PAY FREES WITHIN REASON
The Sun- Times’ Bears experts agree the team needs upgrades at several positions, but it also must be prudent with its salary- cap space
Everything needs a hashtag these days.
How about #GrinninforGlennon? Or #MGforMe?
As Buccaneers backup Mike Glennon and the Bears inch closer to an agreement, fans aren’t exactly racing to tweet the best catchphrase. But with Brian Hoyer heading to the 49ers, a deal with Glennon seems likely once free agency starts at 3 p. m. Thursday.
Sun- Times experts Adam L. Jahns, Patrick Finley and Mark Potash break down that situation and other Bears free- agency issues:
Is Glennon really worth more than Jay Cutler?
Jahns: Glennon isn’t a better quarterback than Cutler, but he could be. And, yes, that’s a big maybe. But when a deal is reached — and by all accounts it will be — the Bears will be paying for what Glennon, who is six years younger than Cutler, could develop into when given a real chance and some stability as opposed to his situation in Tampa, where he was a backup who was affected by two coaching changes. His contract can be designed to limit risk, too.
Cutler remains capable — and he’s a better teammate than many want to believe or report — but he has been with the Bears for eight seasons. He has lasted two years into not only his third coach, but his third general manager. Parting ways at some point is inevitable.
Finley: He’s worth what the market is willing to bear. That’s the price the Bears pay for trying to solve their quarterback quandary — at least temporarily — via free agency. I understand the logic of signing Glennon rather than pursuing a trade for Jimmy Garoppolo or AJ McCarron — the Bears have tons of cap space and few assets to trade. In that sense, it’s only money.
If they’re limited to free agents, Glennon is a better long- term bet than Colin Kaepernick or the almost- 37 Tony Romo, who’s expected to eye the Broncos and Texans when he’s released Thursday.
Potash: That’s not a fair comparison. On paper or on the field, Cutler is a much more accomplished, better quarterback than Glennon. But the team dynamic affects the equation — Cutler has run his course in Chicago. He’s worth more to another team than he is to the Bears.
Did the Bears play their hand properly with Alshon Jeffery?
Jahns: Absolutely. The only way that negotiations would
improve was for Jeffery to test the market. The sides were too far apart on price. It needed to be set by actual competition, which, for now, is dwindling for Jeffery. Putting the franchise tag on him, which would’ve cost $ 17.5 million, was never an option. Finley: Both sides did. The Bears were right to want to see Jeffery healthy, and he’s entitled to play the market and, quite honestly, try to pair off with a better quarterback. The PED bust makes him less sympathetic than last year. He’ll be hard to replace, butb maybe the speedy Cordarrelle PattersonP can help take the top off defenses? Potash: This is theth Jeffery paradox adox in a nutshell: TheT Bears are letting go of a playerplaye they cannot replace or they’d be paying top dollar for a player who missed se seven games in 2015 and four for suspen suspension in 2016. It’s like GM Ryan Pace can’t win. But if y you’re going t to overpay for Glennon — or almost anybody — you might want to overpay for JefferyJef first. The upsideupsi makes it a worthwhileworthw risk.
The The Bears’Bea greatest area of needne is:
Jahns: Oth Other than quarterback, it’sit’ talent in the secondary. I It’s why they have interest in cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore, A. J. Bouye and Logan Ryan. And it’s why this draft will be important for them, too. It’s a special year for cornerbacks and safeties. The Bears only had 11 takeaways. Upgrading the secondary is a priority; Pace has said as much.
Finley: Quarterback, duh. Barring a superstar turn, the Bears’ Day 1 starter won’t be promised the 2018 job, necessarily. Glennon is more than six years older than Patrick Mahomes, the Texas Tech quarterback who’s a possible second- round target. Which one would you bet on being here in three years?
Potash: Upgrading the secondary, particularly at safety. The Bears’ fairly well- established front seven figures to take a step forward in its third year under Vic Fangio, which will help the back end. But a dynamic safety can accelerate that progress rather than settle for being the beneficiary.
An overrated area of need is:
Jahns: Tight end. The Bears to added work promisingbehind Zach players Miller. oGain MyColeThe Pruitt and Daniel Brown last year Bears also remain high on Ben Braunecker, an undrafted rookie signing from last year. Tight ends tend to emerge over time. The NFL is full of examples. Look at Miller.
Finley: Offensive line. Presuming Kyle Long recovers from ankle surgery, the Bears will once again boast perhaps the best interior line in the game. They were linked to big- money tackles, but that seems a year off. They can, if need be, walk away from Bobby Massie, whose guaranteed money is paid and has a $ 1 million roster bonus due Saturday. Charles Leno’s deal expires next March.
Potash: Cornerback. While it’s hard to get excited about the Bears’ young safeties — though you can’t give up on Deon Bush just yet — the Bears’ young cornerbacks have the potential to become playmakers. Bryce Callahan, Deiondre’ Hall and Cre’Von LeBlanc are at the top of that list. Hall, in particular, has intriguing size and skills but didn’t get a real chance to show what he can do. If he learns well and stays healthy, he could become a cornerstone.
The Bears will succeed in free agency if:
Jahns: They’re mindful with their spending. But they do need to spend. Aside from quarterback, the Bears need to add at least one capable player in his 20s for their secondary. Whether that’s Gilmore, Ryan, Bouye or safety D. J. Swearinger, something needs to happen.
Finley: They find playmakers in the defensive backfield, as Pace has vowed. Even after tying the all- time low with 11 takeaways last year, their defense isn’t far from being dangerous. Gilmore or cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick would improve it quickly.
Potash: They get the quarterback right. You can miss in a lot of areas if you hit a home run at that position. Pace either has to find his guy or set up a wide- open competition in camp that allows a Connor Shaw or drafted rookie to win the job. Anything in between could be disastrous.
The Bears will fail in free agency if:
Jahns: They try to buy their way out of trouble. After a 3- 13 season, it’s thought the Bears’ decision- makers are under some pressure to speed up the rebuilding process. But, as Pace said, free agency can be “dangerous” and full of “land mines.” He needs to remember his words.
Finley: They again let a bigname pass- catcher walk without finding a replacement. We’re still waiting for the Bears to find an above- average replacement for the vacancies they created by trading Brandon Marshall — they tried by drafting Kevin White — and Martellus Bennett.
Potash: They spend money just because they have it. Pace has to think long- term as well as shortterm with these contracts because he’ll presumably need that cap space as his own developing players reach the point where they have to get paid.
I would sign:
Jahns: Glennon. He wouldn’t be the first quarterback to click later in his career and in a different situation. That said, drafting a QB also becomes a priority. Glennon needs competition to maximize his potential, and the Bears need to keep adding quarterbacks to increase the likelihood of getting things right.
Finley: Gilmore. The 10th pick of the 2012 draft is what the previous regime hoped Kyle Fuller would be. Potash: Jeffery. He’s proven. He’s familiar with the Bears. He makes any quarterback better. He’s a team captain. And when he plays, he’s worth every penny. Worth the risk of overpaying.