Chicago Bears: 5 defensive free agents to stay away from

This might surprise some fans out there. I have seen many keep a name like Dontari Poe in the conversation of guys Pace should go after.

Poe strikes me as a guy who would have been a perfect fit for a one-year contract — last year.

The problem is, Pace is king of the one-year ‘prove it’ contracts. He is notorious for handing many of those deals out, and he would be one year too late for a player like Poe. His one-year deal came last year with the Atlanta Falcons and he took advantage of it.

One of the plus sides of potentially bringing in Poe is the fact that he has remained healthy throughout his career. Poe has played 16, 15, 16, 15, 16 and 16 games over his six seasons as a pro. That type of durability cannot be found too often.

In 2016, his last season with the Kansas City Chiefs, Poe compiled a grade of 74.4. Last year, that number rose significantly.

Poe will likely command just a little too much money on the market, and I would not put it past the Falcons to bring him back after a successful stint in 2017. I think if Pace wants to add to his front seven, a guy like Chris Baker makes much more sense at a cheaper price. That way, he could add another edge rusher like Ziggy Ansah to pair up with Leonard Floyd.

The other downside, other than finances, is that Poe has a history of being questioned for his effort. Of course, like I have said before about similar players, the right environment could change that completely. But, with that and the likelihood of a steep contract, I would guess the Bears would not bother talking to Poe altogether.