Bears Have No Urgent Needs
Jerry Angelo gave it some thought and then shook his head. In his long career in the NFL, the Chicago Bears’ general manager couldn’t recall a time when one of his teams was returning all 22 starters.
With the salary cap creating personnel turnover every season, it’s even rarer in today’s NFL.
“It makes it better for us. It gives us more latitude in what we can do on draft day. We’re not having to be fixed on a need,” Angelo said.
The Bears won the NFC North last season and will be favorites again in a division where Green Bay’s Brett Favre hasn’t decided on his future and where Daunte Culpepper has left the Vikings.
So Angelo could use the late choice to shore up some areas. He could peddle it and move up this year or next. Or he could use it to get additional picks.
If they keep it?
“We see the player at 26 as being a starter. Will he come in right away and start? I can’t say that. But we obviously feel that way,” he said. “Really we see that with all our players on the first day.”
Chicago wanted to upgrade its secondary that was exposed in a playoff loss to Carolina last January, especially after veteran backup and kick returner Jerry Azumah retired in the offseason.
The Bears perhaps took care of strengthening the secondary last week by signing defensive back Ricky Manning Jr. to a $21 million offer sheet over five years that includes $7.5 million in guaranteed money the first year.
Carolina did not match the offer for Manning, who was arrested for suspicion of assault Sunday night in Los Angeles after an altercation at a restaurant.
Other areas that could be addressed are tight end, a position that requires more blocking than receiving in Chicago’s run-oriented scheme, or linebacker, where the Bears have Pro Bowlers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs and are expected to re-sign restricted free agent Hunter Hillenmeyer. The Bears have discussed a contract extension for Briggs.
The Bears, who were very interested in free agent Antwaan Randle El before he joined Washington, could also look to upgrade at wide receiver and give more help to Mushin Muhammad, last offseason’s top acquisition.
Is there a trade to be made?
“We are getting calls. So once we get a little bit better idea how serious the calls are, then we’ll start looking at what our options are, either going up or down,” Angelo said last week.
“We’re not married to it, but we feel good about who we’re going to get at 26 and it could be a player on either side of the ball. Last year we really wanted to focus on the offense. There have been years we really wanted to focus on the defense. We’re not really focused on either side of the ball.”
Chicago’s biggest problem has been quarterback for years. Injuries and inexperience have plagued the Bears. They signed veteran Brian Griese to back up Rex Grossman, whose career has been stunted by major injuries the last two seasons. Kyle Orton, a rookie last season, stepped in, struggled at times, but also did enough to get Chicago headed toward the playoffs before Grossman returned from a broken ankle. Orton’s now No. 3.
So, quarterbacking is not a priority and running back apparently isn’t, either. Thomas Jones rushed for 1,335 yards last season, but he should have strong training camp competition from Cedric Benson, last year’s first-round pick, who was hurt by a holdout and then a knee injury.
“Thomas Jones had a great year,” coach Lovie Smith said. “As strong as that position is as a whole, we should be all right. It will be good to have Cedric here from Day 1. He was here going through the offseason program doing all that. That’s big. And our quarterback position is stronger based on being able to add Brian Griese to the mix. … We just want to add as much depth as we can and improve overall at positions as much as anything.”
With Adrian Peterson a reliable third-stringer who ran well as the backup when Benson was hurt, the Bears might be able to work a deal for Jones.
