Free agency begins March 15 at 4 p.m. ET.
Positional needs for Chicago Bears: OL, DL, WR, LB
The Bears have a lot of positional needs, but the good news is they have a projected $92 million in cap space heading into the offseason, according to OvertheCap.com. Aside from quarterback and running back, the offense needs work.
The offensive line allowed 55 sacks, 167 pressures and 118 hurries, and Justin Fields was hit more than 100 times between designed dropbacks and scramble plays. Fields averaged 21 pass attempts per game, so adding another weapon for him to throw should be at the top of GM Ryan Poles’ to-do list.
Defensively, there’s a lot to be fixed as well. With an NFL-low 20 sacks and just 162 pressures, Chicago had the worst pass rush in the league. The Bears also allowed the second-most rushing yards per game in the NFL. Adding an edge rusher or a big-bodied defensive tackle isn’t a bad way to go once free agency starts.
Allen Lazard, WR, Packers
Lazard was not shy about the fact that he was not returning to the Packers next season during his end-of-season media availability.
The 27-year-old wideout set career highs in 2022 in targets (100), receptions (60) and yards (788), and while he may not be a true No. 1 receiver, he would be a great secondary weapon for Fields.
A 1-2-3 punch of Lazard, Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool would be Chicago’s best trio of receivers since 2014 (Martellus Bennett, Alshon Jeffery, Brandon Marshall).
Isaiah Wynn, OT, Patriots
The Kansas City Chiefs will likely do everything they can to keep Pro Bowl tackle Orlando Brown Jr., but if he somehow hits the free-agent market, the Bears should absolutely be all over him.
If not, Wynn can be considered a solid Plan B. He’s only 28, and he allowed just four sacks, 11 hurries and 17 pressures in nine games this season. Beefing up the offensive line — especially at tackle — would be a great show of good faith by the Bears to prove they care about protecting Justin Fields’ health.
Brandon Graham, DE, Eagles
Although he’ll be 35 when the 2023 season starts, Graham proved he had a lot left in the tank after finishing tied for the 14th-most sacks in the NFL this season (11), also a career-high.
He’s had eight or more sacks in four of the past six seasons, and he has had 50 pressures and 30 or more hurries in every season but one since 2014. Graham would help replace some of the sack production lost by the midseason trade of Robert Quinn.
