5 players that could surprisingly be an option for the Bears in free agency
Tuesday’s deadline came and went, and the Chicago Bears did indeed place the franchise tag on cornerback Jaylon Johnson.
However, for fans worried about the tag, they shouldn’t be. Ryan Poles has remained steadfast in his stance that the two sides are going to reach a long-term deal.
As for the rest of the league, some notable tags that were handed out include: Mike Evans, Justin Madubuike, L’Jarius Sneed and Tee Higgins.
But, what about the guys who weren’t given the tag? Calvin Ridley is one of them, although we’re not going to talk about him on this list. There are some guys who would fill a key need for the Bears if Chicago was able to sign them. Let’s go through five, in particular.
1. Chris Jones, DT
The Kansas City Chiefs and their fan base love Chris Jones, and of course they’d like to have him back. There are rumors the two sides continue to talk about a long-term deal, but Jones will also get to test free agency if there’s no deal reached by next Monday.
For a Bears defense needing to add another big-time playmaker up front, Jones would fit the bill. He plays with a nasty demeanor and is excellent in both rushing the passer from the interior and playing the run.
If you added Jones to this defense, the Bears would only further cement themselves as a top-10 unit going into the 2024 season.
2. Saquon Barkley, RB
The Houston Texans seem to be the current favorite to land running back Saquon Barkley after the Giants opted not to place the franchise tag on him, but there are those out there who believe Chicago is also a great fit.
Do the Bears need a starting running back? Not necessarily. This is a team that’s been able to finish tops in the league in rushing with a myriad of backs over the last couple of years. Because the Bears are simply committed to running the football, it hasn’t mattered if it’s been Khalil Herbert, D’Onta Foreman, Roschon Johnson or of course David Montgomery before he ultimately left. Chicago is going to run it and run it consistently.
Barkley, though, is a different breed. He’s one of the better all-around backs in football and brings a different element to the offense. His breakaway ability, especially after the catch, is so dynamic. His vision is top tier. He’s able to make plays down field better than most. Imagining the Bears with Barkley in the back field and Caleb Williams under center is quite the picture.
Don’t look at his numbers from last year and take them too seriously, either. New York’s offensive line was in shambles and they have nothing around Barkley in terms of quarterback play or even wide receiver help.
3. Xavier McKinney, S
One of the spots the Bears need to address either early in the draft or via free agency is the vacancy left by Eddie Jackson. And, it surely isn’t going to be filled by Elijah Hicks. The Giants also had an opportunity to place the franchise tag on safety Xavier McKinney, but they opted not to, in the end.
As far as free agency fits go, McKinney to the Bears might be one of the best future marriages we could see happening. The former Alabama standout and second-round pick is just 25 years old and coming off a season which saw him earn an astonishing coverage grade of 91.2 from Pro Football Focus.
Filling a hole left by Jackson, McKinney would bring a whole lot more to the table that’s been missing. Jackson often found himself beaten in the open field and his tackling had been suspect over the last couple of years. McKinney, though, is much better in coverage and would allow Jaquan Brisker to do his thing closer to the line of scrimmage.
McKinney and Brisker could combine to make one heck of a safety duo, and overall, this secondary would be one of the better young groups in all of football.
4. Christian Wilkins, DT
Another defensive tackle the Bears could have a shot at is Miami Dolphins stud Christian Wilkins. The Dolphins would love to have him back, but Miami is also in a tough spot when it comes to the salary cap this offseason. At the moment, they are $31.6 million in the negative, per Over the Cap. That makes things especially dicey when Wilkins’ projected market value is $20.2 million annually.
In Chicago, Wilkins would help further transform the defense that improved drastically over the second half of the 2023 season. He’s an interior lineman, but incredibly disruptive as a pass rusher from that spot. Last year, Wilkins totaled a career-high 9.0 sacks and notched another career-high with 23 quarterback hits.
The former first-round pick is 28 years old and appears right in the thick of his prime. What might be most impressive about Wilkins is the fact that he’s started every single game over the last three seasons, playing in all 17 contests each of the past three years. He’s been reliable, and they say the best ability is, indeed, availability. Wilkins is as dependable as they come.
5. Kyle Dugger, S
This last one is an interesting situation, because the New England Patriots placed the transition tag on safety Kyle Dugger. It’s different than the franchise tag in that Dugger still gets an opportunity to speak with other teams as though he was a free agent.
The biggest difference is, though, that New England has the right to match any deal offered to him by another team. So, if the Bears viewed Dugger as one of their top targets, they’d have to go hard after him in hopes that they make a steep enough offer and the Patriots decide not to match.
The Bears are also in a tough spot if they’re trying to outbid the Patriots, because New England has the most cap space in the NFL right now at over $100 million freed up.
Dugger would be an interesting fit in Chicago, though, next to Jaquan Brisker. He’s a do-it-all safety who is better suited in run defense rather than dropping back into coverage. Still, with Brisker and Dugger, you’d have a pair of guys who play extremely physical football and aren’t afraid of contact.
Last season, Dugger racked up a career-high 109 tackles, plus tallied seven passes defensed, a pair of interceptions and five quarterback hits. His projected market value sits at $16.5 milliion annually.
