The Chicago Bears have made some noteworthy moves to kick off free agency in 2020. It started with a bit of an anticlimax as the team signed veteran tight end Jimmy Graham, fresh off being released by the Green Bay Packers. A, shall we say, divisive move to say the least. Graham was once the best tight end in football but that was seven years ago. His time with the Packers is largely forgettable. Many don’t believe the 33-year old has anything left. Others think that he still has gas in the tank and is certainly better than anything else the Bears have at that position.
Next came the signing of Robert Quinn. A massive upgrade to the defensive pass rush, he had 11.5 sacks for the Cowboys last season and 80 for his career. This guy is a hunter. Something that Leonard Floyd never grew up to be. Quinn should be able to take full advantage of Khalil Mack being on the other side and feast on opposing quarterbacks.
Last but not least was the trade for Nick Foles. Another move that drew a lot of heat from several fans, it nonetheless adds significant credibility to the Bears quarterback position they didn’t have. Foles has a Super Bowl ring and has had success as a starter when in the right situation. One very similar to Chicago’s. He fills a need. Maybe not the way people hoped but he does.
With that said, the Bears still have a ton of work to do. Here is the list of their remaining objectives and one player who could fill each.
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Chicago Bears have work to do but need cheap alternatives
#1: Offensive line – Stefen Wisniewski
Wisniewski might be one of the most unheralded interior blockers in recent memory. While not a star, he has delivered every time he’s been called upon by his teams. The 31-year old started for both the 2017 Eagles and 2019 Chiefs who won Super Bowls. So he has a deep knowledge of the type of system the Bears run. At the very least he’s a high-quality backup but can definitely be a reliable starter at any of the three interior spots.
#2: Cornerback – Ross Cockrell
Cockrell had a somewhat rough start to his NFL career but has really rounded into form over the past two seasons. He’s not a star but proved in 2019 to be a solid cornerback. Quarterbacks completed just 55% of their passes for a 68.6 passer rating when throwing in his direction. He has good size and enough athleticism to handle himself in man coverage. At age 28 he’s also not too old. Depend on how the market goes, they could score him at a bargain.
#3 – Strong safety – Tony Jefferson
Jefferson was one of the best strong safeties in the NFL two years ago. unfortunately, injuries struck last year allowing Chuck Clark to step him and take his job in Baltimore. The Ravens granted his release and now he’s seeking a new opportunity. Jefferson is 28-years old and a dynamo around the line of scrimmage. He can make tough tackles against the run and is also dangerous as a blitzer. All the things the Bears lacked last season. Adding him would allow Eddie Jackson to resume his proper role as the defense’s center fielder.
#4 – Wide receiver – Travis Benjamin
Releasing Taylor Gabriel was the right decision for the Bears. His play regressed somewhat in 2019 and then he started battling concussion issues. Coupled with his expensive contract, it was a necessary decision. Travis Benjamin is hardly an upgrade over him but he does bring something they lack: speed. Benjamin has always had juice. He averaged 15.4 yards per catch during the three years he was healthy with the Chargers. Last season was tough for him but he might still have that spark in his lower half and won’t be expensive at all.
#5 – Inside linebacker – Preston Brown
The starting pair will remain the same for the Bears at inside linebacker in Roquan Smith and Danny Trevathan. Sadly, their depth took a big hit with Nick Kwiatkoski and Kevin Pierre-Louis signing elsewhere. Preston Brown has had a weird career. During his first four years in Buffalo, he was a lock for at least 100 tackles a season and was better in coverage than he got credit for. Then he went to Cincinnati, switched to a 4-3 system and was never the same. He’d make a strong reserve who can step right in and play if needed.
