The Chicago Bears aren’t expected to be active at the upcoming NFL trade deadline. One because they never usually are anyway and also because they don’t really have the sources to be aggressive. That being said, it looks like the market may be lining up to their advantage. At least at one position anyway. That is tight end. Thanks to a series of circumstances, there could be a number of interesting names available.
Beat reporters of ESPN were polled recently and asked to pick one player from their teams that are most likely on the trade block with the deadline approaching on the 29th. No fewer than three of them listed a tight end. All of them of the younger variety with decent backgrounds when it comes to catching the football. The question is who are these men, do they fit what the Bears like to do and would it be possible to get them at a reasonable price?
Chicago Bears tight end options on the trade market
Tyler Kroft (Buffalo Bills)
“While Kroft has sat on the sideline for the Bills’ past five games, rookie Dawson Knox has established himself as the team’s primary pass-catching tight end. Lee Smith handles blocking duties and Tommy Sweeney does a little of both, leaving a diminishing role for Kroft whenever he’s able to get fully healthy”
Kroft looked like he was an emerging weapon in Cincinnati in 2017. He had over 400 yards receiving with seven touchdown catches. Unfortunately a foot injury landed him on injured reserve the next year and it seems those health setbacks have continued in Buffalo. The good news with this is if the Bears were willing to take a gamble on him, it would likely cost little in return.
Hayden Hurst (Baltimore Ravens)
“The 2018 first-round pick hasn’t had as big of a role in the passing game because of the emergence of Mark Andrews, who was taken in the third round in the same draft. Hurst has been targeted only 16 times this season, which ranks fifth on the Ravens.”
Hurst had a rather quiet rookie year with 163 yards and a touchdown in 12 games. However, his pass-catching prowess and athleticism were still evident. Despite being targeted just 18 times this season, he has 14 catches for 141 yards and a touchdown in five games. So there’s been a definite improvement. Baltimore though may not be interested in parting ways with him after just two seasons and if so the asking price may be too high for the Bears.
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O.J. Howard (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
“Howard has been underutilized as a pass-catcher in Bruce Arians’ offense, which isn’t known for using the tight end. Heading into Week 6, Howard was averaging fewer than three targets per game.”
Arians has a long history of underutilizing tight ends. So it wouldn’t be a surprise if Howard were made available. He would be considered the big fish by far on the market with his mixture of blocking and pass-catching skills. That said, all signs have pointed thus far to the Buccaneers being unwilling to move him. Even if they were, the price tag would almost certainly be high. It might be worth it though given all the untapped potential.
