Chicago Bears: Who Stays and Who Goes in 2015 Free Agency?
It has been an offseason full of changes for the Chicago Bears ever since the organization opted to fire general manager Phil Emery and head coach Marc Trestman in late December.
Now that Ryan Pace is in place as general manager and John Fox has been hired as head coach, the Bears can start focusing on free agency and particularly on which of their own players deserve to be re-signed.
Team consultant Ernie Accorsi made it clear the biggest thing Pace needs to do in his first offseason as general manager is to make the right judgments on his roster.
"The business is the matter of judgment," Accorsi said, via Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune. "You have to be able to make proper judgments on your acquisitions of players and your manipulation of the roster."
According to NFL.com, the Bears have 12 players set to become unrestricted free agents this offseason. While it appears pretty unlikely that guys like backup wide receiver Josh Morgan, tight ends Dante Rosario and Zach Miller or kicker Jay Feely will remain on the roster, there are still many questions surrounding guys like defensive tackle Stephen Paea, linebacker Lance Briggs and cornerback Charles Tillman.
Here is who we think stays and who goes in free agency for the Chicago Bears this offseason.
DT Stephen Paea
1 of 8
After struggling to stay healthy his first three seasons in the league, defensive tackle Stephen Paea started all 16 games in 2014.
In those 16 games he recorded career highs in tackles (33), sacks (six) and forced fumbles (two). Known more as a run-stopper heading into the 2014 season, Paea proved he has the ability to be a force at the nose tackle position as a pass-rusher.
He finished as Pro Football Focus' 11th-best defensive tackle with a plus-14.4 grade and had the fifth-most quarterback hurries with 33.
Following the team's loss to the Minnesota Vikings in the final game of the season, Paea made it known he wanted to return to Chicago in 2015, via the team's official Twitter account:
"#Bears free agent-to-be DT Stephen Paea: "I want to come back to Chicago. It’s home for me, so I’d love to come back."
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) December 29, 2014"
He would have been a virtual lock to re-sign with the team in 2015 if the Bears had hired a defensive coordinator who runs a traditional 4-3 defense, but with the team hiring Vic Fangio, re-signing Paea may not be a top priority.
3-4 defenses typically utilize space-eating nose tackles who can take on double-teams and open up space for linebackers to make a play. While Paea has the ability to take on double-teams, at 6'1" and 300 pounds, he might simply be too small to be a reliable every-down nose tackle in a 3-4.
The team could try to bring him back on a one- or two-year deal to be a stopgap at the position until someone like Ego Ferguson could develop, but it appears the Bears will be better off finding someone who has played the position before and better fits Fangio's system.
Prediction: Goes
T Eben Britton
2 of 8
When Marc Trestman began using reserve tackle Eben Britton as an extra tight end in 2013, Chicago's offense was able to find new life in both the running and passing game.
He played 239 snaps that season and registered a plus-4.5 overall grade, according to Pro Football Focus. He was re-signed last offseason to a one-year deal, but he missed a lot of time in 2014 due to an appendectomy. He played just 95 snaps, finishing with a minus-0.6 grade.
There is very little about Britton's game that is flashy, but in limited opportunities the last two seasons he has shown he is a more than capable backup. The benefit to keeping Britton around is he can play right tackle and both guard positions.
Even though Jordan Mills struggled at times last season at right tackle, the Bears decided to keep him at the position instead of giving Britton an opportunity to win the job. When the coaching staff finally decided to make a move, rookie Michael Ola got the start over Britton. Ola showed some flashes, but he had his fair share of struggles.
Re-signing Britton would give the Bears another solid backup who can play three positions and could possibly compete for the starting right tackle job if the new coaching staff does not view Mills as a long-term solution.
Prediction: Stays
C Brian De La Puente
3 of 8
Signed by the Bears last offseason to a one-year deal to serve as Roberto Garza's backup at center, Brian de la Puente ended up starting six games combined at center and guard in 2014.
An injury in Week 12 ended his season, but, according to Pro Football Focus, he finished the year as the league's seventh-best center with a plus-8.2 grade. In 320 snaps, he allowed just two quarterback hurries and two sacks.
He has underrated athleticism for a center and does a good job of getting out in front of plays to block, particularly on screen passes.
New offensive coordinator Adam Gase had most of his success in Denver with Peyton Manning throwing the football, but new head coach John Fox made a point in his introductory press conference that the Bears want to get back to being balanced on offense moving forward.
"It starts with running the ball and stopping the run," Fox told Larry Mayer of ChicagoBears.com. "There’s a certain element of that. How much you run, how much you pass—you better be efficient at both. People talk about balance. Well, they talk about balance so you’re not one-dimensional. If you remain two-dimensional, it makes it harder for a defense to defend."
Even though his opportunities were limited in 2014, De La Puente proved he has the ability to be efficient in both pass- and run-blocking. He graded out with a plus-1.4 grade as a pass-blocker and a plus-6.8 as a run-blocker, according to Pro Football Focus.
The team did re-sign center Garza in late December, but that move was made while the team still employed former general manager Phil Emery and head coach Marc Trestman.
Garza has been a mainstay along Chicago's offensive line for the last 10 seasons, but De La Puente proved last year he is a better long-term solution at the position.
Because of De La Puente's abilities in both pass- and run-blocking, he should find himself back in Chicago next season competing with Garza to be the team's starter.
Prediction: Stays
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FS Chris Conte
4 of 8
Drafted in the third round of the 2011 draft out of California, safety Chris Conte started nine games his rookie season and looked like he had the ability to develop into a solid NFL free safety.
He started 15 games in 2012 and hauled in two interceptions but had a terrible 2013 season in which he finished as Pro Football Focus' fourth-worst safety with a minus-15.2 grade.
He struggled again at times this season on the field, finishing with a minus-3.0 overall grade, but his biggest struggles came with his health.
In addition to injuries to his shoulders, eye and back this season, he suffered two documented concussions and missed four games. Late in the season, he went on WBBM-AM 780 radio station in Chicago and said he would rather die young than not play in the NFL.
"I'd rather have the experience of playing in the NFL and die 10 to 15 years earlier than not play in the NFL and have a long life," he said, via Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune. "I don't really look toward my life after football. I'll figure things out when I get there. As long as I outlive my parents."
Conte clearly is unfazed by what his concussions can mean for his long-term health, and he will likely be seeking a long-term contract out on the open market this offseason.
While he does have playmaking potential, he has been maddeningly inconsistent throughout his tenure in Chicago.
Unless the team completely whiffs on a free safety in free agency or the draft, do not expect Conte to be back with the organization in 2015.
Prediction: Goes
LB D.J. Williams
5 of 8
Signed to replace Brian Urlacher at middle linebacker in 2013, D.J. Williams had an up and down last two seasons with the Bears.
He played in just six games in 2013 due to injuries, racking up 27 tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble. He played in 12 games last season, totaling 46 tackles.
Even though he did not have the two best seasons of his career, Chicago lacks much experience at the position, and Williams' prior experience playing for Fox in Denver from 2011-2012 may help him stick with the team in 2015.
"I had a good relationship with John Fox," Williams said in an interview on the Carmen and Jurko Show on ESPN 1000 in Chicago, via Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com.
He continued:
"He was a great coach. I'm late in my career and I do want to go to a place where I'm comfortable. I feel like if I do talk to John Fox he would shoot me straight and tell me what my position would be on the team. I'm feeling pretty good. I had a neck injury earlier this year. It's one of those injuries that you just needed time for it to heal. Now I'm feeling good and ready to go.
"
Williams has experience playing inside linebacker in a 3-4 from his time in Denver. In 2009 he finished with 122 tackles, 3.5 sacks, seven pass deflections and three forced fumbles in then-defensive coordinator Mike Nolan's 3-4 scheme.
Despite Williams stating he feels healthy and ready to go, it appears unlikely the Bears would want to stick with a soon-to-be 33-year-old inside linebacker who has struggled to stay healthy the last two seasons. While it is possible the team keeps him around on a one-year deal to help groom a young inside linebacker, the organization appears to want to get younger on defense moving forward.
Prediction: Goes
QB Jimmy Clausen
6 of 8
Signed as a free agent last offseason, former second-round pick Jimmy Clausen battled Jordan Palmer to be Jay Cutler's backup in 2014.
Despite a solid showing by Palmer throughout minicamps, OTAs and training camp, Clausen did enough in his short time with the organization in training camp to earn the job.
He made appearances in three games in mop-up duty before getting the start against the Detroit Lions in Week 16 after Trestman decided Clausen would give the team the best opportunity to win.
"This is performance-based only," Trestman said about the decision to start Clausen over Cutler, via the team's official Twitter account. "We're not getting enough out of our quarterback."
He finished the game with 181 yards passing on 23 completions with two touchdowns, one interception and a 77.0 quarterback rating.
“What do I think I did for myself?” Clausen asked after the game, via Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com. “I think I just went out there and competed. That’s the biggest thing I think I did, and showed I can play in this league."
Unfortunately for Clausen, he suffered a concussion in the game and was ruled out of the season finale against the Minnesota Vikings.
While he did not put up incredible numbers against the Lions, he did prove he has the ability to stick around the NFL as a backup. Had the Bears stuck with Trestman for another season, Clausen would likely find himself back in training camp with the organization this summer, but there is no telling what the new coaching staff thinks of him.
Even though he proved he can serviceable, the Bears will likely look to get younger at the position via the draft.
Prediction: Goes
CB Charles Tillman
7 of 8
Arguably the best cornerback to ever play for the Chicago Bears, Charles Tillman's future with the organization is currently up in the air.
After making back-to-back trips to the Pro Bowl in 2011 and 2012, Tillman was allowed by the organization to test free agency last offseason. His opportunities were limited, and he returned to the organization last year on a one-year deal.
He played only one full game last season before tearing his triceps against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2. He was placed on injured reserve and missed the remainder of the season.
The team does have Tim Jennings and Kyle Fuller currently on the roster at cornerback, but bringing back Tillman could help give stability to a position that struggled at times last season.
With so many NFL teams using three- and four-wide receiver sets, it is imperative for teams to have more than two capable cornerbacks.
The team initially planned on using Tillman and Jennings on the outside in the team's base coverage in 2014 with Jennings moving inside and Fuller to the outside in the nickel package, but Tillman's injury forced Fuller to stay on the outside all season long.
Tillman will turn 34 next month, and he appears to have accepted the fact that he will likely not return to Chicago next season. During the team's final game against the Vikings last season, Tillman thanked the fans for all the support they had given him and Briggs during their 12 years in Chicago:
"Thank you Chicago for everything. 12 years of being in the best sports town in the world has truly been a blessing. pic.twitter.com/8wvpLBSqw5
— Charles Tillman (@peanuttillman) December 29, 2014"
If he wants to play one more season in the NFL, Chicago may end up being his only option, but with the Bears wanting to get younger on defense, he will likely not return next season.
Prediction: Goes
LB Lance Briggs
8 of 8
In a league filled with pass-rushing outside linebackers, Chicago's Lance Briggs has consistently been one of the league's best 4-3 outside linebackers since he entered the league in 2003.
He made the Pro Bowl seven times between 2005 and 2011 and was named to The Associated Press' All-Pro team three times.
Unfortunately for Briggs, injuries and time caught up with him in 2013 and 2014. He started just 17 games the last two seasons, registering just 105 tackles, three sacks, three forced fumbles and one interception.
He was placed on injured reserve back in late November after suffering a groin injury against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and made it clear he was likely not going to return to Chicago in 2015.
“I understand this is probably my last year as a Chicago Bear,” he said at the time, via Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune. "I’m OK with it. I can look back on my career at the games, all I put on tape, the way I fought with my teammates and be a happy man.”
Even when Briggs was healthy the last two seasons, he looked like a shell of his former self. In his prime he had the ability to roam from sideline to sideline and stop runners before they could cross the line of scrimmage, but he appeared to have lost a step after the 2012 season.
Even though the team looks like it will make the switch to a 3-4, Briggs mentioned he wanted to return in 2015 earlier this week.
"In my opinion, I don't see any reason why you wouldn't want to (bring Briggs back to the Bears)," Briggs said on SportsTalk Live on Comcast Chicago, via CSNChicago.com.
He continued:
"Obviously, in the draft, that's probably going to be one of the focal points is getting a linebacker, (but) a guy who's been around, a guy who understands football, who's a great football player and can play at a high level still, to me, is enticing. A guy like John Fox — love the hire — and hopefully I get a call and I get an opportunity to come back and play in Chicago, where I'm supposed to be.
"
He will undoubtedly go down as one of the best to play the position in Chicago, but Briggs' time in Chicago could be done unless he can prove he can play inside linebacker in Fangio's defense.
Prediction: Goes
Record/statistical information provided via email from the Chicago Bears unless otherwise noted.
Matt Eurich is an NFL/Chicago Bears Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and a member of the Pro Football Writers of America.
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