5. The Chicago Bears could sign cornerback Stephon Gilmore
Look, this doesn’t exactly go with the trend of getting younger and building for the future. However, the Bears need one more key veteran in their secondary. If the Bears were to spend some money, finally, they should do it on a guy like Gilmore who would immediately make their starting cornerbacks a very formidable duo.
Jaylon Johnson, paired with Gilmore, would serve the Bears a whole lot better than we saw their cornerback room play a year ago. Gilmore is still playing at a high level and is just a couple of seasons removed from being voted the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Although he is 31 years old, this is a signing Poles could sensibly make. If the Bears were to give Gilmore a 3-year deal with more of a front-loaded salary, especially in 2023, this could work. An incentives-based deal to keep him for the 2024 season would help, too.
Gilmore would allow the Bears to not feel as much pressure in the draft, as they would have their opposite starting cornerback locked in. Again, if the Bears can focus on wide receiver and offensive line in that second round while not worrying about other crucial needs, that would work to everyone’s benefit in the building — especially Fields.