Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2018 22:26:59 GMT -6
Free agents the Bears can still sign this offseason
ByMatt Eurich 13 hours ago
The Chicago Bears have been among the most active teams in the entire NFL this offseason when it comes to improving the roster. General manager Ryan Pace acted quickly in free agency, adding new faces with tight end Trey Burton, wideouts Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel, kicker Cody Parkey, backup quarterback Chase Daniel and outside linebacker Aaron Lynch. He has continually added new talent to the roster in recent months and just because the Bears have a 90-man roster in place, that does not mean he will not stop looking to make additions if he thinks it can help improve the team.
According to Spotrac, the Bears sit with the sixth-most cap space in the NFL at around $27 million. The team still has not signed first-round pick Roquan Smith, so once he signs that number will dip just a bit. With that said, the team is still in a really good spot to sign veteran players this offseason if it wants to. Chicago could also spend some of that cap space on new deals for players like safety Adrian Amos and nose tackle Eddie Goldman as they enter the final years of their rookie contracts with the Bears.
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OLB Lamarr Houston
(Photo: Kamil Krzaczynski, USA TODAY Sports)
A reunion between Lamarr Houston and the Bears should not be out of the question this offseason. Houston was a bust of a free-agent signing for the organization when he came to the team in 2014. He was plagued by injuries at times with the team and was released before the start of last season. After appearing in five games for the Houston Texans he found himself back with the Bears for the final stretch of the year.
SLIDE 2 of 8
DB Ron Parker
Ron Parker (Photo: Denny Medley, USA TODAY Sports)
Back in 2015, Ron Parker visited the Bears as a free agent before re-signing with the Kansas City Chiefs. This offseason he was cut by the team. Chicago should feel good about their safety tandem of Adrian Amos and Eddie Jackson, yet there is not a lot of proven depth behind either of them. Parker began his NFL career as an undrafted free agent out of Newberry in 2011, eventually playing for the Seattle Seahawks, Oakland Raiders and Carolina Panthers before landing with the Chiefs.
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DE Karl Klug
(Photo: Phillip Pavely, USA TODAY Sports)
The need for depth along the defensive line is still a reality for the Bears. Akiem Hicks and Eddie Goldman are locks to make the roster, while rookie Bilal Nichols, Roy Robertson-Harris and Jonathan Bullard will provide depth. With little-proven depth at the position, Karl Klug should be an option.
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(Photo: Rob Carr, Getty)
Just like Houston, Connor Barwin would offer some experience at the outside linebacker position. A second-round pick of the Houston Texans in 2009, Barwin has played both outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme and defensive end in a 4-3 scheme. He capped off his 2017 season with 34 tackles and five sacks for the Los Angeles Rams. In his career he has racked up 354 tackles, 55.5 sacks, 40 pass deflections, one interception and six forced fumbles. He also went to the Pro Bowl in 2014.
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(Photo: Wesley Hitt, Getty)
The big question surrounding Jared Crick is his health. He missed all of last season after undergoing back surgery. A fourth-round pick of the Houston Texans in 2012 out of Nebraska, Crick has been a solid player along the defensive line in the NFL. Between 2012 and 2016 he recorded 199 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 19 pass deflections and three forced fumbles.
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(Photo: Icon Sportswire, Getty)
Luke Joeckel simply has not lived up to his billing in the NFL. The second overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M, the hope was for Joeckel to become the next great NFL left tackle. He spent four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars between 2013 and 2016 before playing one season with the Seattle Seahawks last season. In his career he has started a total of 50 games combined between left tackle and guard.
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(Photo: Derik Hamilton, USA TODAY Sports)
It's been an interesting offseason for Bashaud Breeland. A fourth-round pick of the Washington Redskins in 2014 out of Clemson, Breeland agreed to a free-agent deal with the Carolina Panthers this offseason before failing a physical. His contract was voided after a cut on his foot became infected. He is still looking for a new job in the NFL.
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(Photo: Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports)
Johnathan Hankins began his NFL career as a second-round pick of the New York Giants in 2013 out of Ohio State. As a rookie he appeared in 11 games and recorded just 16 tackles. The following year he started all 16 games for the Giants and ended the year with 51 tackles, seven sacks and three pass deflections. In 2015 he saw action in just nine games before tearing his pectoral. In 2016 he started all 16 games and finished the year with 43 tackles and three sacks.
Last year in Indianapolis as a 3-4 defensive end he saw action in 15 games, recording 44 tackles and two sacks. He is the type of player who could make an instant impact for the Bears this season.
ByMatt Eurich 13 hours ago
The Chicago Bears have been among the most active teams in the entire NFL this offseason when it comes to improving the roster. General manager Ryan Pace acted quickly in free agency, adding new faces with tight end Trey Burton, wideouts Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel, kicker Cody Parkey, backup quarterback Chase Daniel and outside linebacker Aaron Lynch. He has continually added new talent to the roster in recent months and just because the Bears have a 90-man roster in place, that does not mean he will not stop looking to make additions if he thinks it can help improve the team.
According to Spotrac, the Bears sit with the sixth-most cap space in the NFL at around $27 million. The team still has not signed first-round pick Roquan Smith, so once he signs that number will dip just a bit. With that said, the team is still in a really good spot to sign veteran players this offseason if it wants to. Chicago could also spend some of that cap space on new deals for players like safety Adrian Amos and nose tackle Eddie Goldman as they enter the final years of their rookie contracts with the Bears.
The Bears have done a nice job of filling holes on both sides of the ball both in free agency and in the draft, but there is nothing wrong with looking for improvements. The Bears could still use some help along the offensive line, the defensive line and in the secondary. Just below, Bears on 247Sports takes a look at available free agents who Chicago can still sign this offseason.
OLB Lamarr Houston
(Photo: Kamil Krzaczynski, USA TODAY Sports)
A reunion between Lamarr Houston and the Bears should not be out of the question this offseason. Houston was a bust of a free-agent signing for the organization when he came to the team in 2014. He was plagued by injuries at times with the team and was released before the start of last season. After appearing in five games for the Houston Texans he found himself back with the Bears for the final stretch of the year.
He appeared in five games with one start for Chicago, recording 10 tackles and four sacks. He turns 31 in late June but proved last year he can still make an impact. For a team like the Bears that lacks a lot of depth at the outside linebacker position, bringing back Houston should a least be considered an option for someone who understands how to be successful in coordinator Vic Fangio's defensive scheme.
DB Ron Parker
Ron Parker (Photo: Denny Medley, USA TODAY Sports)
Back in 2015, Ron Parker visited the Bears as a free agent before re-signing with the Kansas City Chiefs. This offseason he was cut by the team. Chicago should feel good about their safety tandem of Adrian Amos and Eddie Jackson, yet there is not a lot of proven depth behind either of them. Parker began his NFL career as an undrafted free agent out of Newberry in 2011, eventually playing for the Seattle Seahawks, Oakland Raiders and Carolina Panthers before landing with the Chiefs.
He has started all but two games the last four years for the Chiefs, racking up 300 tackles, six sacks, 40 pass deflections and seven interceptions during that time. If the price is right, having a backup like Parker on the roster could be a nice addition for the organization.
DE Karl Klug
(Photo: Phillip Pavely, USA TODAY Sports)
The need for depth along the defensive line is still a reality for the Bears. Akiem Hicks and Eddie Goldman are locks to make the roster, while rookie Bilal Nichols, Roy Robertson-Harris and Jonathan Bullard will provide depth. With little-proven depth at the position, Karl Klug should be an option.
A fifth-round pick of the Tennessee Titans out of Iowa in 2011, Klug has been a consistent contributor for the Titans. Earlier this year he was released by the team. In seven years he recorded 128 tackles, 21.5 sacks, eight pass deflections and five forced fumbles. He is not the type of player who is going to put up eye-popping numbers but he is a solid contributor who could find a role in this defense as a rotational player.
OLB Connor Barwin
Just like Houston, Connor Barwin would offer some experience at the outside linebacker position. A second-round pick of the Houston Texans in 2009, Barwin has played both outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme and defensive end in a 4-3 scheme. He capped off his 2017 season with 34 tackles and five sacks for the Los Angeles Rams. In his career he has racked up 354 tackles, 55.5 sacks, 40 pass deflections, one interception and six forced fumbles. He also went to the Pro Bowl in 2014.
Barwin would also add instant leadership to the Bears defense.
DE Jared Crick
The big question surrounding Jared Crick is his health. He missed all of last season after undergoing back surgery. A fourth-round pick of the Houston Texans in 2012 out of Nebraska, Crick has been a solid player along the defensive line in the NFL. Between 2012 and 2016 he recorded 199 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 19 pass deflections and three forced fumbles.
Crick has played primarily in a 4-3 scheme during his time in Denver, but the Bears are not always locked into a 3-man front in Fangio's scheme. Crick offers versatility because of his ability to make plays against the run and because he can apply pressure to the quarterback as a pass-rusher.
OL Luke Joeckel
Luke Joeckel simply has not lived up to his billing in the NFL. The second overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M, the hope was for Joeckel to become the next great NFL left tackle. He spent four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars between 2013 and 2016 before playing one season with the Seattle Seahawks last season. In his career he has started a total of 50 games combined between left tackle and guard.
Joeckel clearly has talent, or he would not have gone second overall, meaning he would at least be worth taking a look at this offseason, especially since the Bears have a lack of depth on the outside and brand new offensive line coach in Harry Hiestand.
DB Bashaud Breeland
It's been an interesting offseason for Bashaud Breeland. A fourth-round pick of the Washington Redskins in 2014 out of Clemson, Breeland agreed to a free-agent deal with the Carolina Panthers this offseason before failing a physical. His contract was voided after a cut on his foot became infected. He is still looking for a new job in the NFL.
In his four seasons with Washington he recorded 270 tackles, one sack, 60 pass deflections, eight interceptions and seven forced fumbles. A reliable nickelback, Breeland would add more competition to the position this offseason. The Bears feel good about Bryce Callahan and Cre'von LeBlanc at the position, but Breeland brings more consistency and experience to the position.
DT Johnathan Hankins
Johnathan Hankins began his NFL career as a second-round pick of the New York Giants in 2013 out of Ohio State. As a rookie he appeared in 11 games and recorded just 16 tackles. The following year he started all 16 games for the Giants and ended the year with 51 tackles, seven sacks and three pass deflections. In 2015 he saw action in just nine games before tearing his pectoral. In 2016 he started all 16 games and finished the year with 43 tackles and three sacks.
Last year in Indianapolis as a 3-4 defensive end he saw action in 15 games, recording 44 tackles and two sacks. He is the type of player who could make an instant impact for the Bears this season.
