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Bears Roster Needs Ahead of Free Agency

Starting on Monday, Mar. 14, teams can begin to enter negotiations with free agents whose contracts will expire at three o’clock central time on Wednesday the 16th. With lots of spots to fill on the roster and glaring needs on both sides of the ball, expect the Bears to be active.

While Ryan Poles has stressed not overspending during free agency and instead building through the draft, expect him to bring in a couple of editions in positions of need. Three of the positions the Bears lack talent and/or depth in are offensive line, wide receiver, and cornerback.

Poles has stressed the need for acquiring offensive linemen who can help protect Justin Fields and also work well in Luke Getsy’s new offensive system. Assistant general manager Ian Cunningham, along with Poles, is a former offensive lineman and someone who is widely respected throughout the league.

Cunningham comes from the Philadelphia Eagles front office where he helped turn the Eagles declining franchise into a playoff team once again in 2021. Adam Jahns of the Athletic reported from the combine that Cunningham will be a crucial piece in bringing in free agents as well as in the scouting department. Jahns also wrote that one agent is quoted saying "Cunningham will bring guys in. They will sign because of him."

Cunningham relates well with the players, and what better position to relate to than potential offensive line additions? There are some big names on the market that can come in and provide great play, leadership, and a new spark to the offensive line.

Some of these names include Terron Armstead, Brandon Scherff, and Ryan Jensen. These three names will be at the top of many teams’ lists, and should be on the Bears radar as well.

Another position group that the Bears need to improve in is wide receiver. As of right now, their only two wideouts under contract are the proven Darnell Mooney and Dazz Newsome, who’s entering his second year. With the Bears letting Allen Robinson walk and Newsome’s inexperience, the wide receiver room will be much different than last year.

Although the draft is loaded with wide receiver talent and the Bears will surely look there to add some fresh faces, there are many intriguing potential additions on the free agency market. Names like Odell Beckham Jr, Michael Gallup, and DJ Chark Jr. were not franchised tagged and will hit the market looking for new contracts. Marquez-Valdez Scantling and Allen Lazard are also likely to leave the Green Bay Packers and, if they want familiarity, can get that in Getsy’s offense.

Cornerback was another position that looked lackluster in 2021. Opposite Jaylon Johnson, the Bears struggled finding another cornerback that could pick up the slack. Kindle Vildor struggled mightily and although Thomas Graham Jr. showed promise in his brief stint, many see him as a better slot cornerback.

Some hot names are hitting the market like J.C. Jackson and Carlton Davis. It came as a surprise when the New England Patriots let Jackson hit the market, considering he’s been one of the league’s best pass defenders in recent memory.

The Bears roster is thin as it is, and with the new regime taking over, it will be interesting to see who the organization adds. Look for Poles to bring back James Daniels and Bilal Nichols, who have played well for the Bears and are still young.

With Khalil Mack out of the door and cap space cleared up, Poles will be sure to add other pieces outside of the three aforementioned positions. But with these three being arguably the Bears’ biggest needs, here are their top five free agent fits.

1) Terron Armstead

Armstead is a top-tier free agent and one of the best offensive tackles in the league, so he won’t be cheap. If the Bears are willing to spend the money, Armstead could come in and immediately improve the offensive line. He’s an excellent pass-blocker and also contributes heavily in the run game. Ryan Poles has harped that he doesn’t want to overspend, but if he’s serious about improving the o-line, Armstead is as good as advertised.

2) JuJu Smith-Schuster

At 25 years old, Smith-Schuster is still young and can contribute to another organization as he will likely leave the Pittsburgh Steelers. He looked to be one of the best young receivers in the league during his first couple years but his production has declined since. While he is not a top No. 1 receiver, he could potentially pair well with Mooney. Smith-Schuster is a big, physical slot receiver who could benefit from a change of scenery and a new offense.

3) Charvarious Ward​

The Bears need another proven cornerback to play opposite Jaylon Johnson and there is a lot of cornerback talent hitting the market. The best available corner is thought to be J.C. Jackson, but it doesn’t sit right with some people that Bill Belichick would let a young, top-tier corner go in the prime of his career. Instead of Jackson, it’d be smarter for Poles to invest in a younger, cheaper option. Ward is coming off a career-best year with a Pro Football Focus grade of 71.2. He is solid in all coverages but is best as an outside corner in man coverage. Ward could come in with experience as a solid No. 2 corner and make an immediate impact.

4) D.J. Chark Jr.

Chark Jr. struggled in 2021 and has regressed every year since entering the league in 2018. He is likely to leave Jacksonville after posting a disappointing 0.02 PFF wins above replacement in 2021 compared to his 0.32 WAR in 2019. Because of his play lately, Chark Jr. could be a relatively cheap option. Chark Jr. still has a ton of talent and could benefit heavily in a new offensive system. At 6-foot-4, capable of running a 4.3 40-yard dash, Chark Jr. could be just what the Bears need to improve their downfield explosiveness.

5) Laken Tomlinson

Tomlinson is a name that not many people may not have heard about. However, he’s developed into one of the best guards in the league with his play for the San Francisco 49ers. If Luke Getsy implements a zone-running system, Tomlinson would be able to come in with experience in that scheme. Per Pro Football Focus, Tomlinson has been a top ten guard in terms of WAR the past three seasons, and especially if James Daniels isn’t brought back, expect Ryan Poles to bring in another guard to help protect Fields.

This Fanpost was written by a Windy City Gridiron member and does not necessarily reflect the ideas or opinions of its staff or community.