Bears linked to four key free agents as camp nears |
Dustin Riese
· · 6 hours ago
It has been a while since there was this much excitement and anticipation leading into a Chicago Bears football season. Given that this is the part of the NFL offseason where there isn't a ton of news to follow, even the most casual football fan is starting to get stir-crazy as they would love for their favorite teams to do something.
Soon enough, training camp will be here, and when that happens, there will be plenty of storylines to follow both in camp and out of camp as all remaining free agents will then look to land on a team. Speaking of remaining free agents, four players in particular are still on the open market, and all four fit the mold for what the Bears are trying to build this season. Whether or not Chicago sees it the same way is a different topic, but should they surprise everyone and add one of these players, they will improve their roster even more than it has already been improved. The next step is to win games, which is something this coaching staff seems poised to do in 2025.
When you look at the needs, or at least the areas of concern, still on this team, the pass rush is still something that has questions. Sure, adding Dennis Allen as the team's defensive coordinator is going to help with that, but Montez Sweat is still the only proven pass rusher on this roster, and that is a concern. Judon could come into play as a late offseason acquisition, as he would give the Bears everything they need. Judon being linked to the Bears shouldn't be a surprise, as he was a rumored trade target in 2023, was mentioned as a free-agent fit last season, and here we are again. Could a third time be the charm? Chicago fans are hoping so, as you don't often have three shots to get a player as good as Judon. The four-time Pro Bowler is coming off a down season with the Falcons last year, but still put up 5.5 sacks, 7 TFLs, and 9 QB Hits. He could see an increase in production playing alongside Sweat, which alone would make this defense better.
Speaking of pass-rushing help, Za'Darius Smith is still on the market and has already been linked to the Bears on several occasions this offseason. As a member of the Lions last year, Smith has some experience with Ben Johnson as a coach, even if it wasn't in the same capacity as it will be this season. Smith has also played for every team, but the Bears in the NFC North, so why not add him to your roster to let him complete the NFC North? As long as Smith can stay healthy, which has been an issue at times, he is a player who should be able to get you close to double-digit sacks every season. A three-time Pro Bowler, Smith's best days are behind him at this point in his career, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't fit in well as a situational specialist who can get after the quarterback. Give him to Allen, and not only would he be put in great situations, but he would make life miserable for the opposing team in the offensive backfield.
Another name that has already been linked to the Bears this offseason is former Detroit Lions running back Jamaal Williams. Of all the players on this list, he makes the most sense as a late-summer addition given the Bears' concern with depth at the running backs position. Williams is also the only person on this list who has worked directly with Johnson, as he was his offensive coordinator for one season in Detroit. It just so happened that his one season in Detroit was also a career year for Williams, and you have to wonder how much of his success came from the scheme Johnson put in place. Williams split carries with D'Andre Swift that season, who the Bears also have, and yet he still went on to finish with 1066 yards and a team record 17 scores that season. Since then, Williams has rushed for 470 yards and scored two touchdowns in 27 games, so why not let him come back to Johnson to see if he can rediscover his magic?
Not only is Gilmore the most surprising name on this list for still being a free agent, but given the Bears' talent in the defensive backs room, he doesn't seem like a fit. While that is mostly true, the Bears don't have that veteran defensive presence in the secondary, which is what Gilmore can bring to the table. Set to enter his 14th season in the league, Gilmore spent last season with the Minnesota Vikings, where he finished the season with only one interception in 15 games. That is uncharacteristic for him, but he was still a valuable piece the secondary through the season. With 32 career interceptions, Gilmore ranks among the NFL's Active leaders in interceptions and is one of the more physical corners in the game. Even if his production isn't what it once was, adding a guy like him to this secondary room to not only mentor the young guys, but to add a physical presence, could be huge for this team.Matthew Judon
Za'Darius Smith
Jamaal Williams
Stephon Gilmore
