Chicago Bears General Manager Ryan Poles has taken a conservative yet strategic approach to his first trip through NFL free agency. The Bears haven’t signed a headline-grabbing free agent in 2022, but they did add several players who will provide good depth with starting upside.
Here is the complete list of free agents the Bears have signed as of the date of this post. They appear in alphabetical order, and each signing has been issued a grade on a scale of A (impact starter with Pro Bowl upside) through F (unlikely to make the team).
Matt Adams, LB
6-foot, 229 pounds
4.63 40-yard dash (pro day)
Adams (26) spent the last four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts as a key member of their special teams unit. He’s expected to compete for reps at linebacker in 2022. Adams played his college football at Houston and was a seventh-round pick of the 2018 NFL draft.
Grade: C+
Khari Blasingame, FB
6-foot, 233 pounds
4.55 40-yard dash (pro day)
Blasingame (25) started 13 games over three seasons with the Tennessee Titans. Served as a lead blocker for running back Derrick Henry. Played his college football at Vanderbilt and was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent following the 2019 NFL Draft.
Grade: C
Dane Cruikshank, SAF
6-foot-1, 209 pounds
4.41 40-yard dash (NFL combine)
Cruikshank (26) started four games for the Tennessee Titans in 2021 after primarily serving as a key special teams player for the first three years of his career. He’s appeared in 44 games during his four seasons in the NFL and is expected to compete for a starting job opposite Eddie Jackson. Cruikshank played his college football at Arizona and was selected by the Titans in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL draft.
Grade: B-
Dakota Dozier, iOL
6-foot-4, 312 pounds
Dozier (30) has 27 starts in 76 games during his seven-year career. He’s spent time with the New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings. He started at left guard for the Vikings in 2020 and is expected to provide depth with starter’s upside along the interior of the offensive line. Dozier played his college football at Furman and was the Jets’ fourth-round pick in the 2014 NFL draft.
Grade: C-
Ryan Griffin, TE
6-foot-6, 255 pounds
4.87 40-yard dash (pro day)
Griffin (32) has started 67 games over nine seasons in the NFL. He’s spent time with the Houston Texans and New York Jets, totaling 206 catches for 2,158 yards and 14 touchdowns. Griffin played his college football at Connecticut and was the Texans’ sixth-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. He’s expected to provide depth at tight end behind Cole Kmet and is a strong candidate to replace the reps left behind by Jimmy Graham.
Grade: C
Justin Jones, iDL
6-foot-2, 309 pounds
5.09 40-yard dash (NFL combine)
Jones (25) has started 35 games over the last four seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, totaling 63 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 12 TFL. Jones played his college football at North Carolina State and was the Chargers’ third-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. He’s expected to start at defensive tackle for the Bears in 2022.
Grade: B
David Moore, WR
6-foot, 215 pounds
4.43 40-yard dash (pro day)
Moore (27) has started 14 games in 50 appearances during his five-year NFL career. He’s spent time with the Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, and Green Bay Packers. He’s totaled 78 catches for 1,163 yards and 13 touchdowns in his career. Moore played his college football at DII East Central University and was the Seahawks’ seventh-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Moore adds depth to the Bears’ receiving corps and will challenge for reps behind Darnell Mooney and Byron Pringle.
Grade: C+
Nicholas Morrow, LB
6-foot, 225 pounds
4.52 40-yard dash (pro day)
Morrow (26) has started 29 games in 62 appearances with the Las Vegas Raiders during the first five seasons of his career. He played his college football at Greenville University and was signed by the Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2017. Morrow’s totaled 254 tackles, 20 TFL, four sacks, and two interceptions in his career. He missed the 2021 season with an ankle injury. Morrow is expected to start alongside Roquan Smith at linebacker.
Grade: B-
Al-Quadin Muhammad, Edge
6-foot-4, 250 pounds
4.88 40-yard dash (NFL combine)
Muhammad (26) spent the first four seasons of his career with the Indianapolis Colts, starting 25 games in 64 appearances and totaling 124 tackles, 11 sacks, 22 TFL, and three forced fumbles. Muhammad played his college football at Miami and was selected in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints. Muhammad emerged as a starter for the first time in 2021 and his experience in Matt Eberflus’ defense is expected to result in a key role as part of the Bears’ pass rush in 2022.
Grade: B-
James O’Shaughnessy, TE
6-foot-4, 245 pounds
4.69 40-yard dash (pro day)
O’Shaughnessy (30) joins the Bears after spending the first seven years of his career with the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars. He’s totaled 112 catches for 1,108 yards and three touchdowns. O’Shaughnessy played his college football at Illinois State and was selected by the Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He’s expected to provide depth at tight end behind starter Cole Kmet.
Grade: C
Lucas Patrick, C
6-foot-3, 313 pounds
Patrick (28) spent the first six seasons of his career with the Green Bay Packers, starting 34 games in 73 appearances. Patrick brings starting experience at center and guard and is expected to be the Bears’ starting center in 2022. He played his college football at Duke and was signed by the Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2016.
Grade: B
Byron Pringle, WR
6-foot-1, 203 pounds
4.46 40-yard dash (NFL combine)
Pringle (28) spent the last four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, making eight starts in 46 appearances. He’s totaled 67 catches for 898 yards and seven touchdowns in his career. Pringle played his college football at Kansas State and was signed by the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He’s expected to bring a blend of size and speed to the Bears’ passing attack with after-the-catch playmaking ability. He’s in line to be a starter in 2022.
Grade: B-
Trevor Siemian, QB
6-foot-3, 220 pounds
Siemian (30) is a veteran quarterback with 29 starts over the last six seasons. He’s spent time with the Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, and New Orleans Saints. He’s thrown for 6,843 yards, 41 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions in his career. Siemian played his college football at Northwestern and was selected by the Broncos in the seventh round of the 2015 NFL draft. He’s expected to be the Bears’ backup quarterback in 2022.
Grade: B-
Equanimeous St. Brown, WR
6-foot-5, 214 pounds
4.48 40-yard dash (NFL combine)
St. Brown (25) spent the first three seasons of his career with the Green Bay Packers, making 10 starts in 37 appearances. He’s totaled 37 catches for 543 yards and one touchdown (missed all of 2019 with an ankle injury). St. Brown played his college football at Notre Dame and was the Packers’ sixth-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. He’ll add size and red-zone ability to the Bears’ passing attack in 2022.
Grade: C+
Greg Stroman Jr., CB
5-foot-11, 182 pounds
4.48 40-yard dash (NFL combine)
Stroman (26) spent the first three seasons of his career with the Washington Commanders, Buffalo Bills, and Los Angeles Rams. He’s started three games in 20 appearances. Stroman played his college football at Virginia Tech and was the Commanders seventh-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. He’ll compete for a job as a depth cornerback on the Bears in 2022.
Grade: C-
Tavon Young, CB
5-foot-9, 185 pounds
4.46 40-yard dash (NFL combine)
Young (28) spent his first six seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, recording 24 starts in 50 appearances. He’s totaled 127 tackles, four interceptions, and 16 pass breakups in his career. Young played his college football at Temple and was the Ravens’ fourth-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft. Widely regarded as one of the NFL’s better slot corners, Young has battled injuries in 2019 (neck) and 2020 (ACL). He’s expected to earn starter’s reps on the Bears’ defense in 2022.
Grade: B
