When Ben Johnson came to Chicago, he moved quickly to put together a respectable coaching staff, which has a mix of established veterans and young rising talent in coaching circles. One of the biggest moves Johnson made a big splash on defense by hiring veteran coach Dennis Allen, who has served as both head coach and defensive coordinator during his long and respected career in the NFL.
Although the team may not have an easy path to bring in too many more players, there's always bargain shopping that could lead to bringing in players with familiarity and understanding of the defensive scheme. With that said, here's a look at three defensive players that the Bears should consider bringing in for next season's roster who have played under Dennis Allen.
CB Shemar Jean-Charles
Jean-Charles may not be a name that jumps off the paper, but in the last game Dennis Allen coached in New Orleans, the cornerback made an incredibly impressive interception. The secondary is not a big need for Chicago, but having depth matters, and Jean-Charles is a name that has shown flashes of his talent but just needs more opportunity. If anyone were to go down due to injury in the secondary, he could provide valuable depth with his playmaking abillity.
LB Willie Gay Jr.
Willie Gay Jr. is a respected and talented veteran linebacker who could help Chicago with their depth issues at the position. Although it is unlikely, similar to Jean-Charles, Gay would be another valuable asset to the linebacker core which is led by T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds. After the Bears released fan-favorite Jack Sanborn this offseason, Gay could come in and fill that role nicely behind the team's top two established starters.
DE Trey Hendrickson
Yes, Trey Hendrickson will be much harder to acquire and may not make as much financial sense after the Dayo Odeyingbo signing, but it still makes sense. To his credit, Odeyingbo thrived with the Indianapolis Colts while playing in limited action, not being given a full opportunity to showcase his full potential. Odeyingbo should get that in Chicago, even if they were to acquire Hendrickson in a trade with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Hendrickson played the first four seasons of his career with the New Orleans Saints, coached by Dennis Allen on defense. He has since gone on to elevate his game to another level with the Cincinnati Bengals, totaling the most sacks in the league over the past two seasons, and finishing second in Defensive Player Of the Year voting this season. If the cost of Hendrickson is potentially a third-round pick, Chicago would need to move around money to be able to afford him, but that's a move that feels worthy of the investment. They'd still have opportunities for Odeyingbo, as teams can never have too much pass-rushing talent.