Chicago Bears: Best Options to Replace Lance Briggs This Offseason

We have likely seen the end of Lance Briggs in a Chicago Bears uniform. The seven-time Pro Bowl player patrolled the weak side of the linebacker corps for 12 seasons. 

With the Bears shifting to a 3-4 scheme, the focus to fill Briggs' spot centers on a player who can set the edge and get after the quarterback. Lucky for the Bears, there are solid options in the draft and free agency. 

Although Jared Allen and Willie Young will get a crack at outside linebacker, neither is a long-term or natural fit at the spot. The Bears are going to look elsewhere to find a solid option for the hole going forward. 

These are the seven best players to fill in for Briggs if he doesn't re-sign. Give us your thoughts below on the names and who you would like to see on the list. 

Justin Houston racked up a career-high 22.0 sacks last season at the right time. He now becomes an unrestricted free agent in line to make a ton of money. 

The Kansas City Chiefs can still use the franchise tag on Houston if they can't agree on a new deal. If he does hit the open market, then he should become priority No. 1 this offseason for the Bears. 

Houston fits right into the team's new 3-4 scheme and gives the Bears instant credibility from the edge-rusher position. This would allow the Bears to either find a nose tackle in the first round or go after another book-end rusher to complement Houston. 

Dante Fowler Jr. tore up the combine with some impressive numbers. He ran a 4.60 40 and performed well in the shuttle and cone drills.

There's still time until the draft, but there's a good chance Fowler's performance likely put him out of the Bears' reach at No. 7 overall. If he falls to them, the team would be insane to let him go any further. 

Fowler is the kind of hardworking relentless pass-rusher that a team can build around. In a draft with plenty of solid edge-rushers, he stands above them all at the top. 

In Buffalo, Jerry Hughes played defensive end but has experience from his Colts days at outside linebacker. Last season, he had 10.0 sacks for the second year in a row. 

At 6'2'', 253 pounds, Hughes has the physique to play downhill in this defense. He's only 26 and seems to be peaking at the right time in his career. Buffalo might not be able to get a deal done with Hughes, which will make him fair game once free agency begins. 

If the Bears miss out on Justin Houston and want a productive veteran who can step in on Day 1, then Hughes would be a great bet. He could have 12.0 sacks or more in a system designed by defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. 

Randy Gregory's physique is a little leaner than former Tennessee Titans standout Jevon Kearse, but they share a similar body type and skill set. 

Gregory's 6'5'' height makes it difficult for opposing quarterbacks to get the ball over his head. He's a run-stopper at heart but can be an explosive pass-rusher with proper coaching. If Fowler rises to the top five of the draft, then it's likely Gregory will slip a little. 

A few years in an NFL weight room will turn Gregory into a monster. He can get up to Kearse's 265-pound frame and still be a freakish athlete. He's the second option behind Fowler for the Bears at No. 7. 

Vic Beasley had everybody's attention when he put on an impressive show at the combine. He was a top performer among linebackers in every drill and ran a jaw-dropping 4.53 40-yard dash. 

It's too early to call Beasley a top-10 pick, but he's knocking on the door. He's explosive off the snap and has amazing quick feet and hip torque, which makes him a nightmare for offensive linemen to slow down. 

Beasley still needs to get a little stronger in the lower body and can't rely on his speed all the time. If he performs well at his pro day and individual workouts, then we could be talking about him to the Bears at seventh overall. 

Bud Dupree was on Vic Beasley's heels in the 40. Dupree ran a 4.56 and has a solid 20 pounds more on his frame than Beasley does. 

Dupree is a good-character young man who does a great job of setting the edge and getting after the quarterback. He will do well as a "Joker" linebacker at the next level because he's well-rounded in all facets. 

Like Beasley, Dupree is quickly climbing up the boards. He isn't a pure pass-rusher, but he is a gifted athlete with a solid NFL frame who can develop into a true defensive cornerstone for years to come. 

If you were expecting Missouri's Shane Ray instead, then here's your curveball. Virginia's Eli Harold isn't getting enough love right now among the edge-rusher prospects, but he will. 

Harold stepped up against the big boys like Fowler, Dupree, Beasley and Gregory and did more than hold his own. He has a chiseled frame and does a great job of contorting his body in pass-rushing situations, making him a frustrating matchup for linemen. 

He still struggles to break away from strong tackles in one-on-one situations but has room to get stronger and find better use for his hands. He's an above-average edge-setter, especially against tight ends, which means he can flip around to either side. 

Harold is still an early second-round pick but can be a good complementary player with one of the free agents mentioned or even if the team decides to go nose tackle in the first round.