NFL Free Agency: Geno Hayes Provides Depth to an Aging Bears Linebacker Core
Published by Jake Perper on April 19, 2012
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears added veteran linebacker Geno Hayes on Thursday, first reported by Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
Hayes came into the league in 2008 with the Bucs as a sixth-round pick out of Florida State. He played in 56 games, making 42 starts in four seasons in Tampa Bay. He racked up 334 tackles, seven sacks, four interceptions and four forced fumbles during that time.
The soon-to-be 25-year-old linebacker made 64 tackles, one interception and two forced fumbles last season.
He was brought to Halas Hall yesterday along with Rocky McIntosh, Zac Diles, Bryan Kehl and Gerris Wilkinson for a workout.
The Bears chose to go with Hayes, because he has spent all of his NFL career playing in the Cover 2 defensive scheme.
Hayes will likely back up Lance Briggs on the weak side, but could get an opportunity to compete for the strong-side job with Nick Roach. With Brian Urlacher, Briggs and Roach the likely starters heading into the season, the Bears have more experience on the bench with Hayes.
Besides Hayes, the Bears have Dom DeCicco, Blake Costanzo, Patrick Trahan, Jabara Williams and J.T. Thomas under contract.
Costanzo and DeCicco are valuable players on special teams. DeCicco has a chance to be the middle linebacker heir to Urlacher. Thomas was a sixth-round pick a year ago, but he was placed on IR during the preseason.
Who the Bears will keep for depth at linebacker will be interesting.
The signing of Hayes only improves the unit, but the draft could be where the Bears strengthen the depth at linebacker, specifically behind Urlacher.
GM Phil Emery made sure to add some more experience at linebacker before next Thursday’s NFL draft. Defense will be the likely focus of the draft in the early rounds for the Bears.
Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up-to-the-minute news about the Bears.
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