These Bears Players Won the First Wave of Free Agency

The impact of NFL free agency goes beyond big contracts and high-profile players joining teams with high expectations. Those same teams have a roster of players whose roles will be affected by the caliber of free agents being signed. Some roster holdovers will lose playing time (or their jobs), while others will be vaulted into starting positions because, well, no free agents were added.

This will be the case for the 2024 Chicago Bears, who’ve added a handful of new players during the legal tampering period, some of which will start.

General Manager Ryan Poles hasn’t been super busy, though. His conservative approach to free agency will benefit a few current Bears jockeying for playing time next season.

Here are three.

Tyler Scott, WR

The Chicago Bears haven’t added any pass-catchers in free agency aside from tight end Gerald Everett, who won’t threaten Scott’s attempt to become a key contributor at wide receiver.

The wide receiver free agency market hasn’t been overly active, and there’s a chance Poles will sign a second-tier player similar to what he did with D’Onta Foreman at running back last year. He did attempt to sign former Bills receiver Gabe Davis, which suggests the Bears are eyeing an upgrade.

The real threat to Scott’s playing time will come via the 2024 NFL Draft. The Bears could use the ninth overall pick on a receiver, and if they do, he’ll be the starter.

If Poles passes on wide receiver entirely in free agency, Scott will emerge as the most likely candidate to be the team’s WR3 in 2024.

Ryan Bates, Center

Bates is a new Chicago Bear, but he’s also a big beneficiary of how free agency has unfolded.

The Bears traded a fifth-round pick for Bates in a move that most analysts assumed was for depth and a chance to start at center. However, with no centers added during the legal tampering period, there’s virtually no competition for Bates in the starting lineup.

Unlike Scott, the Bears probably won’t add a center in the early rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft. Unless Poles signs Connor Williams (Dolphins) during the second wave of free agency, the starting center role is Bates’ to lose.

DeMarcus Walker, Edge

Most Chicago Bears fans and analysts thought the Poles would be aggressive in his attempt to add a complementary edge rusher opposite Montez Sweat.

Nope.

The Bears haven’t signed any defensive free agent who could threaten for a starting job, and none of their early signings include defensive ends or edge rushers.

That leaves Walker’s job relatively safe. Chicago could have their sights set on Dallas Turner or Jared Verse in the first round of the NFL Draft, but for now, it looks like Walker will begin offseason workouts as a starter.