Final cuts for the Chicago Bears is coming into view on the horizon. Already veteran guard Earl Watford was granted his release. Belief is others could soon follow even before the final preseason game on Thursday against Buffalo. The interesting question is whether GM Ryan Pace might try to swing a minor trade or two with players the team doesn’t plan to keep but another team might want.
Remember the Bears only have six draft picks looking towards 2019. This due to the deal they made with New England back in April to acquire Anthony Miller in the second round. So any extra draft help, even of the late round variety can be useful. It’s a matter of determining who might have some value.
According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, there is a high demand on the market for offensive linemen. Particularly the interior type of guards and centers. This makes for an interesting development for the Bears. They suddenly have an overabundance in that area and there might be one name they’re ready to unload if a team is willing to bite.
Chicago Bears making Hroniss Grasu available for trade
“With that backdrop, I’ll repeat what was in this space last week: Offensive linemen are the hottest commodity out there on the market, making it good to be a team with any sort of depth up front. You could see it in what the Bills put in front of Allen on Sunday, and what Josh Rosen has had to operate in front of in Arizona. The league just doesn’t have enough of the big guys.
Who could be moved? Colts OT Austin Howard, Raiders OT Jylan Ware, Eagles OG Chance Warmack and Bears C Hroniss Grasu were among the names I’ve heard as available, with Howard and Warmack carrying extensive starting experience.”
The situation for the former 3rd round pick out of Oregon is such an unfortunate but frequent NFL reality. Grasu looked like he’d be taking the long-term starting job at center going into 2016. Then he tore his ACL. This forced the Bears to move rookie Cody Whitehair into the middle and he ended up having a great season. So much so that the coaches kept him there permanently.
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Combined with the signing of Josh Sitton in free agency, Grasu suddenly found himself as a backup by the time he returned in 2017. Since then it’s only gotten worse as the Bears drafted highly-touted Iowa center, James Daniels. Together with versatile veteran Eric Kush, the Bears have three guys who can play the position well.
Since Grasu doesn’t have the size or strength for guard, his future on the roster looked bleak. This merely affirms what many already thought. He’ll be playing somewhere else before the season begins in September.
