The Chicago Bears aren’t likely to sign any notable free agents between now and the start of the NFL season. Not unless there is a major injury that forces their hand. If anything does happen, it will likely be after final cuts. General manager Ryan Poles has always liked to put the finishing touches on his roster with one or two additions via the waiver wire. It depends on who is available at the time. Sometimes it’s a reserve option who could help on special teams. Other times it’s depth at a thin position.
One way of doing this is by adding somebody with considerable experience or still considerable upside that hasn’t been tapped into yet. Everything depends on who becomes available. Teams aren’t in the habit of cutting good players this time of year. However, they do occasionally unload somebody who has more to offer than many realize. Here are some names on the roster bubble across the NFL who might do that for Chicago.
The Chicago Bears may have some interesting options soon.
RB A.J. Dillon
A couple of years ago, you could make a case that Dillon was one of the best #2 running backs in the NFL. He and Aaron Jones formed a nasty tandem in Green Bay. Unfortunately, his past two seasons have been marred by injury setbacks. Now he finds himself in Carolina with Chuba Hubbard, Jonathan Brooks, and former 4th round pick Trevor Etienne. The first two are the projected primary ball-carriers in the offense this season, while the other is younger and healthier. Dillon faces a tough battle to make the roster. If the Bears are looking for some added depth that can give them a serious presence in short yardage, he’s worth a look.
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EDGE Keion White
The big defensive end was traded to San Francisco last season, where he logged 1.5 sacks in nine games for them. White showed lots of promise the year prior in New England with 5 sacks and 16 QB hits. The 49ers are deep along their defensive line, especially after drafting Romello Height and Grace Halton in the 3rd and 4th rounds. They may decide White is expendable and cut him loose. He’s still just 27 years old and, at 6’5″ and 290 lbs, has the ideal frame that Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen covets. He has the versatility to play inside and outside. This is the kind of move they would love.
CB Kaiir Elam
Cornerback is somewhat mercurial for the Bears right now. Jaylon Johnson is healthy. That is good. Outside of that? It gets tricky. Kyler Gordon is still injured. Tyrique Stevenson was benched last year, but Nahshon Wright is gone. Terell Smith is returning from a torn ACL. Malik Muhammad is a rookie. There is lots of uncertainty at the position right now. Adding some veteran depth might be a wise precaution. Elam is a former 1st round pick with tons of natural ability. He just never quite got going in Buffalo. His chances of making it in Kansas City is dicey after the Chiefs brought back L’Jarius Sneed and drafted Mansoor Delane. If anybody can get something out of Elam, it would be Bears defensive backs coach Al Harris.
DT Davon Godchaux
The Bears were active at defensive tackle this offseason, adding some notable pieces to help their interior pass rush, like Neville Gallimore and Jordan Van Den Berg. One thing they didn’t really do was bolster their run defense. One could argue that it was just as bad as the pass rush last season. Andrew Billings is gone. They don’t have a true nose tackle on the roster. Godchaux has played that role fairly well over the years with various teams. His spot is in danger with the New Orleans Saints after they drafted Christen Miller in the 2nd round. If he establishes himself early, they may decide Godchaux is expendable. He’d make a nice slab of beef (330 lbs) in the middle that they can use for run-stopping.
