The Chicago Bears have recently bolstered their roster by signing five new players
On Monday, the Chicago Bears were one of the busiest teams as they agreed to terms with four players only three days after their general manager Ryan Poles traded their No. 1 draft pick to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for a package that included wide receiver D.J. Moore.
Following their trade to acquire D.J. Moore, the Chicago Bears agreed to terms with four players on Monday; Tremaine Edmunds, T.J. Edwards, Nate Davis, and DeMarcus Walker being the highest-profile members of the group. On Tuesday, after Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus had attended Northwestern’s Pro Day, there were limited additional acquisitions.
Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles can wait for prices to fall in free agency
General Manager Ryan Poles is confident that these acquisitions will help to improve the team and is now looking to take advantage of lower prices in the market. By waiting for prices to drop, Ryan hopes to acquire additional talent without having to overspend
After the initial flurry of free-agent deals, the market settles and it can take players who anticipated earlier agreements some time to adjust to receiving less than what they had initially hoped for. Ryan Poles spoke about finding “value” when discussing free agency at the scouting combine two weeks ago.
The Bears invested $142.5 million in four of the new contracts and, with Moore being owed $52.265 million over three years, this accounts for almost $195 million worth of spending in a concentrated period of time. These moves along with the signing of long snapper Patrick Scales on a one-year deal worth $1,317,500 leaves Chicago with roughly $45 million in salary-cap space – offering Ryan Poles plenty of maneuverability no matter which direction he chooses.
As the week draws to a close, player prices should start to drop, making way for quality veterans to become available on the open market. In order to take advantage of these scenarios, the Bears need to remain financially flexible in order to act quickly when they see a suitable fit.
Positions the Bears still need to fill on the roster
The Bears still need to fill spaces at right tackle, center, edge rusher (potentially two), and at least one (but likely two) defensive tackle positions, as well as a cornerback. This is simply an outline of their most pressing needs; if David Montgomery chooses to leave – with sources noting that multiple teams are involved – then finding a running back to complement Khalil Herbert becomes a requirement. After that, the team can address the wants on their list.
If the Bears want to benefit from the money they put into Edmunds and Edwards, they need to make investments in defensive line. Linebackers can only do so much if they’re not provided with a strong defense. It’s important to note that no reported agreements are sealed until contracts have been signed – as seen last year with Larry Ogunjobi’s deal which failed due to his medical exam results. He has since re-signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bears can expect their new players to have physicals done between Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning – thereby allowing for more opportunities for additional signings at their desired price point.