Bears pending Free Agents and Roster
Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2019 11:00 am
Well... it's the offseason, so I guess it's time to start looking at the roster and possible moves. Here's a quick opinion after a glance at the roster.
Free Agents:
Bobby Massie - Continuity is important and Massie has been reliable/good, but he's going to be 31 and this is his last chance to cash in.
Gone.
Kevin White - Poor kid. I think he has a chance to be good, just not with the Bears.
Gone.
Aaron Lynch - Lynch played really well until getting hurt. My gut says the Bears would like him back but I imagine another team will offer him more money.
Gone.
Bryce Callahan - Someone is going to pay him like a starting corner, and it shouldn't be the Bears simply due to durability concerns.
Gone.
Josh Bellamy - After being nearly universally hated during the Fox era, Bellamy has quietly become a decent 4th option that Mitch clearly trusts. He also excels on special teams. I think he gets a modest extension.
Back.
Pat O'Donnell - He hasn't been bad, but he isn't exactly clutch. I could see them drafting a replacement.
Gone.
Eric Kush - He's a fun guy but he's just not durable enough to keep.
Gone.
Benny Cunningham - They can replace his production with a UDFA or late round pick.
Gone.
Bryan Witzmann - He was ok…but he's a complete liability in the running game.
Gone.
Zach Miller - I love that the Bears kept him on so that he could receive the best medical care available. But his playing days are over.
Gone.
Marcus Williams - Roster filler who didn't make an impact on defense or special teams.
Gone.
Nick Williams - Rotational guy that didn't see the field much.
Gone.
Patrick Scales - He's a restricted FA, which is weird for a dude who is going to be 32. He did his job so whatever.
Back.
Adrian Amos - I love Amos, but Deon Bush is a similar player who no longer looks out of his element. If there is a bidding war the Bears will move on. I'm cautiously optimistic that there won't be.
Back.
Michael Burton - He was barely active and the Bears don't use a traditional FB all that much.
Gone.
DeAndre Houston-Carson - Being a RFA he will at least be back for camp.
Back
Roy Robertson-Harris - RRH didn't have the breakout year that everyone expected, but he is a solid contributor. I expect him to get a decent extension.
Back.
Ben Braunecker - He's as good or better than Sims for a fraction of the price. He's made some surprisingly big catches.
Back.
Rashaad Coward - I don’t know if he’s ready to step in as a replacement for Massie, but they clearly saw enough in him to keep him around to find out.
Back.
Isaiah Irving - He got a lot of playing time after Acho got hurt. I like him as a rotational guy and the Bears seem to as well.
Back.
Possible cuts:
Long - I love him, but man... you just can't count on him. The Bears could use some of his money, so hopefully he restructures. If not, I could see the Bears moving on.
Sims - This should come as no surprise.
Parkey - This will be the debate that rages all offseason. Fans hate him, players are undoubtedly upset with him. It'll come down to if they want to eat his contract and pay for a replacement that might not be any better. If he's not cut he absolutely should have competition in camp.
Possible trades:
Howard - I don't think the Bears want to move him, but if someone comes calling with a pick in the 35-40 range, they may bite. He deserves to go to a team that suits his strengths. The Bears owe him that.
Burton - This is unlikely, but aside from being pretty good on third down, he just hasn't had a huge impact. Nagy's offense needs to have the TE make an impact down the field, not just on 3rd and 4. Plus the weird injury thing at the 11th hour.
Free Agents:
Bobby Massie - Continuity is important and Massie has been reliable/good, but he's going to be 31 and this is his last chance to cash in.
Gone.
Kevin White - Poor kid. I think he has a chance to be good, just not with the Bears.
Gone.
Aaron Lynch - Lynch played really well until getting hurt. My gut says the Bears would like him back but I imagine another team will offer him more money.
Gone.
Bryce Callahan - Someone is going to pay him like a starting corner, and it shouldn't be the Bears simply due to durability concerns.
Gone.
Josh Bellamy - After being nearly universally hated during the Fox era, Bellamy has quietly become a decent 4th option that Mitch clearly trusts. He also excels on special teams. I think he gets a modest extension.
Back.
Pat O'Donnell - He hasn't been bad, but he isn't exactly clutch. I could see them drafting a replacement.
Gone.
Eric Kush - He's a fun guy but he's just not durable enough to keep.
Gone.
Benny Cunningham - They can replace his production with a UDFA or late round pick.
Gone.
Bryan Witzmann - He was ok…but he's a complete liability in the running game.
Gone.
Zach Miller - I love that the Bears kept him on so that he could receive the best medical care available. But his playing days are over.
Gone.
Marcus Williams - Roster filler who didn't make an impact on defense or special teams.
Gone.
Nick Williams - Rotational guy that didn't see the field much.
Gone.
Patrick Scales - He's a restricted FA, which is weird for a dude who is going to be 32. He did his job so whatever.
Back.
Adrian Amos - I love Amos, but Deon Bush is a similar player who no longer looks out of his element. If there is a bidding war the Bears will move on. I'm cautiously optimistic that there won't be.
Back.
Michael Burton - He was barely active and the Bears don't use a traditional FB all that much.
Gone.
DeAndre Houston-Carson - Being a RFA he will at least be back for camp.
Back
Roy Robertson-Harris - RRH didn't have the breakout year that everyone expected, but he is a solid contributor. I expect him to get a decent extension.
Back.
Ben Braunecker - He's as good or better than Sims for a fraction of the price. He's made some surprisingly big catches.
Back.
Rashaad Coward - I don’t know if he’s ready to step in as a replacement for Massie, but they clearly saw enough in him to keep him around to find out.
Back.
Isaiah Irving - He got a lot of playing time after Acho got hurt. I like him as a rotational guy and the Bears seem to as well.
Back.
Possible cuts:
Long - I love him, but man... you just can't count on him. The Bears could use some of his money, so hopefully he restructures. If not, I could see the Bears moving on.
Sims - This should come as no surprise.
Parkey - This will be the debate that rages all offseason. Fans hate him, players are undoubtedly upset with him. It'll come down to if they want to eat his contract and pay for a replacement that might not be any better. If he's not cut he absolutely should have competition in camp.
Possible trades:
Howard - I don't think the Bears want to move him, but if someone comes calling with a pick in the 35-40 range, they may bite. He deserves to go to a team that suits his strengths. The Bears owe him that.
Burton - This is unlikely, but aside from being pretty good on third down, he just hasn't had a huge impact. Nagy's offense needs to have the TE make an impact down the field, not just on 3rd and 4. Plus the weird injury thing at the 11th hour.