GM Ryan Poles has done everything he can to improve the Chicago Bears roster this off-season. For many people, it hasn’t been enough. Particularly on the offensive side. He didn’t add enough firepower at wide receiver and didn’t do enough to shore up the offensive line. For the latter, his only definitive starter added was center Lucas Patrick. There are lingering questions about what the starting five will look like come September.
For the time being, it looks like four of the five spots are somewhat settled. Patrick is at center while Cody Whitehair remains at left guard. Teven Jenkins has shifted over to right tackle and Larry Borom is working on the left. That could change but it seems as if this is the best combination the Bears like for now. There is one problem. Right guard remains unaccounted for. With James Daniels out of the picture, the Bears have no certain starter on the roster. That means competition is looming between veterans Dakota Dozier and Sam Mustipher along with rookies Zachary Thomas and Ja’Tyre Carter.
Not ideal.
That said, Poles indicated he’s not done adding to the roster. If an opportunity comes up, he’s prepared to make further additions. Say, for instance, a solid veteran lineman was to become available. That is now looking like a possibility according to Mike Kaye of Pro Football Network.
“As I’ve previously written, there stands a chance that longtime starting guard Isaac Seumalo will become a post-June 1 cap casualty. He is coming off another major injury and would save the organization roughly $5.6 million with a release. If the Eagles were to go that route, they’d probably look to add a veteran guard before camp to compete, similar to the signing of Le’Raven Clark last offseason.”
.@Eagles #IsaacSeumalo is as versatile an offensive lineman as their is in the @NFL . Can line up at all 5 positions and play TE as well. Mark it down here. He will catch a TD pass before the end of 2018. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/xq3mYrOmAd
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) October 12, 2018
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Could the OL be complete with stability at LG finally?
Isaac Seumalo MOVED people vs the Redskins 💪👀 pic.twitter.com/9zp4Qd5m44— Thomas R. Petersen (@thomasrp93) September 10, 2019
Chicago Bears need a player like that.
Seumalo has connections to Chicago already via assistant GM Ian Cunningham. He was with the Philadelphia Eagles from 2017 to 2021 before joining the Bears. The veteran guard was a central part of their Super Bowl-winning team and was a solid starter over the past two years. Unfortunately, both ended with injuries including a knee in 2020 and a Lisfranc in his foot last season. With the Eagles having added more help on the offensive line these previous few months, he has become expendable.
Is he worth the risk? Yes. Seumalo has proven incredibly versatile as a blocker, logging time at every offensive line position. Over his past 500 pass blocking snaps, he’s allowed only 19 pressures and four sacks on the quarterback. There is no question he could settle that right guard spot and give the Chicago Bears far more stability. It would come down to whether they could get him before other teams did.
