4 pending Chicago Bears free agents who could return in 2023

The Chicago Bears will likely bring back Patrick Scales

Probably the least sexy positional player in this article. The Chicago Bears have had very good luck with their long snappers. In fact, it might have to do with the name Patrick. Patrick Mannelly was the Bears’ long snapper for 16 seasons (1998-2013). He was one of the best to ever play the position. He has an award named after him and he puts on a long snapper school/clinic. Well, it only took one season without Mannelly before the Chicago Bears found another Patrick to play the position.

Patrick Scales took over as the Bears’ long snapper in 2015 and has been holding that position to this day. Could he be brought back in 2023? He hasn’t done anything that makes me think he doesn’t return in 2023. He is making $1.2 million this season and that is right in line with most of the veteran long snappers about to hit free agency. Scales has not been a problem for the team and has a decent connection with the current special teams unit.

The only way I could see him walking is if the team looks to replace Cairo Santos and the new kicker has a preference as to who is snapping the ball. Even then, it’s more likely that the kicker just deals with the existing long snapper. I’d expect Patrick Scales to be back in a Bears uniform next season.