Areas for the Bears to Address Post-Free Agency
The Chicago Bears were highly active during the free agency period, with general manager Ryan Poles strategically addressing key team needs through a series of signings and trades.
Significant upgrades were made on the offensive front with the acquisitions of wide receiver Keenan Allen, running back D'Andre Swift, tight end Gerald Everett, wide receiver Dante Pettis, and offensive linemen Coleman Shelton and Ryan Bates. On the defensive side, notable additions include safeties Kevin Byard and Jonathan Owens, along with linebacker/special teams standout Amen Ogbongbemiga.
Despite these moves, Poles acknowledges that there are still roster gaps to be filled across various positions, both in starting roles and depth positions, which will be addressed in subsequent waves of free agency and the NFL draft.
Here's a breakdown of the positions the Bears still need to address following the initial free agency period:
1. Edge Rusher:The departure of Yannick Ngakoue left a significant void at the edge rusher position. Although Chicago brought in Jake Martin and Byron Cowart, they are viewed more as rotational options. The team is still in need of a starting caliber edge rusher to complement standout Montez Sweat. The upcoming NFL draft presents an opportunity to address this need further, with prospects like Dallas Turner, Jared Verse, and Laiatu Latu potentially available.
Priority: High
2. Quarterback:The departure of Justin Fields via trade to the Steelers has left a glaring gap at the quarterback position. The anticipated selection of Caleb Williams as the first overall pick in the upcoming draft is expected to fill this void. Brett Rypien was added in free agency to provide veteran depth alongside Tyson Bagent. The impending addition of Williams should resolve the starting quarterback issue for the Bears.
Priority: High
3. Defensive Tackle:The departure of Justin Jones has created a need along the interior defensive line. While Andrew Billings is locked in at nose tackle, the starting three-technique spot remains to be filled. Gervon Dexter, last year's second-round pick, shows promise but additional depth is required. Another defensive tackle addition is necessary to bolster the rotation alongside Billings and Dexter.
Priority: Moderate
4. Wide Receiver:Despite significant moves including the acquisition of Keenan Allen, the departure of Darnell Mooney and others has left room for further additions at wide receiver. While the addition of Allen provides a strong receiving duo alongside DJ Moore, the Bears may still seek to add depth through the NFL draft to bolster the receiving corps.
Priority: Moderate
5. Tight End:With Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis departing in free agency, the Bears addressed the need for a TE2 with the signing of Gerald Everett. While this fills a significant gap, further reinforcement at the tight end position, if the opportunity arises in the draft, could be considered.
Priority: Moderate
| POLL | ||
23 MARS | 175 ANSWERS Areas for the Bears to Address Post-Free Agency Are you excited for next season? | ||
| yes | 151 | 86.3 % |
| No | 24 | 13.7 % |
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