Getty
Former Atlanta Falcons RB Devonta Freeman.
Former Atlanta Falcons operating again Devonta Freeman is searching for a brand new crew after being launched in March. Atlanta launched him, together with a number of different gamers together with promising tight finish Austin Hooper, so as to avoid wasting cap area. Freeman nonetheless had three years and $21 million remaining on his contract, however that’s not legitimate, and he’ll possible be keen to barter now that he’s searching for a brand new place to play. Would the Chicago Bears be an excellent crew to barter with?
The Bears didn’t run the ball effectively final season — that’s an understatement. Chicago averaged 91.1 yards a recreation and three.7 yards per try. They scored simply eight speeding touchdowns all 12 months, which was 28th within the NFL, and so they had simply 5 video games the place they broke 100 yards as a unit. That should change, and Bears head coach Matt Nagy appears to know that now, after a 2019 season that left many pissed off with the dearth of operating performs he included.
Would Chicago Be Good Touchdown Spot for Freeman?
Nagy has been virtually defiant up to now when being criticized by the press about his play-calling, and at occasions, he has refused to hearken to concepts suggesting he incorporate some adjustments. However in a few of his more moderen encounters with the press, he famous the crew could also be scaling again a bit on offense and he appeared to counsel they have been engaged on altering the issues that didn’t work final season.
“The great a part of the offseason is when you’ll be able to undergo your scheme analysis as a employees and also you undergo the whys, and on the similar time you notice OK, right here’s some sure areas the place we will get higher,” Nagy stated. It’s unlikely Nagy and firm wish to spend a ton of cash on a operating again, but when Freeman have been keen to barter an inexpensive, one-year team-friendly deal, he may actually give the Bears’ offense a lift. He’s a threat, however he may very well be one price taking. He turned 28 in March, and he’ll possible be motivated to indicate he can nonetheless play.
Freeman has performed six seasons within the league, all with the Falcons, and he was one of many scarier dual-threat backs within the recreation till he had a number of seasons set again by accidents. He suffered a concussion and battled a knee damage in 2017, lacking two video games and time within the postseason, and the next 12 months, Freeman performed in simply two video games and underwent season-ending core muscle surgical procedure. He stayed comparatively wholesome in 2019, however noticed his manufacturing drastically dip.
He began 14 video games for the Falcons final 12 months, carrying the ball 184 occasions for 656 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged 3.6 yards a carry, which was a profession low. Freeman additionally caught 59 passes for 410 yards and 4 touchdowns in his down 12 months final 12 months, nonetheless, and he stays a authentic menace within the passing recreation in addition to the operating recreation.
Take Tarik Cohen Out of the Equation…Kind Of
GettyChicago Bears Working Again Tarik Cohen is a dynamic participant. However is he one of the best operating again? (Photograph by Stacy Revere/Getty Photographs)
Think about a operating backs room that featured the one-two punch of David Montgomery and Devonta Freeman. Chicago wanted to deal with their offensive line after final season, as effectively, and whereas they didn’t do it by drafting a bruiser within the second spherical, they nonetheless acquired free agent Germain Ifedi from Seattle, and so they snagged a number of o-linemen within the seventh spherical. In addition they have a brand new offensive line coach in Juan Castillo, so the Bears may look a bit completely different on the road subsequent season.
However in addition they have to make their operating backs room higher personnel-wise, and so they haven’t achieved that but. Including Freeman would give their offense a formidable improve — so long as he’s wholesome, which he appears to be. So the place does this depart Tarik Cohen?
At 5’6″, Tarik Cohen is best used within the receiving recreation and in gadget performs than he’s as an every-down again. Final 12 months, Cohen carried the ball 64 occasions for 213 yards and 0 speeding touchdowns, and he averaged a paltry 3.Three yards per carry, all of which have been profession lows. He is much better within the return recreation and catching passes — which is how Nagy ought to primarily use him shifting ahead. Nagy may nonetheless incorporate him into the operating recreation in sure conditions whereas shifting to the scarier-for-defenses duo of Montgomery and Freeman.
It might be a shock transfer in the event that they made it, however the Bears have over $9 million in cap area in response to Over the Cap, so it’s completely attainable.
READ NEXT: Bears Signal Former Texans Professional-Bowl Security to 1-12 months Deal