Chicago Bears Free Agents: What Will It Take to Keep Key Bears?
When the 2015 offseason officially begins, the Chicago Bears will have 24 free agents who will hit the market. Fifteen of the 24 free agents live on the defensive side of the ball, seven are on offense and two are special teams players.
The decision of whether to re-sign any of those free agents will fall at the feet of the new general manager, who will be hired in the next week or two by team chairman George McCaskey and president Ted Phillips.
Whether it be Kansas City Chiefs pro personnel director Chris Ballard, Houston Texans pro personnel director Brian Gaine, Tennessee Titans pro personnel director Lake Dawson or someone off the radar, Phil Emery’s replacement will inherit a 2015 roster with $62.3 million committed to offense and $44.2 million committed to defense.
Chicago will have approximately $28 million to spend when free agency begins, 10th-most in the league.
Let’s now take a look at the Bears’ free agents and who could be re-signed and for what cost.
C/G Brian De La Puente
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Brian de la Puente played a big part of the Bears’ offensive line this season. The line took a number of hits during the 2014 season, the five starters, specifically.
Left tackle Jermon Bushrod, left guard Matt Slauson, center Roberto Garza, right guard Kyle Long and right tackle Jordan Mills all missed at least one game in 2014. This happened only one year removed from a season in which the Bears started the same five linemen in all 16 games.
In 2013, the Bears allowed 30 sacks. In 2014, they allowed 41. That shows the importance of offensive line depth.
De la Puente started six games (appeared in eight) for the Bears in 2014, four at center and two at left guard. He received the highest Pro Football Focus grade of all the reserve linemen.
The Bears need to bolster their offensive line during the offseason, and bringing back De la Puente would go a long way toward reaching that goal.
De la Puente ended the season on injured reserve after suffering an ankle injury, which could impact the number of teams interested in the unrestricted free agent. He earned $795,001 this season and isn't in line for much money in his next deal. Signing him to a one-year deal at or around the veteran minimum needs to happen.
TE Dante Rosario
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No matter who’s under center next season, the Bears will need to become more of a run-based offense. To run the ball, you need solid blockers in front of you.
Dante Rosario is one of those guys who can help push the run game forward. Rosario is a more-than-capable backup tight end who can catch passes and block from the backfield and on the line of scrimmage.
He caught 16 passes for 116 yards in 2014 while playing nearly 30 percent of the snaps, according to PFF.
Rosario cost the Bears $570,000 in 2014 and is an unrestricted free agent. Barring an NFL general manager losing their mind and throwing starter’s money at Rosario, the Bears should look to re-sign Rosario at or around $1 million per season for two seasons.
DT Stephen Paea
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The Bears got a lot out of Stephen Paea during the 2014 season.
The fourth-year defensive tackle played all six games for the first time in his career, recording six sacks and finishing as the 11th-best defensive tackle and fourth-best at rushing the passer, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Despite the solid season, Paea was snubbed from the Pro Bowl and wasn't too happy about it. “It's funny how a NT with 6 sacks (that gets double-teamed every other play) don't make it to Pro Bowl. Not even Alternates,” Paea tweeted.
Paea will enter free agency for the first time with a chip on his shoulder. While he did have a solid season, eight defensive tackles finished with more sacks than Paea.
The former Oregon State product earned a little over $1 million for his work in 2014. He’s definitely in store for a raise as an unrestricted free agent, somewhere in the range of $3 million-$5 million per season.
Quite a few factors will go into the decision of re-signing Paea. A lot of it will depend on what kind of defensive scheme the Bears will run next season. The Bears also have veteran Jeremiah Ratliff and rookie Ego Ferguson who can play in the middle.
If the Bears do make an offer to Paea, it should be modeled after the four-year, $18 million contract Sen'Derrick Marks just received from the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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CB/ST Sherrick McManis
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Sherrick McManis should be seen as a high-priority free agent for the Bears.
With Kansas City Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub being suggested as a serious head coaching candidate for the Chicago Bears, the third phase could be under a lot of scrutiny come next season.
McManis is one of the best special teams guys on the roster. According to Pro Football Focus, he recorded 10 special teams tackles in 12 games, good for second place on the team.
McManis earned $795,000 in 2014. If you look at his career earnings, you’ll notice a trend with his salary increases. They jump an average of $100,000 from year to year. In theory, the Bears should be able to bring back McManis, who is an unrestricted free agent, at a team-friendly price.
Re-signing him for one or two years at or around the minimum makes a lot of sense.
QB Jimmy Clausen
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Jimmy Clausen showed enough in 2014 to warrant consideration to be the Bears’ backup quarterback next season.
Clausen started one game this season, a Week 16 contest against the Detroit Lions. He completed 23 of 39 passes for 181 yards with two touchdowns and one interception against the NFL’s top-rated defense at the time.
The former Notre Dame quarterback earned $645,000 this season on a one-year deal. Regardless of who ends up being the Bears' starting quarterback in 2015, Clausen, an unrestricted free agent, should be given a shot to be the backup.
A two-year deal around $1 million per season is a good deal for a quarterback who pretty much spent the previous two seasons out of football.
Advanced statistics provided by Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Salary information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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