Bears Rumors: 3 Free Agents Chicago Should Avoid This Offseason

The Chicago Bears suffered through a tumultuous 5-11 season that fell way short of expectations in 2014 and got head coach Marc Trestman was fired. John Fox has been brought in to replace him and guide this team back to the playoffs. The Bears have several holes to fill to make that happen, but the wrong signings could send them in the wrong direction. Here's who Chicago needs to avoid this offseason:

S Nate Allen

Upgrading the secondary is the Bears’ biggest priority this offseason, but in a weak free agency class at the position, Nate Allen is one of the better options. He should be entering the prime of his career at age 27 that will likely cause a team to overpay for his services even though he’s just not that good. Allen allowed a 106.2 passer rating, five touchdowns, and a terrible 17.5 yards per completion for the Eagles last season, making it clear that he’s not a consistent starting-caliber guy.

WR Michael Crabtree

Chicago is now in the market for a wide receiver after trading Brandon Marshall to the Jets, and there are plenty of names available Crabtree hasn’t lived up to his status as the elite receiver over the past two season, but he has proven he could be a reliable weapon - which means some team will overpay for him. However, his poor attitude and lack of leadership would make him just as toxic to the locker room. There are plenty of other options for the Bears in free agency and in the draft that would fit better with the team.

DE Greg Hardy

This one is pretty obvious - taking a flyer on Hardy after his domestic violence charges were settled in a civil suit to invest even a fraction of Hardy’s $13 million franchise tag value from 2014 would come with intense scrutiny and major risk. The Bears would like an upgrade on the defensive line, but Chicago will be better off finding 80-85% of his talent with 90% less baggage on the free agent market.

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