3 Free Agents the Bears Should Sign Before Mandatory Minicamp

By all accounts, the Chicago Bears have had a successful offseason. The addition of RB D'Andre Swift, WR Keenan Allen, and S Kevin Byard are the highlights of their free agent signings with a host of depth support signings like S Jonathan Owens, TE Gerald Everett, and OT Matt Pryor strengthening the roster.

Famously, the 2024 Draft continued to gift the Bears even more talent with QB Caleb Williams, WR Rome Odunze, and OL Kiran Amegadjie.

But a team can always get better. With time still left before mandatory camp, a handful of quality free agents still exist. At this point in the offseason, these players will most likely come on the cheap and pay high dividends for good decisions. Of NFL.com's top 100 free agents, only 12 remain.

Who could the Bears target?

Could the Bears Get Better? 3 Available Free Agents That Make Sense

Stephon Gilmore

According to PFF, the Bears secondary is one of their biggest strengths. In the final seven weeks of the season, the Bears ranked fifth in coverage. Some of that success is due to a revitalized defensive line with the addition of Edge Montez Sweat.

Resigning the top cornerback in the market, Jaylon Johnson and his PFF score of 90.8 was a no-brainer. Despite the success of the group, no other Bears corner, Tyrique Stevenson (60.2) or Kyler Gordon (65.6) has over a 70 ranking.

At 33, Gilmore is still a top-25 cornerback in the league. The 2019 Defensive Player of the Year, two-time All-Pro, and five-time Pro-Bowler, still has plenty of game left in him. As recently as 2023, Gilmore was ranked in the top 10 for cornerbacks and one of the top 5 cornerbacks in man-to-man coverage over the last few years. Last year with Dallas, he still had two interceptions and held his coverage to a 55.2% completion rate and 82.3 quarterback rating.

Has he lost a step? Sure.

In a division with Justin Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Christian Watson, and Romeo Doubs, could you have too much depth at corner?