Grading the Chicago Bears’ moves in 2021 NFL free agency
The Bears were active in NFL free agency, but did Chicago actually do enough to help Matt Nagy pilot this team to the playoffs in 2021?
The first wave of NFL free agency is over and the Bears have been one of the more active teams in the NFL. The question still remains whether or not Chicago’s front office did enough to help Matt Nagy save his job with a playoff berth in 2021.
The team’s best free agent decision was arguably the easiest call of the offseason for the Bears to make. Placing the franchise tag on Allen Robinson didn’t make the talented wide receiver very happy, but Chicago didn’t have any other realistic options at their disposal. If he plays under the tag then the Bears will happily pay him $18 million. The team would be ecstatic if they could lock him down with a longer deal, but their quarterback issues make that outcome exceedingly unlikely.
Ironically, the team’s free agent acquisition at quarterback grades out as the team’s worst move of NFL free agency to date. Andy Dalton might be a decent stopgap signal-caller for Chicago, but paying him $10 million reaks of sheer desperation. It also shines an intense light on the Bears’ lack of long-term planning at the game’s most important position. Perhaps the franchise can change that in April’s draft, but it looks more likely they’ll give Dalton a chance to power them to the playoffs in 2021 before pursuing a larger move in 12 months.
Chicago Bears 2021 NFL Free Agency Grade
The other notable moves on Chicago’s ledger of free agent transactions to date are all pretty neutral and not particularly noteworthy. Bringing back Cairo Santos on a three-year, $9 million deal is decent value for a starting kicker. Inking Germain Ifedi to a one-year, $5 million deal could also prove to be a bargain. The same can be said for Mario Edwards’ three-year, $11.5 million pact.
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The biggest issue with the Bears’ free agent maneuverings is that they didn’t do anything to acquire a young player with upside who projects to be a difference-maker. Making that kind move was always going to be difficult given Chicago’s cap issues, but they didn’t take a single swing on a player with Pro Bowl potential. That’s why the Bears check in with an ugly D as their 2021 NFL free agency grade to date.