Five Biggest Free Agency Moves: Chicago Bears
With free agency now into its fourth week as April’s Draft draws closer, it’s time to start reviewing which teams filled some needs and who got weaker. Here are the five biggest free agency moves for each team so far.
The Bears are slowly building through the draft under head coach John Fox and general manager Ryan Pace, but need to start winning after two good draft classes in recent years. Chicago hasn’t had a winning season since 2012. So the Bears have also been big players in free agency in recent years. Here are Chicago’s five biggest free agency moves:
1 — Signing Mike Glennon
The Jay Cutler era is over in Chicago, and Mike Glennon takes over as the franchise’s polarising starting quarterback. Glennon was Tampa Bay’s third round pick in 2013, starting 13 games in his rookie year and completing 59% of his passes for 2608 yards, 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Glennon has seen limited action since the Buccaneers drafted James Winston in 2015, and has more potential upside than Cutler. However, Glennon is not a long-term answer. He’ll play behind a sneakily talented offensive line and will have strong running game backup from sophomore Jordan Howard. However, Glennon no longer has a true number one receiver like Alshon Jeffery to throw to. Glennon signed a three year, $45 million deal.
2 — Signing Quintin Demps
Quintin Demps is a great under-the-radar pickup for the Bears. The former Texan is an underrated player who can help against both the run and the pass on defense from the strong safety spot. Demps had nine pass breakups, six interceptions (second in the league last season) and a forced fumble in Houston last year, giving Chicago a desperately-needed playmaker on defense. Demps signed a three year, $13.5 million deal with the Bears.
3 — Signing Marcus Cooper
The Bears needed to find playmakers in the secondary after finishing with just eight interceptions last season; second least in the league. Marcus Cooper fits the bill. He played for the Cardinals on a one year deal last season and had 11 pass breakups along with four interceptions, including a pick six. Cooper is young at just 27 and signed a three year, $16 million deal, giving the Bears some much-needed energy in the secondary.
4 — Signing Prince Amukamara
Joining Cooper and Demps as newcomers to the secondary is veteran corner Prince Amukamara, who played on a one year deal in Jacksonville last season. Amukamara signed a one year, $7 million deal with the Bears. Despite struggling with injuries throughout his career, Amukamara had a solid 2016 campaign for the Jaguars, with six pass breakups. This is shaping up to be a quality defense in Chicago.
5 — Signing Markus Wheaton and Kendall Wright
With Jeffery gone, the Bears needed to find some receivers for Glennon. They signed former Steeler Markus Wheaton to a two year, $12 million deal and former Titan Kendall Wright on a one year, $4 million contract. Both were disappointments at their last stops. Wheaton had just four catches for 51 yards last season, while Wright had just four receptions for 29 yards, with four touchdowns between them. Both players are complimentary players at best, and are earning a lot of money compared to their ability.
