Chicago Bears: Potential free agent adds from AFC North

Cleveland Browns

Wide Receiver Rashard Higgins

Can anybody figure out what the Browns are going to do at the wide receiver position? If I am Cleveland, I bring Rashard Higgins back without batting an eye. If he hits the open market, he’ll get signed. A pleasant surprise last season, Higgins made some big-time plays.

He only made one true start, but Higgins caught 53 passes for 572 yards and four touchdowns on the season. His size at 6-foot-1 would be a nice addition to the receiving core in Chicago, but the problem with Higgins is whether or not he will require a decent amount of money that the Bears wouldn’t spend on a fourth or fifth option.

Cornerback Phillip Gaines

Phillip Gaines was released by the Buffalo Bills and spent a few games with the Browns last season, playing pretty well. He is primarily a special teams guy, but has the ability to play some slot corner also. An injury last season could end up making him very cheap. Gaines would be a fine player to bring into camp and see what he could prove.

Fullback/Tight End Orson Charles

I don’t know how many times I need to write the words, “Michael Burton does not belong on this roster,” but I hope it isn’t for too much longer. I’ve made the joke that I would rather have literally any other fullback than Burton, and Orson Charles would be a solid replacement.

Charles is great at short yardage blocking and also plays with an attitude and edge to him. His quarterback Baker Mayfield even told the media at one point, “That guy’s a psycho,” but in a positive tone of course.