The Chicago Bears have more money to spend in free agency than any team by a comfortable margin. GM Ryan Poles has repeatedly reiterated that he doesn’t intend to go crazy with this newfound cash. He wants to be smart, making value-driven purchases without being reckless. It is about maintaining long-term flexibility while trying to help the team get better. That might be why many are struggling to figure out how Poles will approach the market this year, especially given its overall lack of depth.
One way to do it would be by focusing his dollar on one key area of his roster. Fix that with proven veterans, and then he can use the draft to address other needs. Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic has it on good authority that this might be Poles’ intended approach. He asked around at the Senior Bowl for opinions on what the Bears will do. The replies were telling.
“It wouldn’t be a surprise for Poles to spend money on the offensive line. It’s an area of need, a position he emphasizes, and usually one where a team can be more comfortable getting immediate help from veterans as opposed to rookies.
One league source confirmed the obvious — there is already talk that the Bears will be active in free agency on the offensive line.”
This isn’t surprising. Justin Fields was sacked 55 times this past season. Poles must find a way to shore up his quarterback’s protection. Seeking top free agents is the quickest way to solve this problem.
The Chicago Bears will have some interesting options.
Examining the landscape, the strength of the 2023 offensive line market will be at right tackle. Jacksonville’s Jawaan Taylor, Atlanta’s Kaleb McGary, and San Francisco’s Mike McGlinchey are all slated to become available. All are proven starters that would fit well in the Bears’ system. McGary and McGlinchey are two highly-touted run blockers with okay pass protection skills. Taylor is the reverse, standing as a proven pass protector that rarely shines in the run game. Either way, any of the three would be an immediate upgrade over what Chicago has at the position.
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They could also look for interior help. Left guard Ben Powers is a dominant run blocker for Baltimore that drastically improved in pass protection this season. Nate Davis of Tennessee also made considerable strides this year and has the athletic chops to fit the Chicago Bears’ zone-running scheme. There aren’t any true stars available this year. That said, Poles should be able to help his front five significantly. Two top free agents and maybe an early-round draft pick could have this team in business going into the 2023 season.
