By Adewale Apata
Akiem Hicks was one of the biggest Pro Bowl snubs last season and Eddie Goldman is a Solid 24 year old nose tackle who should hold down that position for several years. However, 2016 3rd round pick Jonathan Bullard has been underwhelming off the bench. He’s trying to avoid the label of being a draft miss by Ryan Pace next season.
Roy Robertson-Harris is an intriguing player who was a 2016 undrafted rookie free agent and initially signed on to play outside linebacker. Unfortunately, a heat illness kept him out for the 2016 season. Before the 2017 season, he put on 40 pounds and changed his position to defensive lineman. With his high motor at 6’7” 295 lbs, he has the potential to replace unrestricted free agent Mitch Unrein. If Pace is not totally sold that Bullard or Robertson-Harris can become solid starters, he must search through free agency before the draft begins. Which unrestricted free agents can replace Mitch Unrein or challenge him for his starting position? There’s only one guy worth negotiating with.
Sheldon Richardson Seattle Seahawks – This 27 year old, 5 year pro had an incredible 2 and a half year start to his NFL career. In 2013, he earned the Associated Press defensive rookie of the year and he had no sophomore slump as he was selected to the 2014 pro bowl. In the first 10 games of his 3rd season, he continued to build on his success with 5 sacks but a hamstring injury kept him out and ineffective for the rest of the 2015 season.
After a mediocre 2016 season, the Jets traded Richardson to the Seahawks for WR Jermaine Kearse and a 2nd round pick. In Seattle, he did not return to his Pro Bowl form with 27 tackles and only 1 sack. However, Sheldon Richardson is still young and Ryan Pace could give him a 1 year ‘prove it’ deal to see if he can resurrect under Vic Fangio’s 3-4 defensive scheme. If the Bears decide not to take a chance on him, they should definitely re-sign Mitch Unrein and gamble on Bullard and Robertson-Harris as legitimate challengers to that 3rd starting defensive line position to compliment Goldman and Hicks. April’s NFL draft may also provide a solution but the Bears have major holes at WR, OLB, OL and CB.