The safety position has been the achilles heel for the Chicago Bears since the day Mike Brown retired. The defense’s third level has been a revolving door of poor tacklers with lacking instincts.

One of the bright spots from the 2015 season was the play of the Bears’ fifth-round pick from Penn State, Adrian Amos. He proved to be a lumber-laying hitter who can become a real enforcer in the secondary. He needs to get a tick faster as a playmaker against the pass, but the natural traits to be a long-term fan favorite are very much there.

Aside from Amos, the Bears’ safety depth chart is very similar to what it’s been in the past. Antrelle Rolle was one of Ryan Pace’s first free agent signings as a general manager, but the move proved to be a failure due to Rolle’s crumbling physical make-up. The Bears received some better than expected play from Harold Jones-Quartey, but he’s better suited as a reserve capable of playing in a pinch. Demontre Hurst also flashed some moments of appealing play, but they came in spurts; he’s not a long-term solution.

The remaining safeties on the Bears roster are all unrestricted free agents, none of which are expected to be re-signed.

The Bears will likely look to the free agent market for safety help again this year. The 2016 NFL Draft has some interesting Amos-like prospects that can be had on day three, but the club cannot go into draft weekend assuming they’ll find a starter in this year’s rookie pool.

The following five safeties could be potential targets for the Chicago Bears in free agency (note: this list does not include Eric Berry; he was tagged as the Chiefs’ franchise player and the Bears are not expected to forfeit their next two years’ first rounders for a safety):

Eric Weddle, San Diego Chargers

Weddle is long in the tooth, but he’d be the perfect stop-gap safety to fill the starting role while the Bears groom or find a younger option. Weddle will also go a long way in advancing Amos’s game; he’ll serve as another coach and mentor on the field for the second-year pro. At 31-years-old, Weddle should be able to perform at a high level for another two seasons.

George Iloka, Cincinnati Bengals

Iloka was rated as a top-15 safety by Pro Football Focus, and at just 25 years old, is trending upward in the NFL’s safety fraternity. A three-year starter at Boise State, Iloka was drafted by the Bengals in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He’s been a starter for the last three seasons and is on the cusp of becoming a household name.

Reggie Nelson, Cincinnati Bengals

Nelson led the NFL in interceptions last year, and at 32-years-old, is finally realizing the potential that got him drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. Much like Weddle, the clock is ticking on the productive years that Nelson has left in tank. That said, he’d be another viable option to bridge the gap between the current state of the Bears’ safeties and the future, long-term answer for the position.

Tashaun Gipson, Cleveland Browns

Gipson would make the ultimate complement to Amos, as he possesses a natural playmaker’s skill set; he led the AFC in interceptions in 2013 and 2014. He didn’t have nearly the level of production in 2015; he totaled only two INTs after recording 11 in the previous two years combined. Despite his down year last year, he will be in high demand because of his nose for the football. At only 26-years-old, Gipson presents the kind of value that a team can offer a long-term deal to with the theory that he’ll roam the secondary for many years.