5 available bargain free agents the Chicago Bears could still sign
By Ryan Heckman
The Chicago Bears would get a bargain if they signed free agent cornerback Janoris Jenkins
Sticking to the defensive side of the ball, the Bears have a serious issue at the cornerback position. This is looking more and more like a spot where Ryan Poles will be content finding cheaper free agents down the line and maybe add via a mid-round or late-round draft pick. Undrafted free agents very well could have a spot in the Bears’ cornerback room in 2022 — it’s bad.
Not that he would be an excellent starting option, but the Bears could opt to bring in a veteran like Janoris Jenkins to at least give them some depth. This feels a lot like the Bears signing Artie Burns, but at least Jenkins has had a proven track record in the NFL. Jenkins did earn a Pro Bowl nod back in 2016 with the New York Giants, so he’s not a scrub.
He’s also not a great starting option anymore. At this stage in his career, the 33-year-old is on his way out of the league. But, for a team like the Bears who are very thin at cornerback, Jenkins would make a lot of sense on a cheap deal.
In 13 starts for the Tennessee Titans last year, Jenkins totaled 54 tackles and six passes defensed while also picking off one pass. He allowed just over 61 percent completion to opposing quarterbacks.