The Chicago Bears have more money than any team by a comfortable margin going into 2023. That GM Ryan Poles is going to do some spending. Sure, he may not break the bank, but it's a safe bet he'll pursue at least one or two top-tier free agents when the market opens in March. The big question will be who he may prioritize. Only Poles and the coaching staff can answer that. Still, it isn't hard to see where the team's biggest needs are, even with four games left to play this season.
While more than one free agent will be signed, it is an interesting exercise to determine who they'll covet the most. So I did a short ranking of names that fit what the Bears will be looking for and which player is likely to get their attention first above all.
The Chicago Bears will have some viable options.
5. Jamel Dean
The modern NFL is a passing league. Top defenses don't have one good cornerback. They have at least two and preferably three. Jaylon Johnson is a good player. Kyler Gordon has a chance to be one. Kindle Vildor? Not so much. The Bears desperately need another outside corner that isn't a weakness teams can exploit. Dean is that kind of player. He's big, physical, athletic, and has a good nose for the football.
4. Elgton Jenkins
Interior blocking is the cornerstone of any offensive line. Cody Whitehair has been a solid player for the Bears, but Jenkins is better. A guard combination of him and Teven Jenkins could be genuinely frightening. Justin Fields would be far more secure, especially if the team can find an upgrade at center. Jenkins' future status in Green Bay remains undetermined. Most believe he'll stay, but then again, everybody thought the same about Davante Adams.
3. Yannick Ngakoue
Everybody will point out Marcus Davenport as the premier option, ignoring that he's been bad this year with half a sack in 11 games. Ngakoue is a far more proven and dependable pass rusher. He has 64 career sacks and turns 28 next year. The Bears desperately need more production at defensive end. None of their current options have crossed the three-sack mark this year. It's December. That should tell you how pressing the need is.
2. Jack Conklin
Three different players have tried their hand at right tackle for the Bears. Larry Borom and Riley Reiff have looked inconsistent and forgettable. Alex Leatherwood has potential but has barely played. Rather than continue dabbling in maybes, it might be best to grab somebody who is an immediate upgrade. Conklin is a solid all-around right tackle. He's a strong run blocker and sturdy in pass protection. Nobody will call him a star. It doesn't matter. He is better than anything this team has.
1. Da'Ron Payne
If Matt Eberflus is going to get his defense off the ground, it starts in the middle. His 4-3 scheme depends on having a defensive tackle that can rush the passer. DeForest Buckner proved it in Indianapolis. Others like Tommie Harris and Warren Sapp proved it elsewhere. Payne is in the middle of a breakout year with 8.5 sacks. His disruptive presence is a big reason Washington has kept its playoff hopes alive. The Chicago Bears witnessed this first-hand when he sacked Fields once and hit him two other times. He and Justin Jones could make a solid duo inside for this team.
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