Despite still appearing to have some work to do on their roster, the Chicago Bears have shifted their focus to the NFL draft. GM Ryan Pace, head coach Matt Nagy, the coaches, and the scouting staff are traversing the country attending pro days and speaking to as many prospects as possible. It’s all about data collection. Everybody knows this draft could determine a lot of jobs this 2021 season.

However, this doesn’t mean they’re done securing veteran players. One thing that has proven true with this regime is the draft is far from an endpoint to their offseason moves. Pace is the sort of GM who is always looking for ways to tweak the roster to make it better. When looking at his history, he has a certain degree of success at finding veteran contributors on the free agent or trade markets

Here is a list to remind people.

• 2015 – Tracy Porter on June 8th
• 2016 – Brian Hoyer on April 30th
• 2017 – Bradley Sowell on May 2nd
• 2018 – Khalil Mack on September 1st (trade)
• 2019 – Kevin Pierre-Louis on May 8th
• 2020 – Cairo Santos on August 25th

Porter became arguably the best defensive back in the Bears secondary that 2015 season. Hoyer started five games in 2016 and had a respectable 98.0 passer rating. Sowell became a steady contributor as a swing tackle for three years. Mack? Not much needs to be said. Pierre-Louis was a tremendous reserve linebacker in 2019 and Santos had the single-best season a Bears kicker ever had in 2020. Also, don’t forget Tashaun Gipson arrived May 1st and he outplayed Eddie Jackson at safety.

While only the Mack moved paid off long-term, this is a reminder that teams cannot and should not stop looking for help after a draft. There are bound to be quality players still available. Both of the starter and backup variety.

Chicago Bears still have several notable names they can grab

While several high-profile talents are long gone, the market has settled down to such a degree that a number of guys who should already be employed are still waiting. Let’s just run through a few of the Bears’ current needs and who might be able to help.

Slot corner: Brian Poole

Buster Skrine got a lot of grief from fans at times but they saw how challenging it was without him when he suffered his season-ending concussion last year. They need somebody reliable at nickel cornerback. Poole has been among the more versatile players at that position for years. Not only is he solid in coverage, he might be one of the best blitzers in the league as well. Given his recent health track record, his price tag won’t be high.

Safety: Duron Harmon

Harmon might be one of the most overlooked defensive backs in the NFL. The guy is a three-time Super Bowl champion with 19 interceptions in eight seasons. He also hasn’t missed a single game in the past seven. He’s also versatile. Though most see him as a free safety, he’s shown he can be a strong safety as well. Whatever the team asks of him, he’ll do it and do it well. If the Chicago Bears want a steady presence on the back end of their defense, this is a guy to call.

Slot receiver: Dede Westbrook

One thing this team has continued to search for on offense is more speed. They’ve really struggled to create big plays, which makes it harder to score. Darnell Mooney is a step in the right direction but it would be better if somebody else could join him. Westbrook has plenty of juice to offer. He also has ties to the coaching staff, having worked under John DeFilippo in Jacksonville. If the Bears want a replacement for Anthony Miller in the slot, he can be the guy.

Tight end: Tyler Eifert

Depth at tight end isn’t a huge priority but it is something that should not be discounted. Jimmy Graham and Cole Kmet at the two guys and that won’t change. Beyond them? Nothing but questions. Only J.P. Holtz and Jesper Horsted look like options. Eifert is a former 1st round pick who has the capability as a pass target. Especially in the red zone. If they were hoping for more options inside the 10? He is somebody to look at.