Bears 2017 Free Agents: Offense

Exclusive Rights Free Agents: 

A player who has been on an active NFL roster for less than two seasons and can only negotiate with their current team as long as that team offers at least a minimum qualifying offer.

With only a minimum contract offer necessary to keep the players below, they are all but locks to be back in 2017 if the Bears still want them.

WR Josh Bellamy – It will be an interesting decision for the Bears to make on Bellamy. They have invested two years in developing the former cornerback as a wide receiver and he’s shown the ability to get open against NFL defensive backs. The problem is that he can’t catch the ball consistently.

Bellamy’s amateurish habit of jumping to catch the ball whether he needs to or not will need to change if he’s going to ever become a reliable option. Can he change that habit and improve his hands in one offseason?

Even if he doesn’t improve much as a receiver, Bellamy is one of the Bears best special teams gunners, which might be enough to keep him around. With just a minimum contract required to retain Bellamy, I’m guessing the Bears bring him back for his special teams contributions. If Bellamy learns how to catch the ball properly, that’s gravy.

Verdict: Keep him (hopefully, the Bears won’t need him at WR).

TE Daniel Brown – The Bears have been bringing in tight end talent off the waiver wire all year and may have found a keeper in Brown. He didn’t play for the Bears until week 12 this year but had 16 catches for 124 yards and a touchdown in the final six games.

Brown started three games for the Bears this year and looks like a potential long-term contributor at the tight end position. He struggled at times as a blocker, which isn’t surprising considering Brown was a wide receiver in college at James Madison.

The Bears still have Zach Miller at tight end, but with his injury history, they need a reliable backup option and Brown is all but a lock to be brought back in 2017.

Verdict: Keep him

QB David Fales – Despite the Bears drastic struggles at the quarterback positon in 2016, Fales didn’t see the field until the fourth quarter of week 17. He was drafted by the old regime, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if Fales isn’t part of GM Ryan Pace’s long-term plans.

That being said, there has been some rumored interest in Fales over the last two years from teams like the Patriots and Ravens but Pace was unwilling to deal him for a late round pick or allow a team to sign him off the practice squad.

If Pace had plans for Fales in 2017, he probably would have played sooner this season but it won’t cost much to keep Fales around and allow him to compete for a role next year. They could always use him as a trade chip if other NFL teams are still interested.

Verdict: Keep him (why not?)

QB Connor Shaw – Suffered a broken leg in the preseason this year, but Shaw impressed in training camp and his brief preseason audition. HC John Fox went out of his way to praise Shaw after his injury and stated that he had a “bright future here”.

With the Bears likely to release Jay Cutler, and every other quarterback on the roster a free agent, it’s possible that Shaw finds himself in competition for a job in Chicago next year. The former undrafted free agent has more mobility than Barkley or Hoyer and showed good accuracy in college.

I’ll be doing an in-depth write-up on the Bears quarterback options soon, but for now it’s safe to say that Shaw will be on the Bears roster in training camp next year.

Verdict: Keep him

LS Patrick Scales – I know literally nothing about Scales long-snapping skills, but it won’t cost anything to keep him around as competition.

Verdict: Keep him