Predicting Chicago Bears' Starting Lineup After the 1st Wave of Free Agency

The Chicago Bears struck early in the first wave of free agency, signing outside linebacker Pernell McPhee, wide receiver Eddie Royal and safety Antrel Rolle. All three will likely be in the starting lineup for the Bears in Week 1 to start the 2015 season.

After signing McPhee, Royal and Rolle in the first couple of days of free agency, the Bears currently have around $15 million left in salary-cap space, via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune:

"

According to NFLPA figures, #Bears currently have $15,456,038 in salary cap room.

— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) March 17, 2015"

Considering the amount of money the Bears have left under the salary cap, it appears unlikely that they will be making any more big splashes in free agency. Even though the team likely won't be making any more big moves, general manager Ryan Pace knows he has time to build his roster.

"We're building this thing going forward. We have a lot of time, guys," Pace said last week, via Bob LeGere of the Daily Herald. "We have a lot of time to continue to build the roster and build the chemistry and build the locker room."

The Bears can still make many moves between now and the start of the 2015 season, but here is our prediction for their starting lineup after the first wave of free agency with the players who are currently on their roster.

Quarterback

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

Jay Cutler

After Pace was hired as general manager back in January, he said he was going to evaluate Jay Cutler before making any decision on the quarterback's future with the organization.

"I have previous things with Drew Brees that I had in my mind that I know why he was successful, and those are ingrained in me," Pace said at his introductory press conference, via Chris Wesseling of NFL.com, "but I want to get to know Jay (Cutler), I want to get to know him further before I come to these conclusions."

At the introductory press conference for McPhee last week, Pace announced Cutler was going to be the starting quarterback in 2015.

“We're moving forward with Jay Cutler as our starting quarterback,” Pace said, via John Mullin of CSNChicago.com.

He threw for 3,812 yards with 28 touchdowns and 18 interceptions last season, but he struggled with turnovers and fumbled 12 times. Even with his struggles in 2014, he is still the best option for the team at quarterback moving forward. 

Barring any sort of injury this offseason, Cutler will be the starter in 2015.

Running Back

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

Matt Forte

Few running backs in the NFL have been as consistent as Matt Forte has been over the last seven seasons.

Since his rookie year in 2008, Forte has rushed for 7,704 yards with 41 touchdowns and has hauled in 443 catches for 3,727 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Last year he rushed for over 1,000 yards for the third consecutive season and caught a career-high 102 passes for 808 yards.

Even though he will turn 30 in December, Forte does not feel like the end of the road is near.

"A lot of football left in me," Forte said on Twitter in late February. "I want to play them for the Chicago Bears and retire a lifelong Bear. But they have to want the same thing..."

He signed a four-year contract in 2012, and his deal is set to expire at the end of the 2015 season.

The team may try and lessen his workload after he racked up 368 touches last season, but he will once again be a focal point on offense for Chicago in 2015.

Wide Receiver

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

Alshon Jeffery, Marquess Wilson and Eddie Royal

Just three years after trading two third-round picks for Brandon Marshall, the Bears decided to trade the much-maligned wide receiver and a seventh-round pick to the New York Jets in exchange for a fifth-round pick earlier this month, via Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com:

"

#Bears officially announce Brandon Marshall trade to #Jets - #Bears receive 5th round pick from NY in exchange for Marshall & 7th rd pick.

— Jeff Dickerson (@ESPNChiBears) March 10, 2015"

With Marshall out of the picture, the Bears came to terms with Royal last Wednesday. Per the team's official Twitter account:

"

#Bears have signed free-agent receiver Eddie Royal to a 3-year contract. https://t.co/QEOIMqZI7e

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) March 12, 2015"

In seven NFL seasons, Royal has hauled in 338 catches for 3,750 yards and 25 touchdowns.

The Bears will likely not use a fullback in Adam Gase's new offense, meaning the team will use a lot of three-receiver sets. Royal will likely line up in the slot, while Alshon Jeffery and Marquess Wilson will be on the outside.

Jeffery will now be looked at as the team's No. 1 receiver without Marshall on the roster, and he will have a chance to build off his strong 2014 season in which he hauled in 85 catches for 1,133 yards and 10 touchdowns.

The biggest question mark at the position is Wilson.

He was taken in the seventh round of the 2013 draft and only hauled in two catches for 13 yards in 10 games his rookie season. He was expected to take a big step forward in 2014, but his season was derailed by a clavicle injury he suffered during training camp. He played the final seven games and caught 17 passes for 140 yards with one touchdown.

He has the ability to stretch the field, but he will need to prove this offseason he can consistently get open.

If the Bears opt to run three-receiver sets and do not add another receiver via free agency or the draft, expect Jeffery, Royal and Wilson to be the team's starting receivers come September.

Tight End

USA TODAY Sports

Martellus Bennett

After a rocky start in training camp last summer, Martellus Bennett burst onto the scene in 2014.

He was suspended during training camp because of a fight with teammate Kyle Fuller, but he made it clear he is just doing whatever he can do to win a championship in Chicago.

"Everybody talks about friendships, but really we are all preparing to win a championship," Bennett said at the time, via Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com. "If we make friends along the way, cool. But I'm just trying to help the Bears win a championship and do the job to the best of my ability."

He was reinstated six days later and never looked back. 

He hauled in a career-high 90 catches for 916 yards with six touchdowns and was named to his first Pro Bowl. 

Bennett gives Cutler a reliable target in the middle of the field, he does not shy away from contact and, according to Pro Football Focus, his 470 yards after the catch were the second-most among all tight ends last season.

In addition to being a pass-catching force, Bennett is also a solid blocker, particularly in the running game.

The team re-signed veteran Zach Miller earlier this offseason, but Bennett will remain atop the depth chart at the position in 2015.

Offensive Line

Jim Mone/Associated Press

Tackles: Jermon Bushrod and Jordan Mills

Guards: Matt Slauson and Kyle Long

Center: Roberto Garza 

Chicago started the same five offensive linemen in all 16 games in 2013, but injuries took their toll on the group last season.

All five starters missed at least one game in 2014, and Kyle Long was the group's lone bright spot. The second-year guard was named to his second straight Pro Bowl after allowing zero sacks, two quarterback hits and 13 quarterback hurries, according to Pro Football Focus.

Long and veteran Matt Slauson will man the team's two guard positions, while veteran Jermon Bushrod will reclaim his role as the team's left tackle.

While both guard spots and the left tackle position are seemingly locked in for 2015, there are still some question marks at center and right tackle.

Center Roberto Garza signed a one-year extension at the end of last season, but, according to Biggs, the Bears have been linked to centers Stefen Wisniewski and Samson Satele in free agency this offseason:

"

#Bears have expressed interest in #Raiders free agent center Stefen Wisniewski. http://t.co/6psJ1zZcw3

— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) March 9, 2015"

"

Sources say #Bears have expressed interest in veteran C Samson Satele. http://t.co/FH7zN8WICw

— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) March 15, 2015"

If the Bears do not sign either Wisniewski or Satele, Garza will likely reclaim his role as the starter.

As of right now, Jordan Mills looks to be the team's starter for the third straight year at right tackle, unless the team opts to address the position in free agency or the draft.

According to Pro Football Focus, Mills allowed six sacks, six quarterback hits and 31 quarterback hurries last season in 839 snaps after allowing three sacks, 13 quarterback hits and 62 quarterback hurries in 1,022 snaps in 2013.

He is an adequate run-blocker, but he has been a liability at times as a pass-blocker over the last two seasons. 

Unless the team makes any more moves this offseason, it looks like the Bears will start the same five guys along the offensive line in Week 1 for the third year in a row in 2015.

Defensive Line

USA TODAY Sports

Nose Tackle: Ego Ferguson

Defensive Ends: Jeremiah Ratliff and Cornelius Washington

In order for Chicago's new 3-4 defense to function properly, the team is going to need to get consistent production from its defensive line.

While veteran Jeremiah Ratliff has experience playing the nose tackle position in a 3-4, the team could look to use second-year defensive tackle Ego Ferguson at the 0-technique position.

A second-round pick of the Bears last May, Ferguson has good feet and is strong at the point of attack. The team will likely try to add another nose tackle or two in free agency or the draft, but Ferguson has a chance to get the first crack at the position.

Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio likes players with flexibility, and Ratliff has a chance to bounce around from the nose tackle to the 5-technique defensive end spot.

In addition to Ratliff at defensive end, Cornelius Washington could also get a look on the outside.

A sixth-round pick back in 2013, Washington is a versatile player who can play with his hand in the ground or standing up. He split time between outside linebacker and the 5-technique defensive end spot while at Georgia, but he has been given limited opportunities up to this point in his NFL career.

He needs to improve versus the run, but he could be utilized as a pass-rusher from the 5-technique spot. 

The Bears currently have very few players who fit along the defensive line in a 3-4 front, meaning guys like Will Sutton and Brandon Dunn will also get an opportunity to fight for a spot this offseason.

Because the team lacks depth along the defensive line, there is a good chance both the nose tackle and 5-technique defensive end position will be addressed later this offseason in the draft.

Linebacker

Stephen Brashear/Getty Images

Outside Linebackers: Pernell McPhee and Lamarr Houston

Inside Linebackers: Jon Bostic and Christian Jones

After signing McPhee last Wednesday, the Bears now have a surplus of players at the outside linebacker position.

In addition to McPhee, the team plans on using Lamarr Houston, Willie Young and Jared Allen at outside linebacker in 2015, via the team's official Twitter account and Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune:

"

#Bears coach John Fox says Lamarr Houston will initially line up as an outside linebacker.

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) March 11, 2015"

"

Fox on if DEs Allen & Young will be OLBs in 3-4: We'll line them up there. What they become will be up to them.

— Rich Campbell (@Rich_Campbell) February 18, 2015"

Houston played some linebacker with the Oakland Raiders early in his career, but Young and Allen have little to no experience. Despite Allen's inexperience at the position, Pace thinks the 11-year veteran can be successful in his new role.

"I think (Allen) can be very flexible," Pace said, via Kevin Fishbain of ChicagoFootball.com. "We can use him in a variety of ways. He has done it for a lot of years."

McPhee and Houston will likely be the starters on the outside, but Allen, Young and even 2012 first-round pick Shea McClellin could all get some work at outside linebacker.

While the Bears have a surplus of players who can play outside linebacker, they appear limited in the middle.

2013 second-round pick Jon Bostic will likely hold down one of the team's inside linebacker spots, but guys like McClellin, Christian Jones and Khaseem Greene could all be in the running for the other inside linebacker spot.

If the Bears do not address the position via the draft or free agency, Jones may be the team's best option.

He was signed as an undrafted free agent last offseason and has experience playing both on the inside and the outside as a linebacker. He is athletic and physical and could develop into a pass-rusher up the middle for the Bears.

He started five games last season and finished with 69 tackles and two sacks. 

Both the inside and outside linebacker positions could be addressed in the draft, but if they are not, the Bears appear to have plenty of different options they can choose from in 2015.

Cornerback

USA TODAY Sports

Tim Jennings and Kyle Fuller

The Bears re-signed Tim Jennings last offseason and drafted Kyle Fuller in the first round last May, and the two will likely be the team's starters at cornerback in 2015.

Jennings finished last season with 50 tackles and one forced fumble, but he failed to come away with an interception after hauling in a total of 13 between 2012 and 2013.

Fuller finished the year with 64 tackles, three forced fumbles and four interceptions and was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for September. 

Head coach John Fox has already pegged Fuller as a guy who can be a leader for the team.

"I'd say Fuller is a guy," Fox said, via LeGere. "My evaluation is more from what he did in college, where we had him in the draft process, than it is completely on Bear tape. But I'd say a young guy like that (could be) a core guy. I think he has the right kind of tools to be a guy that can lean into that leader spot as he goes."

The team also re-signed Demontre Hurst and Al Louis-Jean this offseason, but both will likely compete in minicamp and training camp to be the team's nickelback.

Both Fuller and Jennings are expected to head into the regular season as the starters at cornerback, but it would not be surprising if the team looked at the position again in the draft.

Safety

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Antrel Rolle and Ryan Mundy

After signing Ryan Mundy to a two-year deal last offseason, the Bears signed Rolle to a three-year deal last week, via Jeremy Stoltz of BearReport.com:

"

Antrel Rolle's 3-year deal is worth $11.25 million, with $5 million guaranteed. #Bears

— Jeremy Stoltz (@BearReport) March 12, 2015"

Rolle and Mundy previously played together on the New York Giants, and Mundy had nothing but praise for Rolle after the team announced the signing.

"Antrel's a ballplayer," Mundy said last Thursday, according to the Chicago Tribune's Dan Wiederer. "He just likes to go out and play. And with a guy like that, you don't try to constrict him too much."

In 10 seasons in the league, Rolle has registered 26 interceptions, including three last season.

If the team does not add any more safeties to the roster, Rolle and Mundy will likely be the starters at free and strong safety.

Mundy finished last season with 103 tackles, one sack and four interceptions. According to Pro Football Focus, he finished the year with a plus-1.8 overall grade, 36th-best among all safeties. 

He is not a flashy player, but he plays well up in the box versus the run and showed a knack last season for being in the right place at the right time.

Rolle's ability to roam from sideline to sideline will allow Mundy more flexibility near the line of scrimmage. 

Second-year man Brock Vereen could get an opportunity to fight for a starting role, but he will need to show better instincts if he wants to beat out Mundy. 

Special Teams

Jason Miller/Getty Images

Kicker: Robbie Gould

Punter: Pat O'Donnell

Returner: Marc Mariani

Long Snapper: Thomas Gafford

Injuries kept Robbie Gould off the field for four games last season, and the veteran kicker made just nine of his 12 field-goal attempts.

Chicago's offense did not give Gould many opportunities last season, but after making 85.5 percent of his kicks between 2005 and 2013, he made just 75 percent of his kicks in 2014.

The Bears drafted punter Pat O'Donnell in the sixth round last May, and after some early struggles, he finished the season averaging 43.8 yards per punt. 

Gould and O'Donnell will likely be the kicker and punter next season, and, according to Biggs, the team decided to sign veteran long snapper Thomas Gafford on Tuesday.

The Bears struggled to find a consistent return man last season until they signed Marc Mariani for the final six games of the year. He finished the season with 20 kick returns for 510 yards and seven punt returns for 29 yards. 

The team could always find a new returner in the draft or in free agency, but as of right now, Mariani appears to be the front-runner for the position in 2015.

Statistical information courtesy of NFL.com unless otherwise noted.

Matt Eurich is a Chicago Bears Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and a member of the Pro Football Writers of America.

Follow @MattEurich