Free agency has always operated according to a specific schedule. Teams are forbidden from having communication with pending free agents until the legal tampering window opens, and then they have 48 hours until the new league year begins. During that time, teams were strictly permitted to communicate only through a player’s agent. It’s been this way since pretty much the inception of free agency in the 1990s. However, the NFL is about to enact a change, and it may give the Chicago Bears and, more specifically, head coach Ben Johnson a decisive advantage.
According to Tom Pelissero, the league will allow teams to conduct a one-hour video or phone call between them and five free agents of their choice. They no longer have to go through agents. This gives them unprecedented access to players they covet, helping them better communicate their interest and the vision they have for those players. This could be particularly advantageous for teams with a head coach known for strong communication and for connecting with players.
Somebody like Johnson.
Ben Johnson is well-equipped for this.
It was clear from the moment he walked through those doors at Halas Hall that the man was a gifted communicator. He not only knew how to convey his message but also how to implement his plan. There was never any doubt about who he was and the identity he wanted to forge. Every player on his roster would have a role to play, provided they were willing to work and put in the effort. Listen to his locker room speeches. Watch how the players react to him. That is a man who understands psychology better than most.
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So now you plan to give that guy a full hour to sales pitch five free agents before the market opens? That might as well be cheating. If Johnson sees a player who can help the Bears win, you can bet he will have a hell of a speech prepared. Draft prospects raved about their interviews with him. This is the same setup but without the roadblock of being in a position to pick those players. All the Bears have to do is place a call and make their case. They have the perfect frontman for that.
One name stands out as an obvious target.
That is, of course, Taylor Decker. Chicago needs help at left tackle with Ozzy Trapilo nursing a knee injury that will keep him out for most of next season. Decker started ten seasons for the Detroit Lions, including three of them with Ben Johnson as the offensive coordinator. Plenty of teams will be interested in making Decker their starter, but the Bears now have the unquestioned inside edge because the rule permits Johnson to communicate with his former player directly. Unless the Bears try to completely lowball him on a new contract, that should be a slam dunk move.
From there, it will be a test to see if Johnson can work that same mojo on some defensive free agents the Bears will undoubtedly have their eyes on. While the team may not have proposed this new rule, there is no question they’re positioned to take full advantage of it.
