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10 NFL teams who could change their fortunes via Free Agency

By Andrew Garda

Feb 22, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh takes in the game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 22, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh takes in the game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 28, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) answers questions from the media after the game with the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 13-9. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) answers questions from the media after the game with the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 13-9. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /

Chicago Bears

Overview: The Chicago Bears are coming off a two-year defensive collapse which feels weird just typing to be honest. With a new coach in John Fox, this is a team looking to reload defensively and there are some questions as to whether or not the offense will remain intact.

Will Fox hang onto Jay Cutler, with his enormous contract and middling ceiling? What about Brandon Marshall, who Jason LaCanfora of CBSSports has reported is drawing interest from teams hoping Chicago might move on from Marshall? The Bears have $28,602,772 in cap space and a meager $105,005 in dead cap money, so while they don’t have all the money in the world, free agency could be active for them.

Pros: As has been stated several times in this piece, there is a lot of defensive talent on the board. Sure, it’d be fun for them to tweak Detroit’s nose and grab Ndmukong Suh, but my suspicion is that they will concentrate on volume over a big splash and look for quality over multiple players.

The great thing is here, the defense has some great pieces. Ego Ferguson was a nice find, and Willie Young a sound investment. Lamarr Houston needs to stay healthy though and Jared Allen isn’t getting younger. Linebacker has some issues as well. The Bears could swing big for a Jerry Hughes or see if Greg Hardy is willing to take a value contract to prove he’s not trouble. Or they can see if BJ Raji and O’Brien Schofield might look better in a Bears uniform than they did in their previous iterations.

They may not have as much money as some, but if the offense stays intact and they can add some defensive pieces a bounceback isn’t insane.

Cons: The question is, again, do they keep the offense together? Will Fox believe in Cutler and if not, what then? On top of that, they’ll have to see how Tim Jennings continues to progress with Kyle Fuller, who had an up and down 2014. Even adding some pieces in free agency may not solve this team’s problems—after all, last season it was the offense as much as defense which let them down and that’s a matter of getting the most out of the players there rather than adding pieces.

Next: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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