Chicago Bears: Final free agency primer entering legal tampering

Since Ryan Pace took over as general manager of the Chicago Bears, the team has been very active every year in free agency. Things have been shaping up to look very different this year, but intrigue may be at an all-time high.

With about $18 million in the bank available to spend in the coming days and weeks, the smart money (no pun intended) would be that the Chicago Bears target players in the draft to fill roster holes. However, that doesn’t mean the team will be going completely off the grid. For the second time in the Ryan Pace era, the Bears have a free agent(s) that should be considered “high priority”

The first time was that guy who plays for the Philadelphia Eagles.

As the legal tampering period starts at noon EST today, a bevy of deals will likely be announced. The NFL Scouting Combine is more than just watching college prospects in tights; it’s an opportunity for GMs, scouts, etc. to meet up at Prime 47 or St. Elmo’s to grab a nice cut of red meat and some cocktails

Those meetings happen out in the open and that’s where trades are discussed. That’s when agents talk turkey with team executives about their clients and free agency. Like Antonio Brown being a Buffalo Bill for two hours and then becoming a member of the Oakland Raiders late last Saturday night. Any framework for an AB deal was likely cooked up over that weekend.

How the Bears treated these impromptu meetings is up for debate, but teams were approaching them with interest for Jordan Howard. With rumored trade talks during the season, it’s starting to come into focus that the team is looking to add to their backfield:

But they have their own free agents to worry about.

There has been a lot of talk about Bryce Callahan and how valuable he is in what is a shallow nickel back market. There has been a lot of talk about Adrian Amos, but in what is a very deep safety market. Those have been two starters on your defense for the last four years. Typically, you want to retain the continuity when you’re faced with such a scenario.

While it appears Amos’ “weaker” market may not be so weak after all, there hasn’t been nearly as much chatter about Callahan. Between the two, you first try to lock up Callahan because there’s more value in your third cornerback than the second best safety on your team (more on that in a moment). Injuries aside, he’s the best slot corner in the league when he’s playing. Tavon Young’s extension last month certainly shifted his price tag, but even then, he may be worth it.

For Amos, there are a lot of starting-caliber safeties on the open market. It’s unrealistic to believe the Bears can land Earl Thomas, Tyrann Mathieu, or Landon Collins on a long-term deal (especially when they couldn’t reach Eric Weddle’s $5 million price tag). Names like Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Tashaun Gipson, or Lamarcus Joyner are bigger names that are more viable from a monetary standpoint. Whether the “safety surplus” drops his value or not is entirely up for debate. PFF has loved what he’s done for the last couple of seasons.

Plus, Eddie Jackson has proven he may be a possible game-breaker at safety for the next decade. The Bears can’t tie up all this money to their secondary. E-Jax is going to be paid handsomely and Chicago should want to be the team that pays him.

There is also a possible concern at depth at edge rusher. Aaron Lynch was never a lock to return and the team just axed Sam Acho to save money. Leonard Floyd and Khalil Mack are a top of the line one-two punch in this league. However, are we willing to trust the likes of Kylie Fitts and Isaiah Irving to soak snaps for them when they’re on the sidelines? Hard to say, really, especially when Irving has really only been a preseason star and Fitts hardly played last year as a rookie.

As things pick up as we reach the unofficial “dating period” for NFL free agency, the Bears won’t be active as they usually are. But they won’t sit on their hands; they will be lurking in the shadows.