Chicago Bears need to capitalize on free agency market

Even though the Bears have nine picks in this year's NFL draft, including three sixth-rounders, that isn't enough to transform last year's 6-10 squad into a playoff contender.

But, combine those with a few key acquisitions in free agency, which officially begins Wednesday at 3 p.m., and who knows?

Although a contract with an unrestricted free agent cannot be executed before Wednesday's deadline, teams may negotiate with certified agents beginning at 11 a.m. Monday.

The Bears have $46 million and change available under this year's $155.27 million salary cap, so they have the means to make some substantial moves. But second-year general manager Ryan Pace is not expected to make headlines with splash signings early in the process, moves that historically have rarely returned value.

The Bears' focus will likely be on the defensive line and linebacker positions, but they could also look at adding an offensive lineman and possibly help for the secondary. At wide receiver and running back, any additions are expected to be backups/role players, and the right quarterback could be signed as a project to develop behind Jay Cutler, who turns 33 next month.

The Bears also could show some interest in the tight end market if they're able to trade Martellus Bennett, but they may be more focused on re-signing their own UFA tight end, Zach Miller.

On the D-line, the Broncos' Malik Jackson is sure to get overpaid after the role he played in Denver's dominant defense last season. But the Chiefs' Jaye Howard could be an under-the-radar bargain. He's just 27 and versatile enough to play anywhere in the Bears' base 30 defensive line or inside in a 40 front.

There are several interesting possibilities on the offensive line. The Bears need an upgrade at right guard, where neither UFA Vlad Ducasse nor Patrick Omameh played well enough last year to keep the job. Kyle Long will be one of the starting tackles, but which one? Do the Bears stick with 2014 seventh-round pick Charles Leno at left tackle, or do they move Long to the left side and try 2015 sixth-round pick Tayo Fabuluje at right tackle?

Ravens guard Kelechi Osemele would be a huge upgrade, but he could attract a lot of attention - and money. The massive (6-foot-5, 333 pounds) 2012 second-round pick has started 51 games in four seasons and is just 26.

The 49ers' Alex Boone, who will be 29 in May, has started 59 games over the past four seasons and has played both left and right guard. The Bills' Richie Incognito is a better player, but he comes with lots of baggage.

The Broncos' Evan Mathis (34) and the Saints' six-time Pro Bowler Jahri Evans (33 by opening day) are still good players but too old for a team in rebuilding mode.

There is some top talent at tackle, led by the Steelers' Kelvin Beacham and the Browns' Mitchell Schwartz, but those players will cost more than the guards, and that may be too rich for the Bears.

Beacham was a seventh-round pick in 2012 who moved into the starting lineup in his second season but suffered a torn ACL in week 7 last year. He's undersized at 6-foot-3 and 303 pounds but was playing well before the injury and will be 27 in June. The Steelers aren't expected to make much effort to retain him because his replacement last year, Alejandro Villanueva, played so well.

Like Beachum, Cleveland's Schwartz turns 27 on June 8. The 6-foot-5, 317-pounder has started 64 straight games at right tackle since he was drafted in the second round out of Cal. Pro Football Focus rated him as the sixth-best offensive tackle in the NFL last year, including left tackles.

Broncos inside linebacker Danny Trevathan, the leading tackler for the Super Bowl champions, is the UFA most frequently linked to the Bears. That's because Trevathan started 16 games for John Fox's 2013 Broncos team a year after they drafted him in the sixth round. He would be an instant upgrade, and it's doubtful the Broncos will be able to re-sign all of their talented free agents.

Colts inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman, who's excellent in coverage, would be a cheaper alternative.

Among the tight ends, the Chargers' 6-foot-6, 240-pound Ladaius Green isn't the in-line blocker that Bennett is, but he's a more gifted receiver. Underutilized in San Diego playing behind Antonio Gates, Green is coming off his best year (37 receptions, 429 yards, 4 TDs), and he's never averaged less than 11.6 yards per catch in four seasons. Bennett averaged 8.3 last year.

The Colts' top two tight ends, Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, are both unrestricted and they might not be able to afford both. Allen has the better all-around game because he's an effective, physical blocker; Fleener, a Lemont native who played at Joliet Catholic, has caught at least 50 passes the past three seasons.

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Bears' UFA players

Here's a list of Chicago Bears players who are unrestricted free agents.

OLB: Sam Acho

CB: Alan Ball

WR: Josh Bellamy

OG: Vladimir Ducasse

RB: Matt Forte

TE: Rob Housler

WR: Alshon Jeffery*

DL: Jarvis Jenkins

WR-RS: Marc Mariani

S: Sherrod Martin

LB: Shea McClellin

CB: Sherrick McManis

TE: Zach Miller

C: Will Montgomery

S: Ryan Mundy

CB: Tracy Porter

S: Chris Prosinski

RB: Jacquizz Rodgers

WR: Deonte Thompson

DL: Mitch Unrein

* denotes he's a nonexclusive franchise player.