Chicago Bears Reportedly Will Attack Unexpected Free Agent Position

The Chicago Bears may not want to go crazy in free agency this year, but GM Ryan Poles understands reality. With a rookie quarterback presumably coming in, it is his responsibility to do everything in his power to fortify the roster on the offensive side of the ball. The general belief has been the Bears would be aggressive in upgrading key spots such as wide receiver and center. That process already began when they traded a 5th round pick to Buffalo for veteran interior blocker Ryan Bates.

Things have only begun. Poles has less than two weeks before the new league year begins. At that point he will have to decide what to do with his $70+ million in salary cap space. While fans are focused on more blocking and pass catchers, the consensus around the league suggests another position could also get some serious action. Bill Zimmerman of Windy City Gridiron touched on it in his recent article. It might be wise to keep an eye on the running backs.

The other possibility that has been floated is that the Bears might be interested in upgrading running back and getting Khalil Herbert back to RB2 where he excelled in 2022. I’ve never seen Poles as a “spend on a running back” guy unless he’s a true difference maker so that will be something to watch.

Adam Jahns of The Athletic echoed these same sentiments.

Another position one league source brought up was running back, and a belief from outside the building that the offense could benefit greatly from a dynamic back.

This is a deep free-agent class for the backfield, led by Saquon Barkley. Poles hasn’t spent premium resources at the position — money or draft picks — but with plenty of cap space and lots of veteran options, the Bears could explore that avenue. It’s considered a weak draft class at running back, too, which would lend more reason to signing one if the Bears seek an upgrade.

The Chicago Bears are picking a good time for this.

While spending big on running backs is always dangerous, this team is in an excellent spot to do so. They have tons of cap space and aren't in any danger of dealing with a quarterback contract in the near future. Better still, the market appears rich with options. Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs, two former Pro Bowlers still in their primes, will be hitting the market. They'll be joined by electric speed threat Tony Pollard and mammoth Derrick Henry as well. This doesn't even include names like De'Andre Swift, Austin Ekeler, A.J. Dillon, Kareem Hunt, and Dalvin Cook.

This will come down to how much the Chicago Bears are willing to pay. Current projections from salary cap experts suggest Barkley and Jacobs will cost $12 million and $11 million per year, respectively. Pollard will be around $6.7 million, and Henry will be $9 million. If the question is who is the biggest asset to a young quarterback, that is probably Barkley. Not only is he a terrific runner, but he's also good for 300-400 yards receiving every year. Jacobs is capable in that area as well. If the Bears were to land one of them and grab a wide receiver in the 1st round of the draft, this offense could be fun to watch.