3 Free agents the Chicago Bears should avoid this offseason

Josh Jacobs is coming off his best year and will demand a major contract

David Montgomery is still a strong resign candidate, as he and Khalil Herbert complement each other very well and have the potential to be the league's best backfield duo. With that said, there is a wealth of talent at the running back position in this year's crop of free agents, which might entice them to look elsewhere for Herbert's backfield mate.

Josh Jacobs led the league in rushing this season and is one of the biggest names in free agency. The Chicago Bears might prioritize him if they decide to move on from Montgomery, as the two players have many of the same strengths, and they might see more upside with Jacobs. However, signing him to a mega deal would come with a significant amount of risk, as he has only one season of elite production.

Jacobs might be only 25 years old, but he is coming off a season in which he led the league with nearly 400 touches (he finished with 393). Countless players have struggled to stay healthy the year after similar seasons to the one he had in 2022, and his hard-nosed playing style makes him especially susceptible to injury.

While the Chicago Bears will probably prefer to shore up the running back position before the draft, they would be much better off finding a compliment to Khalil Herbert there rather than taking a risk in signing Jacobs to a multi-year deal. He might be able to replicate his success this season, but the odds of him doing so are stacked against him. Chicago would be wise to stay far away from him in free agency.