Chicago Bears: 3 Players to sign before Week 1 matchup vs. Rams

With days before the season opener in Los Angeles, the Chicago Bears have several holes and should consider signing these players to help fill the gaps.

The 2021 NFL season will kick off on Thursday, but the Chicago Bears will wait till Sunday night to embark on their journey. However, the roster they currently boast has several holes, some of which can be filled right away with a simple phone call and putting pen to paper.

However, it’s not that easy. Given their current salary cap space and the amount needed to sign important players down the line, including Roquan Smith and James Daniels, the options are limited while the questions are mounting. Nevertheless, it’s never too late to correct a mistake, or in this case, attempt to correct it.

The Bears have several positions that need attention, not all of which can be addressed before Carrie Underwood’s intro in SoFi Stadium. However, the Rams, a team considered Super Bowl contenders, have a familiar face at quarterback in Matthew Stafford. Meanwhile, for Chicago, they have Andy Dalton — instead of Justin Fields.

All of that said, here are three players that Chicago should be hammering their phones for to have them on their roster in time for the season opener.

3. The Chicago Bears defensive line could use Kawann Short

At first glance, signing a defensive lineman when the position is a strength in Chicago doesn’t make sense. However, behind Akiem Hicks and Bilal Nichols, the depth is rather, well, not deep. Hence, the need for a player that may be young and vital or have the veteran cache to make the roster. The latter traits belong to one Kawann Short, a defensive tackle with credentials and name recognition.

Short has earned Pro Bowl honors twice in his career and has racked up over 30 sacks. Recently, he’s had to deal with a fair share of injuries, but when on the field, he is a productive player and one the Bears could use immediately as a versatile piece to keep the opposing offensive line on their toes.

While Short won’t enter the starting lineup right away, unlike a future name on this list that would be a starter on Day 1, he most certainly would be inserted into the rotation right away from Day 1 and provide a boost to the Bears defensive line. This game will always be about establishing the line of scrimmage, and having a stable arsenal on the front allows everything else to fluctuate.