WCG Free Agent Round Table: Part 1

The Chicago Bears have 33 players who will be entering some form of free agency in 2021. With little cap space, and dealing with yet another disappointing record, the Bears face some tough questions heading into the off-season. Who stays? Who goes? Is it time to blow the roster up and rebuild, or do you stay the course and simply fill in the gaps?

With this in mind, Den Master Ken Mitchell asked the WCG Staff how they would handle free agency, at least in terms of players currently on the roster. Basically who to resign, who to let walk, with some additional trades, cuts and extensions thrown in if we wanted. We wont generally go into contract details, but the assumption should be that players being signed would be at their going rate, and bottom of the roster guys will be for the minimum, unless otherwise stated.

It’s a long list, and with multiple staff members sharing their thoughts, I’m going to be breaking this up into 4 parts that will be posted over the next few days. Let’s get started!

Unrestricted Free Agents (Part 1)

Allen Robinson

Photo by Jorge Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Ken Mitchell - Sign - “I’ve always been a fan of Chicago re-signing Allen Robinson as he’s the team’s only consistent offensive weapon (at least with our current “offense”). Having said that, the last few games have really soured me a bit on the guy. So... I’m giving him a TBD instead of a “sign him” right now. I know that’s kind of like me running out of bounds short of a first down when the game is on the line... but Robinson inspired me to do just that.”

Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter - Franchise Tag - “Then either negotiate a long-term extension, or deal him to the highest bidder.”

Josh Sunderbruch - Walks - “Take the comp pick.”

Jack Salo - Transition Tag - “Be willing to let him walk.”

EJ Snyder - Likely Walks - “Only possibility is tag-and-trade. If it’s not better than the comp, why bother?”

Bill Zimmerman - Walks - “Can they tag and trade for a 2? Otherwise take the 3 comp.”

Will Robinson II - Franchise Tag - “Ideally he would be signed, but the Tag is more likely. He’s your most reliable offensive player, best to keep him if you can.”

Sam Householder - Up to new GM - “I think A-Rob should 100 percent be up to the next GM. If he wants to try for a tag and trade, go for it, if he wants to let him walk, let him walk, he wants to try for an extension, it’s all up to the new person in charge.”

Mitchell Trubisky

Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images

Ken Mitchell - Walks

Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter - Walks

Josh Sunderbruch - Walks

Jack Salo - Walks

EJ Snyder - Walks

Bill Zimmerman - Walks

Will Robinson II - Walks - “Unless a new coaching staff wants to retain him at a lower rate as a developmental guy, which I’d be fine with.”

Sam Householder - Walks

Cordarrell Patterson

Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Ken Mitchell - Sign

Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter - Sign - “To a multi-year, incentives laden extension.”

Josh Sunderbruch - Walks - “Comp pick strategy.”

Jack Salo - Walks

EJ Snyder - Sign - “For a reduced deal if possible, if not he walks.”

Bill Zimmerman - Sign - “For less money.”

Will Robinson II - Sign - “Good kick returner, starting to look like a decent rotational running back.”

Sam Householder - Sign

Roy Robertson-Harris

Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images

Ken Mitchell - Walks - “I like RRH but we have limited resources that are going to have to be spent on the other side of the ball.”

Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter - Transition Tag - “Then wait and see what offers he pulls. If he’s too costly, let him walk.”

Josh Sunderbruch - Walks

Jack Salo - Sign

EJ Snyder - Walks - “This makes me sad, but it’s likely.”

Bill Zimmerman - Sign - “Not sure his market will be as big as expected based on 2020.”

Will Robinson II - Walks - “I like RRH, but there’s just too much money tied up in the front 7.”

Sam Householder - Walks - “I think you let a few other former draft picks test the waters (Bush, RRH) with the hope that maybe it gets you a later comp pick.”

Pat O’Donnell

Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images

Ken Mitchell - Sign(ish)

Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter - Walks - “Might as well get a new punter for cheaper.”

Josh Sunderbruch - Sign

Jack Salo - Sign

EJ Snyder - Sign - “Unless he wants bank, then go the punter competition route.”

Bill Zimmerman - Walks - “no point to pay a punter in a rebuild.”

Will Robinson II - Sign - “Gotta have a punter, so unless your plan is to roll the dice on a UDFA, there’s no real choice here.”

Sam Householder - Sign

Demetrius Harris

Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images

Ken Mitchell - Walks

Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter - Walks

Josh Sunderbruch - Walks

Jack Salo - Walks

EJ Snyder - Walks

Bill Zimmerman - Walks

Will Robinson II - Walks - “Kmet is the Y, and you can find a cheaper backup than Harris if you need to.”

Sam Householder - Walks

Deon Bush

Photo by David Banks/Getty Images

Ken Mitchell - Sign

Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter - Sign

Josh Sunderbruch - Sign

Jack Salo - Sign

EJ Snyder - Walks

Bill Zimmerman - Walks

Will Robinson II - Sign - “Useful in the Big Nickle, as well as a general backup at safety.”

Sam Householder - Walks

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Stay tuned for Part 2, which will deal with the second group of Unrestricted Free Agents. Part 3 will encompass the final group of Unrestricted Free Agents, while Part 4 will have the Restricted Free Agents, Exclusive Rights Free Agents, as well as our Cuts and Extension Candidates! Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments, or even put together your own list if you want:

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/chicago-bears/

Bear Down everyone, and remember, we’re all in this together.

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