The Chicago Bears free agency plans for 2019 won’t be nearly as ambitious as they were this year. That’s not surprising. The team is the NFC North champion and going to the playoffs. Spending wildly on the open market is no longer necessary. Not to mention the fact they won’t be overly swimming in cap space like they’ve been the past few years.
Projections have the Bears at around $20 million in space when things get going next March. That’s not a lot given some of the players who may require extensions like Bryce Callahan, Adrian Amos, and Bobby Massie among others. That said, they’re also a team that might seem attractive to certain players itching to join a winner.
This can be especially beneficial to both sides if the right player is signed. The Patriots and Ravens are two of the franchises who have made a killing at something like this for over a decade. Now the Bears are in a position to do the same. It just depends on finding someone who can really help them.
Here’s one name they absolutely should consider.
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Chicago Bears free agency plan must include a run at Ezekiel Ansah
Ezekiel Ansah is a player the Bears know plenty about. He’s terrorized their quarterbacks for the past several years since the Detroit Lions drafted #5 overall. However, it appears belief is growing that the former Pro Bowler could be on his way out next year due to both his age (30) and frequent injury issues.
Shawn Windsor of Detroit Free Press seemed to indicate this is the way things would be going next spring.
“In the pantheon of franchise greats — yes, the Lions have a pantheon — it’s hard to say how Ansah will be remembered. If his shoulder isn’t torn up and he returns next week and re-ups in the offseason and helps lead the Lions to the playoffs and beyond, well, yeah, he’ll get his name etched on the honor wall at Ford Field.
But his return at this point, both this season and beyond, is about as likely as Sanders returning to take handoffs. Leaving us to wonder what might have been.”
While his odds of being a franchise player may be over, Ansah still has a ton of value as a pass rusher. Despite injuries limiting him to just 21 games over the past two years, he’s still managed to produce 16 sacks over that span. He’s a factor when he is on the field. Imagine what might happen if the Bears were able to pair him with Khalil Mack and Leonard Floyd? Even if it was just on a one-year deal.
That trio could cause mass devastation. It’s also something that might intrigue Ansah too. Not only would he have a chance to improve his stock for a quick turnaround into 2020 free agency, but he’d also be able to get some revenge on his former team. A win-win. Certainly something to consider if he becomes available when the market opens.
