Top 5 F.A. Targets for the Bears This Offseason

If you read my last post, you know that the best way to cope with football being over is to buy in to your team's offseason plans. And if you know me, you know I'm "Bear Down" for eternity. And I will be referring to the team as "we" and "us" because I'm from the Midwest and that's just how we do things. Now onto football, we've already made big moves since season's end. Hiring HC Matt Nagy, retaining DC Vic Fangio, snagging one of the biggest names on the college HC market Mark Helfrich to be OC and develop Mitchell Trubisky, and juicing up the staff with names like Brad Childress and Harry Hiestand should already have Bears fans optimistic for the team's immediate future. Pace and Nagy seem to really have a plan in place for how they are going to turn around this organization, and they've wasted no time getting the ball rolling. But with that being said, the Bears still have a lot of work to do to the roster before we can even think about the playoffs, let alone a Super Bowl. Coming off a 5-11 season, it's no secret that the Bears have problems on both sides of the ball, particularly at the wide receiver position. It's an absolute must for Pace to surround Trubisky with some weapons on the outside that he can trust and build chemistry with. Another glaring weakness on the team was our depth. Injuries are too common in the NFL to rely on 22 starters to get you to the playoffs, and the Eagles just set a perfect example as to how important roster depth can be in today's league. Now, we're definitely going to have to come out of the draft with some pieces we like, particularly at the #8 pick, but before getting to that point Pace has to hit the free agent market for some players that can come in and make an immediate impact on this team. I'm going to break down the five best options for Pace to consider, and tell why they would be a good fit on next year's Bears team.

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Honorable Mention

Demarcus Lawrence, DE Dallas Cowboys

Make no mistake about it, if Lawrence wasn't damn near guaranteed to get franchise tagged by the Cowboys this offseason, he would be atop this list. The Bears have made it clear that they are looking for a pass rusher opposite Leonard Floyd that can help create a more consistent pass rush in a division with Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford. Lawrence was a monster in the 2017 season, proving himself as a premier pass rusher in the NFL and showing off his versatility on a Cowboys defense that struggled throughout the season. He makes the honorable mention because if there is any hesitation on the Cowboys' end to retain Lawrence, Pace needs to apply as much pressure as possible to try and snag him. It's a long shot, but if the opportunity presents itself, the Bears need to be the first team to come calling.

Malcolm Butler, CB New England Patriots

Butler is almost guaranteed to be on a new team next season, given what happened at Super Bowl LII. Butler is coming off his worst season in the league, and the story about what happened to him prior to his benching in the Super Bowl is a massive red flag. But now Butler has something to prove, which could be exactly what he needs at this point in his career. If his stock continues to drop as the offseason moves along, I wouldn't mind offering him a 1 or 2 year contract, but I know he will be looking for something long term and there will probably be teams in the league willing to take a chance on him. He doesn't crack my top 5, but he's a guy Pace should keep his eye on.

The Top Five

5) Sammy Watkins, WR Los Angeles Rams

2017 Stats: 15 G, 39 REC, 593 YDs, 8 TDs

Watkins is a dude that we will definitely show interest in. The Bears biggest weakness is at the wide receiver position, and Watkins has the talent to become a reliable deep threat for QB Mitchell Trubisky. Watkins showed that he has big potential for the Rams this season, but also had moments where he couldn't escape good cornerbacks for entire games. Nagy's system with the RPOs and play action passes could be beneficial to Watkins, a possible selling point for Pace to use. Consistency has been Watkins' only issue when healthy. He has an injury-plagued past and in a way he reminds me of Kevin White, but if the Bears strike out on some of the other guys on this list, I wouldn't mind bringing him in and seeing what he can do.

4) Lamarcus Joyner, S Los Angeles Rams

2017 Stats: 12 G, 3 INTs, 1 FF, 1 TD, 49 TKLs

On top of figuring out the Watkins situation, the Los Angeles Rams have a lot to consider this offseason on the defensive side of the ball. Coming off an impressive 2017 campaign, they must choose which pieces to keep and let go. It is more likely that they'll look to resign free agent CB Trumaine Johnson, which probably means letting Joyner walk. Joyner is going to be a fifth year guy next season, and he has improved every year. Last season he showed a lot of versatility, working as a safety but also a slot cornerback at times. He is a safety that can come down and stop the run, and if you paired him with Eddie Jackson that gives the Bears a safety duo that they've been needing for quite some time. And with Bryce Callahan set to potentially become a free agent (RFA, now) it would allow Amos to come in during nickel situations, sliding Joyner to slot corner. This would be a power move for Pace and the Bears, and it would open up the opportunity to attack some offensive playmakers in the draft.

3) Ezekiel Ansah

2017 Stats: 14 G, 12 Sacks, 39 TKLs, 1 FF

If the Bears were able to get Ezekiel Ansah in free agency, it would be a gigantic win. Not only would Ansah sure up the pass rush, but he is familiar with the teams in the division and can come in and be a leader for the defense. Ansah is only two seasons removed from being a first-team All-Pro selection, and his attitude would fit right in with Fangio's vision for the defense. A tenacious pass rusher, Ansah would give make the Bears one of the best front fours in the NFC with Floyd, Hicks, and Jackson. It's another move that would open the opportunity to attack offensive players in the draft, something I'm sure Nagy would like to do. Ansah would come in and give next year's team a defensive identity, something that should ease the mind of Nagy and his offensive staff as they try to turn things around on that side of the ball.

2) Allen Robinson, WR Jacksonville Jaguars

2016* Stats: 16 G, 73 REC, 883 YDs, 6 TD

* Sat out 2017 season with ACL injury

Allen Robinson is a name on this list that should excite Bears fans. Another player two years removed from an All-Pro season, Robinson was putting up remarkable numbers (with Blake Bortles as his quarterback) before going down in the first game of the 2017 season. Prior to the start of the season, videos of Robinson expressing his discontent with Bortles surfaced which means he could be a guy looking to start somewhere new. Although Jacksonville looks poised to contend for an AFC title again next year, the wide receiver position became a little crowded with Robinson on the bench. Guys like Marquise Lee and Dede Westbrook look poised for bigger roles in that offense next season, which is a great thing for Bears fans. Pace needs to put the full court press on Robinson and sell him on the idea of being Mitchell Trubisky's number 1 target. Robinson is exactly the kind of player Trubisky needs to take the top off of a defense and prior to the ACL injury, he was a work horse.

1) Jarvis Landry, WR Miami Dolphins

2017 Stats: 16 G, 112 REC, 987 YDs, 9 TDs

Let me begin by saying the Miami Dolphins will rue the day they let Landry walk if that indeed is the case. Landry has come into the league an immediately stamped himself as an elite slot receiver. He has the most catches of any player in their first four seasons and he is coming off a season in which he led the league in receptions with 112. Landry is the perfect receiver to come in and become Trubisky's number 1 guy. Landry has put up some insane numbers with Tannehill and Cutler, and the thought of pairing him with Trubisky should make Bears fans salivate. Landry is consistent enough to be a safety net for Trubisky as he continues to grow as a quarterback, but also has the explosiveness that the Bears lack on the outside. A true do-it-all receiver, Landry could come in and give the Bears a great shot of being a balanced offense this season. With the eighth pick, we're looking to grab an immediate starter, and there are questions about whether any wide receiver in this class can come in and make an immediate impact. That's something we wouldn't have to worry about with Landry. This move would help fix our biggest weakness, immensely help Trubisky grow as a quarterback, and give head coach Matt Nagy a dynamic playmaker to work with similar to how he used Tyreke Hill in Kansas City. Bears fans should be ALL. IN. on this move.