The Chicago Bears have a chance to make this a critical off-season over the next three months. GM Ryan Poles has around $40 million in salary cap space with the ability to free up another $20 million with ease. He also has two picks in the top 10 of the upcoming 2024 draft. That gives him an opportunity to add some serious juice to this roster, enough to make it a potential playoff contender. As everybody knows, what they do in free agency will dictate their decisions in the draft. Some have expressed skepticism the Bears will take a big swing of any kind.
Based on what Jeremy Fowler of ESPN is hearing, that might be an unwise stance to take. They apparently have eyes for at least one big name set to hit the market.
"The sense I get here in Vegas is that Danielle Hunter will be hard for the Vikings to keep. He will have a very strong market, he turned 29 in October, and several teams had interest at the trade deadline. Chicago could look to add a pass-rusher to complement Montez Sweat in free agency and is very high on Hunter. The Jacksonville Jaguars are another team to watch, though they have to figure out Josh Allen's future."
The idea of pairing a four-time Pro Bowler like Hunter with Montez Sweat is hard to ignore. Despite not yet turning 30, the Vikings star already has 87.5 sacks. His 16.5 sacks in 2023 was a career-best. Current projections have him commanding around a three-year contract worth $65-66 million. The Bears would basically be renting him for most of their projected 1st round quarterback's rookie contract.
This isn't the first time the Chicago Bears were connected to Hunter.
Back in late November, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune mentioned him as a name to watch once the off-season began. Biggs is the most well-connected insider close to the organization. When he mentions names, it is rarely by accident. There is a strong possibility he was hearing things about Hunter even back then. It makes sense. The Bears need another pass rusher. Hunter is a beast. They have the necessary cap space to meet his asking price. It is a move that would also crystallize their draft plans.
GM Ryan Poles would be free to use most 1st round picks on the offensive side of the ball. One would be for a quarterback, while the other could go to a wide receiver or offensive tackle. It's a good plan since both positions are considered loaded in this class. The offense would get a much-needed infusion of blue-chip talent, setting this team up to be well-balanced going into 2024. It wouldn't be the first time top pass rushers left one NFC North team for another. Julius Peppers left the Chicago Bears for Green Bay in 2014. Alan Page went from Minnesota to Chicago in 1978.
Players often like to stay in the same division. Hunter would be far from the first.
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