Chicago Bears Mock Free Agency: Ryan Poles bolsters trenches with big-ticket signings

We’ve made it, Bears fans. Free agency unofficially begins with the two-day negotiation window, which opens Tuesday, March 13. The new NFL league year officially begins on March 15.

We’ve seen a lot of 2023 mock drafts in recent months, so let’s try something a little different and conduct a Chicago Bears mock free agency, a look at what the next week or so could look like if GM Ryan Poles maximizes his spending power.

For this mock, I’ll pick a handful of free agents that I think Poles is likely to sign, whether or not I agree with the move. As a reminder, this is only Poles’ second offseason as a GM, and his first was spent trying to shed bad contracts. As a result, we don’t have an idea yet of his modus operandi.

For instance, I don’t believe Poles will target Orlando Brown Jr., despite his accolades. His subpar athleticism has historically been an Achille’s heel for Brown, and his asking price may be too rich for Poles. I think Poles is sold on Braxton Jones as his starting left tackle for at least one more year. But I could be wrong.

With that said, on to the mock (free agency edition).

Dre’Mont Jones – Defensive Tackle, Denver Broncos

Poles’ first big swing in free agency last year was for a defensive tackle, so I expect him to try again. This time, he targets a fairly young player with a ton of upside. Jones just turned 26 and has been a consistently dominant presence on Denver’s defensive line. Over the last three years, he’s averaged six sacks, ten QB hits, and eight tackles-for-loss.

The only real knock on his profile is that he has missed games in every season so far, but he’s never played in fewer than 13 games.

Recently, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated said that Jones’ contract demands are likely in the neighborhood of $20 million a year. I expect Poles won’t play around with a guy of Jones’ caliber and will offer him exactly that: 5 years for $100 million. And if Jones continues his dominating ways, he will be worth every penny.

Mike McGlinchey – Offensive Tackle, San Francisco 49ers

McGlinchey may not be an exciting free agent, but he’s been a stable, reliable presence at right tackle for the Niners since 2018. He has a bit of an injury history but nothing major. He’s extremely athletic for a tackle, a trait highly coveted in Luke Getsy’s offense, and is a real road-grader in the run game.

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I fully expect Poles to not only sign a right tackle (McGlinchey, in this case) but also to select a right tackle early in the draft. A double-dip at a position that was one of the weakest on Chicago’s offensive line in 2022.

Spotrac places McGlinchey’s market value at $14.8 million a year. So I would expect Poles to offer him a 4-year deal with a total value in the neighborhood of $60 million.

Tremaine Edmunds – Linebacker, Buffalo Bills

Arguably the best linebacker to hit free agency this offseason, Edmunds would be a fantastic signing. Only 24 years old, he’s never had fewer than 102 tackles in a season or played in fewer than 13 games. He’s a prototypical middle linebacker and even drew comparisons to Hall of Famer and Chicago legend Brian Urlacher when he entered the NFL Draft.

Simply put: Edmunds is a defensive leader with a hot motor, exactly the kind of guy that Matt Eberflus wants.

Spotrac lists his market value at $11 million a year, but that sounds a little low compared to what other linebackers are expected to make. Getting him in a Bears jersey would likely require a five-year, $70 million deal.

Yannick Ngakoue – Defensive End, Indianapolis Colts

Last year, Poles brought in a former Colt defender, and I expect him to do it again. Though Ngakoue doesn’t rank among the elite pass rushers in the NFL, he posted 9.5 sacks with the Colts last season and 10 with the Raiders in 2021, both respectable numbers. He turns 28 in just a couple of weeks, so he’s a tad older than Poles might prefer, but it’s reasonable to assume he still has at least three good years left in him.

Spotrac places his market value at $14.8 million a year. Given that he’s older than the other free agents on this list, I think his contract will look slightly different. Look for him to get a 3-year, $44 million deal from Poles.