There was a mass panic among Chicago Bears fans after the first day of NFL free agency. While other teams were making big, headline news with their signings, they were left sitting around waiting. Their team had promised to come out swinging. They had plenty of salary cap space and a growing young core of intriguing talent. Yet time after time it looked like they were stymied.
In the space of just 24 hours the entire fan base went from hopeful to the near launch of an uprising. One of the most important days of the year and all they get is a pricey contract for an unproven former backup quarterback. Thankfully things began to calm down by the second and third days. Quality additions at decent prices began to show up, bringing people back to sanity.
Amidst this haul of new bodies, people may not be noticing an odd trend. Not so much about the players being added or the positions they play. More it's about the positions they don't play. Intentional or not, this minor revelation could have major implications about what Chicago has planned next month in Philadelphia.
Pace said during his introductory press conference for the new additions to the roster that his mission remained unchanged since he took over the team. Free agency wasn't going to be how he fixed the roster. Instead it would be used as a tool to fill up some notable needs with reasonably priced talent so the Bears could then take the absolute best player available. Not a bad idea. It certainly worked last year, allowing them to secure Leonard Floyd, Cody Whitehair and Jordan Howard.
However, when looking at the list of notable additions the team has made in free agency thus far, it's hard not to speculate about what it could mean for their draft plans. Here is why. Below is the full list of unrestricted free agents they've added since the league year opened.
- Mike Glennon (QB)
- Markus Wheaton (WR)
- Kendall Wright (WR)
- Dion Sims (TE)
- Prince Amukamara (CB)
- Marcus Cooper (CB)
- Quintin Demps (S)
How could this be possible? Outside of Akiem Hicks, who was superb in 2016, the team has a lot of question marks up front. Eddie Goldman can't stay healthy. Cornelius Washington left for Detroit. Jonathan Bullard had a quiet rookie year. Mitch Unrein turns 30 this year. Ego Ferguson hasn't played since 2015. How could they not believe adding help there is paramount? The answer is simple. Odds are they already plan to address that position early in the draft. Really early. As in #3 overall pick early. Why should one believe that? Simple nature of their roster and now the first round outlook. Barring a drastic change, the Cleveland Browns are going to take Myles Garrett #1 overall. After that expectations are the San Francisco 49ers will take a quarterback at #2. Not surprising since Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley are their only options at the moment. Then it comes to the Bears, and the near consensus across the draft community is that the strength of talent inside the top five picks lay on the defensive line. This is thanks to the presence of two main prospects: Jonathan Allen of Alabama and Solomon Thomas of Stanford. They have both emerged as two of the most well-rounded and complete players in the entire class. Instant starters on any team who takes them. Just read what NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein had to say about them.
Allen
"Outstanding leader and athlete with an ability to rush the passer from outside or inside. Has produced against the run and pass thanks to his strength, agility, elite hand usage, and plus footwork. He might not be the cleanest fit inside as a full-time tackle for some teams, but his talent should trump any size concerns. Allen is a likely first-round selection with Pro Bowl potential down the road."
Thomas
"Explosive defender who combines strength, quickness, and a muscle-car motor to drive him around the field making play after play. Has the hands and feet to be a quick-win specialist and the size to fit as a 4-3 or 3-4 defensive end who can reduce inside for pass-rush downs. He has all the athletic traits to become a high-impact player and possesses more than enough skill and talent to believe he will continue to elevate his game as a pro. Thomas has the potential to become the best defender from this draft class and a future all-pro."It's a foregone conclusion that one of these two guys will be available when the Bears pick, even if San Francisco ends up going away from quarterback for one of them. It is also public knowledge that Chicago is keeping close tabs on at least one of them. They met with Allen at both the Alabama pro day and again in a private meeting.
Allen reportedly had shoulder problems during his early college career. He was recently diagnosed with arthritis in both. Teams were concerned this might affect his ability to perform long-term. Allen quickly dismissed the idea. Doctors informed him the problems wouldn't arise until after his career was long over. If he's healthy, there is no question he could be a huge benefit to the Bears front seven.
One must assume the Bears will take a long look at Thomas as well. Some believe he has an even higher ceiling thanks to his standout athletic traits. His singular domination of the Sun Bowl a few months ago was his coming out party. A Chicago-native, he displays a singular relentlessness that often makes up the most effective linemen that play in the NFL.
The point of it all being this. Unless the Bears sign more defensive line help in the next few weeks, or they trade down from #3, every sign points to them drafting one of the two best defensive linemen on the board when the clock starts in April. John Fox knows his job is on the line. He also knows his greatest career successes were built around dominant front sevens. It may be he sees one of these two men as the final piece to the puzzle.
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