Despite having a fat wallet to spend on free agency, don’t expect the Chicago Bears to go wild signing big names. They will likely make a lot of smaller signings. Here are some under-the-radar free agents they should target.
Well, the time is almost here. The new NFL league year is about a week away. There are huge expectations on the shoulders of Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles.
After signing a lot of second-rate players and having them play in important positions in 2022, Poles’ first season as general manager resulted in a 3-14 season.
While many considered that a failure, Poles put the Bears in a good situation. With the signings and shipping away key veterans, Chicago now has about $100 million in salary cap space. That is the most by far in the league. They also have the number one pick.
Chicago is primed to make a dent in this offseason. With the plethora of cap space, Poles can go after just about any free agent he desires. Will he go on a spending splurge and get a few big names, however?
Don’t expect Poles to do that. There are a lot of holes on this roster. Poles can sign a few big names but that will still leave gaping holes on the roster. He showed the discipline to stay with his plan last season despite the fans’ disapproval. He could do that once again this offseason.
There are plenty of second-level players Poles can sign and strengthen the roster. Remember the line from the movie The Perfect Game in which the catcher speaks to the Kevin Costner character’s drinking by saying “A bunch of little bottles of vodka equal one big bottle.”
That is what Poles should do. Signing a bunch of solid players who might not be elite will equal a strong team. Then Poles can use the draft to make the team even stronger.
Here are 10 under-the-radar targets the Chicago Bears should go after.
10 under-the-radar free agent targets for the Chicago Bears
Duke Riley, LB, Miami Dolphins
The Chicago Bears need some help at the linebacker spot. In 2022, they did not have much depth. There were a lot of inexperienced players backing up the starters.
Then the Bears traded away the best starter, Roquan Smith. He got into a contract dispute with the team and Poles ended up trading him for picks.
Nicholas Morrow moved over to the weak side and undrafted rookie Jack Sanborn took over the middle. However, Sanborn got injured and had his season cut short.
Now there is a question of whether Sanborn is starting material. Whoever starts, though, the Bears still need some depth.
Duke Riley won’t wow you on the field but he won’t make big critical mistakes either. He is a solid player who can play well in a rotation. That is what he did with the Miami Dolphins. He had 48 tackles and a sack. He made some impact as a substitute and on special teams.
Riley has the speed to go sideline-to-sideline and get to the ball carrier and make a play. Poles will still be looking at other linebackers to start but he’ll make the rotation more solid.
Alex Singleton, LB, Denver Broncos
The trend in the NFL is to have linebackers who play like safeties in coverage. However, there is still a need for good, downhill players who play well against the run.
Alex Singleton isn’t the best in pass coverage but he is an efficient defender who helps stop the run.
Singleton signed with the Eagles as an undrafted rookie in 2019. He signed a one-year deal with the Denver Broncos in 2022 and had a very good season. He had a career-high 163 tackles. Additionally, he had just seven missed tackles on a defense that ranked sixth in ESPN’s defensive efficiency rankings.
The Chicago Bears were horrible against the run. They ranked 31st in rushing yards allowed and last in rushing touchdowns allowed. This is something we aren’t used to seeing from the Bears’ defense. Singleton can step in and help improve that.
While he isn’t elite in pass coverage, he isn’t a liability. In 2022, he allowed only 5.5 yards per completion. Even when a pass is completed against him, the receiver will not get far after the catch against Singleton.
Moreover, Singleton is a player who has the ability to play all three linebacker positions. He will give the Bears great added depth and would be a good starter in a pinch. This would be a good signing that could help strengthen the defense.
Bobby McCain, CB, Washington Commanders
The Chicago Bears have solidified their cornerback position with Kyler Gordon and Jaylon Johnson. They still need a slot cornerback, however.
Bobby McCain can not only give defensive coordinator Alan Williams help at the slot but also at safety. Whenever a coach is able to move players around it gives him more choices and the defense more things to think about.
The Washington Commanders had to make difficult cuts in order to get under the salary cap. One of those moves was to cut McCain. That saved them $4.42 million.
McCain was the Dophins’ fifth-round pick in 2015. After the Dolphins released him in 2022, he signed with the Commanders.
McCain had a career-high 78 tackles in 2022. While he didn’t register an interception, he did have four of them in 2021. He has the ability to get to the ball and make plays. After a few seasons struggling to cause turnovers, the Bears did a better job of forcing them in 2022. McCain can help them further in that area.
McCain is a dependable player who also stays healthy. He has played in 121 games in his eight-year career, starting 87 of them. He played in every game in six of his eight seasons.
With Gordon and Johnson doing their thing, McCain can help make the Chicago Bears’ cornerback unit one of the strongest in the league.
Greedy Williams, CB, Cleveland Browns
It has been a disappointing four seasons for Greedy Williams and the Cleveland Browns. There were high hopes for him when the Browns selected him with the 46th overall pick in 2019. Things did not work out as planned, though.
In four seasons Williams played in only 39 games. He missed the entire 2020 season due to injury. He has 99 tackles and 2 interceptions in his career.
Perhaps a change of scenery could be what Williams needs. He has the length and quickness to stay with speedy receivers. He just has to finally put it all together.
Signing Williams to a low-cost deal and having him play well would be a great move for Poles. It could be a one-year “prove it” kind of deal. He could then prove it and have a big season. If it does not work out, it would not cost Poles or the Bears much. He is still just 25 years old so he can turn things around.
It doesn’t look like Williams will get another chance in Cleveland. They drafted cornerbacks in the 2021 and 2022 drafts so that room is crowded. They might not be willing to wait for Williams to break through when they already have others they feel more comfortable with.
There have been plenty of times in which former Chicago Bears players failed to live up to their promise in Chicago but then went on to shine on other teams. It would be nice to see the Bears get one this time.
Jermaine Eluemunor, OL, Las Vegas Raiders
As anyone who has seen any Chicago Bears game over the past few seasons, the team is in desperate need of an upgrade at the offensive line. There are a lot of big names available like Orlando Brown and Taylor Lewan. However, they will command big bucks.
Jermaine Eluemunor can have a big impact on the offensive line but without the hefty price tag. He could be the epitome of an under-the-radar signing. When people talk about the top free agent offensive linemen available they do not mention Eluemunor.
The six-year pro has played for three teams — the Baltimore Ravens, the New England Patriots, and the Raiders. Last season he had a career year. He played in 941 snaps and gave up just three sacks and 26 quarterback pressures. In 1,946 career snaps, he has given up just nine sacks and 53 pressures.
Eluemunor can provide the Bears with a quality right tackle, something they sorely lack. However, he is flexible enough to play other positions on the line. He has played 1,082 snaps at right tackle, 534 at right guard, 11 at left guard, and 296 at left tackle. As we’ve seen with Chicago, offensive linemen can go down and an offense needs to have options on the unit. Eluemunor gives them options and can be a big asset for the Bears’ offensive line.
Andre Dillard, OL, Philadelphia Eagles
We stay on the offensive line theme with Andre Dillard. The Philadelphia Eagles have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL. In addition to having elite starters, they have top-notch rotational help. The Eagles were able to run out nine quality offensive linemen against defenses. They were able to stay fresh and wear down the defense. In addition, by staying fresh they were able to protect quarterback Jalen Hurts and open holes for the running game. As a result, Hurts finished second in MVP voting and the Eagles’ running attack ranked fifth in yards.
Dillard was the Eagles’ first-round pick in 2019. Despite that, he has only started nine games for Philadelphia. He could be ready to start fresh somewhere else and become a bigger part of another offense. He is only 27 years old and ready to become a full-time starter.
Dillard has good footwork and mirrors pass rushers well. He also has good strength and is effective in the running game. The Bears led the league in rushing in 2022 so they can repeat that if the run blocking gets better.
Dillard played most of his time at the tackle spots. However, he played guard in a pinch in 2022. He showed that he could be able to play that spot. At any rate, as with the case with Eluemunor, the more positions he can play the better it will be for the Chicago Bears or any other team that is interested in him.
Isaac Seumalo, OL, Philadelphia Eagles
Here is more offensive line help for Fields and the Chicago Bears offense. Isaac Seumalo isn’t going to be talked about very much when free agent offensive linemen are mentioned. He will, however, be a great signing for whoever picks him up.
The Bears have Cody Whitehair and Teven Jenkins at the guard spots. At Whitehair’s age, he could be a surprise cut when the new year begins. Furthermore, while Jenkins found his footing at guard, he has suffered through a litany of injuries in his two seasons in Chicago.
Seumalo will be an instant upgrade at guard. He is an excellent run blocker, which will help the Bears continue their rushing success. In the passing game, he gave up just one sack and committed just six penalties in 2022.
In his career, Seumalo played every position along the offensive line. He can move around in a pinch. Also, he has the temperament that Poles covets in a lineman. He mentioned on a number of occasions how he wants tough, hard-working linemen with a nasty attitude. One of the first things he mentioned in his introductory press conference was how he was disappointed in how soft the line played. Seumalo helps change that.
Seumalo was another reason why the Eagles’ line was so good and deep in 2022. He could now be ready to take his talents elsewhere and shine with another team.
Arden Key, EDGE, Jacksonville Jaguars
One of the biggest problems with the Chicago Bears’ defense in 2022 was their inability to get to the quarterback. They ranked last in sacks and quarterback hurries and knockdowns.
Arden Key was the Raiders’ third-round pick in 2018. He didn’t live up to expectations, however. After three seasons, the Raiders let him go.
Key improved in the past two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville Jaguars. After only registering three sacks in his first three seasons, he has 11 in his last two.
After having the highest salary cap space in 2022, the Jaguars now have the second-lowest space. They are about $30.3 million over the cap. With a lot of money already invested in the defensive front (Travon Walker, Josh Allen, Folorunso Fatukasi, and Roy Robertson-Harris), it looks as if they cannot re-sign Key.
Key has been a very effective player. With the Niners in 2021, he only played in 35 percent of the snaps yet he recorded 6.5 sacks. In 2022, he only played in 41 percent of the snaps in Jacksonville. He still managed to record 4.5 sacks. He can be a great rotational player with the Bears. Any additional help they can receive will be terrific for them.
Devin Singletary, RB, Buffalo Bills
The Chicago Bears had the league’s best rushing attack in 2022. Much of it was due to quarterback Justin Fields’ historic running. However, the running backs unit still did a good job.
That unit may go through some changes, though. Starting running back David Montgomery is an unrestricted free agent. It doesn’t seem likely that the Bears re-sign him. They will need a replacement.
Poles may go to the draft to pick up a running back. However, the Bears use a running back-by-committee format. With Montgomery out of the picture, there won’t be a clear RB1. Khalil Herbert and Trestan Ebner will return so they will need one more player in the mix. The three can then attack defenses. With a better offensive line, they should continue to thrive.
Devin Singletary could be a great fit. He wasn’t flashy or elite with the Buffalo Bills but he was a solid player. He will not give you the explosive gains that other runners do, but he is consistent. He averaged 4.7 yards per rush in his four seasons with the Bills. In the last two seasons, he rushed for 12 touchdowns.
In the passing game, Singletary had 38 catches for 280 yards and a touchdown in 2022. Additionally, the Bills felt comfortable keeping him in as a pass blocker. Herbert has 153 receiving yards total in his career and has been woefully bad blocking for Fields.
In a perfect world, the Bears should do what they can to bring Montgomery back. We don’t live in that world, though, so replacing him with Singletary is a very good option. Montgomery’s market value is around $7.2 million per season. Singletary’s value is about $5.4 million. He will help keep the rushing attack strong.
Eric Saubert, TE, Denver Broncos
The Chicago Bears had a horrible tight ends unit in 2022. Sure, Cole Kmet had himself a breakout season. He had 50 catches for 544 yards and 7 touchdowns. He was the only productive tight end the Bears had, though.
The other tight ends, Ryan Griffin, Trevon Wesco, and Jake Tonges combined for 6 catches and 52 receiving yards.
The Bears have to change that in 2023.
The tight end is likely a spot that Poles goes after via the draft. However, the unit needs quality depth.
Eric Saubert could be a great fit with the Bears. He is the type of player Poles wants — he isn’t elite in any one area but is solid in everything he does. While he won’t be a pass catcher, he can make some catches to take some pressure off of Kmet. Additionally, he is a good pass blocker and could help open holes for the running game and assist the offensive linemen. He will also give the Bears another good special teams player.
No, Saubert won’t be lighting it up for the Bears. Sometimes, however, signing players as backups can be almost as important as signing a quality starter. Saubert is a solid player who can play enough to give Kmet some rest throughout the season. That, in turn, keeps Kmet fresh and strong down the stretch, and able to continue to make big plays.
On the surface, some of these signings are not very sexy. Some fans might be disappointed in them, in fact. However, if Poles makes several of these signings together it could really strengthen the roster.
We’ve seen for several decades how the Chicago Bears have gone the way of signing some big-name stars while still leaving the rest of the roster with holes. We saw how bad that approach was. Now we have to see how Poles’ approach to building a complete team works.