Chicago Bears: Free Agency Day 3 Recap

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NFL Signings / Trades

1.) Rahim Moore, Texans – Arguably the 2nd best free safety available signed with the Texans yesterday for 3-years, $12M. I haven’t done a film breakdown of Moore, but I’ve seen a lot of Broncos games and I was impressed with what I’ve seen from Moore. Strangely enough the majority opinion on Moore seems to be that he is just a guy and his mediocre contract backs that up. Moore is only 26, has started for 3 consecutive seasons, and has had a positive grade from Pro Football Focus in all three, but he might always be best known for giving up the bomb that lost the Broncos the AFC championship game to the Ravens in 2012. $4M per season seems like a steal for a 26-year-old free safety with three years of quality starting experience, but I guess time will tell.

2.) Henry Melton, Bucs – Does Lovie Smith know there are other players available besides ex-Bears? So far this offseason the Bucs have signed four ex-Bears (Isaiah Frey, Major Wright, Chris Conte, Henry Melton). Outside of Henry Melton who they signed yesterday, those other guys aren’t very good. I’ve been one of the bigger Melton fans out there and wanted the Bears to bring him back both this and last year. Next to All-Pro Gerald McCoy, Henry Melton could be a beast for the Bucs this year. The Bucs will need to get a lot of pressure on QBs right away because the Major Wright / Chirs Conte safety combo is going to be a disaster.

3.) Terrance Knighton, Redskins – The Bears were considered the front runner for Knighton based on their need for a DT, their transition to a 3-4 scheme, and Knighton’s familiarity with Bears HC John Fox. It’s rumored that Knighton showed up to Halas Hall pushing 400 pounds an asking for $8M per year which pretty much ended any chance that the Bears were going to sign Knighton. Even if he’s overweight right now, a 1-year, $4M deal is a bargain for the Redskins.

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4.) Tyrunn Walker, Lions – I would have bet money that the Bears were going to sign Walker this offseason. He was one of new GM Ryan Pace’s best undrafted finds with the Saints and plays the 3-4 DE position that the Bears really have no depth (or starters) at. Walker has been a very productive back-up for the Saints, is only 24, and had positive grades as both a pass rusher and run stopper according to PFF. I have a feeling the Lions signing of Walker may cone back to haunt the Bears at some point next season. At 6’3, 294 pounds with sub 5 speed in the 40, Walker is a high upside player who is just scratching the surface of his potential.

5.) O’Brien Schofield, Falcons – Another guy that I thought would be a good fit for the Bears as a pass rush specialist. Schofield has a quick burst off the line of scrimmage and gets a good lean around the edge. He’s basically useless against the run, but could have provided a pass rush for the Bears at a limited cost. It’s possible that the signing of OLB Pernell McPhee and the announcement that Lamarr Houston is going to play OLB as well limited the need for extra pass rushers.