2017 Chicago Bears’ Free Agency: Recap and Grades

The Chicago Bears may have stalled out of the gate in free agency, but general manager Ryan Pace has a clear vision on how to build his team. Nothing will get him alter his plan. Fan complaints or scathing reviews from the media aren’t going to get him to panic.

He balked at a couple deals as the price kept increasing, but he still upgraded his roster with every move. He got his top target, and yes, he may have overvalued the market for Mike Glennon, but it’s still a team friendly deal.

He also added youth to the team, with the only new free agent older than 27 being safety Quintin Demps, who is a young 31.

Here’s a run down on the free agent deals the Bears have handed out so far. All contract details taken from Spotrac.

* Indicates returning Chicago Bears player

* OL - Eric Kush (2 years/$2.7 million/$500,000 guaranteed) - Kush can backup all three spots on the interior of Chicago’s o-line.

* LS - Patrick Scales (1 year/$615,000) - Scales is a RFA after this year, so another good season will get him locked up again.

* QB - Connor Shaw (1 year/details not available) - Fan favorite Shaw, will look to impress again this preseason.

* TE - Daniel Brown (1 year/$615,000) - Brown filled in for Zach Miller last season when he went down to injury, and ended up with a career high 16 catches for 124 yards.

* WR - Josh Bellamy (1 year/$850,000) - Few wide outs in the NFL are as good as Bellamy is on special teams.

* DB - Bryce Callahan (1 year/$615,000) - Callahan will be in the mix at the nickle spot for the Bears.

* K - Conner Barth (1 year/$980,000/$155,000 guaranteed) - I can’t imagine the Bears wouldn’t want to bring in a kicker to compete with Barth during training camp.

* LB - Christian Jones (1 year/details not available) - Jones can play both ILB and OLB, but it’s his 3rd phase ability that will decide his 2017 fate.

* CB - Johnthan Banks (1 year/details not available) - The Bears signed him last year and they were high on the acquisition. It took him a while to get into playing shape, but he started the last 2 games of the season.

QB - Mike Glennon (3 years/$45 million/$18.5 million guaranteed) - Glennon isn’t a sexy signing, but it was a necessary one. The pro Cutler camp will obviously disagree, as will those hoping for a rookie signal caller, but the way Glennon’s deal is structured, it’s likely a rookie QB is drafted. With the bulk of the guaranteed money up front, this is essentially a 1 year deal. If he takes control of the offense, and proves himself, the Bears will have some options moving forward.

TE - Dion Sims (3 years/$18 million/$10 million) - I like this pick up, it reminds me of the Martellus Bennett signing from a few years ago. Sims has been primarily a back-up during his first four years in the league, much like Bennett was. Sims averaged 18 receptions a year so far, Bennett averaged 21 per year his first four seasons. Sims’ skill set is that of an all around tight end, and I think he’ll thrive in a larger role.

Check out these numbers form their respective combines, taken from from MockDraftable.com.

Sims
40 Yard Dash - 4.75s
Vertical Jump - 35"
Broad Jump - 112"
20 Yard Shuttle - 4.52s
Bench Press - 22 reps

Bennett
40 Yard Dash - 4.68s
Vertical Jump - 34"
Broad Jump - 118"
20 Yard Shuttle - 4.53s
Bench Press - 18 reps

S - Quintin Demps (3 years/$13.5 million/$5 million guaranteed) - Demps is the oldest of the new Bears, but he has low miles on his body, considering he was a reserve/special teamer for the first five years of his career.

WR - Markus Wheaton (2 years/$11 million/$5 million guaranteed) - Wheaton can play outside or in the slot and he’ll provide some speed to the team.

CB - Prince Amukamara (1 year/$7 million fully guaranteed) - Amukamara has 57 starts in his career and he can play the physical press-man style the Bears want.

CB - Marcus Cooper (3 years/$16 million/$8 million guaranteed) - The 6’2" Cooper is an ascending player that fits the Bears’ D to a T.

WR - Kendall Wright (1 year/$4 million) - Wright is the likely the replacement for Eddie Royal and will primarily play out of the slot, although he can play the Z receiver as well.

OL - Tom Compton (Terms undisclosed) - Compton will battle for the swing tackle spot.

Last week, we asked you guys to vote on day 1 of free agency and you voted like this;

A - 2%
B - 14%
C - 33%
D - 32%
F - 19%

Be sure to vote in the accompanying poll and let us know what letter grade you give the Bears free agency so far.

Also, If you guys have changed your grade let us know why.