Second Wave of Free Agency: Five players the Chicago Bears should consider

Kony Ealy, Defensive End

During the Carolina Panthers run to the Superbowl in 2015, Ealy was nothing more than a rotational player on what many considered to be the deepest defensive line in football. In the Superbowl, he had three sacks and looked like he was well on his way to becoming a full-time starter for Carolina until he was traded to the Patriots in March of 2017. Over the past year, Ealy’s career has been somewhat of a roller coaster ride. He was cut by the Patriots and then quickly scooped up by the New York Jets, where he was playing behind guys like Muhammad Wilkerson and Leonard Williams.

Now, still just twenty-six years old, he’s looking for work again. Lucky for him, the Bears could still be looking to add edge rushers, despite signing Aaron Lynch last week. Ealy would be the ideal guy to give a one-year prove it deal, as his numbers took a hit during the 2017 season. If he can stay healthy and his contract demand isn’t too high, then he’s worth taking a look at. While he won’t go from backup to starter overnight, he could certainly play a role as a rotational piece in Vic Fangio’s defense.