Chicago Bears: What They Should Do With Their Free Agents

With the NFL lockout officially over, all teams will soon start negotiating contracts with players.  The Bears have $34 million in cap space and are in position to spend big money on some key positions like receiver and offensive line.

Although there is plenty of star power in this year's class of free agents, the Bears still have some tough decisions to make regarding their own group of free agents.

Will they keep players like Olin Kreutz and Anthony Adams?

Certainly these aren't the most back-breaking decisions the Bears have ever faced, but they deserve some attention.

Todd Collins, QB

Because of the significant injury to his shoulder  he suffered against the Packers, I think this is the easiest decision the Bears will have to make because Todd Collins will probably make it for them by retiring.

And who can blame him? 

I saw Collins as a smart, low-risk signing for the Bears.  Despite his old age, he had experience in a Mike Martz-type offensive system when he was a backup for Kansas City.  

As it turned out, he was low risk.  For the Bears, anyway.  Not for Collins, who was essentially a hitting dummy for opposing defenses when he played.  

You could see Collins' age playing a factor.  Even his in-game pictures from last season look like they're from the '90s.  His inability to move around in the pocket, coupled with embarrassing play from the offensive line, didn't allow Collins to be productive in the offense.  

Barring any miracles, I think we've seen the last of Collins, and if he knew Chicago's offensive line would play as poorly as it did, he probably would have retired last year.    

Caleb Hanie, QB (Restricted FA)

This one's a no-brainer.

He more than held his own in last year's NFC Championship game, and there's no guarantee that Cutler will remain injury-free next season, so the Bears need a backup who is in control of the offense.

Hanie has become somewhat of a fan favorite, but I don't see any QB controversy starting up any time soon.  

The Bears bring him back, and I'll go as far as saying that in a couple of years, Hanie will have become a valuable trading asset for the Bears like Matt Schaub was to the Falcons and Kevin Kolb to the Eagles.

Garrett Wolfe, RB

I was a huge fan of Wolfe's while he was at Northern Illinois.  I mean, it was hard not to be, right?  He was a classic underdog because of his size, and his highlight tape was breathtaking.  

I had—a bit misguided—high hopes for him when the Bears drafted him in the third round.  This was coming off the heels of getting rid of Thomas Jones and naming Cedric Benson the starter (I remember trusting that would work out as well), so it stood to reason that Wolfe would back Benson up and provide some much needed spark to the Bear's offense.

Of course, Wolfe has seen very little time on offense since being drafted, and he's been decent on special teams.  He didn't get any touches in the Mike Martz offense because there wasn't one thing he was better at than Matt Forte and Chester Taylor.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Bears brought him back, but even if they didn't, he wouldn't be hard to replace.

Rashied Davis, WR

I still have the cut-out from the Chicago Tribune of Davis making a clutch catch against the Seahawks in the 2007 playoffs.  

Since Jay Cutler took over, though, Davis has taken a back seat to other receivers Johnny Knox, Devin Hester and Earl Bennett.  

With the Bears appearing ready to make a cannonball-like splash in this free agency pool of receivers, Davis might find himself on the outside looking in.  As long as he's been a Bear, he's been solid and at times, a fan favorite.  

It's unfortunate, but the Bears and Davis will most likely part ways this offseason.

Devin Aromashodu, WR

He had a couple of big games at the end of the season two years ago and Bears fans, along with some media members, jumped at the opportunity to label him the next Brandon Marshall.

Yeah.

OK, fine, I was one of them.  I fell victim to his cool last name.   

Anyway, he rarely saw any part of the field, and I'm pretty sure the Bears let him use the same jersey the whole season because it never got dirty. 

He's not coming back.

Desmond Clark, TE

Ever since the Bears drafted Greg Olsen, I felt it was pretty clear that Clark would see less and less playing time.

When Mike Martz came in? Forget about it.

It's unfortunate because I always thought Desmond Clark was an under-used offensive weapon, who, much like Olsen, could create some matchup problems for defenses.  

I think this one's easy.  The Bears don't bring him back, and I do hope that he finds a team that will give him some time on the field (you can never rule out the Patriots.  Bill Belichick loves tight ends like John Gruden loves quarterbacks). 

Olin Kreutz, C

I really hope I'm not doing this as a lifetime achievement award, but I think the Bears will keep Olin Kreutz. It would just be weird if he played for another team.

Whether it's because he has something left in the tank or because there isn't an upgrade available in free agency, I just don't see Kreutz leaving Chicago.

I've been a big critic of the offensive line play from last season.  No, I can't and won't blame all of it on Kreutz, but he is the leader.  Not just of the offensive line but of the entire team.  

He makes sure every player knows their assignment, and he doesn't shy away from confrontation (against the opponent or his own teammate).

Bring him back and let him retire in the uniform he'll (hopefully) wear into the Hall of Fame.

Anthony Adams, DT

The Bears released Tommie Harris, so I'm sure Anthony Adams will come back.  The players on defense trust him, and he ate up a lot of space in the middle of that defensive line, something the Bears were lacking since Tank Johnson left.

Adams is probably first on the Bear's list of priorities as far as re-signing their own players goes, and he has stated that he wants to be in Chicago, so I can't find any reason that this won't happen.

Matt Toeaina, DT

A solid player who just has a non-stop motor. 

With not much depth at the defensive tackle position, I think the Bears keep Toeaina as well.

He had two sacks with limited play, and he fits in well with the rotation.  I don't think the Bears are ready to turn the reigns over to younger prospects like Marcus Harrison just yet.

Brian Iwuh, OLB

Brian Iwuh was a special teams standout for the Bears (second on the team in special teams tackles with 18).

Although he probably won't solve the need at strong side linebacker, he did have 10 tackles in his only start, which proved that he has some potential to become a full-time starter for the Bears.

I don't think the Bears let him get away.

Nick Roach, OLB

Roach is probably the top option at this point to start alongside Urlacher and Briggs at linebacker.

He was slowed a little last season by injury but has proven over the last couple of years that he's a capable starter in the NFL.  

And besides, how could any Bears fan argue against a player when there's a picture of him tackling a Packers running back (in this case Ryan Grant)?

Pisa Tinoisamoa

Plagued by injury all season long, Tinoisamoa is likely heading for a new team.

When the Bears brought him aboard last offseason, I thought he was the missing link.  He led the Rams in tackles for (I believe) the previous three or four years, and he was coming to a Bears team with two studs already at linebacker.

I think if the Bears were smart, they'd consider bringing him back and give him another shot.

Rod Wilson, MLB

I haven't heard much from Wilson as long as he's been a Bear.  I know that he was a special teams player, but even there he didn't make too much noise.

To be honest, I first learned about him only because he's the player the controller switched to first when I pressed 'X' in Madden.

I can't find a reason for the Bears to re-sign him at this point.  He's a reserve at best, and he's easily replaceable on special teams.

Danieal Manning, SS

The safety position has been a problem for the Bears ever since Mike Brown left Chicago.  Not only was Brown one of the top safeties in the league in his prime, but he was the leader of that Bears defense.

Danieal Manning has excellent top-end speed and is a home run threat every time he touches the ball on special teams, but I haven't seen the type of improvement on defense that I was hoping for because he's a terrific athlete.

Small side note: I still haven't completely forgiven him for blowing his coverage and leaving the middle wide open for Reggie Wayne against the Colts in the Super Bowl.

There's a definite chance the Bears could bring him back, but I wouldn't be surprised if other teams were more interested in his services.

Josh Bullocks, SS

I actually don't remember the announcer ever calling Bullocks' name during any game.  I don't mean for that to sound like he didn't actually contribute, I just don't recall him contributing.

In the end, I think this was a one-year deal.  I don't think anyone expected Bullocks to be the answer to our safety need.  

I just don't see the Bears making a move to re-sign him, but then again, if they do, it will probably be for depth purposes.

Corey Graham, CB

Pro Bowl snub Corey Graham might be difficult to retain.

He led the league in special teams tackles with 23, and like I said before, the Bears love to excel on special teams.

I'm sure they would want nothing more than to keep Graham, but with no real opportunity for him to get any playing time at cornerback, he might look at some offers from other teams. 

Brad Maynard, P

There was a time, if you can believe it, where Brad Maynard was probably the MVP of the Chicago Bears.

And I'm not talking about just one year.

At least three.

I was getting ready to give him the lifetime achievement award and predict he resigns with the Bears, but as I was writing this article, I saw a report on ESPN Chicago that the Bears will not re-sign Brad Maynard.

Well, that make's this one easy.

There's Still Free Agency

Although the Bears have tough decisions to make, none of them will make as big an impact as some potential free agents.  

There is a lot of talent out there and the Bears have money to spend.  We saw management open of their wallets for Jay Cutler, Julius Peppers and Chester Taylor.

Now let's hope they can reel in a big time wide receiver, some (by some, I really mean a lot) help on the offensive line, a ball-hawking safety, a decent corner to play opposite Charles Tillman and maybe a strong side linebacker.

That's not asking too much, is it?