Even after acquiring D.J. Moore, the Bears entered free agency with the NFL’s most cap space. But they stood down when it came to the top offensive linemen available.
Jawaan Taylor, Mike McGlinchey and Orlando Brown Jr. each signed for at least $16MM per year last week. The Bears could have obviously competed with the Chiefs, Broncos and Bengals for these blockers, but Ryan Poles‘ club did not. The team did try to land McGlinchey, however, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, with The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain confirming it was in on the new Broncos right tackle (subscription required).
As expected, McGlinchey landed a deal on Day 1 of the legal tampering period. The Broncos convinced the five-year 49ers right tackle to sign a five-year deal worth $87.5MM deal (fourth among right tackles), but McGlinchey did well to essentially secure three guaranteed years. His 2025 salary becomes fully guaranteed shortly after the 2024 league year begins, virtually locking in $52.5MM at signing. The Bears were not willing to go there, and the Broncos came from a place of desperation considering their track record at right tackle. Barring injury, McGlinchey will be Denver’s 11th Week 1 right tackle starter in 11 seasons.
Chicago pivoted from Larry Borom to Riley Reiff last season, but Reiff has since joined the Patriots on a one-year, $5MM deal. Reiff’s Pats pact includes $4.15MM guaranteed, per AtoZSports.com’s Doug Kyed (on Twitter). The deal includes up to $4MM in play-time incentives, Kyed adds. Borom would again be projected to start at right tackle, but the Bears will be connected to right-side options in the first round, The Athletic’s Adam Jahns adds.
This year’s draft includes top-10 tackle options Peter Skoronski, from nearby Northwestern, and Paris Johnson (Ohio State). The Bears have not drafted a tackle in Round 1 since Gabe Carimi in 2011, but Poles was with the Chiefs when they used the No. 1 overall pick on Eric Fisher two years later. With right tackle looking like the weak spot for Chicago up front, the team could use its No. 9 overall pick on one or trade down (again) to nab one of the other three first-round tackle prospects (Georgia’s Broderick Jones, Tennessee’s Darnell Wright, Oklahoma’s Anton Harrison). Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock sends Johnson to Chicago.
On the interior, the Bears may be prepared to move Cody Whitehair to solve the guard logjam they created by Nate Davis‘ three-year, $30MM deal. Poles said Whitehair will be an option to move back to center, citing the seven-year veteran’s nearly 4,000 snaps at the position. Whitehair played center primarily to start his career, working as Chicago’s snapper over his first three seasons before moving to guard in 2019 to accommodate a James Daniels position switch.
Whitehair shifting to center would allow the Bears to have he, Davis and Teven Jenkins as interior starters. While Davis played right guard with the Titans, the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs predicts Jenkins will stay at that position after showing considerable promise in 2022. Pro Football Focus rated Jenkins, whom the Bears tried at both tackle spots and dangled in trades last year, as the league’s No. 3 overall guard.
Bears have done some nice things on the defensive side and getting Moore but they really dropped the ball on the OL which should have been their top priority. I get not wanting to overpay but their only upgrade was mediocre at best and Fields needs more time before having to run for his life.
They’re very well situated to address tackle in the draft. Center, too, if they want. I wouldn’t have wanted to shell out that kind of money for McGlinchey, and they’ve flat out said Brown isn’t a scheme fit.
Agreed, but with one caveat, they do not have any money invested in their LT so 3 years of paying large coin to their RT would not have been the end of the world. They could then sign the LT to an extension at that time when his rookie deal is up.
Not sure McGlinchey was the answer though as he seemed to be knocked around a bit, but it could have been the best option and given them more flexibility in round one of the draft. I would be shocked if one of the first three picks is not an OT.
The problem is McGlinchey just isn’t an elite talent. I’m glad the Broncos panicked and overpaid for a tackle who can run block but is well below average as a pass blocker. The Bears had a top level run game last year and a QB that was sacked 55 times, tied for the most in the league. McGlinchey was not the answer. The draft is. And they need a center. Moving Whitehair, who was already not playing up to his contract last year, to center, doesn’t fix anything. Again, there are solid centers in the draft. I wouldn’t be surprised if Whitehair at 14 mill this next season, isn’t cut.
Offensive linemen usually take a year or two to get up to speed even if they do take one. Also hitting on a center and right tackle will be tough, probably wouldn’t have hurt to bring in a stable presence at one of those positions. Just seems like they punted this huge glaring problem to the draft instead of spending some money and drafting linemen, as you really can’t have too many offensive linemen.
McGlinchey just isn’t worth an elite contract. Denver way overpaid. Brown is just not a fit in their scheme. Yes, the draft has risk, but this is a strong tackle/center class and the Bears are well situated in the first 2/3 rounds to capitalize. We’ll see.
Poles is doing just fine. Whatever he decides he wants to do with the first pick, Make it, trade down again or go defense, There will be plenty of ways to upgrade the O line later in the 2nd and 3rd. I’d love them to find some way to get Schmitz as I think C is a bigger concern than T. They can get a decent RT later like Mauch. I have serious doubts about Whitehair moving back to C. If they cut him this year they only save 6 mil this year and will still have some dead cap next year. If they could trade Whitehair for Williams from the Bengals even up, Then maybe both teams get something they need temporarily. And then the Bears have 2 1sts next year to get a T. The Bears certainly have a ton of guys already to throw at the problem of RT. Leatherwood, Jenkins, Borom And even Dietch who I know they like. Cutting Whitehair next year will save 10 mil instead of 6 this year, But if he’s unwilling to move might him a problem. I wonder how far Poles would be willing to go back again if he decides to go that way? Hmmm
Mauch is going to be a guard at the next level.
I would still prefer they just took Paris Johnson and be done with it. Johnson and Jones would be the Cornerstones of the line for years. Davis and Jenkins at G but C is still a big problem. Kramer could be a decent B/U but missing last year hurt. I don’t think any of us who remembers Whitehairs C days remembers them fondly. As I remember it he had a huge problem snapping in the shotgun. And Patrick still blows. I’m amazed he’s still here.
Wouldn’t be surprised at all if they take one of the top tackles in the first and one of the top centers in the second or third.
I agree that center is the Bears weakest position currently. Out of the top 4 picks, (#1, 2(2’s) and the 3), a tackle and a center need to be drafted.
Take Paris Johnson. He’ll be an anchor on that line for years