The Chicago Bears completed their final roster cuts on Sunday afternoon. However, as we all know, the process isn’t done yet. Usually, the team makes two or three tweaks in the following days, either by waiver wire claims or free agent additions. There are reasons to think that trend will continue this year. Head coach Ben Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles still have some areas they can afford to shore up. When taking a glance across the NFL, there were some interesting names that got unloaded by other teams.
Here are some that should interest the Bears for various reasons. They have until Monday afternoon to put in a claim for any of them.
The Chicago Bears have some intriguing options out there.
RB Jaydon Blue
Salvon Ahmed’s exit was a surprise to many. It felt like he outplayed Roschon Johnson throughout the preseason. So, for him to get cut was either an indication that Johnson was always safe or the Bears might be looking for an outside option. Blue didn’t pan out in Dallas, but he still has lots of intriguing talent. His 4.38 speed would be something head coach Ben Johnson is immediately drawn to. He always hunts explosive plays. The key is whether the next coaching staff can teach Blue how to play smarter, which was a big problem in college and Dallas.
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WR Greg Dortch
Having been in Arizona most of his career, it’s been easy to overlook Dortch. He was never a primary weapon for the Cardinals, but the receiver carved out a role as a quality reserve who could give you 25-30 catches per year and also serve as a reliable punt returner. His 11.6 yards per return last season was his career-best. The Chicago Bears have typically preferred stashing versatile options like that at the bottom of their depth chart, which may be why they chose to cut training camp standout, Kaden Davis. Dortch would give him much more flexibility.
DT Kris Jenkins Jr.
The trade for Dexter Lawrence by Cincinnati was a quiet death blow for the former 2nd round pick. Jenkins actually showed progress last season with 18 quarterback pressures and 18 run stops as a rotational guy for the Bengals. Alas, he never took the big step they wanted. Still, he’s a smart player with a great motor. He had his best game last season against the Bears with 5 pressures on Caleb Williams. There is untapped potential there. Playing for the Bears would ease the burden on his shoulders. If nothing else, he would be an excellent depth option after shipping out Gervon Dexter to Atlanta.
CB Sean Murphy-Bunting
Cornerback depth has become a major concern for the Bears after it became clear Kyler Gordon would miss the first month of the season (at least). That is why they traded for Clark Phillips from Atlanta. Is that enough? While he gives them a nice young piece to develop, he doesn’t bring a ton of experience. Murphy-Bunting has started 65 games in his career, including 13 for the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020. He had three interceptions last season for the Arizona Cardinals. At age 29, he can still play. If this guy is the 4th or 5th cornerback in your lineup, you’re in a pretty good spot.
K Blake Grupe*
The Bears have enjoyed remarkable stability at kicker since Cairo Santos arrived years ago. That said, he turns 35 years old this year. There is no telling how much longer he’ll maintain his consistency. Last season, the Bears wisely stashed a younger kicker on the practice squad. Jake Moody won them a big game in Washington. Grupe was excellent in the preseason for Indianapolis and reportedly has enough leg to hit from 60 yards. Distance has been a constant sore spot for Santos throughout his career. Having that option close by is never a bad thing for a team that tends to be in a lot of close games.
