Chicago Bears: 5 must-sign free agents after 2021 NFL Draft

Now that the 2021 NFL Draft is over with, the Chicago Bears are on to fine-tuning their roster, just like the rest of the league.

At the moment, teams are picking up where they left off with free agency as yet another wave is in progress. The Bears were able to address many positions within this year’s draft, but they still have some areas they could use improvement.

The one big move made in the draft, of course, was moving up to get Justin Fields. General manager Ryan Pace made it clear he wasn’t messing around this year and did whatever it took to improve at the most crucial positions like quarterback and offensive tackle.

With Fields in the fold, along with some other much-needed help from the draft, where do the Bears stand in terms of competing right away?

Don’t let Matt Nagy fool you, the Chicago Bears are ready to win right now.

Whether or not you believe Nagy when he says Andy Dalton is the starter, the fact of the matter is, Fields is a much more talented player. He very well could take the starting job in training camp. Quite frankly, I would be surprised if he doesn’t.

That means this Bears team is ready to win right now. The cornerstone pieces have been in place. The defense is a top-10 unit featuring some Pro Bowlers at multiple positions. Offensively, the Bears have a young, up-and-coming running back in David Montgomery and a passing game that should be on the rise with Allen Robinson and Darnell Mooney, along with Cole Kmet.

All the Bears need now is a few more players to add to their roster and fill in some gaps. Pace could still make a notable signing or two in order to bolster the team’s readiness to win, and there are many names still available.

With the salary cap going down and cuts becoming more prevalent this year, the free agent pool still boasts plenty of talent. Which guys should the Bears look at if they wanted to make a serious run?