Bears – Potential Free Agent Additions (Defense)
Edge Rusher
OLB Dwight Freeney (6’1 | 268 | 4.48)
Was a mid-season addition for the Cardinals last year with a $250k bonus per sack which he quickly took advantage of with 8 sacks in just 11 games ($2M bonus!).
I assumed Freeney was either done or coming back to the Cardinals, but a recent interview made it sound like he’s not only still planning on playing but interested in playing a full season for whatever team is willing to pay.
Freeney proved last year that he hasn’t lost his burst off the edge and he could not only provide the Bears with some juice as a pass rusher but could mentor rookie Leonard Floyd on the nuances of the position.
By the end of the season, the combo of Floyd and Freeney could give the Bears a dangerous edge rushing combo in passing situations and mask some potential deficiencies in the secondary.
As with any player over 30, there is a chance Freeney is done, but a contract based around sack bonuses again could limit the Bears risk. If the Bears offer him a similar sack bonus, I don’t think they would mind playing up at all if Freeney could match his 8 sack season from 2015.
OLB O’Brien Schofield (6’3 | 242 | 4.63)
From what I hear Atlanta HC Dan Quinn wants Schofield back, but the fact that he has yet to sign gives at least a glimmer of hope that he could be available for the Bears. Schofield has always been a one-dimensional player, but that one skill is a rare one in that he’s always been able to get to the QB when given a chance to play with 15.5 career sacks in limited playing time.
He’s quick off the edge, which is a trait the Bears are short on. Even if Schofield only plays on obvious passing downs, he’s got more burst off the edge than most of the Bears primary OLBs.
Schofield could pair with Floyd on obvious passing downs to give the Bears two explosive edge rushers in the short-term until the Bears can develop another long-term edge weapon.
OLB Mike Neal, Packers (6’3 | 262 | 4.77)
For some reason the Packers don’t seem to want Neal back despite a fairly productive career since being a 2nd round pick in 2010. Packers director of player personnel, Eliot Wolf, was even quoted saying that Neal has “moved on” from the Packers (PFF). Though Neal has refuted that claim.
Since becoming a key cog in the Packers OLB rotation in 2012, Neal has 20.5 sacks over the last four years, including the playoffs, and has averaged around 45 tackles per season. Neal is better against the run than pass, but doesn’t really excel at any one thing. He’s also coming off his worst year since 2012 with one of the lowest grades of all edge rushers according to Pro Football Focus.
Neal isn’t a starting caliber edge rusher, but was a valuable member of the Packers solid defense the last few seasons and could be a useful reserve at a reasonable price. He’s also versatile enough to play DT or DE when the Bears deploy a four-man front.
The Bears would basically be deciding between Neal and Sam Acho for their fifth edge rusher and while Acho is better on special teams, Neal has been a more productive pass rusher and his versatility to play as a down linemen gives him a significant edge.
*I didn’t list DE Greg Hardy because there is zero chance Pace and Fox take a chance on that animal.
Next: Safety