Players the Bears Can Sign Who Won't Affect Compensatory Pick Hopes

The Chicago Bears have already done some good work in free agency to this point. They signed Cordarrelle Patterson to fix their kick return position. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Buster Skrine make for solid replacements after losing Adrian Amos and Bryce Callahan. However, even after their initial flurry of moves, GM Ryan Pace has lots of work to do. The team only has five draft picks for this offseason with little chances of gaining more unless they were to trade one or two players on the roster. While not impossible, it's feeling less likely. That is why it's expected they will continue to dabble in free agency looking for more help. They still have over $16 million in cap space, so they're not starved for funds. There is a problem though. As of now, it seems the losses of Amos and Callahan could procure a draft pick for the Bears in 2020. These are called compensatory picks. Teams acquire them dependent on a system that determines the value of free agents lost by the contracts they sign elsewhere. Since Amos and Callahan collected nice deals from Green Bay and Denver, it's looking like the Bears might have a shot at a 4th round comp pick next year. This would bring their total number of picks to eight. Nice idea, right? There's one problem. If the Bears keep spending in free agency, it's likely they won't get that pick. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wstq7C_dnKk

Chicago Bears free agency plan may shift to non-comp affected players

The simple way to explain the situation is as follows. If the Bears spent more money on unrestricted free agents, it will decrease the value of loss from Amos and Callahan. This means no draft pick depending on how far they go. Not an ideal scenario given how many roster spots they still have left to fill Luckily there is a way around this problem. Players who are not considered part of the compensatory formula are those who didn't become unrestricted free agents. In other words, players who were cut by teams this year. The Bears would be free to sign them at any price they wish without consequence to their hopes for that pick. Here are a few names that fall under this label.

Justin Houston (OLB)

The former All-Pro pass rusher had nine sacks in each of the past two seasons but the Kansas City Chiefs could no longer afford to pay his bloated salary cap number. At age 30 he was granted his release to seek a new home. Houston has strong connections to Bears head coach Matt Nagy back when he was the offensive coordinator for the Chiefs. The chance to pair him with Khalil Mack is certainly an appetizing idea. [video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/NFL-2017-video-2017-Free-Agents-Nick-Perry-highlights-Feb-24-2017.mp4"][/video]

Nick Perry (OLB)

A former 1st round pick of the Green Bay Packers, Perry has struggled through constant health problems most of his career. Yet he's still managed to find success. He had 11 sacks in 2016 and seven in just 12 games in 2017. His ability to hold up as a starter is not something teams will be excited about. However, he still has pass rush skill that is worth exploit if one can limit the number of hits his body takes.

Malik McDowell (DT)

The Bears could have depth concerns on their defensive line in the near future. Both Roy Robertson-Harris and Jonathan Bullard are in the final year of their deals. So the team may want to see if they can find some cheap alternatives who have upside. Malik McDowell was dealt a bad hand when the former Seahawks 2nd round pick crashed his ATV and received injuries that threatened both his life and career. He's finally healthy but it's too little too late in Seattle who waived him. The kid is 6'6 and nearly 300 lbs with tremendous length and athleticism. He has the sort of skill that if truly healthy would be worth a flier to explore.

Matt Bryant (K)

Remember that kicking spot? Yeah, that's still a thing for the Bears. Cody Parkey may be gone, but it doesn't solve the original problem. They don't have anybody who can give them a reliable kick in big games. Redford Jones? Chris Blewitt? They have never played in the NFL and weren't all that great in college. They look and feel like camp legs. Matt Bryant would at least be somebody with established credibility. There are definite red flags. He'll be 44-years old in May. He missed three games last season with injury. Still, he's consistently been one of the most accurate kickers in the NFL dating back to 2010. Over that span, he's hit 243 of 272 attempted field goal (89.3%)