One Available Free Agent the Bears Should Gamble On

The Chicago Bears shouldn't be expected to make anymore significant roster moves in 2019. They've had themselves a solid offseason. They covered every key weak area as best they could. The defense remains intact and the offense got both younger and deeper. There is no reason to think this team isn't fully capable of a deep playoff run.

Still, even if the roster is in good shape that doesn't mean they should be ignorant of chances to improve wherever possible. Depth is absolutely critical to success in the NFL. If it can be had even on a temporary basis, then GM Ryan Pace has a responsibility to explore it. Now with the offseason deadline passed where the compensatory pick formula is no longer affected by free agent signings, the Bears are free to explore.

There is one interesting name still available that they may wish to consider. Muhammad Wilkerson is a far cry from his Pro Bowl form back in 2015 when he had 12 sacks. Even so, it might be hard to imagine the big defensive end is only 29-years old. He should be recovered by now from the ankle injury that ended his season last year in Green Bay too.

Muhammad Wilkerson is low-risk, high-reward for the Chicago Bears

At this point, Wilkerson doesn't have much in the way of negotiating power. He's coming off a season-ending injury, will turn 30 this year and has already gone over two months without being signing. Teams aren't exactly lining up out the door to get him. This means he can be had for cheap. Something Pace is always a big fan of.

The Bears may seem set at defensive end already. They have Akiem Hicks, Roy Robertson-Harris, and an emerging Bilal Nichols as a strong three-man rotation. Then there's Jonathan Bullard still there as a solid depth piece. However, can anybody say Bullard is better than Wilkerson even in his current form? No they can't.

Just imagine if the Bears ended up squeezing even 80% of the player Wilkerson was four years ago this season. Chuck Pagano has a certain magic touch when it comes to elevating veteran linemen. His motivational skills could work wonders in this situation. This might also give Wilkerson a chance to remind everybody of who he was.