It isn’t a secret the Chicago Bears are looking to upgrade their offense after a rough 2022. GM Ryan Poles already got started on that objective by landing wide receiver D.J. Moore in a trade with Carolina. He gives the Bears a legitimate weapon for Justin Fields. The next step is obvious. Poles has to upgrade the offensive line. One could argue the Bears need three new starters up front at left guard, center, and right tackle. Reports indicate the team will be aggressive on the free agent market for tackle help.
The interior positions are more complicated. Veteran options aren’t plentiful this season. What’s worse is the more prominent names like Ben Powers don’t fit the Bears’ offense. So unless somebody becomes available soon, Poles may have to find his solution in the draft. As luck would have it, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN had an update that should interest them. Based on what he’s hearing, the Indianapolis Colts are looking to unload three-time Pro Bowl center, Ryan Kelly.
“The Colts are believed to be one. Sources with several NFL teams say three-time Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly is available for a potential trade or release. Kelly signed a four-year, $50 million extension before the 2020 season. With cap hits of $12.4 and $14.6 million in 2023-24, coupled with Indy’s rough outing across the offensive line last year, Kelly’s future in Indy could be tenuous.”
The Chicago Bears should at least look into Kelly.
Indianapolis is hurting for cap space right now. Unloading Kelly makes sense from a pure business perspective. The fact he and the offensive line struggled last season probably has them convinced he is on the decline. Kelly is 29 years old. He isn’t quite over the hill by NFL standards. His 2022 season wasn’t his best, but one can’t call it terrible. He’s still a capable run blocker and improved his pass protection from a rough 2021. When healthy, he remains a reliable man in the middle for his team.
If the Chicago Bears are wary of Lucas Patrick and don’t want to gamble on a rookie, making a run at Kelly makes sense. He’d bring veteran experience to the interior and fits their run-first philosophy. It will come down to the price. A trade means draft compensation. The Bears have ten picks at the moment, including six on Day 3. Perhaps giving one up for Kelly is something they’d consider. On the other hand, they could wait it out to see if Indianapolis cuts him instead. They have more than enough money to afford any contract he seeks.
Subscribe to the BFR podcast and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
Draft a center. No need to trade for a Center that’s on the decline. If he’s released then at least consider it. It really doesn’t follow what Poles says he wants to do and that is to build through the draft.
Poles will either sign him for a more reasonable salary if he’s released or get an upgrade for Patrick via FA or the draft.
The only way the Bears have any intrest is if he is released, and signs a reasonable contract for a 29 year old player. Pace is no longer the GM so a stupid move of trading draft capital isnt going to happen.
Bears are not giving up draft picks
Poles will not do because this guy is old and on the decline