Chicago Bears Free Agent Options – Defense
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The Bears made a major splash in free agency last year with the early signing of Lamarr Houston and the late signing of Jared Allen. Neither signing worked out as planned for the Bears, but both players will be back next year and hopefully live up to their substantial contracts. A third DE, Willie Young, was the least expensive of the three DEs signed and turned out to be the most productive. Hopefully the Bears learned a lesson that signing older players to big contracts rarely works out. Free agency isn’t a viable route to team building, unless the Bears can find young players with upside on affordable contracts like they did with Young. The Bears only have roughly $30M in cap room, not counting their own free agents and draft picks, so they won’t have room to make big signings like last year anyway.
The Bears won’t have much money to spend, but they will have enough for a few affordable free agents. They have had one of the worst defenses in the league the last two years and despite last year’s additions in free agency and the draft, it is still an old, slow, and relatively weak defense. The Bears need to focus on getting faster, tougher, and more athletic on the defensive side of the ball. I’ve listed at least one free agent at every defensive position that could improve the Bears defense next season.
The ideal target of a rebuilding team should be players coming off of their rookie deals that have been under-utilized, playing out of position or in the wrong scheme. With the rebuild under way there should be plenty of open spots in the starting lineup and the Bears could put these players in a position to succeed and perhaps unearth a few gems. If not, the price tag will be relatively low on most of these players and the risk minimal. I will get into specific targets in depth this off-season, but here are a few names I have my eye on:
Safety:
FS Devin McCourty (27), Patriots – One of only three players ever to be named Associated Press All-Pro at both corner and safety (Ronnie Lott, Rod Woodson) and arguably the best free safety on the market. Signing McCourty will be expensive and could limit the Bears from making other moves in free agency, but it would also solve the most glaring hole on the defense over the last two seasons. Former GM Phil Emery didn’t consider the safety position a priority, but with teams passing more than ever a rangy ball-hawk like McCourty could have a huge impact on the Bears defense. McCourty is young enough that he should have at least three or four good years left. I’m not sure McCourty would be willing to leave a winning franchise like the Patriots for a rebuilding team like the Bears, but the Patriots might not have the cap room to pay him what’s he worth.
FS Tashaun Gipson (24), Browns – Was in the midst of a breakout season before injuring his MCL in week 12. Gipson finished 2nd in the NFL with 6 interceptions and Pro Football Focus ranked him as the 8th best free safety in the NFL (10.3 grade). Gipson flourished in pass coverage this year and has a bright future. He is a restricted free agent and I’d be surprised if the Browns let him go, but the Bears should at least make an effort.
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FS Rahim Moore (26), Broncos – Is known more for a coverage gaffe late in the Ravens double-overtime playoff win over the Broncos in 2012 and almost losing his leg due to injury than he is for his solid play at safety over the last three seasons. Despite having 3+ years of starting experience, he’s still only 26 and an above-average coverage safety. Moore would be a big upgrade over anyone currently on the Bears roster and is a less expensive alternative than McCourty.
SS Da’Norris Searcy (27), Bills – Ryan Mundy is a serviceable strong safety, but will be 30 this year and is a free agent after the 2015 season. Ideally Mundy would be a reserve and could be if the Bears sign Searcy. He’s a well-rounded safety with good instincts who is strong against the run and good enough in coverage to play free safety if needed.
Cornerback:
CB Kareem Jackson (26), Texans – After being considered a 1st round bust for the first two seasons of his career, Jackson has finished two of the last three seasons graded as one of the top 12 cornerbacks in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus. He has played both outside and in the slot and would give the Bears the flexibility to move Tim Jennings into the slot as they planned on last year before Charles Tillman was injured. Jackson won’t be cheap, but good young corners are hard to find.
CB Brandon Harris (24), Titans – Undersized corner who reminds me a lot of Tim Jennings before the Bears acquired him. They are similar size, both former 2nd round picks, both from the U, and both very aggressive. Harris struggled with his original team (HOU), but played well the last three weeks of 2014 with the Titans. It won’t cost the Bears much to sign Harris and a team can never have enough depth at corner.