The Chicago Bears are like many teams during the NFL’s free agent period. With the first wave of free agency complete, most general managers have been conservative in the past week as they turn their attention to the upcoming NFL draft and protect compensatory picks for a deeper class in 2027.
But that doesn’t mean the speculation is over. The Bears have several free agents still on the market, and while they may not find homes soon, the seeds could be planted for when signings no longer count toward the league’s formula for awarding compensatory picks, which closes on April 27.
This could even have some teams within the NFC North looking at former Bears who assisted their climb to the top of the division, and that includes the Detroit Lions, who could have their eyes on cornerback Nick McCloud in the coming weeks.
Lions' CB Crisis Could Lead Them to Bears’ FA Nick McCloud
McCloud is not a player that most Bears fans will miss.
Signed to a one-year, $1.3 million contract in free agency, he was part of a Chicago secondary that allowed the 11th-most passing yards per game (227.2) and the fifth-most net yards per attempt (6.8) last season. The Bears made up for that by leading the NFL with 23 interceptions and a 18.3% turnover rate, but McCloud was more part of the problem than he was the solution.
The Bears leaned on McCloud heavily due to injuries in the secondary. It resulted in the second-highest snap count in his career, with his 456 snaps trailing the 2022 season, where he had 583 snaps with the New York Giants. Even in that season, McCloud allowed four touchdowns and a 111.6 passer rating, and the results were more of the same in Chicago.
According to Pro Football Focus, McCloud allowed 26 catches for 322 yards and five touchdowns with two pass breakups and three penalties on 32 targets. Teams also found a way to target him frequently when he was on the field, including a Week 2 matchup against the Detroit Lions, where all six of his targets were caught for 97 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Detroit Is Desperate for CB Help
If the Lions were willing to go at McCloud aggressively in that matchup, you may be asking why they would be interested in him as a free agent. But the answer is that Detroit’s secondary is already depleted and may be in search of depth when the compensatory pick window closes.
D.J. Reed is currently locked into the top spot, and Roger McCreary was signed to man the slot. Still, the Lions have plenty of questions behind them.
2024 first-round pick Terrion Arnold did not make the jump that many were expecting during his second season as he battled a shoulder injury, and the rest of the depth chart could use competition with Rock Ya-Sin, Khalil Dorsey, Ennis Rakestraw Jr., and Nick Whiteside as the other corners listed on the roster.
With Arnold also facing legal troubles tied to an alleged assault case, the Lions are going to need more corners. Detroit’s nine picks in next month’s draft could be one way to add that talent, but there could also be a veteran addition to add competition during the offseason program and training camp.
McCloud isn’t the best corner Detroit could sign, but even if he’s cut during training camp, he could still serve a purpose for the Lions or another cornerback-needy team. If he winds up heading there, it wouldn’t be a shock and give the former Bear a chance to land on his feet.