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Now that the Chicago Bears have completed their offseason program, the wait is on for training camp next month and roster possibilities remain.
The Bears have been one of the busiest teams this offseason making moves to upgrade and revamp their roster, adding several additions on both sides of the ball, with a main focus on the line positions.
Throughout the early stages of minicamp and offseason workouts, there were plenty of rumors attaching Chicago to a running back, but the team opted not to sign one. Now with the free agent market shrinking, teams will have limited options to bolster their roster over the summer, but they could find cost-effective roster additions to help add veteran depth.
Here's a look at seven remaining free agents who the Bears should consider signing going into training camp to help round out the roster for first-year head coach Ben Johnson.
Most recent team: Green Bay Packers
A long-time veteran of the Green Bay Packers, Jaire Alexander was recently released by Green Bay, and adding him to the Bears roster would ignite more fuel to the rivalry. Alexander's biggest flaw has been his injury history and lack of availability in recent seasons, but he would provide some depth to the Bears secondary at the cornerback position. Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon are the core of this team's secondary, but it feels as if Tyrique Stevenson could be playing for job security, and the presence of Alexander could bring the best out of the young corner.
Most recent team: New Orleans Saints
In the best year of his career, Jamaal Williams rushed for 1,066 yards and scored 17 rushing touchdowns with the Detroit Lions, where Ben Johnson was his offensive coordinator. The team has long been connected to multiple veteran free agents at the running back position, but none have the connection to Johnson like Williams does. Adding Williams would also reunite him with D'Andre Swift, who shared a backfield with Williams in Detroit, bringing even more familiarity to Johnson's offense in his first year with Chicago.
Most recent team: Arizona Cardinals
After the Bears lost veteran linebacker Jack Sanborn to free agency, it opened up a hole at the position alongside T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds. While this creates opportunity for younger linebackers already on the roster, White has been a very productive veteran, totaling 481 tackles over the past four seasons. White is coming off the biggest season of his career last year with the Arizona Cardinals, but the fact that he remains unsigned should help any interested team sign him to a team-friendly deal.
Most recent team: Atlanta Falcons
The Bears did address the edge rusher position this offseason, but adding another veteran wouldn't hurt the group. Matthew Judon, a long-time veteran who is highly successful, has totaled 37.5 sacks over the past four seasons. The biggest positive for Judon is that he showed in his one season with Atlanta last year that he could be healthy, playing all 17 games after playing in just four during the 2023 season for the New England Patriots. Judon, Montez Sweat, and Dayo Odeyingbo would give defensive coordinator Dennis Allen plenty of veteran options at the edge rusher position.
Most recent team: Arizona Cardinals
Over the course of the past few seasons, Will Hernandez has played on relatively small financial contracts for just one or two seasons and has played well. He's coming off a season-ending injury last season, so his recent affordable contracts could be even lower, and he'd provide offensive line depth. Although the Bears spent plenty, especially on the interior offensive line this offseason, there feels as if there's more depth at tackle than guard, and Hernandez could provide that. Chicago does have Ryan Bates on the roster, but adding Hernandez would only continue the revamping of the entire offensive line.
Most recent team: New York Jets
C.J. Mosley may be one of the most cost-efficient players on the market, and the Bears could swoop in and find major benefits in signing the veteran this offseason. Before he was placed on injured reserve last year due to a neck injury, Mosley spent the previous three seasons totaling at least 150 total tackles and was the anchor for the New York Jets defense. Adding Mosley would give the Bears three veteran linebackers, all of whom know how to put up big numbers in the tackling department. He may not be the same player he once was, but could provide a bridge gap option at linebacker while rookie Ruben Hyppolite II develops in the NFL.
Most recent team: Cincinnati Bengals
Similar to the fit Alexander would have for this secondary, Mike Hilton would bring a veteran presence under new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. Throughout his career, Hilton has established himself as one of the best slot cornerbacks in the league, and the Bears already have one of those in Kyler Gordon. Having two elite slot corners would make the Bears secondary one of the most dangerous defenses to throw against for opponents.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears roster: 7 free agents for Chicago to consider signing
Continue reading...
The Bears have been one of the busiest teams this offseason making moves to upgrade and revamp their roster, adding several additions on both sides of the ball, with a main focus on the line positions.
Throughout the early stages of minicamp and offseason workouts, there were plenty of rumors attaching Chicago to a running back, but the team opted not to sign one. Now with the free agent market shrinking, teams will have limited options to bolster their roster over the summer, but they could find cost-effective roster additions to help add veteran depth.
Here's a look at seven remaining free agents who the Bears should consider signing going into training camp to help round out the roster for first-year head coach Ben Johnson.
Jaire Alexander, cornerback
Most recent team: Green Bay Packers
A long-time veteran of the Green Bay Packers, Jaire Alexander was recently released by Green Bay, and adding him to the Bears roster would ignite more fuel to the rivalry. Alexander's biggest flaw has been his injury history and lack of availability in recent seasons, but he would provide some depth to the Bears secondary at the cornerback position. Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon are the core of this team's secondary, but it feels as if Tyrique Stevenson could be playing for job security, and the presence of Alexander could bring the best out of the young corner.
Jamaal Williams, running back
Most recent team: New Orleans Saints
In the best year of his career, Jamaal Williams rushed for 1,066 yards and scored 17 rushing touchdowns with the Detroit Lions, where Ben Johnson was his offensive coordinator. The team has long been connected to multiple veteran free agents at the running back position, but none have the connection to Johnson like Williams does. Adding Williams would also reunite him with D'Andre Swift, who shared a backfield with Williams in Detroit, bringing even more familiarity to Johnson's offense in his first year with Chicago.
Kyzir White, linebacker
Most recent team: Arizona Cardinals
After the Bears lost veteran linebacker Jack Sanborn to free agency, it opened up a hole at the position alongside T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds. While this creates opportunity for younger linebackers already on the roster, White has been a very productive veteran, totaling 481 tackles over the past four seasons. White is coming off the biggest season of his career last year with the Arizona Cardinals, but the fact that he remains unsigned should help any interested team sign him to a team-friendly deal.
Matthew Judon, edge rusher
Most recent team: Atlanta Falcons
The Bears did address the edge rusher position this offseason, but adding another veteran wouldn't hurt the group. Matthew Judon, a long-time veteran who is highly successful, has totaled 37.5 sacks over the past four seasons. The biggest positive for Judon is that he showed in his one season with Atlanta last year that he could be healthy, playing all 17 games after playing in just four during the 2023 season for the New England Patriots. Judon, Montez Sweat, and Dayo Odeyingbo would give defensive coordinator Dennis Allen plenty of veteran options at the edge rusher position.
Will Hernandez, guard
Most recent team: Arizona Cardinals
Over the course of the past few seasons, Will Hernandez has played on relatively small financial contracts for just one or two seasons and has played well. He's coming off a season-ending injury last season, so his recent affordable contracts could be even lower, and he'd provide offensive line depth. Although the Bears spent plenty, especially on the interior offensive line this offseason, there feels as if there's more depth at tackle than guard, and Hernandez could provide that. Chicago does have Ryan Bates on the roster, but adding Hernandez would only continue the revamping of the entire offensive line.
C.J. Mosley, linebacker
Most recent team: New York Jets
C.J. Mosley may be one of the most cost-efficient players on the market, and the Bears could swoop in and find major benefits in signing the veteran this offseason. Before he was placed on injured reserve last year due to a neck injury, Mosley spent the previous three seasons totaling at least 150 total tackles and was the anchor for the New York Jets defense. Adding Mosley would give the Bears three veteran linebackers, all of whom know how to put up big numbers in the tackling department. He may not be the same player he once was, but could provide a bridge gap option at linebacker while rookie Ruben Hyppolite II develops in the NFL.
Mike Hilton, cornerback
Most recent team: Cincinnati Bengals
Similar to the fit Alexander would have for this secondary, Mike Hilton would bring a veteran presence under new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. Throughout his career, Hilton has established himself as one of the best slot cornerbacks in the league, and the Bears already have one of those in Kyler Gordon. Having two elite slot corners would make the Bears secondary one of the most dangerous defenses to throw against for opponents.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears roster: 7 free agents for Chicago to consider signing
Continue reading...
