Bears reportedly interested in former Steelers DB Arthur Maulet |
When you talk about some of the best defenses in the NFL, the Chicago Bears typically come to mind, although last season was not one of those years. However, the Pittsburgh Steelers were one of the better defensive teams, and they have been one of the best during the entire tenure of Mike Tomlin.
For whatever reason, Tomlin knows how to get the most out of his guys, as they have also been a top-10 defensive team. That alone is one of the many reasons why Tomlin has never had a losing season, as he continues to be one of the more overlooked and underappreciated coaches in the NFL. With the Bears aiming to improve their defense, why not look at players from one of the better defenses? That is what Chicago appears to be doing as they have started kicking the tires on DB Arthur Maulet and are considering adding him to their roster before training camp. Granted, the DB position on this team isn't one that the Bears need to address, but it can never hurt to bring in more depth and talent to make this unit as deep as possible. Maulet may not be the premier defender on the Steelers, but he is very good, to say the least, and would instantly make this Bears secondary group that much better. Maulet requested his release from the team earlier this offseason, and the Steelers granted him his wish in May. Now, it looks like the Bears and Jaguars are the teams the most interested in him as he looks to find a new home in 2023. Going back to last season, Maulet had a very underrated season for an extremely deep and talented Steelers defense. He came away with 59 tackles last year and two sacks. He also added several tackles for a loss and an interception to his resume for what was otherwise a very productive season on the defensive side. A bit older than most of the free agent targets the Bears have targeted this offseason, Maulet is still just 30 years old and comes with 68 games of experience since 2017. Along with those 68 games, 20 have been started, which is encouraging for the Bears. Like all free agents, there are always question marks around them as to why they were released, and Maulet has one significant question mark. Despite his overall solid play on the back end, he did rank 90th out of 118 qualified CBs with a 56.5 rating. For a team that was torched as often as the Bears were a season ago, that is a considerable concern. Chicago is hoping that was only a blip on his radar for what has otherwise been a reliable career. Even with the low rating, Maulet is familiar with the Bears coaching staff, which is crucial in the NFL. Sure, skill plays the most significant role, but familiarity with coaches and players often helps players play better. For what it’s worth, Bears Head Coach Matt Eberflus, Defensive Coordinator Alan Williams, and Assistant Defensive Backs Coach David Overstreet II are among the coaches in Indianapolis when Maulet played five games for the Colts. A small sample size, yes, but he still spent an entire training camp with those guys and knows how they coach and what they like to do. Familiarity with a coaching staff can often be a foot in the door for players looking for a gig, and that is no different for Maulet right now. Yes, he wants a chance to start or, at the very worst, a chance to play, but he also wants to go somewhere to feel appreciated. While the Bears don't have a definitive need at the CB position, Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, Kindle Vildor, and several others are expected to start. However, adding depth behind those players is also crucial, and Maulet would be a fantastic depth piece for this team as he could be a playmaker in this defense. The Chicago Bears are showing interest in signing free agent cornerback Arthur Maulet, per @JFowlerESPN.
Maulet had 59 tackles and 2 sacks last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
