5 players the Bears should target on the waiver wire

When Ryan Poles became the Chicago Bears’ general manager, he immediately began working on a full roster teardown. As a result, he worked the waiver wire pretty hard in the past two years just to fill out the roster. As we enter the 2024 season, the Bears are in a much better spot and, thus, will likely not be putting in very many waiver claims after trimming down to the required 53-man roster.

Still, some intriguing players are looking for a new team right now, and it would be a mistake to overlook them. Here are five in particular whom the Bears should take a second look at.

C Ricky Stromberg

I have high hopes for Coleman Shelton, who appears to be the starting Center, but he’s not the future at that position for Chicago. He’s a stopgap measure. Stromberg, a third-round pick last year, is still young and full of potential, assuming he’s healthy. If he is, he could provide the Bears a long-term boost along the interior offensive line.

DE Andre Carter II

At one point, Carter was expected to be the first first-round pick from the Army’s Black Knights in decades. Instead, he went undrafted and is now available. While still untested in the NFL, he has great size and length and would doubtlessly benefit from the tutelage of a veteran like Montez Sweat. Plus, by all accounts, he’s a man of excellent character, which certainly jives with the culture that Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus have carefully curated.

DT Travis Bell

Chicago drafted Bell in the seventh round last year before being waived and re-signed to the practice squad. The Atlanta Falcons then poached him, but he is available again. Given the effusive praise that Poles had for the young man last year and Chicago’s concerning lack of depth at his position, I would be shocked if Poles doesn’t put in a claim for Bell.

DT Siaki Ika

A massive man from LSU, Ika was drafted by Cleveland in the third round of the 2023 draft and is now available. While he’s failed to make an impression in the NFL so far, it’s fair to point out how much talent he had ahead of him in Cleveland. If Ika were to come to Chicago, he could conceivably play his way into a starting role.

DE Carl Lawson

Injuries have plagued Lawson throughout his career, but the Bears still lack a proven, competent pass rusher to pair with Montez Sweat. Like Ika, Lawson struggled to crack the starting rotation on a talented Jets’ defensive line, but there wouldn’t be much competition in Chicago. He signed with Dallas this offseason but was cut anyway, despite his belief that he can still play at a high level.