As the Chicago Bears prepare for a key offseason, they will look to all 32 clubs to see where they might strengthen their roster by adding upcoming free agents. The Green Bay Packers surprised many with another great season, and they now face some important decisions this offseason. Which Packers may enter free agency?
3. The Chicago Bears could sign a former Green Bay Packers offensive lineman.
The Green Bay Packers face a difficult but also simple decision in David Bakhtiari. He has been a fixture on their line for years and is an all-time Packers player. However, he has appeared in 13 games during the last three seasons. With a cap hit of roughly $40 million and a savings of around $20 million, the Packers will have no choice but to move on. If he wants to exact revenge on his previous team while also signing cheaply in Green Bay, he may push Braxton Jones.
Yosh Nijman is also worth keeping an eye on. He lost his spot backing up Bakhtiari to Rasheed Walker, and he is expected to leave in free agency. While he certainly wants a starting position, he may have to compete with Braxton Jones.
Jon Runyan Jr. is one last name worth keeping an eye on. Runyan is Green Bay’s starting right guard, but near the conclusion of the season, they were platooning him with Sean Rhyan. Rhyan is younger and has more cost-conscious years, so they may consider moving on from Runyan. Is this a better alternative than Nate Davis, and can both fit under the salary cap? The Chicago Bears will have some major decisions to make.
2. Will the Green Bay Packers move on from A.J. Dillon?
This offseason, the Green Bay Packers will face some difficult selections at running back. While Aaron Jones is getting older, has injury concerns, and has a large cap charge, the dead cap hit is approximately $12 million, and it is difficult to imagine the Packers deciding that they are so much better off without Jones that they would cut him.
Still, with such a large cap hit allocated to Jones, they will not be paying A.J. Dillon anything. Dillon is a free agent after accumulating 2,428 yards in four seasons with the Green Packers.
It will be intriguing to see what kind of contract Dillon can get on the open market. The Chicago Bears could be interested if the price is low enough. They have Khalil Herbert, a big-play danger, and Roschon Johnson, a passing option. They could need more power, especially with D’onta Foreman out of the picture. Still, Foreman was passive at times, so Dillon would have to be desperate to get involved in this situation.
1. The Chicago Bears might sign these secondary free agents from the Green Bay Packers.
If the Green Bay Packers have one aspect of their team that requires big changes, it is their secondary. Both of their starting safeties are poised to become free agents this offseason.
The two have taken on different responsibilities, and both have proven capable of playing deep and in the box. The Chicago Bears would prefer a free safety, and Savage is the better fit. Still, neither is the ideal addition, and both would serve as a consolation prize if they are unable to locate the proper match.
Finally, the Green Bay Packers have a huge decision to make with Keisean Nixon. He was inconsistent as a starter in the slot, but he is an All-Pro as a return option, and now that Velus Jones has shown to be a bust, the Chicago Bears may be intrigued to acquire a secondary member who can provide this value. It would also remove a valuable asset from the Green Bay Packers. Will the Bears be interested in any of these free agents?
