5 veteran free agents the Chicago Bears must sign after the draft

After months of gearing up, the 2022 NFL Draft has come and went in the blink of an eye. For Chicago Bears fans, it was a rollercoaster of emotions.

On Day 1, of course, Bears fans sat back and waited with a good chunk of the league also not picking in the first round. But, then Day 2 came, and general manager Ryan Poles swooped in for incredible value.

Chicago snagged Washington cornerback Kyler Gordon at pick 39, followed by Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker at pick 48, giving the Bears two athletic, bona fide playmakers in the secondary.

While it wasn’t exactly what fans had in mind, Poles couldn’t pass up the value. As the draft went on, though, the Bears did address many of their needs.

After coming away with 11 picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears must turn back to veteran free agency.

Poles pulled off a handful of trades on Day 3 in order to net the Bears 11 total draft picks. He went all-in on offensive line during the final two rounds, selecting four in all. Protecting Justin Fields was a big concern for many fans, and Poles did not let them down.

Depth and competition up front is going to be key for this team come training camp.

The Bears also snagged wide receiver Velus Jones Jr., in Round 3, who figures to give them an added dimension on offense. Along with a couple of other guys late in the draft, the Bears found talent at multiple positions.

But, still, there are open roster spots and a few leftover needs to be met. So, Poles should turn his attention back to veteran free agency where he could go after any of these five players.