Monday, February 17, 2025

One Free Agent The Chicago Bears Will Likely Pursue And Why

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The Chicago Bears will be active in free agency. Everybody expects it. They have a new coaching staff in place that likely has certain preferences for the players they want. The focal point will be the offensive line. Nobody doubts GM Ryan Poles will make a strong push to nab former Pro Bowl right guard Trey Smith. The two have a history together, as the Bears GM was in Kansas City when they drafted the young blocker out of Tennessee. However, many don’t think it will stop there. It is possible they look to double-dip on the offensive line, which would give them flexibility going into the draft.

Most fans believe Atlanta Falcons center Drew Dalman is the obvious target. While he does have qualities that make him attractive, some feel he wouldn’t be the best fit in Johnson’s style of offense. That said, there is another name set to hit the market that feels like someone the Bears will circle. Evan Brown is a former undrafted free agent coming off a strong performance at left guard for the Arizona Cardinals, allowing only 20 pressures all season. More important, he and Johnson have a history. From 2020 through 2022, Brown played for the Detroit Lions. His best season came in 2021, where he logged 455 snaps at center, allowing only 8 pressures.

Brown can help the Chicago Bears in multiple ways.

For one, he’s familiar with Johnson. That alone makes him interesting. For another, he has versatility. He has shown he can play solid football at both guard and center. Teven Jenkins and Coleman Shelton are both free agents. If the Chicago Bears choose not to bring them back, signing Brown would give them a chess piece they can plug in wherever needed. If they find another guard? Put him at center. If they nab a credible center, keep him at guard. Brown is expected to cost somewhere around $5-6 million per year on his next deal. That is cheap from where the Bears sit. If they somehow nabbed him and Smith next month, they could go into the draft and take the best players on their board, regardless of position, in the 1st round.

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barry_mccockiner
Feb 17, 2025 1:54 pm

Excellent. So the reporting here is that they will sign Brown, an established offensive guard. Genuinely great to hear.

Now: I hope Poles is prepared to also draft three offensive guards with his first three draft picks, because that’s the surest way to fix the problems at the offensive guard position.

jmscooby
Feb 17, 2025 1:22 pm

It’s a man’s game. People get smacked around. I have no problem taking a high ceiling player in the mid rounds, but I wouldn’t expect him to start week 1. I’ve stated endlessly, we should have prioritized the trenches in the earlier rounds. That being said, Bowers is a unicorn. Let the guy see what he can make of his career. 3 years to judge a draft pick, right?

TGena
TGena
Feb 17, 2025 11:45 am

Maybe you forgot about Weeks 9 through 14 on the Injury report for Amegadjie.

If that’s the “return from injury” you’re willing to accept then…

… Kiran’s your guy.

jmscooby
Feb 17, 2025 10:34 am

Well, he’s already beaten those odds then, hasn’t he? He is back to playing. Now he has to take his lumps and learn how to play in the NFL like the rest of them.

TGena
TGena
Feb 17, 2025 10:02 am

@jmscooby — Much respect “Dr. Scoob.” But “partial rupture” sounds like “a little bit pregnant..” Let me make it very clear: Kiran Amegadjie has some talent, and I hope he becomes an All-Pro. But I know of only two NFL “Big Boys” ever to return from an avulsion of the quadriceps tendon — two! The odds are 50-50 that Kiran even returns to play in the NFL. And his chances of a return to his “pre-injury” performance — Well two have done it. But — all that being said: neither of us actually know the extent of Amegadjie’s injury. Let’s… Read more »

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