acquire. Why spend the money for one that would likely be a one-year rental when you can give those precious snaps to somebody who is young and improving? Sure, the combo of Johnson and Gilmore sounds great on paper. The truth is it’s unnecessary. If the Bears want to spend money to help the defense, they should do it elsewhere.
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@Dr. Melhus There are similarities in Booker’s game to Richard Dent so I’m hopeful. He was good early, but not the spectacular DE he ended up being so you might be right. Remember Dent came in with severe dental problems that affected his eating habits. Once the team helped with those, his strength and weight increased. Booker is ahead of that curve and is already gaining weight and muscle from all reports. Some DE have that innate elusiveness like kids do in simple games like dodge ball and wrestlers growing up. Yes, drinking the Kool-Aid, but it tastes good for… Read more »
The good doctor is right. And if there’s an injury to Johnson or Stephenson, I’d rather roll with Terell Smith anyway instead of signing a vet. He looked good last year in the action he saw, and it doesn’t make sense to roster young talent and not play them.
@David: If Jaylon Johnson goes down with a season ending injury in training camp (heaven forbid), it would make sense to sign Gilmore to a one year deal. It would also make sense to roll with Stevenson and Smith as starters. So it’s possible, but I wouldn’t bet on it, as you say. Also, Bakhtiara is washed, his knees are shot. The only reason I’d sign him is if the team is in the playoffs and suffered two injuries at OT. He probably wouldn’t be able to stand up to backup training levels during the regular season. (Also, not sure… Read more »
I wish I was dumb enough to bet, because if I was? I’d bet the rest of my annual salary against Gilmore being signed by the Bears. That’s easy money. There’s not a snowball’s chance in H*LL that Poles is doing that deal.
Yawning…