Why fans shouldn't be mad about a lackluster free agent haul for the Chicago Bears

CBS Sports this week graded every NFL team's free agency pick-ups and they weren't very kind to the Chicago Bears. They gave the Bears a "D" for their offseason signings so far. From CBS Sports: They were betting big on DT Larry Ogunjobi's continued development, committing $13.5M per year to the ex-Bengals starter before a […]

Zach Ragan — Tennessee Volunteers News Writer
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Chicago Bears

CBS Sports this week graded every NFL team's free agency pick-ups and they weren't very kind to the Chicago Bears.

They gave the Bears a "D" for their offseason signings so far.

From CBS Sports:

They were betting big on DT Larry Ogunjobi's continued development, committing $13.5M per year to the ex-Bengals starter before a failed physical killed the deal. They still have big holes to fill at key spots, from WR to pass rusher.

Mar 18, 2022; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Nicholas Morrow speaks to the media as he has agreed to a free agent contract with the Chicago Bears. He played for the Las Vegas Raiders last year. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2022; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Nicholas Morrow speaks to the media as he has agreed to a free agent contract with the Chicago Bears. He played for the Las Vegas Raiders last year. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

The article, which was published on Saturday morning, criticized Chicago for not addressing the wide receiver position, even though the Bears signed wide receivers Byron Pringle and Equanimeous St. Brown on Friday.

They also criticized Chicago for the Larry Ogunjobi debacle (he failed his physical and won't be signed), but they neglected to mention that the Bears immediately signed defensive lineman Justin Jones in response.

Those obviously aren't blockbuster moves, but if CBS is going to criticize the Bears this harshly, they should at least get their facts straight.

Here are the moves CBS chose to highlight.

  • OL Lachavious Simmons (1 year)
  • Packers OG Lucas Patrick (2 years, $8 million)
  • Raiders LB Nicholas Morrow (1 year, $3 million)
  • LS Patrick Scales (1 year, $1.12 million)

If you look at these moves out of context, it looks like a poor offseason for the Bears. But context is extremely important here.

The Bears aren't gearing up to compete for a Super Bowl in 2022. General manager Ryan Poles has a long-term plan. He's making the roster better this season with minor improvements that won't hamper the franchise's long-term financial flexibility.

Chicago will go into next offseason in a prime position to make big signings. Poles isn't going to sacrifice 2023 and 2024 with unwise moves in 2022.

Could this make for a tough 2022 season? Certainly. But if fans will remember that the 2022 season is about creating a new culture and building for the future, then it'll make a likely tough season a lot easier to handle.

Trust the process. I'm sure Poles would love to have a lot of big-name free agents added to the roster this offseason. But the salary cap, despite what some folks say, is real. And Poles has to get that under control before he can build a Super Bowl contender.

Featured image viaJeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

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