The Chicago Bears are going to be looking into the free agency situations of every team across the NFL to see which players will be available to sign. The San Francisco 49ers got close to a Super Bowl, but now they have a lot of questions to answer when it comes to how they can improve their roster.
What potential free agent situations could impact the Chicago Bears this offseason?
4. The Chicago Bears must watch the San Francisco 49ers defensive line closely in free agency
The San Francisco 49ers put a lot into their offensive line and still lost to the Kansas City Chiefs when it came down to it. Will they run it back with the same group? The first name that Chicago Bears fans will look to is Chase Young. The Bears traded for Montez Sweat instead of Young, and ended up looking good for the Bears.
They extended Sweat, and he made the defense better, while Young saw the defense struggle to adjust around him, and the 49ers’ defense struggled down the stretch. Now, Young is a free agent, and the Bears could find a way to add him without the potential draft compensation that they would have risked a few months ago. The question here is whether they would want both Sweat and Young, considering they did not make magic together in Washington.
Two other edge rushers to look into are Randy Gregory and Clelin Ferrell. Gregory was another play traded halfway through the season, and he did not make the 49ers’ defense better. However, he has shown to be productive in the right scheme. The question is whether the Bears are that scheme fit.
Ferrell was a former top-five pick, and while he has not lived up to that level, he is a fine rotational passer who can move inside and outside. The Bears have shown that they like that, and Ferrell could be an upgrade from Rasheem Green.
Other defensive linemen include Sebastian Joseph-Day, Javon Kinlaw, and Kevin Givens. Joseph-Day will want a role similar to Andrew Billings, not a backup job to him. Kinlaw would be looking to start over with Gervon Dexter, not split time with him.
It leaves Givens, who would be a great rotational rusher and a cheap replacement for Justin Jones. If the Bears sign an interior lineman from San Francisco, it would be Givens.
3. Will the Chicago Bears add these San Fransisco 49ers offensive linemen in free agency?
The San Francisco 49ers are going to bring most of their offensive line. Two names are worth watching for Chicago, though. Jon Feliciano is 31 years old and would mainly be signed as depth. However, he started seven games and the 49ers Super Bowl run because of issues with their draft pick, Spencer Burford. On the one hand, he would not be signed to start; on the other, with Teven Jenkins and Nate Davis having injury issues, they have to explore a trusted depth piece like Feliciano.
Matt Pryor only played 42 snaps last year, but he has been in the NFL since 2019. He has played 814 snaps at right guard, 659 snaps at right tackle, 426 snaps at left tackle, and 58 snaps at left guard. That is the versatility they need, and he is not going to come with an expensive price tag. In 2021, he was on the Colts with Matt Eberflus.
It is not the offensive line, but if the Chicago Bears want a cheap third quarterback who may be good to add to a room with a rookie quarterback, they could look into the 49ers’ third quarterback, Brandon Allen.
2. Would the Chicago Bears be smart to call the 49ers about Brandon Aiyuk
There are a lot of rumors surrounding Brandon Aiyuk this offseason. Aiyuk will be on the fifth-year option, but it means he will be a free agent next offseason. If the 49ers feel they cannot deal with him this offseason, this would be the time when they would get the most return in a trade.
The odds are that the 49ers will not minimize their Super Bowl window by trading Aiyuk, but the Chicago Bears have to do their due diligence.
Another name to look into would be Ray-Ray McCloud. McCloud has experience returning punts and kicks and could save the Bears a roster spot by doing what both Trent Taylor and Velus Jones are doing on the roster.
Two depth tight ends that the 49ers may let walk in free agency are Ross Dwelley and Charlie Woerner. Dwelley has experience and could be a solid addition to the team after losing Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis this offseason.
1. The Chicago Bears could replace Eddie Jackson with a familiar name this offseason
The Chicago Bears already let Eddie Jackson go this offseason. They do not have a starting option on the current roster, so they will have to go outside. One name that will be available from San Francisco is Tashaun Gipson.
Gipson started with Chicago back in 2020. The 49ers are expected to get Talanoa Hufanga back, and they saw rookie Ja’ayir Brown show enough promise to start at safety next year. So, Gipson should be available. His age is against him, but he is going to sign for vastly less than Jackson did.
One last name is Logan Ryan. However, Ryan is 32 years old and did not sign until late into the season. He may want to sign with a contender and will wait for the right spot.
RUMOR: The San Francisco 49ers are Interested in Bringing Back a Former Pro Bowl Offensive Lineman
Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The San Francisco 49ers had a decent offensive line this season, allowing 29 hurries (27th-most), 45 hits (20th), 108 pressures (28th), a 19.9% pressure percentage (20th), and 34 sacks (26th).
Despite these solid numbers, ProFootball Network ranked San Francisco’s offensive line as the 15th best in the league.
Trent Williams and Aaron Banks are considered locks for next season, meaning that the C, RG, and RT positions could be up for grabs, and the team could address those positions in free agency or through the draft.
There is a possibility San Francisco will reunite with a former Pro Bowl offensive lineman.
Are the San Francisco 49ers open to bringing back a Pro Bowl lineman?
General manager John Lynch told reporters they plan on speaking with representatives for free agent Laken Tomlinson about potentially returning to San Francisco.
“Laken was a big part of who we were,” Lynch explained. “We’ll talk to his folks and see what his temperature is, where he’s at.”
Tomlinson spent five seasons with San Francisco.
San Francisco traded a 2019 fifth-round pick to Detroit in exchange for Laken Tomlinson in 2017.
Tomlinson had a solid career with San Francisco. He started 80 out of 81 regular season games, averaging 4.8 penalties, 3.2 sacks, and a 70.66 PFF Grade in his five seasons.
His best season came in 2021 when he earned his first Pro Bowl.
Tomlinson spent 2022 and 2023 with New York.
The New York Jets signed Laken Tomlinson to a 3-year, $40 million contract in 2022.
Tomlinson appeared in 17 games in 2022, with one penalty, one sack allowed, and a 56.8 PFF Grade.
Tomlinson appeared in 17 games in 2023, with three penalties, seven sacks allowed, and a 55 PFF Grade.
New York released Tomlinson, freeing up $8.1 million in cap space.
Tomlinson isn’t the only guard that San Francisco is interested in bringing back.
San Francisco is also interested in re-signing guard Jon Feliciano.
Feliciano started the season as the backup to Aaron Banks and Spencer Burford and filled in for Banks when he missed Weeks 10, 11, and 17. He also filled in for Burford when he missed Weeks 12, 14, 15, and 16.
Feliciano played well in relief for both players. He had two penalties, zero sacks allowed, and an 81.2 PFF Grade.
Feliciano started in the three playoff games and alternated with Burford at times. Felicano played 54/64 snaps against Green Bay, 66/66 snaps against Detroit, and 31/75 snaps against Kansas City. He had zero penalties, one sack allowed, and a 68.2 PFF Grade in the postseason.
Here’s what Lynch said about bringing Feliciano back.
“Absolutely,” Lynch said. “He played a really high level for us.”
