The unofficial start of NFL free agency is just over 12 hours away. With general manager Ryan Poles already chipping away at key needs, the Bears’ objectives for the opening wave should be clear.
Free Agency Eve is upon us, and NFL fans around the league are gearing up with high hopes that their favorite team will make the “perfect” move(s). For the Chicago Bears, general manager Ryan Poles has already been hard at work addressing a few key needs before the start of the league’s “Legal Negotiation Period” that kicks off on Monday at noon Eastern time.
After the cuts of tight end Gerald Everett and defensive end Demarcus Walker, the Bears started last week with the third most cap space in the league. Following the (unofficial) trades for interior linemen Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney, there’s still plenty of room for Poles and the team’s front office to work. Despite a disappointing (5-12) finish to a 2024 season that began with high hopes, a strong offseason could have the Bears ready to contend for a playoff spot in 2025. Here’s how they can get there with the first offseason free agency domino.
Priority 1: Address Center and Edge Rusher on Monday
With money not being a factor, there’s no reason why the Bears can’t come out of the opening day with a veteran center and true No. 2 defensive end. First, we’ll start with the center market. On the surface, it’s not a strong group. Atlanta’s Drew Dalman and long-time Colt Ryan Kelly headline a weakened group. For the better part of a week, all signs have pointed to Dalman being a serious target in Chicago.
Even after the trade acquisitions of Jackson and Thuney. Frankly, it’s smart. Sure, adding a combined $45-$50 million per year on the interior offensive line isn’t ideal, but Jackson has two years remaining on his existing deal, and barring an extension, Thuney is set to be a free agent in 2026. Although the expectation is that Thuney will ultimately sign an extension, he’ll be playing the 2025 season at 33 years old. Drafting and developing offensive line talent is the best way to build a great unit, but the Bears don’t have the luxury and should be looking for a legitimate upgrade. Dalman’s rumored price tag could go as high as four years and $60 million (with a healthy guarantee), but that should not scare off Poles and company on Monday. If Dalman opts to take his services elsewhere, Kelly should become an immediate second option. The soon-to-be 32-year-old weighed retirement early in the offseason, but it appears he’s primed for one more run outside of Indianapolis. Despite not being a long-term option, he would be an immediate upgrade for a cheaper price and allow the Bears to draft and develop a center prospect in April’s draft.
As for edge rushers, Chicago has multiple options at different price points. If they want to swim in the deep end of the free agent pool, Josh Sweat, Khalil Mack, Malcolm Koonce, Chase Young, and Dayo Odeyingbo stand out as the most expensive options. Sweat is the best long-term play in this group but should command the most guaranteed money. Mack would make sense on a two-year deal, although his price tag could end north of $20 million annually. Koonce is coming off a lost year but might have the highest upside of any name in this group. However, questions about his size profile regarding fitting in Dennis Allen’s defense exist. Young is a popular name due to his former draft status, but he has not proven to be a consistent producer regarding getting after the quarterback. Odeyingbo has become quite a popular name around the league leading up to free agency. Pro Football Focus has him projected to receive a four-year deal at $16.5 million per year, but recent reports have indicated that he could be looking more in the $18-$20 million range. He profiles similar to Walker when it comes to versatility. The issue is that he has yet to eclipse the 10-sack-per-year mark in his four-year career.
If the price for a No. 2 pass rusher becomes too rich to justify, veterans such as Demarcus Lawrence, Z’Darius Smith, Charles Omenihu, or Joey Bosa could be had at a lesser commitment. Upside gambles like Patrick Jones, Joseph Ossai, and Chauncy Gholston could also be in play.
No matter how Monday plays out, the Bears have two primary areas that must be addressed with aggression and urgency. Finances shouldn’t be a factor, but filling these two needs would drastically open up their option in late April’s draft.
Ideal Outcome: C Drew Dalman and DE Josh Sweat
Impactful yet less exciting outcome: C Ryan Kelly and DE Khalil Mack.
Worst-case outcome: C Evan Brown and DE Patrick Jones
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Priority 2: Defensive Tackle and Wide Receiver Depth
Free agency should never be a primary tool to fix an ailing roster. In an ideal world, teams will use it to plug a few short-term holes and draft replacements to develop behind those free agents. Unfortunately for the Bears, they aren’t yet positioned to be selective, at least not in the opening round. Assuming they can find a way to land their targets at center and defensive end, their focus can shift to finding value within the market with role players.
This isn’t a good free agent class, and as Sunday has pressed on, more of the top names have continued to re-sign with their current teams. A Top-end talent rarely hits the market in a normal year, but this year, A and B-level free agents are being retained by their current teams. That means that the second wave of this week should be more focused on adding talent from the market’s strengths.
Luckily for the Bears, there’s plenty of veteran talent at defensive tackle. Although a name like Milton Williams would grab headlines, Chicago would be wise to wait out the initial wave of free agent signings and, instead, go bargain-hunting for a proven No. 3 option. Some of those names that could fit the bill include:
- Jonathan Allen
- Javon Hargrave
- Sheldon Rankins
- Maliek Collins
- Poona Ford
- Dre’Mont Jones
- Foley Fatukasi
- Teair Tartt
This defensive tackle pool is legitimately 20-25 players deep. The Bears need more depth, even after tendering RFA Chris Williams and ERFA Jonathan Ford. Ideally, Chicago would go into training camp with Williams and Ford fighting it out for the fifth and final spot, while a veteran listed above would create a quality rotation with a Day 2 rookie. This type of move shouldn’t cost the Bears much, and the longer they wait out in the market, the better deal they should get.
At receiver, fit will be key. Barring Tim Patrick re-signing in Detroit, it appears that he’ll be a top target for Chicago. As a third receiver, he was a quality role player for new head coach Ben Johnson’s offense last year. There aren’t many big names expected to hit the market, but adding speed could also be a priority for the Bears. Names like Elijah Moore, Rondale Moore, Dyami Brown, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling would fit the billing. None of these names should command much money, especially someone like Patrick. If they miss out on Patrick, former Lion Josh Reynolds could fill a similar void for an almost identical price. Like defensive tackle, this is not a move that needs to be made in the opening hours of free agency. Especially with DJ Moore and Rome Odunze at the top of the depth chart.
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Priority 3: Offensive Line Depth and A Former Dennis Allen Safety
Assuming the Bears get a center under agreement on Monday, the focus for the team’s offensive line will shift from the starting three on the interior to depth through free agency and the draft. Left Tackle Braxton Jones’ job should remain safe until the draft, especially with both Ronnie Stanley and Alaric Jackson not hitting the market. My early guess is that Day 2 and early Day 3 of the draft will be focused on drafting and developing interior offensive line talent.
For now, we’ll focus on veteran depth and maybe a name that is familiar with Johnson’s offense. Dan Skipper is a veteran who has stuck around in Detroit for some years and has become one of the primary targets for Johnson’s trick plays. Although he’s not a player that many teams would want filling in for a long time, he could bring some value regarding his knowledge of the offense and Johnson’s level of comfort with him as the team’s swing tackle. Other names that could fit the bill for a reasonable price:
- George Fant
- Kelvin Beachum
- Cornelius Lucas
- Kendall Lamm
- Joe Noteboom
Building quality depth should be a priority for Chicago, and adding a one-year contract with a proven vet at tackle could be a good place to start.
Shifting our focus back to the defensive side of the ball, call it a gut feeling, but Allen’s background as a defensive backs coach could push them to sign a veteran safety who is familiar with his defensive scheme. Luckily for the Bears, there are plenty of names out there that could be signed on cheap one-year pacts. Marcus Williams is someone I mocked to the Bears earlier this week, and I still believe he would be my top option. Although his time in Baltimore did not end well, he’s still just 28 years old and can provide quality insurance if Kevin Byard gets hurt or starts to show his age in training camp.
Other names with experience with Allen include Marcus Maye, Vonn Bell, and Will Harris. Williams will earn the most money in 2025 and provide the most upside. Maye has fizzled out after leaving New Orleans. As has Harris, Bell has been around the block a time or two. Johnson was in Detroit during Harris’ stint there, which is worth noting.
Either way, versatility and familiarity should be valued in the team’s safeties. Especially when considering Jaquan Brisker’s durability questions and Byard’s age.