One of the most maddening situations for Chicago Bears fans is how utterly silent the team has been going into the final week before the trade deadline. Though 5-2, this team has clear flaws on its roster. Flaws that a possible trade could fix. While they aren’t swimming in assets, they do have enough to make a limited move for some help. Yet GM Ryan Pace remains silent. November 3rd creeps ever closer.
Has the man completely lost his mind? Is ownership holding him back from making moves due to fears over the 2021 salary cap drop? Well, those would be the explanations that are easier for angered Bears fans to take. However, as is often the case there is something bigger at work here.
Dan Graziano of ESPN revealed some noteworthy information.
In a recent column, he went over the state of the upcoming deadline and why it’s been unusually quiet to this point. Only a few moves have been made. Not nearly the flurry of activity compared to last season or the year before that. Based on what he’s hearing, there is an explanation as to why. One that directly impacts the Bears.
“One team executive told me that teams have been “hoarding” offensive and defensive linemen who might otherwise be available in trades because they’re worried about being caught short in those positions due to COVID-19 outbreaks within position groups.
Last week, the entire Raiders offensive line had to isolate after one of them tested positive. This week, the Giants find themselves in a similar situation.”
Chicago Bears may have to look within for answers
It may not be the answer people wanted to hear, but it explains a lot. Multiple outbreaks among offensive linemen have already happened. Odds are it might happen again. The last thing a team wants is to trade a decent blocker away only to have the line suffer an outbreak and watch their quarterback get exposed behind a group of backups. Every body matters more than ever this season. Even if it might cost the organization a possible draft pick and some cap relief.
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So it isn’t that Pace is unwilling to make a trade. It’s more he isn’t able to. Teams aren’t listening and those that are likely have raised their prices to such a point no sane man would even consider it. That means the Bears must try to make it work with what they have. Not an appealing proposition with some of the defenses they still have to play this year.
Sunday should open some eyes.
Former undrafted free agent Sam Mustipher will get the start at center in relief of the injured Cody Whitehair. He’ll be playing next to Rashaad Coward who has looked overmatched at left guard for the past two weeks. They play a solid New Orleans Saints front with a pair of unheralded but capable defensive tackles and two very good edge rushers.
Nick Foles could be in for another long day with no help from his running game too. All the Chicago Bears can do is hope somebody steps up. That or pray one of these teams around the league becomes more open to dealing a player of value. Until one or the other happens, Pace’s hands are tied.
Not an enviable spot to be in. Yet a harsh reality bred of his failure to stock the line with talent and a COVID-19 world.