Bears could add more pieces to bolster defense after 6-3 start |
Dustin Riese
· · 2 hours ago
Coming off another win, the Chicago Bears have officially surpassed their win total from a season ago and have improved to 6-3 this season. With that, Chicago has moved ahead of the Green Bay Packers in the NFC North.
To say the Bears have been impressive would be an understatement, but aside from their record, this team continues to play inconsistently from game to game. That can't happen at this point in the season, but at the same time, it gets you excited for what is to come, as no one knows how good this team can and will be should they become a more consistent team. Despite not making many moves at the deadline, the Chicago Bears went out to make arguably the best in-season signing of the season when they grabbed CJ Gardner-Johnson off the free agent market. You already saw the impact he made this past week as he came away with a sack and a forced fumble, as he showed the entire world he has plenty of football left in the tank. Gardner-Johnson may not be the only in-season move the Bears make, as Asante Samuel Jr is expected to be at Halas Hall today for a workout with the Bears. Depending on how that workout goes, he could wind up with the Bears in the near future, which would give them two huge pieces in the secondary that they didn't have before. That aside, Ryan Poles has been very active on the free agent market, and with the Trade Deadline well in the past, he will continue to go through the waiver market for some in-season help. Taking practice squad players out of the mix as they are seen more as depth pieces than anything, several quality free agents remain on the market, and if the Bears play their cards right, they could add another big name to help with the stretch run of the regular season. While there may be some excellent offensive free agents available, that doesn't appear to be an area of concern, which has to be music to most fans' ears. Instead, it's the defense, particularly the secondary and the pass rush, that remain a question, as the Bears could be in a position to make one more splash before the season ends. If the pass rush is still an area the Bears are looking to fix, Shaq Barrett remains an option as he was linked to the Bears this offseason. However, he may be on the back end of his career with his best days behind him. Barrett is still a two-time Pro Bowler and someone who would still make a difference with a lesser role. Bring Barrett to Chicago with a snap count limit and the Dennis Allen coaching, and not only could Barrett thrive, but you could be looking at a player who could be an X-Factor as the weather gets colder. You add him alongside Montez Sweat and Austin Booker, and suddenly the Bears have three players who can get after the quarterback, which they haven't had in years. As necessary as the pass rush is for this team, Chicago could still use some help in the trenches, which is where Christian Wilkins comes into play. Another player linked to the Bears over the past two seasons, Wilkins, signed a massive four-year contract ahead of the 2024 season, but wound up getting cut just one season into that deal due to character issues more so than skill. That alone isn't something any team wants to hear, but should Wilkins have learned his lesson and is willing to prove himself, why not come to Chicago to improve the team's interior push? Adding him to this defense would not only help solidify stopping the run in the middle, but he is one of the rare interior linemen who can get after the quarterback at will. Chicago hasn't had a player like that since Akiem Hicks, and you saw the type of impact he made for this defense. At this point, it doesn't appear that anyone is interested in him, but at the very worst, he may be worth the call to see what his plans are. As mentioned, Chicago is still pursuing secondary help, which is why Samuel is coming in for a workout. Chicago would be wise not to let him leave without a contract, but given the number of teams Samuel has worked out for, Chicago will have plenty of competition for his services. That is where James Bradberry and Stephon Gilmore come into play, as both of them are proven veterans looking for a job. Gilmore is another player linked to the Bears this offseason and is coming off a strong showing with the Vikings in 2024, following several strong years with the Patriots and Cowboys. That alone proved that, aside from age, Gilmore still has something in the tank and would be a great addition to this team. Bradberry, on the other hand, is a little bit younger than Gilmore, but given his experience with the Eagles among the teams he has played for, you would be getting an experienced vet who knows how to win in the postseason. Since coming into the league with the Carolina Panthers in 2016, Bradberry has been one of the more underrated corners in the game despite coming away with 19 career interceptions. He would provide the Bears with another veteran presence to pair with Gardner-Johnson, while also adding another body to the defense to help keep some of the younger players fresh. Throw in Kyler Gordon, and if Jaylon Johnson were healthy, Chicago would have one of the best, if not the best, secondaries in the game, making them a real threat in the NFC. Another interesting free agent option that has been mentioned as the perfect fit for Chicago is Miles Killebrew. The 32-year-old safety began his career with the Lions before making the move to the Steelers and, most recently, the Browns. Killebrew didn't actually play for the Browns, as they granted him his release and have since been looking for a new home on the market. What makes him an intriguing option for the Bears is that his best days came during his time with the Steelers, where he was a two-time bowler for his special teams ability. For a team like Chicago, which ranks near the bottom of the league in kick yards allowed, Killebrew would help solve that issue, thus fixing another hole this team has.
