Chicago Bears Free Agency: Overlooked defensive players still available
By Usayd Koshul
1. OLB Nick Perry
This is a name that Bears fans are very familiar with. A first-round pick in 2012, Nick Perry was a cornerstone of the Packers defense for multiple years. In 2016, Perry had a career year notching 11 sacks and 16 quarterback hits.
However, Perry was let go by the Packers the moment free agency started. Now, at 28 years old, he’s looking for a chance with another team. When healthy, Perry is a solid player that will not play every snap, but he will make plays when given a chance to be on the field.
Considering the Bears run a 3-4 defensive scheme, Perry would play outside linebacker. The only times he would come in is when either Leonard Floyd or Khalil Mack need to rest. Additionally, an advantage that Perry presents is that he’s played both left and right outside linebacker. Essentially, this would give the Bears a bit more flexibility.
The reality is that Perry may not be a household name on the Bears defense, however, he would be an upgrade over what the Bears currently have as the third and fourth edge rushers (Isaiah Irving and Kylie Fitts) on the roster.
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One thing that the Bears will need to be careful about regarding Perry is his injury history. Since entering the NFL in 2012, Perry has never played a full season. Too often, he’s been banged up and has missed time due to various ailments.
Looking at Perry’s current situation, he likely wants to sign a one-year, prove it deal somewhere and hope that he has a solid 2019 season which will allow him to get his career back on track.