Chicago Bears Week 9 Free Agent Stock Watch
By Tooch
Nov 4, 2013; Green Bay, WI, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Josh McCown (12) gets a pass away while getting blitzed by Green Bay Packers cornerback Sam Shields (37) in the 4th quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Throwing down harder than Shea McClellin on Aaron Rodgers, it’s your Chicago Bears Week 9 free agent stock watch:
RISING
Josh McCown
Who would have thought that there might be a quarterback controversy in Chicago this season? McCown has been shockingly good for the Bears in place of the injured-but-soon-to-return Jay Cutler, as my fellow BGO writer Cameron Curtis pointed out as well. Now the biggest dilemma for the team will be deciding to throw Cutler right back into the lineup or to ride the hot hand with McCown for at least one more game. Cutler is undoubtedly the more talented of the two, but McCown has been mistake-free and clearly knows the ins and outs of Marc Trestman’s offense. I still believe the Bears need to draft their quarterback of the future this offseason, but keeping McCown around for insurance is a must at this point.
Corey Wooton
Wooton benefited from those around him on Monday night against the Packers. Shea McClellin and Julius Peppers each had their best games of the season, and also helped Wooton record a sack late in the game to effectively put it out of reach for Green Bay. The biggest reason he could find himself back in a Bears uniform though is the team’s signing of former Cowboys defensive tackle Jay Ratliff. If and when Ratliff takes the field, he will assume the three-technique tackle and push Wooton back to defensive end. That will give the former Northwestern Wildcat the chance to prove his worth to the team down the final stretch of the season.
Matt Slauson
Overall, the offensive line played extremely well and protected Josh McCown, yielding just one sack. Combine the fact that there’s nobody currently on the Bears roster, outside of maybe James Brown, who is ready and able to fill a starting position along with the continuity issues the team has had with its offensive line, and it’s easy to make a case for Slauson to stay. This current Bears unit needs to stay together for as long as Roberto Garza can still play.