Buzz Growing Chicago Bears Will Prioritize This Position In Free Agency

GM Ryan Poles doesn’t want to build through free agency. He’s made that clear since he took over the Chicago Bears last year. Even so, this roster needs help. A lot of help. The Bears have $98 million in salary cap space. While Poles may not go on a shopping spree, the widespread belief is he will take one or two big swings on the early market to shore up key spots. What nobody knows for sure at this point is which position the Bears will see as a priority. Most assume they will target a top defensive tackle to improve their interior pass rush. Names like Da’Ron Payne and Dre’Mont Jones come to mind.

However, recent buzz suggests that might not be the case. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune discussed the Bears’ free agency plans. He made it seem like the team will try to pounce on the market early, not at defensive tackle but offensive tackle.

On the offensive line, it’s a decent bet the Bears will move quickly to sign a right tackle. They might be in play for Orlando Brown Jr. if the Chiefs don’t keep him — and he would be the new starting left tackle — but Poles has expressed faith in Braxton Jones after the 2022 fifth-round pick was the only offensive player to log every snap. If the Bears believe Jones is trending upward, they could focus on right tackle, where they’ve had a different Week 1 starter for three consecutive years.

Biggs isn’t alone.

Bill Zimmerman of Windy City Gridiron was down in Arizona for the Super Bowl. After digging into various sources, he came away with a similar assessment. Once the market opens next month, the Bears are likely to move fast on the right tackles.

“I think the one thing everyone agrees on is that the Bears are going to sign a right tackle. Which one was up for debate, but a right tackle might be number one on their priority board. Plenty of names surfaced: Mike McGlinchey, Caleb McGary, Juwaan Taylor, and even Orlando Brown (I can’t see that one personally). I think we will definitely see some movement there early in free agency.”

This is a logical move for the Chicago Bears.

The reality is there isn’t a tackle in this draft class that is worth taking #1 overall. There isn’t even one worth taking in the top five. It seems unwise to wait until the late 2nd round to find an option at such an important position. Signing a proven veteran would help stabilize the edges, assuming Jones takes a step forward in 2023 at left tackle. Then Poles can use the draft to focus on the guard and center positions, which are far easier to find outside the 1st round.

It comes down to who is available and who the Chicago Bears prefer. McGlinchey and McGary can be classified as excellent run blockers who are okay in pass protection. Taylor is the opposite. He’s emerged as a solid pass protector who gets by in run blocking. If the Bears stick to their current identity, then McGlinchey or McGary would be the targets. If they wish to help Justin Fields emerge as more of a passer, then Taylor makes more sense. Money will play a part in it too. Free agency begins March 15th. The legal tampering period where negotiations can take place starts on the 13th. News of anything will surface around that time.