5 Bears free agents the Green Bay Packers should consider
By Todd Welter
The next three players can help the Green Bay Packers special teams.
The Green Bay Packers special teams is a big reason the Packers season ended so abruptly. The Chicago Bears special teams unit was pretty good and they have some players available that could be signed to bolster that unit. Plus, two of these players can help on offense or defense.
Jakeem Grant would help in the kick return game and a little bit on offense.
Green Bay Packers fans should be familiar with Grant. He torched the Packers special teams for a touchdown in the Packers versus Bears game at Lambeau Field.
The Bears gave up a late-round draft pick to get Grant after the Miami Dolphins had given up on him. Grant rewarded the Bears by making the Pro Bowl as a returner.
In addition, late in the season he developed into an offensive weapon for the Bears. Packers fans should remember his 46-yard touchdown at Lambeau.
He is a home run threat on every return and could be one in the screen game with his speed.
DeAndre Houston-Carson can help in special teams coverage and as depth in the secondary.
He has been a core special teams player for the Bears. He is great on the coverage unit. That is something the Packers can use.
When he has been called upon to play safety or in a pinch the dime cornerback, he has made plays.
He is coming off a $1 million contract, but he is worth every penny in what he provides in terms of depth and special teams play.
The only concern is he will be coming off a season-ending broken arm injury.
Patrick Scales could provide stability at long snapper.
The Green Bay Packers had long snapping issues all season. Patrick Scales has been reliable for the Bears for year’s with 712 special team snaps. The Packers could use that stability at one of the most important special teams positions.
Scales provides a steady snap with his hands. The Bears have had only two blocked punts and one blocked kick (the infamous double-doink in the 2018 playoffs) during Scales’ time as long snapper.
Scales is reliable and also has plenty of experience snapping the ball in bad weather conditions.