Bennett made no impact at all last season as a rookie. He didn't catch a single pass after being drafted in the third round out of Vanderbilt, where he set the SEC record for career receptions in just three seasons. As a freshman at Vanderbilt, Bennett caught 79 passes in Cutler's final season as the Commodores' quarterback.

That familiarity should help Bennett live up to expectations, but Bears coach Lovie Smith was expecting a big improvement from him even before the trade for Cutler.

"Even if Jay wasn't here, it's always good to see a player's second year, the second time around," Smith said. "Earl's a good football player. This is a big offseason for him; big training camp. We expect to see a big improvement from him."

TEAM NEEDS/OFFSEASON STRATEGY

The most glaring offseason task remaining for the Bears is to upgrade the weapons that new quarterback Jay Cutler will have to work with this season.

Some huge names with prolific production remain on the market, like Torry Holt, who Smith knows from their three years together in St. Louis; and Plaxico Burress, who comes with a horrible track record of off-field issues.

"I do have a relationship with Torry Holt," Smith said. "He's a great player; great guy. He's available right now. Torry's in the (free agency) pool like a lot of other receivers. We evaluate everybody that's available, and Torry's one of them."

It wasn't exactly a ringing endorsement, but it was more than Burress got.

"Every player that's available, we look into, no more than that," Smith said. "There's nothing to report or anything like that."

With the draft approaching on the final weekend of the month, Smith said that could be the avenue the Bears' travel to upgrade the receiving corps, although a veteran seems like a greater priority given the lack of NFL experience among the Bears' wideouts.

"Would we like to get another receiver?" Smith said. "Possibly. But as far as how we'll get it, free agency or the draft, we really don't know."

TEAM NEEDS

1. Wide receiver: The Bears don't have a No. 1, and it's still a stretch to call Devin Hester a No. 2. The only other wide receiver on the roster with NFL experience is Rashied Davis, who is a No. 3 at best but probably no better than a No. 4 on a good team. The Bears need a big receiver, one with speed to stretch the field or enough physicality to work the middle. Last year, the combined total of the five other wide receivers currently on the Bears' roster -- John Broussard, Devin Aromashodu, Davis, Brandon Rideau and Earl Bennett -- was 35 catches and 445 yards, all by Davis.

2. Pass-rushing DE: Nobody on the team had more than six sacks and if the Bears can't get pressure with the front four the defense struggles, as it did much of last season. Since Mark Anderson has disappeared in the two seasons after he had 12 sacks as a rookie, the Bears could be looking for a situational pass rusher/developmental player in the draft to help out on passing downs initially and perhaps develop into an every-down player.

3. Offensive tackle: Recently signed Orlando Pace will start at left tackle, which means last year's first-round draft pick, Chris Williams, should start at right tackle after missing much of last season following training camp back injury. Williams played a handful of snaps in the second half of last season, mostly on special teams. ORT John Tait has retired, and unrestricted free agent John St. Clair, a 16-game starter at left tackle, signed with the Browns. UFA Frank Omiyale, who started one game in four seasons with the Panthers, and Kevin Shaffer, who was recently cut by the Browns will compete for the ORT job, although Omiyale could move inside to challenge LG Josh Beekman.

MEDICAL WATCH: CB Charles Tillman continues to rehab his right shoulder

following surgery but said he would be 100 percent well before the start of training camp.

FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

--S Mike Brown makes the defense better when he's on the field, but in the past few seasons he hasn't been able to stay healthy, so he's unlikely to be brought back.

--QB Rex Grossman will be allowed to leave and seek a fresh start with a change of scenery.

--WR Brandon Lloyd started off impressively last season but then missed six weeks with a sprained knee and disappeared for most of the remainder of the season.

--OLB Darrell McClover doesn't figure as a defensive contributor, but he was a standout on special teams.

--S Brandon McGowan is a physical, in-the-box type but has been hurt more often than not, but he could be back at a bargain price.

--OT Fred Miller was signed late in the season strictly as insurance and never played. He will give retirement a second try.

--S Cameron Worrell was brought back late as insurance but doesn't figure to return.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED

--CB Marcus Hamilton: ERFA; $460,000/1 yr.

--RB Kevin Jones: UFA; $3.5M/2 yrs, $1M SB.

--LB Nick Roach: ERFA; terms unknown.

PLAYERS ACQUIRED

--FS Josh Bullocks: UFA Saints; 1 yr, $525,000 guaranteed.

--QB Jay Cutler (trade Broncos).

--OT Frank Omiyale: UFA Panthers; $11.5M/4 yrs, $5.5M SB.

--OT Orlando Pace: FA Rams; $15M/3 yrs, guarantees unknown.

--OT Kevin Shaffer: FA Browns; 3 yrs, terms unknown.

PLAYERS LOST

--WR Marty Booker (released).

--LB Gilbert Gardner (released).

--OG Terrence Metcalf (released).

--QB Kyle Orton (Traded Broncos).

--LB Marcus Riley (released).

--T/G John St. Clair: UFA Browns; $9M/3 yrs, $600,000 guaranteed.

--OT John Tait (retired).