Fansided

NFL free agency 2019: Grades for every team

By Kevin Parvizi

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 25: Odell Beckham #13 of the New York Giants yells prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 25: Odell Beckham #13 of the New York Giants yells prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 30: Mike Davis #27 of the Seattle Seahawks runs the ball for a touchdown in the third quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at CenturyLink Field on December 30, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 30: Mike Davis #27 of the Seattle Seahawks runs the ball for a touchdown in the third quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at CenturyLink Field on December 30, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

Chicago Bears

Key Additions: S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, CB Buster Skrine, RB Mike Davis, WR Cordarrelle Patterson, OG Ted Larsen

Key Losses: S Adrian Amos, CB Bryce Callahan, RB Jordan Howard (trade), WR Kevin White

Grade: D+

While Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace is one of the best executives in the NFL and played a huge role in the Bears return to prominence with a 12-4 record last year, it seems like he whiffed in free agency this year. The Bears made downgrades at safety, cornerback, and running back, and it’s puzzling why they didn’t just keep the players they had, even if it would have costed them a little bit extra.

Of course, it’s easy to be too critical of Pace and the Bears, even if it’s frustrating to see, say, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix swapping places with Adrian Amos or Mike Davis becoming the feature back when Jordan Howard, a former 1,300-yard rusher, only garnered a sixth-round pick from the savvy Philadelphia Eagles (the same team that beat Chicago in the postseason).

Callahan, Amos, and Howard are all great players, but they honestly weren’t “keys to success” for the Bears on a weekly basis. Chicago got more mileage out of Tarik Cohen, and they may view Davis as a cheaper replacement than Howard, whose rookie contract ends after the 2019 season. Amos signed a $9 million deal with the Packers and Callahan signed for $7 million per year with the Denver Broncos, whereas Ha Ha Clinton-Dix will cost the Bears $3 million per year and Skrine will make $5.5 million.

The issue  is whether or not the Bears needed to prioritize cap savings over superior football players, because coming off of a 12-win season, they aren’t far off from a Super Bowl run. Those minor downgrades could potentially bite the Bears, especially since they got older at those positions and shook up their team when they didn’t have to.

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