NFL analysts suggests best free agent fits for the Bears, and best fits for two of their top pending free agents set to depart from Chicago
The Chicago Bears are slated to have a busy offseason given the sense of urgency within the organization and the amount of assets at the team's disposal.Ryan Poles and the rest of the front office will likely go big game hunting in free agency to rebuild the offensive line in front of quarterback Caleb Williams […]
The Chicago Bears are slated to have a busy offseason given the sense of urgency within the organization and the amount of assets at the team's disposal.
Ryan Poles and the rest of the front office will likely go big game hunting in free agency to rebuild the offensive line in front of quarterback Caleb Williams and then address the remaining roster holes as needed.
The Bears have a few pending free agents to consider bringing back too, although the top two might be landing a new deal elsewhere. On Tuesday, ESPN's Matt Bowen listed his Top-50 free agents and the best fits for each player. He had two free agents linked to Chicago and two pending free agents linked to other teams on the list.
Best Fits For The Bears
Trey Smith
This is easily the Bears' top target this offseason. There's plenty of connections between Trey Smith and the Bears and Chicago seems to be willing to pay high dollar in order to land him. The question becomes, will he hit free agency?
The Chiefs would love to have Smith back if possible and could be willing to use the rare transition tag in order to make it happen. But, the Bears would still be able to fight for him even if Kansas City goes down that road. Either way, he's on their radar.
"The top interior lineman on the market, Smith would upgrade a critical position of need in Chicago. Smith is a powerful mover in the run game, as his run block win rate of 75.1% ranked sixth among guards. Plus, he has the foot speed to mirror interior defenders and the strength at 6-6 and 321 pounds to anchor against bull rushes." – ESPN's Matt Bowen
Landing the second-ranked free agent in the league at such a critical position of need would prove the Bears are willing to do whatever it takes to turn this franchise around.
Drew Dalman
As for addressing the hole at center, the Bears are once again linked to the top free agent option at the position in Drew Dalman.
Dalman was the 26th-ranked free agent on Bowen's list and should command a really strong free agent market despite missing time in 2024 due to an ankle injury.
"Let's also put Dalman — the top center in free agency — next to Smith. Dalman wins his assignments with movement and leverage to offset a smaller frame (6-3, 300 pounds). He's a technician on the tape, best suited for the zone run game, and his pass block win rate of 95.1% ranked ninth among centers with at least 500 snaps." – Bowen
Landing either Smith or Dalman would be huge for the Bears. Landing both would be an absolute home run to kick off the offseason.
Best Fits For Bears Pending Free Agents
Teven Jenkins -> New York Giants
This bridge seems to be long gone between the Bears and left guard Teven Jenkins, which is unfortunate given the player he's proven to be on the field. The problem has been actually getting him to suit up consistently.
Jenkins' career has been plagued with injuries and the Bears are tired of dealing with the constant in and out at the position. Bowen has Jenkins landing with the Giants and moving back to right guard, a position he played at during the 2022 season.
"The Giants could fill their right guard vacancy with Jenkins, a 2021 second-round pick for Chicago. Drafted as a tackle, Jenkins has had multiple injuries in his career, as he has played in only 38 of a possible 68 career games. However, he has the tools to drive defenders off the ball in the run game and he had a pass block win rate of 92.0% last season." – Bowen
Jenkins will get his opportunity to land a solid contract with the Giants and get a fresh slate in New York while the Bears move on and search for his replacement up-front.
Keenan Allen -> Los Angeles Rams
Like Jenkins, it's looking more and more unlikely by the day that Keenan Allen returns to Chicago in 2024. Even if Allen's tenure with the Bears was one year, it was still worth a fourth-round pick for a guy who led the team with seven touchdowns.
Allen is expected to have a pretty strong market in a relatively dry wide receiver pool, but he's going to be 33-years-old next season and on the decline. As for his potential suitor, Allen expressed his desire to return to Los Angeles if he's not back with the Bears, but Bowen has another L.A. team in mind.
"Returning to Chicago is an option for Allen, but with the Rams expected to trade Cooper Kupp this spring, there is an opportunity for Allen in Los Angeles. In Sean McVay's offense — which uses movement and alignment to get wide receivers free access off the ball — Allen could operate as the No. 3 option out of the slot." – Bowen
Landing with the Rams and working with Sean McVay would be great for Allen's final run of his Hall of Fame career. And it would also give someone to entice quarterback Matthew Stafford to stay in Los Angeles if the Rams move on from Cooper Kupp.
