The [intlink id=”13″ type=”category”]Chicago Bears[/intlink] will target Green Bay Packers defensive end [intlink id=”163″ type=”category”]Cullen Jenkins [/intlink] whenever free agency begins, according to John Mullin of CSN Chicago.
The Bears are looking to improve their defensive line and after re-signing defensive tackle Anthony Adams, Jenkins will be the team’s priority.
The Bears have their targets identified for whenever free agency opens. Green Bay’s Cullen Jenkins projects as the priority, followed by perhaps a Brandon Mebane out of Seattle. Mebane has played some two-gap inside at the beginning of his time with the Seattle Seahawks but also is not the figure that Adams represents.
Consider Adams along with Jenkins the top two signing priorities, ahead of center Olin Kreutz in some organization thinking.
The Packers have little interest in bringing Jenkins back, even though they now know Johnny Jolly won’t return to the team. Jenkins is 30 and has a history of injuries. He’s also going to command more money than he’s worth on the open market. The combination of those factors makes him an unattractive option for the Packers.
If he signed with the Bears, Jenkins could return to his traditional role as a defensive tackle. The Bears play a 4-3, while the Packers play a 3-4 and used Jenkins as a defensive end.
When he’s healthy, Jenkins is one of the better inside rushers in the NFL. In Chicago, he would take over for Tommie Harris, who the Bears released prior to the lockout, and team with Adams, Julius Peppers and Israel Idonije to form a potent four-man front.