Bears adding a few free agents might help fix some problems before Week 2
By Ryan Heckman
After a Week 1 win over the Tennessee Titans came in a manner which most Chicago Bears fans didn't expect, the team is getting set for a much tougher test this coming Sunday night.
In prime time, the Bears will take on the Houston Texans.
If Week 1 was any indication, the Bears are far from a finished product. Go figure, because it isn't every year a rookie quarterback comes out of the gates looking like a star, unless you're C.J. Stroud.
Caleb Williams looked like a rookie in his first start, but he didn't have a lot of help around him in some key areas. Now, this idea isn't to say that signing some free agents will automatically fix the problems Chicago saw arise last week, but adding talent in a couple of spots could really give boost to the Bears' current needs.
Ryan Poles could dip into the free agent pool before Week 2
Everybody saw the glaring issues for Chicago in Week 1. To address a couple of those, three particular free agents might make sense.
Trai Turner, G
Center Coleman Shelton was arguably the worst player on the field for the Bears in Week 1. He was overwhelmed on several occasions, resulting in Williams having to either run for his life or make a snap decision. Shelton wasn't good in any aspect of the game, which is why the Bears should move Ryan Bates to center and start looking for options at guard.
For now, maybe Matt Pryor makes the most sense next to Bates. But, former Pro Bowl guard Trai Turner is still out there and would make for some adequate depth. He missed all of last season with a torn quadriceps, but if he's healthy, gives the Bears some veteran leadership and another option to try and figure out their starting five.
Jamal Agnew, KR/PR
When will the Velus Jones Jr. experiment be over? Watching him muff a kick return came to no one's surprise. He simply isn't an NFL player. Whether you believe that's the Bears fault for not converting him to running back earlier in his career is irrelevant. Jones needs to be replaced. The Bears need a legitimate return man.
Jamal Agnew is a former Pro Bowl player who is now healthy and a free agent, and would immediately solve the return game for Chicago. It's almost too easy of a decision. Poles needs to make it happen.
Dieter Eiselen, G
Finally, bringing back a familiar face as interior offensive line depth could be an option. Dieter Eiselen is a name the Bears know well, and depending on what happens with Shelton or even Nate Davis, the Bears could be in the market for added depth on the interior.