Chicago Bears: 4 underrated free agents left to sign after draft

Underrated free agents for Chicago Bears to sign post-draft: DE/OLB Olivier Vernon

First up is veteran pass rusher Olivier Vernon. Now, this is the type of move a team makes whom is all in. If the Bears are going all in on 2021, Vernon would be a risk worth taking. Why is he a risk? He’s coming off a torn Achilles last year and is still working on rehabbing. If Vernon is healthy by the start of the season, he could be an extremely valuable addition.

Most people aren’t talking much about him, though, because he suffered the injury late in the year and may not be quite ready come training camp. For this reason, Vernon will come much cheaper than he would have, had he not gotten injured. After all, last season, Vernon still put up a respectable 9.0 sacks with the Cleveland Browns — the second-best total of his career.

Vernon might be 30 years old, but if he is able to rehab the right way and come back healthy, he would be one heck of an addition to this pass rush. Already boasting Khalil Mack and Akiem Hicks, and hopefully a bounce-back year from Robert Quinn, the Bears would have a ferocious rotation if they could add Vernon to the mix.

The Bears’ defense has the potential to be one of the best in the NFL yet again after finishing as the seventh-ranked unit in 2020. Getting Vernon coming off the injury means he would be less expensive, but also quite the underrated addition. This defense would be even better if they got a guy like him.