Chicago Bears: 5 value free agents to sign before camp

Value free agents available for the Chicago Bears: S Malik Hooker

Another position that looked bleak right up until before the draft was at safety. A little while before draft weekend, Ryan Pace decided to re-sign veteran Tashaun Gipson to start next to Eddie Jackson. From that moment on, safety looked a lot more solidified.

However, if the Bears wanted to add one more guy for training camp, they should look at someone like Malik Hooker. At one point, Hooker was a highly-touted first-rounder out of Ohio State and was supposed to be one of the best young safeties in the league.

However, injuries have not been kind to Hooker. He tore his knee up a couple of years ago, as well as missing all of 2020 with an Achilles injury. As he works his way back to the field, Hooker is still someone worth taking a shot on.

In camp, Hooker would compete with a couple of long-time Bears, DeAndre Houston-Carson and Deon Bush. If Hooker performed well in camp, maybe the Bears opt to keep five safeties — or, Hooker could be a mainstay on the practice squad.

There is something to be said about a guy who had a lot of potential and is still so young (25 years old). Giving him a shot on a cheaper contract could pan out well for the Bears.