If Chicago Bears fans learned anything about the team in 2015 it was that the team is coached well, but there wasn’t enough talent to consistently contend. This was evidenced through having a margin of defeat of 6-points in the team’s seven losses after week four.
The team would learn how to fight, even if their defense was less talented than the opposition. We all know the trials Jay Cutler had throughout his Bears career, but even he played better than what his track record would have led you to believe.
So how do the Bears get more talented? Part of it is through great drafts, not only in the first or second rounds, but also through getting solid contributors in the third, fourth, fifth, so on and so on… Even with great drafting, the Bears need to bring in players that have playmaking capabilities through free agency. That ain’t cheap either.
Here are the five guys that will make the Bears better right away, and make them Super Bowl contenders in 2016.
Danny Trevathan, ILB
While Von Miller is the Denver Broncos biggest free agent of 2016, coming off of his Super Bowl 50 MVP performance, he is not going anywhere. Danny however, could end up being the steal of free agency for the Bears.
Having played for coach John Fox in the past, Trevathan not only fits the Bears 3-4 defensive scheme, but is intimately familiar with how to excel in the system.
Possibly more attractive is a Trevathan signing could very well mark the end of the Shea McClellin experiment, and the fact that he’s already planning on talking to the Bears this offseason.
“Coach Fox is one of the guys that gave me the opportunity to showcase I can fit within the scheme,” Danny said. “I’m sure it’ll be there, I’m sure we’ll end up talking, but right now my main focus is this game. Whatever happens, happens. This game could make or break my contracts. It’s up to me to make the most of it.”
He very well mighy have plane tickets to Chicago, and signing Danny would very well leave a lot of the estimated $62 million the Bears have to spend in free agency to bring in more talent.
https://youtu.be/TsG-A8LdnwE
He is the best run stopping inside linebacker that will be on the market, has shown the ability to cause issues by shooting gaps as well as defending other team’s tight ends. His two interceptions and six pass defends show that he is a very capable defender when dropping back and following the quarterbacks eyes.
Kelechi Osemele, OG
Kyle Long was the Bears best offensive lineman while he played guard. He was moved to right tackle last season, and after some early road bumps, he was the team’s best lineman again.
Pairing Long with a huge legit guard would immediately give the Bears one of the most intimidating rights sides, and run blocking tandems in all of football.
https://youtu.be/sIxXK9Ma5BE
The Bears want to run the ball, then create passing lanes as defenses need to respect the run. With Long and Osemele opening holes, or just plain running potential tacklers over, whoever running the ball should have a huge year rushing.
Josh Norman, CB
When you play against a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers twice a year, you always have a need for a shutdown corner. That is exactly what Norman is.
Quarterbacks had a passer rating of just 54.0 when looking Norman’s way, and with four interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns, Norman is the exact type of playmaker the Bears defense needs. Issue is, Norman will be the top cornerback to enter free agency this offseason, and will certainly demand a ton of money wherever he chooses to go.
https://youtu.be/kdIv6QW0hII
The positive, the Bears have a heaping pile of cash that they are ready to hand out to the best of the free agent class and it would be questionable if the Bears didn’t pursue a guy like Norman. Coach Fox has also mentioned his desire for multiple cornerbacks in the past.
“I don’t think you can ever have too many corners with a lot of the multiple receiver sets that you get — and we will get with the types of quarterbacks that we have on our schedule this year,” Fox said after Sunday’s rookie minicamp practice, via comments distributed by the team. “That was problematic for us a year ago and hopefully with some good competition we can fix that.”
With guys like Kyle Fuller, Tracy Porter, Sharrick McManis, Bryce Callahan, Jacoby Glenn, and Allan Ball making up the 2015 Bears corbers, Norman would instantly improve the corps and allow the Bears to possibly move Fuller to a nickelback, which just might be his best suited corner position.
Muhammad Wilkerson, DE
Wilkerson has made himself the best 3-4 defensive end in football. His 12.0 sacks and three forced fumbles would give the Bears the pass rushing force they need in order to pressure opposing quarterbacks into bad mistakes.
Not only is Wilkerson a legit pass rushing 3-4 end, he has the size to clog lanes and defend the run. Vic Fangio has said, defensive ends are key to the 3-4 working, Wilkerson is the best option there is.
Wilkerson very likely could be franchise tagged by the New York Jets, but if he were to reach the free agent market he could command something in the neighborhood of JJ Watt like paper. With Pernell McPhee putting pressure on quarterbacks, it would be nice to see another stout pass rusher reeking havoc in opponents backfields.
Tashsaun Gipson, FS
There is another stellar free safety on the market in the Chargers Eric Weddle. You can’t go wrong with either, but the playmaking ability of Tashaun puts him over the top.
Gipson has led the league in interceptions in 2013 and 14, and even with a drop off in 2015 (along with some missed time) this formally undrafted safety might be the biggest ballhawking playmaker in all of the NFL. To add to the possibility of him joining the Bears, Tashsaun is ready to “bet on myself“.
Undrafted out of Wyoming, Tashaun is certainly confident in his abilities. If he does enter the market, he has built up a $9 million per season pricetag.
There are several others in free agency that could certainly help the Bears in 2016 and beyond. This collection of five would take the 6-10 last place team and immeduately make those Bears contenders for the Super Bowl.
Let’s go Ryan Pace, get this done.
