Chicago Bears – Remaining Free Agents (Linebackers)

Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

The first week of the 2015 NFL season is over and it has been pretty crazy with record setting free agency deals, more Pro Bowl players traded than I’ve ever seen before in an offseason, and most of the top free agents already off the board.

The Bears have made a few moves, though way less than most teams with $30 million plus in cap room like the Bears. New Bears GM Ryan Pace is taking a cautous, measured approach to free agency so far. In the short-term the Bears are missing out on the best players in free agency, but over the next few months when veteran players with high cap numbers are getting cut, the Bears will have more money than just about any team in the league to snatch up experienced vets who were recently good enough to deserve big contracts.

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The Bears haven’t been completely silent during free agency with three quality signings in OLB Pernell McPhee, S Antrel Rolle, and WR Eddie Royal, a couple of minor ones (G Ducasse, LS Gafford), and rumors that they are in the mix for a couple more players (Foster, Satele). Click the individual player links for a detailed breakdown, but this post is focused on remaining free agents who the Bears could be targeting.

All of the contract specifics have yet to be released so we don’t know exactly how much cap space the Bears have left, but Bears cap guru Cliff Stein is a wizard so I am predicting that the money will be there if there is mutual interest between the Bears and their target players.

I will be breaking down free agents options by position that I think would be good fits for the Bears in 2015 and beyond. Obviously they can’t sign all of these players, but the Bears should have enough cap room to potentially sign a few more players as contract demands drop significantly over the next few weeks.

Best Remaining: D-Line | O-Line | Skill Players | Defensive Backs | Linebackers

Free Agent Linebackers

Inside Linebacker

Rolando McClain, Cowboys (26 | 6’3 | 255) – Is facing a 4-game suspension to start the season due to a failed drug test (weed). The former 9th overall pick in 2012 was considered a bust, despite positive grades from Pro Football Focus every year of his career, and spent the 2013 season out of football. The Cowboys gave him a chance in 2014 out of desperation and McClain played like the MLB the Ravens expected when they drafted him. McClain was strong against both the run and pass while providing occasional value as a blitzer. He was the 9th best ILB in the league according to PFF last year, but carries considerable risk due to lack of productivity early in his career and a history of off-field issues. That being said, McClain is only 26 and was one the best MLBs in the NFL last season. His suspension and troubled past could keep the price reasonable and if so he could be a great fit for the ILB role that Patrick Willis handled for the 49ers in Fangio’s scheme.

Mason Foster, Bucs (25 | 6’1 | 242)– It was rumored that the Bears were close to signing Foster late last week, but it’s been quiet since then so the odds of him joining the Bears seem to be diminishing. I think Foster is a great fit at ILB in Fangio’s 3-4 scheme, so I hope the Bears can get a deal done. Foster is rumored to be asking for $5-$6M per year, which is a little more than I think he’s worth so hopefully the Bears can get him for close to $4M per.

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Nate Irving, Broncos (27 | 6’1 | 240) – Was the starting middle linebacker for the Broncos the first half of last season before being placed on injured reserve with a knee injury. Pre-injury Irving was a very effective run stopper with a 5.9 grade from Pro Football Focus that was the 12th best grade among MLBs despite only playing 8 games. Irving has a good burst through the hole, explosive closing speed, and textbook tackling form. He struggles a bit in coverage and doesn’t appear to have natural football instincts, but Irving could be very effective as a 2-down run stopper if he has recovered fully from his knee injury.

Brandon Spikes, Bills (27 | 6’3 | 249) – Classic 2-down run thumper with great size and the ability to be an intimidating hitter between the hashes. The Bears haven’t had anyone opposing RBs fear in a couple of seasons and Spikes would change that. His coverage limitations will keep him off the field in sub packages and he has a knack for dumb penalties, but Spikes is a hard hitting run stopper who would bring much needed toughness to the Bears defense.

Darryl Sharpton, Bears (27 | 5’11 | 236) – I thought the Bears found a steal off the waiver wire scrap heap when they signed Sharpton early last season. The former 4th round pick in 2010 was solid in Houston (when healthy) for the first 4 years of his career and then was signed in free agency by the Redskins who released him before Sharpton even played a game because he couldn’t stay healthy. The undersized MLB got a start for the Bears in week 6 vs the Falcons and gave the defensive a boost with his aggressive play. Sharpton played pretty well for three straight games and I thought at worst the Bears had found a solid backup MLB, but injuries struck again and he didn’t play from week 8 on. I like his potential, but Sharpton has missed an average of just under 6 games per season before signing with the Bears and just can’t stay healthy enough to rely on as anything more than a backup. Sharpton’s value is in his aggressive, all-out style, but that is what keeps getting him hurt. I hope Sharpton ends up on the Bears roster next year, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bears think the injury risk is too much.