Chicago Bears: Biggest Needs Ahead of Waiver Wire
By Erik Lambert
The Chicago Bears know their job of assembling a roster isn’t done yet. Not after how their preseason just ended on Thursday.
Injuries continue to drive the direction this team is going. They’ve suffered a number of notable setbacks already and the real games haven’t started yet. It’s for this reason that belief remains high that they will utilize the waiver wire to bolster the back end of the roster. For those unfamiliar, here’s a quick rundown.
The waiver wire consists of many players, most of them young, who are released by other teams prior to the final cut down date. In this case it’s the afternoon of September 2nd. Chicago holds the #3 spot in the pecking order for claiming rights. This means they have a chance to get some of the absolute best talents other teams can’t afford to keep.
With that in mind, which positions are they likely to target?
#3: Defensive Back
It was hard to watch the second half of that preseason game against Cleveland. There were a number of busted coverages that led to big plays for the Browns, both by cornerbacks and safeties. It was proof positive the Bears depth in the secondary remains a major concern. Former fourth round pick Deon Bush appeared lost at safety and their corners were also disjointed a bit.
Pace has already used the wire to add depth on the back end before. In 2015 he landed safety Harold Jones-Quartey and last year it was cornerback Cre’Von LeBlanc. Both have had some decent moments when on the field for Chicago. Odds are the Bears should be able to find even better options thanks to their high position.
More from NFL Mocks
- 2024 NFL Mock Draft Journal: Cardinals, Falcons tank for USC QB Caleb Williams
- Patriots News & Rumors: Ezekiel Elliott talks fun in Foxboro; Mills to Packers?
- Fantasy Football: 5 reasons Colts QB Anthony Richardson can be a top-end option
- Packers’ Lukas Van Ness will make a Lambeau leap into the NFL in 2023
- 2024 NFL Draft: Hunter Haas’ Top 50 Big Board
#2: Outside Linebacker
Fans don’t quite understand how fortunate the Bears were that Lamarr Houston didn’t suffer another bad knee injury last night. His loss would’ve been catastrophic. Understand that the Bears edge rush is basically four-deep. It’s Leonard Floyd, Willie Young, Pernell McPhee and Houston. Now two of those guys, along with McPhee, have a growing history of knee problems.
Young is also 32-years old. So the Bears pass rush suddenly looks thinner than ever on the cusp of playing an early schedule that will feature Matt Ryan, Jameis Winston, Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers. At this point it’s unwise for them to bank on good health, so the next idea is somehow finding some credible depth to bolster the position.
#1: Wide Receiver
As bad as outside linebacker is, wide receiver is that much worse. Losing Alshon Jeffery to free agency was bad enough. Things really hit a crisis moment when Cameron Meredith, their leading target from 2016 had his knee shredded against the Tennessee Titans. Suddenly it looks like the Bears are going into the season with Kevin White and Kendall Wright as their top two targets.
White has four career starts. Wright was cut by another team. This is not a favorable situation to be in. Sure there’s a possibility White can live up to his 1st round status but that’s a big if. They sorely need another pass target. Somebody who can ease the pressure on the quarterbacks while also forcing defenses to stop stacking the box, which is exactly what they’ll do.