Everyone is signed and expected in training camp, there has been no tangible off-field offseason drama, and there are only a handful of injured players, all of whom are expected to return relatively soon.
Chicago Bears football is back, and we’re about three weeks away from preseason game one.
Rookies and quarterbacks reported to Halas Hall today, with the rest of the team set to report on Tuesday. The roster is pretty much set, but a tweak here or there could always happen as general manager Ryan Poles reassesses the team he built for head coach Ben Johnson.
Earlier this week, we asked fans to vote on the one position group you hoped they’d bolster, and 51% of us went with defensive line. The Washington Commanders recently signed veteran pass rusher Von Miller, but he’s not the only vet still looking for work.
Here are a few defensive line options still on the market.
Za’Darius Smith – The soon-to-be 33-year-old has played for the other three teams in the NFC North, and he’s the player most fans look at when rumors circulate about the Bears adding another pass rusher. He had nine sacks last year, splitting time between the Browns and Lions.
Matt Judon – He’ll also be 33 when the season starts, and probably has something left as a rotational pass rusher. Last year, he had 5.5 sacks and 25 pressures for the Falcons.
Jadeveon Clowney – Clowney has never had double-digit sacks in his 11 seasons, but he’s still a solid DE.
DeMarcus Walker – The former Bear probably isn’t an option, considering they cut him in February, but if the Bears are looking for a player with inside-outside versatility, Walker fits that.
With training camps opening around the league, this is probably a good time to revisit some odds from our partners at FanDuel.
They have Chicago’s most likely win total at 8.5, with the over checking in at +135. You can get over 10.5 wins at +380, and over 12.5 wins at +1000. The Bears are also +550 to win the NFC North.
SB Nation Reacts is a survey of fans across the NFL, and throughout the year, we’ll ask questions of the most plugged-in Chicago Bears fans and fans nationwide, right here at WCG. You can also sign up here to participate in their weekly emailed surveys.