Chicago Bears 2014 Season Preview and Predictions
Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Bears Offseason Moves
Free Agent Additions
The Bears went all out to fix the defense through free agency. Phil Emery signed 3 of the top 6 defensive ends available on the market. Allen probably only has a season or two left, but both Houston and Young are in their prime and should be effective against both the run and pass the next few years. Williams and Mundy are solid veterans who aren’t high upside players but they should provide some stability to the defense and improve the team’s tackling ability.
DE Jared Allen
DE Lamarr Houston
DE Willie Young
MLB DJ Williams
SS Ryan Mundy
Veteran Training Camp Additions: QB Jimmy Clausen, WR Josh Morgan, WR Michael Spurlock, RB Shaun Draughn, TE Matthew Mulligan, C Brain de la Puente, DE Taylor Scott
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Free Agent Losses
The Bears are already feeling the loss of Devin Hester in the return game as they can’t seem to find a viable returner candidate with the season less than a week away. I was upset that the Bears couldn’t bring Henry Melton back but he has been hurt all preseason, so in hindsight it was probably the right move. Corey Wooten was an underrated loss, he was a versatile defender who could play either defensive end or tackle competently and was only 26. The Bears upgraded the DE position, but Wooten would have been a nice depth player. The rest of the losses might be addition by subtraction.
KR/PR Devin Hester
DT Henry Melton
DE Corey Wooten
RB Michael Bush
WR Eric Weems
SS Major Wright (good riddance)
Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Draft Acquisitions
The Bears used four of their first five draft picks on defense in an attempt to add some youth and speed to a defense that definitely needs it. They also added young backups at running back, quarterback, and the offensive line.
CB Kyle Fuller
DT Ego Ferguson
DT Will Sutton
RB Ka’Deem Carey
S Brock Vereen
QB David Fales
P Pat O’Donnell
G/T Chalres Leno Jr
Other Rookies and 1st year Bears: RB Senorise Perry, G Michael Ola, LB Christian Jones, CB Demontre Hurst