Overlooked Free Agent The Chicago Bears Could Snag After Draft

The Chicago Bears have throttled down on their work in free agency since the initial surge last month. They’ve made one or two minor moves looking for depth at key positions. It’s clear GM Ryan Poles has put everything on hold to prepare for the NFL draft. That isn’t a surprise. He is hoping to use that weekend to fill most of the remaining holes in the roster with young, cheap talent. Eight of those picks are in the top 150, which gives them good odds to last at least two or three solid players.

Still, there is a high probability Poles will still have some work to do before he can call his off-season efforts complete. It is likely he will target at least one or two capable veterans for one-year deals, plugging any voids that remain. While there aren’t many big names left on the market, there is one worth watching. That is Marcus Peters. The 30-year-old may not be quite that young anymore, but he can provide much-needed depth and experience for the Bears’ young secondary. He has ties to Poles too. The GM was in Kansas City when the Chiefs drafted him in 2015.

Peters fits the mentality the Chicago Bears prefer.

He’s not afraid to be physical for a cornerback, averaging around 50 tackles per year. That includes six forced fumbles between 2021 and 2022. His biggest calling card is turnovers. Peters has 32 interceptions in seven seasons. His ability to take the ball away is exactly what head coach Matt Eberflus covets. The big question is how much the cornerback has left in the tank and how much he is willing to behave. Peters has a long history of trouble with authority. It was true in college at Washington and has been at times in the NFL too.

This is why you sign him to a one-year deal. If he misbehaves, the Chicago Bears can cut him loose with minimal long-term issues. On the other hand, if he can put together another year like his 2021 season, the defense would have one of the better secondaries in the NFL. Peters would be a significant upgrade over Kindle Vildor, Josh Blackwell, or Harrison Hand. This may come down to what Poles does in the draft. He may try to snag another corner in the early rounds.