4 Veterans the Chicago Bears Must Part with Before 2015 Season

The Chicago Bears made some noise this past Monday just before the start of free agency when it was reported that Baltimore Ravens defensive end/outside linebacker Pernell McPhee agreed to a five-year deal with the team, according to Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun:

"

Pernell McPhee to Chicago Bears on five-year, $40 million deal, nearly $16 million guaranteed: http://t.co/JdSXJrop6Y

— Aaron Wilson (@RavensInsider) March 9, 2015"

The Bears have also been linked to wide receiver Eddie Royal and safety Antrel Rolle in free agency. According to Aaron Leming of BearReport.com, Royal and the Bears came to an agreement late Tuesday night, while NFL.com's Ian Rapoport tweeted that Rolle was visiting with the Bears.

With new faces likely to be added to the roster soon via free agency, some veterans may become expendable this offseason.

Whether it is for financial reasons, age or inconsistency on the field, some veterans will get cut to make way not only for new free agents, but also for the incoming draft class.

Here are four veterans the Chicago Bears must part ways with before the 2015 season. 

C Roberto Garza

USA TODAY Sports

Before former general manager Phil Emery was shown the door this past January, he made it a point to sign center Roberto Garza to a one-year contract extension worth a maximum of $1.5 million, according to Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune.

Garza has been a fixture along Chicago's offensive line since signing with the team back in 2005. He spent the early part of his career in Chicago at right guard before moving to center after veteran Olin Kreutz turned down a contract in 2011.

Once considered one of the better run-blocking guards in the league, Garza has struggled the last couple of seasons at center. According to Pro Football Focus, he graded out as the 21st-best center with a minus-1.3 grade. While he was still solid against the run, he struggled in pass protection and finished with a minus-6.7 grade in pass blocking.

He will turn 36 later this month and lacks the overall athleticism that is required of the center position. He is still a solid run-blocker, but he was exposed many times last year as a pass-blocker. 

He missed four games last season and was outplayed by backup Brian de la Puente.

De la Puente played 320 snaps at center last season and posted a plus-8.2 overall grade, according to Pro Football Focus. He allowed just two quarterback hurries and graded out positively in both pass and run blocking. 

Garza has all the leadership qualities that teams desperately look for, but he proved last season his age is finally starting to catch up with him.

If the Bears opt to re-sign de la Puente or go after a younger option in free agency, Garza could be shown the door before training camp begins. 

LB Shea McClellin

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Drafted 19th overall in the 2012 draft, Shea McClellin has been a disappointment in Chicago.

Despite spending the majority of his career at Boise State as a 3-4 outside linebacker, the Bears tried to use McClellin at defensive end.

He registered just 44 tackles and 6.5 sacks in his first two seasons. He struggled to shed blockers as a pass-rusher and was even worse at setting the edge versus the run. While he has athleticism and speed, he lacks the upper body strength to be a consistent pass-rusher. After his struggles in 2012 and 2013, the Bears decided to move him to strong-side linebacker last season.

He made 10 starts and registered 36 tackles and one sack, but he still struggled with trying to shed blockers and was a liability in pass coverage.

According to Pro Football Focus, McClellin was the seventh-worst 4-3 outside linebacker in pass coverage last season, registering a minus-6.3 grade. He allowed 14 catches on 19 passes thrown his direction, including two touchdowns.

While it seems like he would be a better fit in Chicago's new 3-4 defense as an outside linebacker, head coach John Fox is not sure whether McClellin will play inside or outside.

“That’s something we’ve talked about,” Fox said at the combine about where McClellin will play, via Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com. “But I almost can’t even say right now if he’s going to be an inside or an outside backer until we get on the grass and watch him perform.”

If McClellin does get moved to inside linebacker this offseason, it will be his third different position in the last four years.

He could possibly thrive on the outside like he did at Boise State, but he has failed to show in the NFL that he has the ability to shed blocks or set the edge. Unless he has a tremendous offseason and preseason, he should be shown the door so younger guys like Christian Jones and David Bass can get more reps. 

T Jordan Mills

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The Bears went out of their way in 2013 to bolster their offensive line by adding veterans Jermon Bushrod and Matt Slauson in free agency and drafting Kyle Long in the first round and Jordan Mills in the fifth round.

Bushrod, Slauson and Long all had solid seasons, but Mills struggled in his rookie year.

He started all 16 games but gave up three sacks, 13 quarterback hits and a league-high 62 quarterback hurries, according to Pro Football Focus. His minus-36.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus was third-worst among all tackles. 

Mills missed time in training camp last year because he was recovering from a foot injury he suffered in the 2013 season finale versus the Green Bay Packers, but he reclaimed his starting role in Week 1 versus the Buffalo Bills last September.

He missed three games last season due to injury but still allowed six sacks, six quarterback hits and 31 quarterback hurries in 839 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. 

While it is somewhat unfair to criticize a player who was thrust into a starting role as a rookie after being selected in the fifth round, Mills has shown very little improvement over the last two seasons.

The Bears were able to hide some of his flaws by lining up an extra tight end or offensive lineman next to him in pass protection, but he was exposed often when forced to play on an island.

The Bears entertained the idea of moving him to guard last season, but he stayed on the outside at tackle. 

Chicago spent years trying to prove that J'Marcus Webb was a viable option at tackle, only to watch him struggle on a weekly basis. Mills is similar to Webb because he has flashed his potential on occasion, but because of how important it is to keep the quarterback upright, the Bears may be better off moving on from Mills and finding a better replacement in either the draft or free agency. 

K Robbie Gould

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Robbie Gould signed with the Bears back in October 2005, and he quickly developed into one of the league's most consistent kickers.

In 10 seasons with the Bears, Gould has made 243 of his 284 field-goal attempts, and his 85.6 field-goal percentage is the seventh-best all time, according to Pro Football Reference.

After signing a four-year, $15 million extension in December 2013, Gould struggled last season. He completed only nine of his 12 field-goal attempts and missed the final four games of the year with a hamstring injury. 

While his decline last season can be attributed to a lack of opportunities, he also struggled with getting the ball in the end zone on kickoffs. Between 2011 and 2013, Gould nailed an average of 51.1 percent of his kickoffs for touchbacks, but only 39.6 percent of his kickoffs last season landed for a touchback.

In addition to his struggles on the field, Gould was unafraid to talk about team issues this past season.

“I honestly don’t even know what the message is, to be honest with you,” Gould said on The Spiegel and Mannelly Show on 670 The Score last December when Jay Cutler was benched for Jimmy Clausen, via CBSChicago.com. “I just think it’s been a long season. (Trestman started Clausen) to provide a spark for the team, is what he told us, and I wish Jay was out there playing."

Not many would argue with what Gould said, but it is never a good idea for a player to question his head coach in public, regardless of the situation.

Because of his struggles on the field and his outspokenness, the Bears may want to wipe the slate clean next season and release the soon-to-be 34-year-old kicker.

According to Over the Cap, Gould has a cap hit of $3.6 million in 2015, and the Bears could save $1.8 million by cutting him.

Statistical information courtesy of NFL.com 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.

Follow @MattEurich