Plenty of Help Available Via the Draft and Free Agency for Bears
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Here are some guys they should target.
The needs of the Chicago bears are many and well-chronicled. They include interior defensive line help, an edge pass rusher, a linebacker or two, help on the offensive line and a number one WR. They will also have to do something at RB, even if it’s just resigning David Montgomery. Fortunately for them, their needs and the available talent match up pretty well. Having your QB in place is a huge help. Let’s look at the available talent.
Help for the defensive line is available
In most mock drafts, the Bears are trading down. But despite that, most drafts show the Bears drafting either Alabama edge rusher, Will Anderson Jr., or Georgia defensive tackle, Jalen Carter. Free agency also offers some potential help.
The Bears should snag one of these guys
Eagles’ DE, Javon Hardgrove could be a huge help to the Bears if the Eagles don’t lock him down. The same could be said for Commanders’ DT, Daron Payne. Yannick Ngakoue isn’t particularly good against the run but racked up 9.5 sacks from his DE slot with the Colts last season. Jadeveon Clowney is also available but recorded only two sacks last season. He may be worth taking a flyer however, based on past performance.
There are lots of choices available on the offensive line
The Bears’ play at center was subpar throughout the 2022 season. Help is available via the draft. Minnesota center, John Michael Schnitz is considered the top center of this year’s draft class. His strong performance during the Senior Bowl week has boosted his status to the point he may be a first round pick. If so, the Bears would have to pick up an extra first round draft choice for Schmitz to be in play. If not Schmitz, then Ohio State’s Luke Wypler and Arkansas’ Rickey Stromberg could be a fit. Any of those three would be an upgrade over what the Bears had that position last year.
Offensive tackle is also an area of need. Whether the Bears will continue to go with Braxton Jones at left tackle or not is an open question, but at the very least look for them to go with a new starter at right tackle. There are a lot of pretty good offensive tackles in NFL free agency. The one most…
