The Bear’s Den: January 31, 2017 - Re-up Corn Wash?

The Den will be taking a look at one of the Chicago Bears' 2017 unrestricted free agents (UFA's) and restricted free agents (RFA's) each day until we have knocked out the list.

I will be talking about the player, whether I personally would sign the player and to what contract, and what my best guess the Bears will do with him. Today’s Free Agent is backup DL Cornelius Washington.

Washington was a sixth-round pick by the Chicago Bears in 2013, one of three player drafted still on the Bears team in 2016 (the others being Kyle Long and Marquess Wilson).

Here’s what people had to say about Washington at draft time:

Schweikert: 2013 NFL Draft: Bears Select DE Cornelius Washington With 188th Overall Pick - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears spent their 6th-round draft pick on defensive end Cornelius Washington.

According to his pre-2016 bio at ChicagoBears.com, Washington played in 16 games in three seasons with the Bears (2013-15), recording 7 tackles, 1 sack, 2 TFLs and 7 STTs... Made his NFL debut September 29, 2013 at the Detroit Lions... Recorded first career sack on November 23, 2014 vs. Tampa Bay... Saw action in 1 game in 2015 before being placed on Injured Reserve.

In 2016, Washington played in 15 games, starting 2. He had 21 solo tackles, 9 assists and 3 sacks.

Do I think Chicago should re-up Washington? Sure, for a minimum salary bring him back into camp and see if he can make the final 53 again this season. He’s shown flashes in his career but has never really lived up to his athletic ability. At this point in time, I think he is what he is, a career backup / rotational guy... and I would be totally fine with him competing for a job.

Do I think the Bears will re-up him? Probably, but again he’s going to have to prove it in camp.

BEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS, BEAR DOWN!!!!

BEARRRSSSS

Mayer: Howard enjoys Pro Bowl experience - ChicagoBears.com - Bears rookie running back Jordan Howard capped a week he'll never forget by rushing for 21 yards on five carries Sunday night in the Pro Bowl.

Kwiecinski: Bears made franchise’s greatest draft pick 42 years ago - Bears Wire - Walter Payton was drafted by the Bears in the first round of the 1975 NFL draft.

Brener: Jordan Howard one of 14 NFL Pro Bowlers say they would welcome a gay teammate - Outsports - Being able to play is the overriding theme, these players say.

Potash: Bears coaching staff makes an impression at Senior Bowl - Chicago Sun-Times - It’ll be three months or longer before we know just how good of a week the Bears had at the Senior Bowl...

AP: Jordan Howard has five carries, AFC hang on to win Pro Bowl - CSN Chicago - Two Bears, Jordan Howard and Josh Sitton, saw the field during the Pro Bowl in Orlando on Sunday.

Campbell: Bears coaches believe they had productive week at Senior Bowl - Chicago Tribune - Coaching the North squad the Bears staff had a close look at the top draft prospects who played in the Senior Bowl.

DRAFT / PROSPECTS / FREE AGENCY

PFF Mock: Bears Take Trubisky - Pro Football Focus - Another unique situation at quarterback, Trubisky has turned one year of starting into a potential first-round pedigree. He didn't completely burst onto the scene, as his talent was evident in limited time in 2015. He finished with the No. 2 passing grade in the class at 81.6, as he showed the arm to drive the ball with velocity outside the numbers while showing the footwork to maneuver the pocket and create space to get the ball out of his hand.

Perez: After strong Senior Bowl performance, is Cal’s Davis Webb on Bears’ draft radar? - Bears Wire - Davis Webb was the best QB at the 2017 Senior Bowl, increasing the odds that he becomes a Chicago Bear during the 2017 NFL draft.

Boden: Bears Mobile-ize efforts to identify, acquire players via draft - CSN Chicago - John Fox and his coaching staff got a closer look at possible draft picks this week, as they led the North team at the 2017 Senior Bowl.

2016 NFL Mock Drafts - Rob Rang - CBSSports.com & NFLDraftScout.com - Rob Rang's expert NFL mock draft -- provide by CBSSports.com and NFLDraftScout.com.

2017 NFL Draft Post-Senior Bowl, Pre-Super Bowl 5-Round Mock Draft - Daily Chicago Sports Tab - Bears take Jamal Adams, S, LSU

Potash: UConn safety Obi Melifonwu bears watching - Chicago Sun-Times - Connecticut safety Obi Melifonwu is one of those fast-rising prospects that

Perez: Alshon Jeffery ranks 2nd on Pro Football Focus’ list of pending free agents - Bears Wire - Alshon Jeffery leads a talented list of free agents in 2017

Goodbread: What we learned from Senior Bowl, Zay Jones boosts draft stock - NFL.com - Zay Jones capped off a great Senior Bowl week with a dazzling game on Saturday. Find out who else is on the rise thanks to their performance in the all-star showcase.

Bucky Brooks mock draft 1.0: Senior Bowl effect on first round - NFL.com - With a week of Senior Bowl practices in the rearview mirror, Bucky Brooks rolls out his first mock draft. How did the performances of the top seniors re-shape the first round of the draft?

Lance Zierlein mock draft 1.0: Browns get Garrett, Fournette - NFL.com - In his first mock of the year, Lance Zierlein has the Cleveland Browns making a splash by landing two players widely considered the best on defense and offense in the entire draft.

2017 NFL Mock Draft - DraftBlaster.com - 2017 NFL Mock Draft, including NFL draft player profiles, 2017 draft scouting profiles, 2017 NFL draft big board, and NFL mock draft articles.

2017 NFL Mock Draft - Tankathon - 2017 NFL Mock Draft. Order updated after every game. Team needs are factored into the player selections.

2017 NFL mock draft: Senior Bowl edition - The Draft Wire - If teams could only pick Senior Bowl participants, this is what a 2017 NFL mock draft might look like

POLISH SAUSAGE

The long, storied history behind the footballs of the NFL - Chicago Tribune - The story begins in earnest in the late 1930s, when the Horween brothers got to know a local businessman named George S. Halas.

AFC holds on to defeat NFC 20-13 in Pro Bowl - Chicago Tribune - Andy Dalton completed 10 of 12 passes for 100 yards and engineered two scoring drives to help lead the AFC to a 20-13 victory over the NFC in the Pro Bowl.

KNOW THY ENEMY

Reno: 2017 NFL Draft 7-round mock for Detroit Lions - Pride Of Detroit - We came up with a seven round mock for the Lions and addressed a bunch of needs. Tell us what you think, and let’s see if you can come up with something better.

Gates: Vikings Dispute Report Of Bridgewater’s Status - Daily Norseman - A day after a report from Bleacher Report said Bridgewater would miss all of 2017, the team is saying there is no timeline.

Hirchhorn: Eliot Wolf to remain with Packers after Colts hire Chris Ballard as GM - Acme Packing Company - The Packers avoid losing one of their top executives after the Colts hire Chris Ballard as their new general manager.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Sunderbruch: Ryan Pace Should Listen to Joe Thomas - Windy City Gridiron - Ryan Pace has some tough decisions ahead regarding the third pick in the draft. Maybe a former #3 overall can help him make up his mind.

Wiltfong's Chicago Bears 2017 Roster Turnover: Will they have the best Guard tandem in the NFL? - Windy City Gridiron - In this 13 part series we'll take an in depth look at each position group for the Chicago Bears with an eye towards the 2017 season. We'll speculate on who stays, who goes, and some potential...

FANPOSTS

PowerTool: #3 Overall Poll - Windy City Gridiron - You are Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace. It is April 27, 2017 and you are officially on the clock for the third overall pick in the NFL draft. You have a lot of holes to fill on both...

IOftenPanic: NFL Draft - Mock Draft Rounds 2-3 (post bowls) - Windy City Gridiron - As requested, here's my sure-to-be-nowhere-close crack at a second and third round. For the 1st round and a bit behind my thinking, head over HERE. SECOND ROUND 33. CLE - Curtis Samuel -...

FanPosts - Recent - Windy City Gridiron - Here's a link to our FanPost section, where YOU have the opportunity to contribute to Windy City Gridiron. Take a few minutes and write a post about what you are thinking about regarding the Chicago Bears, and there'a chance it will be linked right here in the Den.

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