Chicago Bears Free Agent Rumors – Day 1

Nov 24, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Chad Henne (7) is sacked by Houston Texans nose tackle Earl Mitchell (92) and outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus (59) during the second quarter at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Bears Looking at Texans DT Earl Mitchell

The Bears must have a thing with Mitchells because this is the second one whose name has been linked to the Beloved.  Earl is a young, durable DT.  At 26 he’s only missed one game in his NFL career.  After bringing back Jeremiah Ratliff and keeping Stephen Paea, both of whom have had injury problems of their own, the Bears could stand to bring in someone durable.  With Hank Melton still a question mark, Mitchell could be an interesting and more affordable option.

Jordan Palmer Could Replace Josh McCown as Jay Cutler’s Primary Backup

With Josh McCown drawing interest around the league, there’s a question about who will replace him as Cutler’s backup.  According to ESPN’s Michael Wright, the best choice might be in house:

"The logical choice is Jordan Palmer, who spent the last nine games with the Bears in 2013, and likely wouldn’t command more than the veteran minimum in 2014. Palmer is familiar with Chicago’s system, and Bears coach Marc Trestman was impressed by how quickly the quarterback learned the offense … Remember, during Josh McCown’s stint as the starter, Palmer served as the primary backup. So there’s somewhat of a comfort level there."

I think he was atop my list of possible backups the Bears should consider too.

Check back early and often for all your Chicago Bears Free Agent News and Rumors.