Bear Digest

Let the Free Agent Negotiating Begin for Bears

Free Agency Focus: Saquon Barkley rumors running at fever pitch for Bears while QB market for Justin Fields still revolves around Kirk Cousins drama.

Gene Chamberlain

Let the Free Agent Negotiating Begin for Bears
Let the Free Agent Negotiating Begin for Bears /
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The wheels turned on the eve of free agency in the NFL, and it's safe to say no one except possibly Bears GM Ryan Poles knows what kind of market he's facing for QB Justin Fields.

That is, if he indeed plans to trade his team's' starting quarterback.

The focal point of free agency remains Kirk Cousins and his landing spot might dictate where Fields winds up since Atlanta is projected as a possible place where the Bears could trade their starter before drafting Caleb Wiliams.

It might need to be Atlanta because if it isn't, there could be a longer wait for Fields or the Bears might be forced to accept much less in return. 

That's because the other major location Fields has been rumored to be in play for is now no longer a possibility. Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Russell Wilson will sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Early Sunday, The Athletic's Alec Lewis and Dianna Russini had reported the Vikings could know by Sunday night whether their QB plans to test the free agent market or will return on an extension but by Sunday evening NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported it appears Cousins will test the free agency market. He also reported something else interesting for the Bears because it meant another possible team looking for Cousins as a starter: The Denver Broncos could be interested in Cousins.

If Cousins stays with the Vikings and Atlanta needs a quarterback, it could be ideal for the Bears. 

If Cousins winds up in Atlanta, it removes one major possible trading partner for the Bears.  

The decision on Cousins will need to be rapid because the Vikings have until the new league year at 3 p.m. on Wednesday to get him a deal or eat $28 million in dead cap.

The opening of free agent negotiations is 11 a.m. on Monday but nothing becomes official until the 3 p.m. Wednesday opening.

Some quarterback movement began already on Sunday as the fates of Baker Mayfield and Mac Jones werer decided.

NFL Netork's Ian Rapoport reported Mayfield agreed to stay in Tampa Bay for three years, $100 million deal with $50 million guaranteed. So Tampa Bay is no longer a possible alternative landing spot and Mayfield isn't an option for other teams without a quarterback.

SI.COM FREE AGENCY TRACKER GRADING ALL THE MOVES

Also, Mac Jones is being shipped from New England to be backup QB to Trevor Lawrence with the Jaguars, according to an ESPN report by Adam Schefter. The report said a sixth-round draft pick is the likely return.

Jones, drafted four spots after Fields in 2021 at No. 15, had struggled in his second and third seasons after a solid start to his career.

Other possible positions were rumored or became possibilities for the Bears when free agency begins.

The Bears initally had been reported among seven teams of interest to running back Saquon Barkley and Sunday reports on the Giants free agent narrowed this down to three teams, with the Bears still a possibility. The Bears have Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson but could use one more versatile threat.

ESPN's Jordan Raanan reported the Bears, Chargers and Ravens could be among teams making a strong push for the former Giants standout.

The signing by the Bears of released safety Kevin Byard on Sunday was their first of a 30-year-old player under GM Ryan Poles and it met with a positive grade overall, with SI.com grading the Bears at B-minus on the move. 

Another player at a need position is about to become available, according to ESPN. Panthers center Bradley Bozeman. It's uncertain whether Bozeman would fit the style of offense Shane Waldron is expected to implement but his release is only saving $360,000 against the cap and are eating $7.28 million in dead cap so the Panthers definitely didn't do it for cap purposes.

The defensive tackle market remains a possiblity for the Bears but the top player available, Christian Wilkins, hasn't been linked to them in any reports so far. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported the Vikings, Texans and Browns might make a run at Wilkins, who played in the defense of Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores with the Dolphins.

No doubt the rumor mill will be running at fever pitch on Monday morning until opening of the negotiating period.

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven

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Gene Chamberlain
GENE CHAMBERLAIN

BearDigest.com publisher Gene Chamberlain has covered the Chicago Bears full time as a beat writer since 1994 and prior to this on a part-time basis for 10 years. He covered the Bears as a beat writer for Suburban Chicago Newspapers, the Daily Southtown, Copley News Service and has been a contributor for the Daily Herald, the Associated Press, Bear Report, CBS Sports.com and The Sporting News. He also has worked a prep sports writer for Tribune Newspapers and Sun-Times newspapers.

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