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

Reggie Ragland (Age: 26)

If the Chicago Bears decide to bring Trevathan back, they’ll need a good backup. Reggie Ragland is that player.

Ragland is probably still celebrating the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl win from earlier this month. He could turn around and help another team win and play on an elite defense in the process.

Ragland was productive when he was on the field. He recorded 30 tackles (four tackles for loss), 10 quarterback pressures and two sacks.

Ragland is a downhill linebacker who likes to lay out hits. He’ll do well against the run and rushing the quarterback but his coverage skills aren’t his forte. He is in the situation Kwiatkoski was in — good, hard worker who gives it his all but is a bit limited. Kwiatkoski changed that narrative in 2019 and perhaps Ragland could do the same playing on this defense.

The Chiefs have about two dozen potential free agents and they are in the process of signing quarterback Patrick Mahomes to the richest deal in NFL history. That means they’ll likely let someone like Ragland walk.

Ragland has plenty of experience as a starter. He started 32 of the 42 games he’s played. Again, his coverage skills hurt him. He started in seven games in 2019 and performed well in those games. He can step up in a pinch, like what Kwiatkoski did.

Kwiatkoski was a liability in coverage but that liability didn’t come to happen when he played in 2019. Perhaps the other great players had a hand in that and perhaps Ragland could be the beneficiary of that as well.