To the surprise of all 32 NFL teams, the salary cap increased $4 million to $127 million for this season.
The Bears, with about $30 million of space available, don’t need the cushion.
Depending on who at Halas Hall is talking, they may not agree that to turn things around they need to be active in free agency, which began Thursday night. But as the Bears prepare to dip cautiously into the free-agent waters, here is one man’s to-do list based on criteria Jerry Angelo laid out at the NFL combine in Indianapolis.
1. John St. Clair OT, Bears
Get it done.
There may be other tackles on the open market with better overall skills, such as Jon Stinchcomb or Marvel Smith. Taking a flier on Stacy Andrews and his reconstructed knee might be tempting. But St. Clair knows the Bears offense and — the key thing — the Bears know him. The potential upgrade isn’t big enough to offset that familiarity.
John Tait’s impending retirement makes retaining a veteran familiar with the offense vital. A popular teammate respected for his willingness to play any position, St. Clair’s return still would allow the Bears to take a right tackle to develop in the early rounds of the NFL draft.
St. Clair considered the Bears’ opening three-year offer a good start, and the Bears rarely set the market for a player, but it would behoove both sides to strike a reasonable compromise. Then the Bears can focus on other positions and St. Clair can begin the adjustment back to the right side.
If they also want to add a veteran off the NFL scrap heap such as Ephraim Salaam, fine, but do it later.
2. Will Allen FS, Tampa Bay
Allen fits the profile of the type of player the Bears sound willing to pursue this off-season: versatile, affordable and young. He is a free safety with starter’s experience who has been in and out of the lineup in 76 games over the last five seasons. If the Bears signed Allen and drafted a safety who’s ready to play as a rookie, that would provide competition at a need position. And if Allen doesn’t pan out as a free safety, he would still give the Bears a valuable member of the special teams; he was the first alternate to the NFC Pro Bowl team as a special-teams player.
The Eagles’ Brian Dawkins, 35, would be a risky pursuit and not the kind of move the Bears usually make. Houston’s Eugene Wilson looked like a good fit until he re-signed with the Texans.
Whoever it is, the Bears must find an experienced safety who can compete with Craig Steltz and a rookie to be named later.
3. Bryant Johnson WR, San Francisco
It’s nice to consider the possibility of T.J. Houshmandzadeh, the No. 1 receiver on the market linked to the Bears in a Thursday report in the Cincinnati Enquirer. He would excite the fan base and improve the offense immediately. But he’s 32, wants $10 million a year and would require the type of commitment general manager Jerry Angelo hinted the team is unlikely to make.
Bryant Johnson is more the Bears’ type of guy. The Bears flirted with him last winter before he signed with the 49ers. His numbers last season won’t dazzle anybody — 45 catches, 546 yards and three touchdowns — but he immediately would become the Bears’ best all-around receiver.
The Bears won’t pursue Nate Washington, a source said. The Bucs’ Michael Clayton is a former first-round pick from 2004 who could be expensive but would be worth a call. Even though adding a free-agent wide receiver can be fraught with peril, the Bears desperately need a reasonably priced one like Johnson who can be paired with a high draft pick.
4. Chris Simms QB, Tennessee
Simms told the Tribune earlier this month that he could see himself with the Bears. Problem is, he has given the Titans the impression he will return as Kerry Collins’ backup.
Enough other teams could be interested to drive Simms’ price up to the point that the Bears drop out of the bidding. Angelo and coach Lovie Smith appear to have enough confidence — and perhaps curiosity — moving forward with Brett Basanez and Caleb Hanie on the depth chart.
If not, they always could consider recent castoffs Trent Green, cut by the Rams, or Damon Huard, released by the Chiefs, to provide a veteran insurance policy at No. 3.
Kurt Warner tops every wish list, especially after Thursday’s report he will hit the market.
5. Warrick Dunn RB, Tampa Bay
It’s not the Bears’ style to chase 34-year-old running backs with the high mileage of 10,967 career yards. But if there’s even a chance Dunn has a season or so left in his elusive legs, he represents the ideal complement to Matt Forte.
The Bears need a change-of-pace back they can trust. Dunn rushed for 786 yards on 186 carries last season — a 4.2-yards-per-carry average better than Forte’s.
Sure, Kevin Jones still could return as a backup and the Bears are eager to work Garrett Wolfe into a bigger role. But why rush a player the team drafted to be a clone of Dunn when the real thing is available?
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TOP NFL FREE AGENTS BY POSITION
NON-FRANCHISED
QUARTERBACK
Kurt Warner, Ariz
Kerry Collins, Tenn
Jeff Garcia, TB
Chris Simms, Tenn
Byron Leftwich, Pitt
RUNNING BACK
Derrick Ward, NYG
Fred Taylor, Jax
Maurice Morris, Sea
Correll Buckhalter, Phi
Cedric Benson, Cin
Deuce McAllister, NO
Dominic Rhodes, Ind
WIDE RECEIVER
T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cin
Marvin Harrison, Ind
Laveranues Coles, Jets
Michael Jenkins, Atl
Nate Washington, Pitt
Amani Toomer, NYG
Mike Furrey, Det
TIGHT END
L.J. Smith, Phi
Jerramy Stevens, TB
Jim Kleinsasser, Minn
Justin Peelle, Atl
Chris Baker, NYJ
GUARD
Chris Kemoeatu, Pit
Brandon Moore, NYJ
Mike Goff, SD
Pete Kendall, Wash
TACKLE
Stacy Andrews, Cin
Jon Stinchcomb, NO
Tra Thomas, Phi
Jon Runyan, Phi
Khalif Barnes, Jax
Mark Tauscher, GB
CENTER
Jason Brown, Balt
Matt Birk, Minn
Jake Grove, Oak
Jeremy Newberry, SD
DEFENSIVE END
Chris Canty, Dal
Igor Olshansky, SD
Antonio Smith, Ariz
Bertrand Berry, Ariz
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Albert Haynesworth, Tenn
Jovan Haye, TB
Grady Jackson, Atl
Dewayne Robertson, Den
Tank Johnson, Dal
LINEBACKER
Ray Lewis, Balt
Bart Scott, Balt
Jonathan Vilma, NO
Keith Brooking, Atl
Derrick Brooks, TB
Mike Peterson, Jax
Takeo Spikes, SF
CORNERBACK
Bryant McFadden, Pitt
Chris McAlister, Balt
Leigh Bodden, Det
DeAngelo Hall, Wash
Phillip Buchanon, TB
Dre’ Bly, Den
SAFETY
Brian Dawkins, Phi
Mike Brown, Bears
Jermaine Phillips, TB
Darren Sharper, Minn
Renaldo Hill, Mia
Lawyer Milloy, Atl
Dwight Smith, Det
KICKER
John Carney, NYG
Matt Stover, Balt
Jay Feely, NYJ
PUNTER
Sam Koch, Balt
Hunter Smith, Ind
Chris Hanson, NE
FRANCHISED
Players can receive offers with team having option to match the offer or accept two first-round picks in return.
Arizona
Karlos Dansby, LB
Atlanta
Michael Koenen, P
Carolina
Julius Peppers, DE
Cincinnati
Shayne Graham, K
Houston
Dunta Robinson, CB
New England
Matt Cassel, QB
Pittsburgh
Max Starks, T
St. Louis
Oshiomogho Atogwe, S
San Diego
Darren Sproles, RB
Seattle
Leroy Hill, LB
Tampa Bay
Antonio Bryant, WR
Tennessee
Bo Scaife, TE
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dhaugh@tribune.com
