The Chicago Bears will be doing a lot of roster clean-up as they try to create cap space before free agency begins.
Players like Tremaine Edmunds, Tyson Bagent, DJ Moore, and Gervon Dexter are all being talked about as early trade candidates off the team. The Bears also have a chance to restructure contracts totaling over $85 million this offseason to create the cap space to work with.
Once the cap is fixed for them, they can start being aggressive in free agency to good after anyone, including stealing from players from division rivals. Here are four NFC North players the Bears could target in free agency to sign.
Trevon Diggs, CB (Previous Team: Green Bay Packers)
Diggs might have had some tough injury concerns, but when he is on the field, he is a ball hawk. He is a two-time Pro Bowler who has had 20 career interceptions in 67 games played. His projected $7.5 million-per-year market value is cheaper than what Nahshon Wright will be, and if it doesn't work out with Diggs, Tyrique Stevenson is at least there to help. It's a risk worth taking for the Bears.
Alex Anzalone, LB (Previous Team: Detroit Lions)
Tremaine Edmunds is one foot out the door with a potential trade coming soon, and D'Marco Jackson is a free agent, so adding a linebacker is needed for depth purposes. Anzalone had 95 tackles, nine pass deflections, six quarterback hits, four tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and one interception in 16 games last year. While there are injury concerns with Anzalone, he's proven himself to be a solid starting linebacker and would cost half the salary that Edmunds' $15 million cap hit would in 2026.
Justin Skule, LT (Previous Team: Minnesota Vikings)
Skule isn't the best left tackle in free agency, but he would at least be a cheap, viable option until Ozzy Trapilo is back from his injury. Last season, Skule allowed six quarterback hits, seven sacks, and 29 pressures in 356 pass block snaps with the Vikings. The good thing with Skule is that he has starting experience and would only cost about $2 million for the season, so he would be a decent rental for one year without breaking the bank.
Read more: Bears' all-defensive 3-round mock draft gives Dennis Allen exactly what he wants
Al-Quadin Muhammad, DE (Previous Team: Detroit Lions)
The biggest issue with the Bears' defense last year was the lack of a consistent pass rusher, with just 35 sacks on the season. Muhammad didn't start a single game for the Lions last season and still got a staggering 11 sacks and 20 quarterback hits. His projected market value is at around $7 million per year, so while it isn't an elite name like Trey Hendrickson or Maxx Crosby, Muhammad proved that he can get to the quarterback and Chicago needs someone like that badly.