The Chicago Bears weren’t big spenders in free agency this year. That wasn’t a surprise. GM Ryan Poles stated his plan was to avoid throwing big money around as in years past. Such an approach hasn’t led to sustained winning for the organization. He wants to build through the draft and only use free agency to plug minor holes. It isn’t a bad plan, but such an approach takes time. Right now the Bears have some glaring holes on the roster. Even worse, there aren’t any free agents available to fix them. That is why they need a stroke of luck to fortify it. Call it the Josh Sitton Effect.
Some fans may not remember. Back in 2016, the Bears faced an almost identical situation to this year. Their offensive line was a major question mark as the regular season neared. Then at the 11th hour, the Green Bay Packers released Pro Bowl guard Josh Sitton. GM Ryan Pace pounced on the opportunity, signing him to a three-year deal to join the Bears. The offensive line ended up playing quite well that season.
Josh Sitton was a timely lifeline. Can it happen again?
The Bears can’t count on it. Teams don’t generally release Pro Bowlers like that often. Still, there is every reason to think Poles will be as proactive as Pace was six years ago in trying to find solutions. There is a strong possibility that one or two teams will release an offensive lineman of at least some note by the end of next month. If they can serve as even a competent starter at guard or tackle, it would give Chicago so much more flexibility.
Is there a Josh Sitton out there that could be a surprise cut? One or two names stand out as remote possibilities. Cleveland has a huge cap crunch coming their way next year. They may have to unload 31-year-old stalwart Joel Bitonio to help alleviate the damage. The same problem faces the New Orleans Saints. Their former Pro Bowl guard Andrus Peat might be a lamb they’re forced to sacrifice.
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Maybe the same could happen at other positions. There is no predicting the NFL. The good news is the Bears are in a great position to take advantage of any such opportunity. They have $22 million in salary cap space, meaning they can afford to hand out a sizable contract if the situation demands it.
