The Bears get a chance to redeem themselves this weekend against the Packers. No, not to redeem the season, if you fell that way you're a mouth breathing moron, rather a chance to make up for the week one loss that in hind sight was the great indicator of things to come in 2009.

At 5-7, the Bears are playing for little else than pride, and the chance to revel in the spoiler role. I have a very hard time envisioning this team being able to beat the Packers, the Vikings or the Ravens, but anything is possible in the NFL.

The 2009 Chicago Bears are the result of years of poor drafting and bad decisions in the free agent market. One off-season may not be enough to make a complete turnaround, but it's never too early to look ahead, especially when you're 5-7, and see where some of the fixes may come from.

Let's look at the most pressing need on the offense, a big time receiver. The Bears need a lot of offensive line help too, and some defensive line help, and some defensive backfield help, but giving Jay a big target to throw to should be priority one.

Vincent Jackson - 6'5" 250 lbs. - This is the ideal guy for Cutler to have on his side. He's big, he's strong and he's just 26 years old. The only problem, he is on a winning team right now and his relationship with Philip Rivers in San Diego is getting better by the minute. I would be shocked if the Chargers let this guy go, despite having numerous contracts expiring this year.

Brandon Marshall - 6'4" 230 lbs. - Marshall has a new quarterback throwing to him in Denver, one very familiar to the Bears. But the numbers have dipped with Kyle Orton under center and we all know the egos that wide receivers can have. Marshall is on pace for career lows in receptions, yards, but his touchdowns are likely to increase. He could be got on the cheap because he comes with some baggage, but his relationship with Cutler is already there. Dare they bring him in?

Braylon Edwards - 6'3" 215 lbs. - Another "headache" type of player with exceptional upside. Braylon was removed from Cleveland mid-season and could be a mainstay with Mark Sanchez in New York. I fully expect him to be resigned by the Jets, but he could hit the market on his terms if he feels like he won't be able to produce with the Jets.

These are your three difference making wide receivers. The rest of the lot are suitable number two's or three's that leave the Bears in much the same spot as they are right now. However, signing a less expensive player to play wideout would give the Bears more flexibility to maneuver at other key spots. Do any of these names get you excited?

The rest of the pool:

Terrell Owens, Buffalo Bills (35)
Antonio Bryant, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (28)
Steve Breaston, Arizona Cardinals (26) - Restricted FA
Kevin Walter, Houston Texans (28)
Miles Austin, Dallas Cowboys (25)
Derrick Mason, Baltimore Ravens (35)
Jason Avant, Philadelphia Eagles (26)
Davone Bess, Miami Dolphins (23) - Exclusive Rights FA
Mark Bradley, Kansas City Chiefs (27)
Isaac Bruce, San Francisco 49ers (36)
Chris Chambers, San Diego Chargers (31)
Mark Clayton, Baltimore Ravens (27)
David Clowney, New York Jets (24)
Ronald Curry, St. Louis Rams (30)
Malcom Floyd, San Diego Chargers (27)
Domenik Hixon, New York Giants (24)
Chris Henry, Cincinnati Bengals (26)
Lance Moore, New Orleans Saints (26)
Muhsin Muhammad, Carolina Panthers (36)
Josh Reed, Buffalo Bills (29)
Brad Smith, New York Jets (25)
Bobby Wade, Kansas City Chiefs (28)
Kelley Washington, Baltimore Ravens (30)
Demetrius Williams, Baltimore Ravens (26)
Troy Williamson, Jacksonville Jaguars (26)
Jerheme Urban, Arizona Cardinals (28)

For a complete list of the 2010 free agent class check out Football's Future.

Comments (5)

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A resigning of Bobby Wade and/or Mark Bradley would seem fitting for the Bears.

Can you narrow the list to those above 6'-1"? They have their midget quota filled already.

Chambers is on the chiefs by the way.

wik13 , December 09, 2009

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No doubt. I think their only real option is to make a push for Brandon Marshall and use the Cutler connection to get him here.

In most cases I would not be a fan of bringing a guy like him in, but they haven't afforded themselves the luxury of being picky.

Rex Jaybels , December 09, 2009 | url

UPDATE (sort of)

I just realized that Marshall is restricted, and so is Jackson. That being said the Bears would have to give up a number one draft pick to get them.

Oh boy.

Rex Jaybels , December 10, 2009 | url

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i dont think they'll sign a wr. the management is hell bent on saying hester is a number 1 wr, and aromashadou is a beast in the making, so they think they have 2 number 1 wrs, when they have a number 2 that could be a number 1 (DA) and a number 3 at best (DH). angelo is an idiot, if we do get anybody, it'll be bryant. hes a damn good wr. but hes reallyyy injury prone. a dissapointment player, jus like the bears managent like

Ryan Snow , January 29, 2010

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The development of DA since I first posted this was definitely a bright spot of the season.

I think they definitely have more pressing needs, like fixing the O-line and the defensive backfield, but my guess is that they don't grab any free agent WRs. There is very little on that list that would improve the Bears enough, in my opinion.

Rex P. Jaybels , January 29, 2010 | url

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