Chicago Bears Free Agency: Cordarrelle Patterson, Mark Ingram and more

As the legal tampering period gets under way for the 2019 NFL Free Agency frenzy, the Chicago Bears are interested in a top-tier kick returner.

The legal tampering period in NFL free agency has begun, and the Chicago Bears haven’t made any significant deals just yet.

The couple of notes worth talking about thus far, though, include the team earning an extra $2.25 million in cap room by moving some cash around with Eddie Goldman‘s deal. Also, Chicago re-signed Ben Braunecker on a two-year deal.

One of the more notable reports to come out on Monday, in reference to the Bears, is that they are one of the teams interested in former New England Patriots wide receiver and kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson.

Having spent four seasons within the NFC North with the Minnesota Vikings, Patterson knows the Bears organization well. He went on to play one year for the Oakland Raiders before joining New England and winning a Super Bowl in 2018.

The two-time Pro Bowler is still just 27 years old (soon to be 28 later this month) and could offer the Bears an enormous upgrade at the kick returner position. Not only that, but he’d be a nice tool for Matt Nagy to use on offense. He would solidify the depth at wide receiver, and the Bears should be set there heading into the season.

Aside from Patterson, there are talks (also via NFL Network) that the Bears are interested in running back Mark Ingram. Here is the kicker, though: So are the Green Bay Packers.

Will this be yet another offseason where both the Bears and Packers are interested in similar names? If so, will the Bears come out on top once more? That will be a fun situation to monitor going forward.

It is worth keeping in mind that the Bears now have an estimated $20 million in cap space, which is far more than some guessed just a few weeks ago. Chicago could still move around some cash within the contract of Khalil Mack to open up even more room.

One thing is for sure, and that is general manager Ryan Pace is up to something. He wouldn’t be making adjustments like this if he didn’t plan on making somewhat of a splash. Of course, there is still the possibility that Chicago wants to retain both Bryce Callahan and Adrian Amos, which will require a decent chunk of change.

We’ll keep you updated here as we find out more on free agency, and whether or not the team decides to trade Jordan Howard.