Free Agent or Draft: How Should the Chicago Bears Fill Their Biggest Holes?
The page on the calendar turns to March, and it's now time to start focusing on how the Bears will fill the holes on their roster.
Free agency is up first on March 10 followed by the NFL draft on April 30. While the Bears have about $25 million in cap space, according to Spotrac.com, filling on their holes in free agency wouldn't be the wisest thing to do.
Free safety, right tackle and slot receiver are just a few of the holes needed to fill. The Bears have the potential to bring in a top veteran free safety and draft an electric edge-rusher.
Click ahead to see exactly how Chicago should address the biggest holes on the team.
Free Safety
Since Mike Brown left the Bears in 2008, it has been a revolving door at safety. Ryan Mundy is an adequate option at strong safety for now, but there is a gaping hole at free safety.
Unfortunately for the Bears, this is a down year in the draft if you want a safety. Alabama's Landon Collins is the only first-round option, and he plays a more in the box style.
If the Bears were to try to draft another player, they are likely to get a guy the caliber of last year's fourth-round pick, Brock Vereen. The team should instead spend a little money solidifying the position once and for all.
The New England Patriots failed to place the franchise tag on Devin McCourty. He is likely to hit free agency and would be a great fit for the Bears. He's still only 27 and has 17 career interceptions.
Rahim Moore from the Broncos is another option. He's familiar with John Fox from their time together in Denver.
Right Tackle
There's no way the Bears can go into next season with Jordan Mills as their starting right tackle. The fifth-round pick in 2013 struggled last year with injuries and his overall play when healthy.
It's time the Bears find a solid right tackle they can build on. Offensive coordinator Adam Gase is going to look for balance in his offense, and he needs to trust the five players up front to protect the quarterback and open holes in the running game.
Tackle should be a high priority for the Bears in the draft. Instead of overpaying for a guy in free agency, the team should take advantage of some decent talent available in the first three rounds.
Texas A&M's Cedric Ogbuehi is an intriguing prospect. He was largely considered a first-round pick until he tore his ACL in the team's bowl game. Value becomes important with a player like him—if the Bears can get him at the top of Round 3, then he's a steal.
Jake Fisher from Oregon is another option. He could be paired with fellow Duck Kyle Long to form a nasty and athletic right side of the offensive line.
Defensive End
When defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was doing the same work in San Francisco, outside linebacker Aldon Smith got much of the praise, but it was defensive end Justin Smith who did most of the heavy lifting.
Justin Smith went to five Pro Bowls as a 49er, mostly doing a great job setting the edge and attacking the quarterback. The Bears currently don't have their Justin Smith on the roster, but there's a free agent out there who can fill the role.
Baltimore's Pernell McPhee had 7.5 sacks in a bench role last year. He would be a great fit opposite returning Lamarr Houston up front at the end spot. Jay Ratliff can fill the middle, and second-year man Ego Ferguson can rotate out.
McPhee can also stand up and rush from the edge. He's a versatile player who is emerging into a top pass-rusher in this league. He should be priority No. 1 for the Bears once free agency starts.
Slot Receiver/ Kick Returner
Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery are great receivers, but the Bears still lack a speedy underneath target who can double as a kick returner.
Two glaring omissions from the offense last year were versatility and balance. A quality slot receiver can help restore both and prove to be a great benefit to Marshall, Jeffery, Matt Forte and Martellus Bennett.
Wes Welker, Eddie Royal and Harry Douglas will be on the free-agent market, but the Bears can find their guy in the draft. They still need to pay Jeffery and have Marquess Wilson, who is still of some value.
Stanford's Ty Montgomery is a fit. He has top-notch speed and can line up anywhere on the field. He's used to a pro offense and was one of the nation's top return men.
Tyler Lockett from Kansas State is another option and because the draft is so deep this year at receiver, the Bears can wait until the third or fourth rounds to target these guys.
Inside Linebacker
Jon Bostic figures to be a starter at inside linebacker, but the Bears need one more guy. Christian Jones is likely a backup on the outside, and Shea McClellin isn't a reliable option at any spot.
The draft has some decent prospects, but the Bears' draft position makes it tough to key in on one. They could go with a pick in the second round, but right tackle and edge-rusher are more glaring needs they need to address in the early going.
Broncos linebacker Nate Irving is coming off a torn ACL, but he's still a good option in free agency. He started eight games inside last year before the injury and obviously has history with John Fox.
The Bears might have some company in pursuit of Irving. Former Broncos defensive coordinator and current Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio could be interested in his former player according to ESPN's Josina Anderson (h/t Bill Williamson).
Outside Linebacker
Converting defensive ends Jared Allen and Willie Young into stand-up edge-rushers prove the Bears have two big holes on both sides.
Allen is at the tail end of his career, and Young is coming off a torn Achilles tendon. The Bears sit in a perfect spot in the first round to take advantage of a crop of talented edge-rushers unlike anything we have seen in a few years.
Florida's Dante Fowler will likely be the first guy taken, but the Bears should still be able to get the second option at the seventh pick. Nebraska's Randy Gregory does a great job setting the edge, and Missouri's Shane Ray attacks the quarterback with straight speed.
Even with those other guys on the table, it might be Clemson's Vic Beasley who could shine the brightest. The combine star has blasted up the draft boards and has a skill sit and freakish athletic ability that could make him a star in Chicago.