(670 The Score) New Bears general manager Ryan Poles made it clear when he was introduced in late January that he would take a cautious approach in free agency.
So far, he has indeed been prudent, but there are still plenty of moves to make and much to monitor as Poles and the Bears seek to upgrade their roster in free agency. Here are five observations from Monday as negotiations opened.
Big addition for Eberflus’ defense
The Bears landed their new 3-technique for coach Matt Eberflus’ defensive system, reaching a three-year agreement with veteran defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi in what represented the first major roster addition of Poles' tenure. The deal is worth up to $40.5 million.
Ogunjobi, 27, appears to be an ideal fit for the Bears’ new direction defensively. He’s coming off a highly productive 2021 season in which he recorded seven sacks and 12 tackles for a loss. That strong work with the AFC champion Bengals allowed him to cash in on the first day of open negotiations.
As the Bears set out to retool much of their roster, Ogunjobi is a player young enough to help them in both the present and future. He’s a disruptive presence who’s strong against both the run and the pass and proved it last season.
The Bears on Monday also officially released nose tackle Eddie Goldman, who was a key cog of their 3-4 identity since 2015. With veteran defensive lineman Akiem Hicks expected to move on in free agency and defensive lineman Bilal Nichols also on the open market, Ogunjobi’s arrival marks the continuation of Eberflus’ overhaul on that side of the ball.
So, what’s next?
Just because the Bears were quiet after landing Ogunjobi on Monday didn't mean that Poles took a half day.
As the Jaguars broke the bank in free agency while desperately working to build a roster around 22-year-old quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the Bears are taking a prudent approach as they look to build around 23-year-old quarterback Justin Fields.
Two weeks ago, Poles shared his mindset regarding the first wave of free agency.
“You’ll start to gather that information just with contacts into that first wave and you’ll get a feel based on how you value players once they start to trickle down and the price points come down a little bit,” Poles said. “Because at the end of the day, you’re going to overpay in free agency. That’s just what it is. It’s market price. So, it’s really through the communication that you’ll get an idea of when things settle down a little but it’s usually a couple days in.”
The Bears have their board stacked with various targets, but – as Poles has emphasized – the goal is adding a volume of talent.
Receiver D.J. Chark is still available as the Bears seek to address that position of need. Cornerback Casey Hayward would represent a potential key addition on defense. And linebacker Anthony Walker, who played under Eberflus with the Colts, is another player who makes sense for the Bears.
Trubisky time
It’s not a surprise to see former Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky get another chance as a starter. He was a coveted player on the open market and agreed to a two-year deal with the Steelers shortly after the negotiation period began.
Trubisky committed himself to his backup role with the Bills last season, learning under one of the top coaches of quarterbacks in Brian Daboll and molding parts of his game after superstar Josh Allen following four inconsistent seasons with the Bears.
Teams recognized what Trubisky did with the goal of changing himself as a player. It was also clear that former Bears coach Matt Nagy was a big part of why Trubisky didn’t succeed in Chicago.
Now, Trubisky will step in for the Steelers with the intention of revealing much more in a new opportunity.
Catching on elsewhere?
Veteran receiver Allen Robinson's desire in recent years was to discover and land his true market value. Now, he’s getting that chance in free agency.
After contract extension talks between Robinson and the Bears fell apart in September 2020 – and after he was tendered a franchise tag last season – he's now available to sign elsewhere. The market for receivers got off to a strong start Monday as Christian Kirk agreed to a four-year, $72-million deal with the Jaguars that has potential escalators to $84 million.
It’s unclear how far Kirk’s deal could drive up the market for Robinson, but it surely will help. The Chiefs, Lions and Browns are among the teams interested in Robinson, NFL Media reported. The Patriots and Saints are also possibilities for him to consider.
The rising cost for Robinson only increases the likelihood that he won't be returning to the Bears, which has long been the expectation.
Will Roquan cash in?
The Bears have financial flexibility moving forward after agreeing to trade star pass rusher Khalil Mack to the Chargers last Thursday. Some of those resources could be devoted to linebacker Roquan Smith, who's in line to be a free agent a year from now.
Smith is set to play the 2022 season under the fifth-year option, but the Bears could soon look to negotiate a long-term contract extension with him. However, Smith still doesn't have an agent, and it’s unclear what his plans are for representation.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.