Are you ready for some football?

Here’s what you need to know about the bears before free agency opens wednesday

2020-03-14 - BY PATRICK FINLEY | pfinley@suntimes.com | @patrickfinley

With little money and a glaring need at the most important position in sports, the Bears will wade into free agency, which general manager Ryan Pace two years ago called ‘‘treacherous waters,’’ next week. Here’s a primer on what to expect:

RANKING THE BEARS’ NEEDS

1. Quarterback: The Bears publicly claim they’re committed to Mitch Trubisky, but they would upgrade if they could. Odds are they won’t be able to, however, and instead will bring in a backup with extensive starting experience to replace Chase Daniel and push Trubisky.

2. Tight end: General Ryan Pace said it’s no secret the team will look to add significant help at the position, be it in free agency, a trade or the draft. They hope Trey Burton will be healthy for the first time since December 2018, but they certainly can’t count on it. It’s the most important position in coach Matt Nagy’s offense, other than quarterback.

3. Cornerback: The Bears created a hole when they made starter Prince Amukamara a cap casualty — and they don’t appear to have a readymade replacement on their roster.

4. Offensive line: With three veterans and another starter two years removed from being drafted in Round 2, the Bears can’t overhaul the line. Rather, they figure to target a free-agent guard to take over Kyle Long’s old spot. If he can play tackle in case of injury, all the better.

5. Safety: After giving Eddie Jackson a monster extension in January, the Bears will hunt for an affordable starter to pair with him. That probably won’t be Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, who will chase riches after putting together a solid prove-it year.

6. Outside linebacker: Leonard Floyd is set to make $13.2 million if he’s still on the roster Wednesday — a fortune for someone who, though he plays opposite Khalil Mack, doesn’t sack the quarterback. The Bears have claimed they’re committed to him, but we’ll see whether their actions say otherwise.

7. Wide receiver: The Bears need to add speed after cutting Taylor Gabriel. The draft has generational talent — and depth — at the position.

8. Inside linebacker: The Bears chose Danny Trevathan’s experience over Nick Kwiatkoski’s seemingly more expensive price tag and will pair him with up-and-comer Roquan Smith.

9. Running back: The team still sees David Montgomery as a workhorse, and do-everything Tarik Cohen has one year left on his rookie deal.

10. Specialist: Kicker Eddy Pineiro and punter Pat O’Donnell are under contract for 2020, and returner/gunner Cordarrelle Patterson is coming off a Pro Bowl selection.

11. Defensive line: Akiem Hicks, Eddie Goldman and Bilal Nichols form one of the best starting lines in the league.

QB MERRY-GO-ROUND

The NFL never has seen so many high-profile free-agent quarterbacks. Here are the situations around the league Bears fans must monitor:

Patriots — Will they re-sign Tom Brady, or will the 42-year-old leave the only team he has known?

Buccaneers — After Jameis Winston threw for a league-high 5,109 yards and 30 interceptions last season, the Bucs could seek out new Florida resident Philip Rivers.

Chargers — They could look to make a splash before moving into their new stadium — or they could draft Rivers’ replacement with the No. 6 pick.

Titans — Ryan Tannehill led the league in passer rating last season and is eligible for the franchise tag.

Panthers — Cam Newton’s not healthy enough to trade just yet. Will new coach Matt Rhule usher him out by signing a veteran?

Raiders — They’re moving to Las Vegas this season, and coach Jon Gruden is notoriously picky about quarterbacks. Time to trade Derek Carr?

Colts — Jacoby Brissett inherited the starting job after Andrew Luck’s shock retirement and was perfectly average. Is Rivers a better fit?

FIVE QBS TO WATCH

The five quarterbacks most likely to land in Chicago:

1. Andy Dalton — He checks all the boxes, having started 133 games and having played under new coordinator Bill Lazor. But is he any good? And will the Bengals be able to trade him, or should the Bears hope they cut him with one year left on his deal?

2. Case Keenum — He’s Dalton Lite, having started 62 games in his career. New tight ends coach Clancy Barone was on the Vikings’ staff when Keenum had his best season in 2017, posting a 98.3 passer rating and going 11-3.

3. Nick Foles — The former Super Bowl MVP has played the role of QB2 with aplomb throughout his career and is tight with Bears coach Matt Nagy and new quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo. But he’s owed so much money in his failed starting gig — his cap hit is more than $22 million in 2020 — that the Jaguars would have to attach a draft pick to trade him to the Bears.

4. Marcus Mariota — He and Mitch Trubisky share an agency that probably doesn’t want two quarterbacks fighting for the same job. But unless Mariota is promised a starting job elsewhere, the Bears can offer him a better chance than most teams. His positive attitude is a plus, considering the emphasis the Bears put on the chemistry of the quarterbacks room.

5. Derek Carr — It would be hard for the Bears to do better than adding Carr, but the Raiders need to be motivated to trade him first. Bears fans should root for them to land Brady.

BEARS ON THE MARKET

Here are the 20 Bears available this offseason, either as unrestricted free agents, restricted free agents or exclusive-rights free agents. The Bears have the right of first refusal on restricted free agents, and exclusive-rights free agents can’t negotiate with other teams. Included is each player’s 2019 salary-cap hit, according to Spotrac.com. All players are unrestricted free agents unless noted:

Offense

QB: Chase Daniel ($6M)

TE: ERFA J.P. Holtz ($465,888),

Bradley Sowell ($597,058)

OL: RFA Rashaad Coward ($645,000), Ted Larsen ($735,000), Cornelius Lucas ($655,000), T.J. Clemmings ($408,000)

Defense

DL: Nick Williams ($735,000), Brent Urban ($473,529)

ILB: Nick Kwiatkoski ($2.17M),

Kevin Pierre-Louis ($645,000)

OLB: Aaron Lynch ($1.5M), RFA Isaiah Irving ($645,000)

CB: Sherrick McManis ($1.91M)

S: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix ($3.25M),