Chicago Bears 2016 Free Agents - The Defense

One of the most polarizing players on the Bears roster this season has been linebacker Shea McClellin. The guy has played in two different schemes since he was drafted, and four different positions in his four years in Chicago. And none of them was the position he'd played in college and was projected to play in the pros-- an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense.

McClellin is among a slew of players due to be a Free Agent after this season. The full list of the defense is below, and the offense can be viewed HERE.

DEFENSE

- ILB Shea McClellin

- ILB LaRoy Reynolds

- LB Sam Acho

Note: While defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has been a big fan of McClellin all season long-- and even before the season started-- his performance hasn't always matched up with expectations. We looked closer at that HERE, and McClellin will be among the biggest decisions the Bears have to make this offseason.

Sam Acho took advantage of some late-season play, and could be due for a modest contract re-up for next season.

- DT Mitch Unrein

- DT D'Anthony Smith

- DE Jarvis Jenkins

Note: Unrein was brought over from Denver on a one-year deal, and is someone that John Fox trusted to perform. He isn't a world-beater, but performed well enough to get a contract renewal after 2015.  The same could be said of Jenkins, who hasn't been spectacular, but had enough pop to get plenty of playing time.

- CB Alan Ball

- CB Sherrick McManis

- CB Tracy Porter

Note: Alan Ball won't likely be in the Bears plans for 2016, and Porter has been inconsistent in 2015. The Bears could potentially sign Porter to another modest contract, but it depends on how big of an overhaul they are planning for the secondary.  McManis is a semi-valuable special teams player, so it will be interesting to see which direction they go with him as well.

- S Ryan Mundy

- S Chris Prosinski

- S Sherrod Martin

Note: None of those three had a spectacular 2015, and they weren't consistent enough to be guaranteed a starting job moving forward. But each of them brings value as back-ups, and can be worked into rotations of needed.