Chicago Bears: 5 free agents still available they could pursue

The Chicago Bears may not have made any huge splashes in free agency, but that doesn’t mean their work is complete. Far from it.

Even after their moves to acquire Mike Davis, Buster Skrine, and Cordarrelle Patterson they still have 39 roster slots to fill. There’s no way they’re all going to get plugged by draft picks and undrafted free agents. GM Ryan Pace still has upwards of $20 million in cap space. That’s more than enough to secure more veterans on some cheap deals. Maybe even a mid-tier name who could have some significant upside.

Keeping that in mind, here’s a short list of five players who are still available on the market as it’s set to officially open. All of whom may not be household names but could bring significant value if acquired.

Levine Toilolo (TE)

The rest of the NFC North was busy thus far. Nowhere more so than at the edge rush positions. Detroit added Trey Flowers. Green Bay secured Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith. This could make life more difficult for Mitch Trubisky unless they’re able to shore up his pass protection as much as possible. Levine Toilolo was quietly one of the best blocking tight ends in the league last year, surrendering no hits or sacks on the quarterback up in Detroit.

Stefen Wisniewski (OG)

It’s a shame that this veteran guard hasn’t received better treatment over the years. Granted he has a Super Bowl ring thanks to his time in Philadelphia but he’s good enough to be starting for somebody. Yet he constantly finds a way to end up a backup. If that ends up being the case again, the Bears should be the team to snag him. Wisniewski will be 30 this year with limited wear and tear on his body. An all-around solid player.

Muhammad Wilkerson (DE)

Remember him? The former New York Jets star was hoping to revitalize his career in Green Bay last season. Sadly he suffered an injury and was lost for the year. Now he’s set to turn 30 and looking like damaged goods. It seems like the perfect moment for a team to come swooping in with a chance to acquire a proven veteran with a bit of a chip on his shoulder who won’t be too expensive. When healthy, Wilkerson can be a starter for any team.

Markus Golden (EDGE)

Outside of Khalil Mack and Leonard Floyd, the Bears have literally nothing at the edge rusher position. This isn’t ideal in a pass-happy league. They need a rotation of players who can get after the quarterback. One of the most underrated names on the market is Markus Golden. His story is fascinating. He had 12.5 sacks in 2016, then tore his ACL in 2017. Last year he returned but was forced to play out of position at defensive end rather than 3-4 linebacker. His upside is high.

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (S)

Another former Packer with something to prove. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix was a Pro Bowler not too long ago. Then he fell out of favor with his former team, got traded to Washington and didn’t do enough to get re-signed. His stock isn’t exactly high but he’s still young and has plenty of talent. His ball skills alone should be attractive to the Bears. All they’d have to do is try to help him modestly improve his run defense and tackling. The Alabama connection with Eddie Jackson wouldn’t hurt either.

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