Although general manager Ryan Pace created something of an impression this offseason that the Bears weren’t likely to be big-strike players in free agency, one Halas Hall insider told CSNChicago.com that with Pace stirring the brew, “expect the unexpected.”
That may indeed be the case, as one report out of Denver has the Bears on the short list in the serious hunt for one critical, high-priced member of the Denver Broncos defense that took Super Bowl 50 away from Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers.
According to Mike Klis at KUSA in Denver, the Bears are among four teams expressing “serious interest” in defensive end/tackle Malik Jackson, who followed a breakout season of 21 quarterback hurries, 16 hits and 5.5 sacks with a dominant Super Bowl performance that included a fumble recovery for a touchdown.
Others in the competition for Jackson, whose price tag was anticipated to be in the range of $12-14 million per season, reportedly are the Broncos, Oakland Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars.
[MORE: Martellus Bennett may have sabotaged options for Bears, himself]
If not Martellus Bennett for Bears, Colts' Coby Fleener now more available
The Indianapolis Colts’ re-signing tight end Dwayne Allen for four years and $29.4 million ostensibly points to his teammate Coby Fleener and his 54 receptions for 2015 hitting the open market, given the size of the Allen deal.
NFL
The souring relationship with Martellus Bennett was expected to have the Bears kicking the contract tires with a tight end, and Fleener already was high in the rankings of available players at that key position in the offense.
[SHOP: Gear up, Bears fans!]
RGIII out in D.C.; Adam Gase in line?
The Washington Redskins released quarterback Robert Griffin III, ending the story of one of the NFL’s great trade disasters, Washington having effectively sent eight players, including draft picks that turned into Greg Robinson, Alec Ogletree, Stedman Bailey, Michael Brockers and Janoris Jenkins — all on the then-St. Louis Rams roster last season.
One thought: Few teams are not in the market for at the very least a backup quarterback capable of winning games; more than a few could do with upgrades at the No. 1 spot.
Adam Gase’s reputation as quarterback whisperer after his work with Jay Cutler could make Miami an intriguing landing spot for Griffin, where Ryan Tannehill hasn’t missed a game in four years but also hasn’t had one winning season yet.