The Chicago Bears have plenty of decisions to make on free agents as the period is going to open in a couple of weeks. While the team is most likely going to move on from the majority of their free agents, there are going to be a few that they would like to retain. Which Bears are most likely to be back next year?
4. The Chicago Bears will not let Jaylon Johnson leave in free agency
There is one player that the Chicago Bears simply will not let Jaylon Johnson, leave in free agency. Whether it be the franchise tag or an extension, the Bears will not let him onto the open market. Now, there is one scenario where he does not return to the Bears. However, that would be with the team franchise tagging him and then trading him.
Still, it starts with the tag and him not hitting the market. The two more likely options would be Johnson getting tagged and staying with the team or Johnson signing an extension before or after getting tagged.
Johnson entered the year with questions about his value and how much he would earn on an extension. However, a second-team All-Pro honor meant that the Bears were going to have to pay him elite money.
The franchise tag is the worst case for both sides but also the most likely. That is because if the two sides do not come together, it is what has to happen. Johnson will hold out for every last dollar and will want the most guaranteed money. The Bears will be saying that Johnson only did it for one year, and while he deserves top-five money, it cannot be franchise-changing money.
So, the Bears will tag him, which Johnson will not like because it does not bring long-term money, and the Bears will not love it because it ties up their cap space without the chance to push it into further years.
3. The Chicago Bears could re-sign Equanimeous St. Brown
This one will be an interesting debate but will not have nearly the ramifications of the Jaylon Johnson decision. Still, there is at least a chance that St. Brown will return when so many others have slim to no chance at all.
Equanimous St. Brown has been with the Bears for two years now. The initial thought is that he signed here because he was familiar with Luke Getsy and would leave now that Getsy is gone. However, there is reason to think he stays.
St. Brown does everything you need from a fourth and fifth wide receiver. It is less about the big plays and more about playing your role as a blocker and teammate. Also, it is about special teams. St. Brown excels in all of these areas.
When you look at the Bears wide receiver depth chart, they currently just have D.J. Moore, Velus Jones, and Tyler Scott signed. Jones has been a proven bust, and Scott joined Jones as a player struggling to get on the field over St. Brown last year.
So, even if the Bears drafted a high-end wide receiver and pushed Tyler Scott into the slot to be the Darnell Mooney replacement, they would still need a fourth and potentially fifth wide receiver when you consider Jones should hardly be active. So, the Bears could re-sign St. Brown, knowing that he can be a depth option.
2. Will the Chicago Bears re-sign Justin Jones?
The decision for the Chicago Bears to sign Justin Jones or let him walk will be interesting. First, the Bears drafted two defensive tackles, Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens, knowing that Jones would likely be gone this year. They wanted to upgrade with youth.
However, through their rookie years, neither were able to push Jones off of the field. Jones did not have a great year, either, so there is a question of how much Pickens and Dexter can bring next year, especially Pickens.
More than that, with those two and Andrew Billings, they will want to bring in a fourth defensive tackle.
Jones likes what the Bears are building. Would it be smart for him to sign for a bit less to be a role player rather than the starter that he was this year? Or should he look to maximize his value on the open market? Do the Bears trust Dexter and Pickens to be better than Jones this year? Or would they feel better running the same group back?
1. Will the Chicago Bears re-sign Dan Feeney after trading for him?
Dan Feeney is going to be a free agent this year. This is not much of a big deal when you consider the team has had him for one season, and he played just 90 this year. He played 40 snaps in an emergency situation in week ten and then played 47 snaps as a starter in a meaningless week 18 game against the Green Bay Packers. So, it will not change much whether he stays or goes.
However, if we are looking at free agents most likely to stay, it is him. First, Ryan Poles traded for him. While he is still building the roster in his name, this is someone he went out of his way to acquire. It would make the trade look better if the team kept him.
More than that, while he did not play much, the team has not asked him for much, either. When they did ask him to play, he did not disappoint. As a depth piece who can play both guard spots and center, this is a player worth signing for a low price.
Lastly, if you look at the center depth chart, it is him if they re-sign him. Lucas Patrick was not on this list, and Cody Whitehair is likely to be cut soon. So, they need to find a center. They will draft one, sign one, or both. However, they need a backup. Do they want to go out of their way for that, or do they trust Feeney as a cheap, reliable backup center?