One Cardinals Free Agent Might Suit Bears

Teams switching systems often find players no longer suit a new scheme and one Cardinals free agent defensive lineman might be a better fit now for the Bears.

When coaches start moving around in the NFL it can mean a change in personnel emphasis.

Players who figured into the old coach's scheme are often no longer a fit. The Bears found plenty of this last year when the bigger 300-pound-plus defensive ends like Akiem Hicks and Bilal Nichols no longer fit, and defensive tackles in their new 4-3 also had to be smaller to be up-field attackers in the gaps.

The Arizona Cardinals have become the latest team to enter this transition. The Cardinals had run a 3-4 base defense under defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. New head coach Jonathan Gannon with the Eagles ran a base 4-3 as defensive coordinator with different types of players at some positions.

One of the players who is different in Arizona than players Gannon had in Philadelphia is a free agent defensive end, 6-foot-4, 281-pound Zach Allen.

The Eagles, under Gannon, had no players that size in their defensive front. Their heaviest defensive end was Josh Sweat at 265. They had no defensive tackles lighter than 305-pound Javon Hargrave.

However, when Matt Eberflus was Colts defensive coordinator he always liked at least one end who is around 280. His defenses were at their best in 2020 when they moved 285-pound tackle Denico Autry to defensive end. Autry made 7 1/2 sacks and nine tackles for loss then after DeForest Buckner had come to the team as a defensive tackle to play Autry's old spot.

Allen could be an end in the 4-3 or even rush from a tackle spot in passing situations and could be a good fit on a Bears front that needs help of all types.

In detailing his defensive aims during the season, Eberflus described a player much like Allen at defensive end. He looks for a more stout defensive end.

"Your defensive ends have to be able to set the edge so that the gaps don't get too wide and that's an important piece on the tackles," Eberflus said. "And they've got to be able to play back side. They've got to be able to stay alive."

How Zach Allen Rates

Pro Football Focus notes in its free agent assessments how Allen was schooled by J.J. Watt and not only defends the run but had a strong 2022 season rushing the passer with 35 pressures. He has 34 quarterback hits ot go with nine sacks the last two years.

Allen is ranked 23rd among all free agents by PFF and sixth among all defensive line free agents, tackle or edge. He is projected by PFF at $12.5 million a year but Spotrac.com sees his value as quite a bit less at $6.3 million a year.

It's a situation where one team's mis-fit could become another team's fit through free agency if the Bears went in that direction.

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven