The offensive line is just as bad. There are only eight offensive linemen on the roster, and four of them didn't start a single game last year, while a fifth, Frank Omiyale, started just one. The team's three tackles - Chris Williams, Omiyale and Cody Balogh - have a total of one NFL start.

TEAM NEEDS/OFFSEASON STRATEGY

The Bears' biggest off-season priority was re-signing versatile veteran John St. Clair, who started 16 games at left tackle last season and has also started at right tackle and left guard. But the Bears tried to low-ball St. Clair (three years at $4.5 million), and he jumped at the Browns' offer of $9 million over three years.

G.M. Jerry Angelo is on record as saying the Bears will do more looking than buying for the remainder of free agency, and if they do buy they'll almost certainly be shopping for bargains.

TEAM NEEDS

1a. Offensive tackle: Last year's first-round draft pick, Chris Williams, should start at left tackle after missing much of last season following training camp back injury. He played a handful of snaps in the second half of last season, mostly on special teams. ORT John Tait has officially retired, and unrestricted free agent John St. Clair, who started all 16 games at left tackle last season, signed with the Browns. That leaves recently acquired free agent Frank Omiyale, who has started one NFL game, at right tackle. The only other tackle on the roster is Cody Balogh, an undrafted rookie last year who spent the 2008 season on the practice squad.

1b. 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.

3.Pass-rushing defensive end: 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.

MEDICAL WATCH: NT Dusty Dvoracek (biceps), SS Kevin Payne (shoulder), CB Charles Tillman (shoulder) and CB Trumaine McBride (shoulder) did not participate in this week's early-bird minicamp.

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.

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

PLAYERS LOST

--WR Marty Booker (released).

--LB Gilbert Gardner (released).

--OG Terrence Metcalf (released).

--LB Marcus Riley (released).

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

--OT John Tait (retired).