Chicago Bears: 5 defensive free agents worth pursuing

Chris Baker

Chris Baker is a guy who could come in and fill a role that the Chicago Bears desperately need.

In a Vic Fangio defense, one of the best things a team can have on the defensive line is depth.

Looking at the success of some of the best teams out there, like the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, one of the common factors is just this. The Eagles were able to compete all year long in large part due to their impressive depth on the defensive line.

The front seven is where it all starts. The better your depth up front, the better your secondary looks, regardless of who’s back there.

Baker could come in and give Akiem Hicks another guy on the edge to help bolster their pass rush. He is someone who wouldn’t necessarily be a stud if he played the majority of snaps, but a player who would excel in a complimentary role.

Both Jonathan Bullard and Roy Robertson-Harris have shown promise at the position, but neither have truly broken out so to speak. Having Baker come in and not only challenge them, but giving them a veteran presence to learn from would be a big help.

Baker was recently cut by the Bucs as a cap casualty. He had some rumored issues in the locker room after a costly penalty in a late game against the Panthers and never seemed to recover from that.

In any event, prior to his one year in Tampa, Baker was known as a goofy personality who was fun to be around when he played for the Washington Redskins. In his final two years in D.C., he posted 9.5 sacks and forced five fumbles.

As someone who can force turnovers, Pace should definitely be giving him a shot. What would make the most sense after last year’s fallback, for Baker, would be a short-term prove-it type of deal. Look for Baker to be someone the Bears go after in the coming days.