Bears' Top Players to Avoid in 2023 NFL Free Agency

The Chicago Bears are in a tremendous position to spend money this offseason. They have $94.43 million in projected cap space, per Over The Cap, while no other team in the NFL is expected to have more than $56.58 million available.

Now, the Bears need to decide how best to utilize their financial flexibility.

Chicago, which went an NFL-worst 3-14 this past season, has plenty of holes on its roster. It needs to acquire more talent and fix its biggest needs, which may take more than one offseason to do.

However, the Bears could at least move in the right direction if they're smart about the types of free-agent deals they hand out.

With that in mind, here's some players who Chicago may want to avoid in free agency this year.

DJ Chark, WR

AP Photo/Lon Horwedel

Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark celebrates his 22-yard touchdown reception against the Philadelphia Eagles in the second half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)

Bears quarterback Justin Fields showed great improvement in his second season in the NFL, but imagine how much better he could perform if he was surrounded by a receiving corps filled with talented playmakers.

One of Chicago's biggest needs this offseason is to upgrade at wide receiver, and it could do so via free agency and/or the NFL draft. But the former isn't exactly filled with top-tier options this offseason, which could lead to some players getting overpaid on the market.

If the Bears still want to make a free-agent splash at receiver, they may not want to target DJ Chark. He has struggled to stay on the field during his five-year NFL career, and he wasn't overly impressive in his lone season with the Detroit Lions in 2022, recording 502 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games.

It likely wouldn't be wise for Chicago to pay to sign the 26-year-old. Adding him to a group that features Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool still leaves the unit without a true No. 1 option.

So, it's time for the Bears to find a way to bring in a top-tier receiving option for Fields to throw to for the long term—and that isn't Chark.

Brandon Graham, DE

AP Photo/Rich Schultz

Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham (55) is introduced before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)

In 17 games this past season, the Bears generated only 20 sacks, the fewest of any team in the NFL. Moving forward, they need to do a much better job of creating pressure on opposing QBs, and they need to upgrade their pass rush in order to do so.

Chicago should be looking to acquire talented edge-rushers this offseason, but it also needs to have the long-term future in mind. That's why Brandon Graham may not be a great fit.

The 2020 Pro Bowler is coming off an impressive campaign. In his 13th NFL season (all of which have been spent with the Philadelphia Eagles), he recorded a career-high 11 sacks in 17 games, proving that he could put up better numbers than he had for much of his time in the league.

However, Graham will turn 35 in April. So, even though he'd be an upgrade to the Bears' defensive front, they'd likely only sign him to a one-year deal.

Chicago isn't going to be a contending team in 2023, either, so it should seek younger edge-rushers to boost its defense for the future.

Riley Reiff, OT

AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski

Chicago Bears offensive tackle Riley Reiff (71) blocks during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)

It may not be a difficult decision for Chicago to not re-sign Riley Reiff this offseason. After all, he was part of a Bears offensive line that allowed Fields to get sacked 55 times during the 2022 season.

The offensive tackle played in 16 games and made 10 starts in his first year in Chicago, but he struggled to help keep the quarterback on his feet.

Reiff wasn't the sole reason why the Bears' pass protection wasn't too impressive, but he did have a Pro Football Focus grade of 64.3, which is backup level on that scale.

Not only was he not that productive, but he also turned 34 in December. So, it seems unlikely that he'll get back to the form he showed earlier in his career.

Chicago needs to overhaul its offensive line, and it's probably for the best if Reiff isn't a part of that process. The Bears need young, strong players up front who can help Fields have long-term success.