Ryan Poles has said he will not use free agency to build the Chicago Bears. He intends to do that through the draft. However, that likely won't stop him from taking a big swing on the market if the right player is available. The Bears will have over $80 million in cap space available. With it being the third year of the rebuild, it feels like the right time to go get a difference-maker. The obvious question from Poles' point of view is who that should be. There will be no shortage of intriguing names that might be up for grabs.
It seems too early to make proclamations about who the Bears will target. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune has always been good at dropping hints on such matters. During his latest column, he singled out a specific name.
The Bears got a close look Monday at one player who should be a top-five free agent (maybe No. 1 when you exclude quarterbacks such as Kirk Cousins) in Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter. Hunter’s one-year contract for this season prevents the Vikings from using the franchise or transition tag to secure him. That means Hunter, 29, will reach the open market unless the Vikings extend him before mid-March...
...Just keep Hunter in mind. Provided he remains healthy, he will be a hot commodity. I don’t know what the Bears’ motivation will be to spend on another edge rusher. I do believe it has to be discussed.
It was interesting Biggs brought him up like that.
One has to wonder if he's hearing even small whispers about the Bears having interest in Hunter. It makes all the sense in the world. The idea of pairing the star pass rusher with Montez Sweat is beyond enticing. He's a perfect fit for this defense and would give the Bears their best edge rush tandem in years. We've already established they have more than enough money to afford any free agent they wish. Hunter has 13.5 sacks in 12 games this season.
The Chicago Bears can afford this move.
While Hunter will be 30 next year, pass rushers tend to age better than other positions. He has played every game in five of the past six seasons. Injuries haven't been a major issue in his career. Hunter is a freak athlete, so he should remain effective even if he starts losing some of his trademark speed. Typical NFL timelines suggest he has three more peak years ahead of him. The Bears can easily sign him to a four-year contract with the ability to escape after three.
The challenging part will be convincing him to come here. While money will be a crucial factor, the Chicago Bears have a poor recent history of team success. It would take a strong sales pitch. Then again, the rapid improvement of their defense this season suggests they might be on the cusp of becoming one of the NFL's best. Adding Hunter to that mix could be the cherry on the sundae. It would also allow Poles to focus his two 1st round picks next April on further upgrading the offense.
