2015 Chicago Bears Free Agency: An Early Guide to the Market

The Chicago Bears were big players in the Black Monday festivities.

With general manager Phil Emery, head coach Marc Trestman and offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer all out the door, new faces will be aplenty inside the walls of Halas Hall. This is only the beginning, too, with many more changes to come.

The changes facing this Bears team are not limited to the front office and coaching staff. The Bears will have money to spend in free agency, and the new regime could be looking to shake things up.

As of Black Monday, the Bears have roughly $30 million to spend in the offseason, according to Spotrac.com. That available money will go a long way toward enticing top-tier general manager and head coaching candidates.

Let's now take a look at who could be available for the Bears, and keep in mind that this is just an early look. Needs will change. The players available will chance, some of whom are likely will re-sign with their current teams.

Wide Receiver

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The Bears passing game was completely one-dimensional during the 2014 season, often relying on short passes in the form of various types of screen passes.

Now-former head coach believed that a low-risk screen pass was as valuable as a run play. Boy was he wrong, and it’s one reason he’s no longer the head coach of the Bears.

Chicago’s offense moved side to side, instead of vertically. Wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery struggled to create separation off the line of scrimmage, forcing quarterback Jay Cutler to force throws into traffic, making it tough to accrue yards after the catch.

Finding a downfield threat should be a priority in free agency. One player who should be on the Bears’ radar is Torrey Smith of the Baltimore Ravens. Smith will be an unrestricted free agent after the season.

Twenty-seven of Smith’s 49 receptions came 10-plus yards downfield, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), a stat which the Bears should love. Smith’s 15.7 yards-per-catch average ranks ninth in the league.

Another potential target is someone with whom the Bears see two times per season: Randall Cobb of the Green Bay Packers. Cobb is set to be an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career, and he’ll be looking to cash in via free agency. Cobb finished the 2014 regular season near the top of every major statistical category for receivers.

He caught 91 passes (fourth) for 1,287 yards (11th) with 12 touchdowns (fourth). Most importantly for the Bears, Cobb recorded 603 yards after catch (fourth). His versatility would allow the Bears to line him up in the backfield, in the slot and pretty much anywhere else any new offensive coordinator or head coach would like.

Is the idea of signing Cobb away from the Bears biggest rival a pipe dream? Yeah, maybe. But this Bears team is about to undergo changes few people saw coming one year ago. You just never know anymore.

While it's unknown if either of these guys will leave their respective teams, the search for a vertical threat should start with these two and then move down the list. 

Other potential FA targets: PHI Jeremy Maclin, STL Kenny Britt, SF Michael Crabtree, DAL Cole Beasley.

Right Tackle

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The Bears really could use an upgrade at the right tackle position. Jordan Mills struggled immensely this season, finishing near the top of the league in sacks allowed (six) and quarterback hurries (31).

Mills allowed six sacks in his 13 starts, according to PFF. Only five right tackles were responsible for more sacks than Mills, who played in three fewer games than each of the five ranked ahead of him.

The second-year tackle looked slow and out of shape for most of the season. It’s crazy to think Kyle Long made his second straight Pro Bowl playing next to Mills, who struggled throughout the season. Just imagine if Long were to play next to someone more competent.

The Dallas Cowboys have two right tackles who will be free agents after the season. One of them is 30-year-old Doug Free, who missed five games in 2014 due to injury. When Free was out, 28-year-old Jermey Parnell played fairly well in his place. Both tackles are highly rated in Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics.

Given how successful the Cowboys run game has been in 2014, the Bears would be foolish not to give these two a look. And each target fits in a different price range, depending on if the Bears are looking to outright replace Mills or add depth that can give you a few starts here or there.

Other potential FA candidates: JAC Austin Pasztor, GB Don Barclay.

Linebacker

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Linebacker might be the biggest need on the roster right now. And something to watch for is who the Bears hire to run the defense, whether it be a defensive coordinator or a head coach.

The new defensive scheme could look a lot different than what's run by current defensive coordinator Mel Tucker. Even though he has yet to be fired, as soon as the Bears hire a new general manager and head coach, Tucker will be one of the first out the door.

Getting back to the point: Defensive schemes have become much more fluid. Usually now teams are running hybrid defenses that are geared to defend the pass.

So we're just going to address the position as a whole with the current defensive model in place. With Lance Briggs likely on his way out and Shea McClellin proving to be a wasted draft pick, the Bears will have two holes to fill in the starting lineup.

Briggs is a free agent and already has said goodbye to the city of Chicago. His departure is pretty much guaranteed at this point. McClellin has yet to make an impact in his three professional seasons after becoming former general manager Phil Emery’s first selection with the Bears.

Emery drafted McClellin to be a defensive end, but that experiment flamed out after two seasons. As a last ditch effort, Emery moved McClellin to linebacker before the 2014 season; a move that proved to be extremely unsuccessful.

With Emery gone, look for the Bears to move on from McClellin as soon as possible.

Bleacher Report’s Matt Eurich suggests the Bears take a look at Cincinnati Bengals middle linebacker Rey Maualuga to fill one of the voids. Maualuga made $2.25 million in 2014. 

“He has some limitations in the passing game but has developed into one of the league's best against the run. The biggest knock against him is he has only started 16 games in a season once due to injuries,” Eurich writes.

Another candidate is Geno Hayes of the Jacksonville Jaguars, who had a cup of coffee in Chicago in 2012. Hayes wasn't a fit then, and who knows if he would be now? But he put up a solid season for a team that could have quit long before the season ended.

Pro Football Focus ranks the 27-year-old outside linebacker 12th-best at his position. Hayes made only $975,000 in 2014, which is extremely low for a linebacker of his caliber. Even with a raise, he’ll more than likely be within the Bears' price range.

Other potential FA candidates: PHI Brandon Graham.

Quarterback

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The biggest question mark surrounding the Bears heading into the offseason is the future of Jay Cutler. The quarterback is set to enter year two of a massive seven-year, $126 million contract signed last offseason; the same contract that likely cost now-former general manager Phil Emery his job.

Cutler led the NFL in total turnovers for most of the 2014 season for a team that regressed enormously on the offensive side of the ball.

The Bears owe Cutler $15 million in 2015, all of which is guaranteed, according to Spotrac.com. And that’s not all. Once the calendar hits March 13, 2015, $10 million of the $16 million he’s due in 2016 becomes guaranteed. Flat-out releasing Cutler would be a big mistake, as he will cost them team $38 million in dead money next season.

Attempting to trade Cutler is the likeliest way to get him out of town, should that be the new plan. That’s not exactly a good position for the Bears to be in only one year removed from signing him to the deal.

At this stage, with so much uncertainty at Halas Hall, no one really knows what will happen to Cutler. But team chairman George McCaskey says it will be up to the new regime:

“The head coach and general manager have the discretion to decide who fits on this club, whether it’s quarterback or any other position,” McCaskey said.

If the Bears are to replace Cutler, the best place to look is the draft, as the free-agent market isn’t flush of quarterback talent.

Free-agent candidates: PHI Mark Sanchez, HOU Ryan Mallett.

Free Safety

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The Bears have a safety problem and will need to upgrade both positions before the 2015 season begins.

Free safety Chris Conte will be a free agent once the season ends and is unlikely to return. Conte’s time with the Bears has been marred by poor play and a laundry list of injuries.

A strong candidate to replace Conte in the starting lineup could be Jimmy Wilson of the Miami Dolphins. Wilson is one of the more versatile safeties in the league. He’s a hard hitter and has solid ball skills, evidenced by his four career interceptions and 16 passes defended primarily in a backup role. The Bears have been in need of a guy whom opposing receivers fear, and Wilson is that guy.

Wilson is 28 years old and has played four professional seasons, making 1.31 million in base salary in 2014. He’s never been a starter in the NFL, but he’s been determined to make the most of his opportunities in the NFL. Moving on from the Dolphins wouldn’t be that surprising seeing as the franchise is going nowhere.

Other potential FA candidates: HOU Kendrick Lewis, DEN Quinton Carter.

Defensive End

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It will be interesting to see what the Bears do with veteran defensive end Jared Allen. Without a general manager in place, it’s tough to know which direction the defense will be headed.

Allen’s contract puts the Bears in a tough spot. While he’s only due $1 million in base salary in 2015, he’s due a roster bonus of $11.5 million for the 2015 season. If the Bears were to cut him, he’d count $12.5 million against the salary cap, which would be a tough pill to swallow for any team.

The Bears defense needs to get younger, and shedding Allen after only one season might be in play. It’s crazy to think the Bears would take that big of a cap hit, but it would be better than actually having to pay him $11.5 million to be an average player.

In terms of sack production, Allen had his worst season of his professional career, recording only 5.5 sacks in 15 games.

With Willie Young flourishing at left defensive end, the Bears could use a speed rusher off the right side. Speed is something Allen doesn’t appear to have when playing on the terrible grass at Soldier Field.

If the Bears want to make a huge splash, throwing a large offer at Buffalo Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes wouldn’t be a bad idea. Hughes has five professional seasons under his belt, and he’s looking to get paid. The defensive end made $3.995 million in 2014.

The Bears could make Hughes a cornerstone of their defense for years to come. The first-round pick in 2010 registered 9.5 sacks and three forced fumbles this season.

Other potential FA candidates: TB Adrian Clayborn, DEN John Youboty.

Advanced statistics provided by Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Salary information provided by Spotrac.com. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.