Chicago Bears: 5 Inside linebackers to target in 2020 NFL free agency

With multiple Chicago Bears inside linebackers possibly hitting free agency, the front office has big decisions to make. If they decide to replace their players, here are five possible players to target via free agency.

The Chicago Bears have some big decisions to make. Free agency is almost here. The team has some holes to fill on the roster. Also, some of their players may hit free agency themselves.

One area where that can happen is at inside linebacker. The Bears had Roquan Smith and Danny Trevathan as the starters. Smith is still under contract but Trevathan could walk as a free agent. Additionally, his backup, Nick Kwiatkoski, is also a free agent.

The Bears could decide to bring both players back to keep the continuity on the defense. Kwiatkoski, however, stepped up in a big way in 2019 when Trevathan went down with an elbow injury. He played well enough to garner a starting level contract in 2020. Will it be with the Bears, though?

The Bears have several ways they could go — they could keep both (Trevathan as the starter), keep just Trevathan as the starter and let Kwiatkoski walk, or keep Kwiatkoski and let Trevathan walk.

Another choice is that the Bears allow both to walk away. I see this as unlikely, as the team wants to keep some continuity.

One note here: Kevin Pierre-Louis is also due to be a free agent but most expect the Bears to sign him. He also did a great job stepping in for Smith but he won’t be considered a starting-caliber player like Kwiatkoski. The question is what happens to the other two.

Trevathan could return at a bargain rate. His injury could turn teams away and restrict his market. The Bears could sign him to a team-friendly, short-term deal. Kwiatkoski could have several teams interested in his services after seeing his play in 2019. That could raise his value to a point the Bears won’t want to go.

In any case, here are five inside linebackers who the Bears could target in free agency should they need to replace one or more of their players.