Chicago Bears Benefitting From Quiet Offensive Tackle Market

Anybody that has followed NFL free agency in the past knows one thing. When the market for a particular position doesn't start hot, it tends never to reach that point. The longer things go without movement, the cheaper players tend to get. That is why the current offensive tackle market is a big surprise. Thus far, only three notable players have secured significant deals. Joseph Noteboom and Chukwuma Okorafor signed extensions in Los Angeles and Pittsburgh while Cam Robinson and Orlando Brown were franchise tagged. This could be great news for the Chicago Bears. GM Ryan Poles made his first move on Monday, agreeing with defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi on a three-year deal worth $40.5 million. Since then, the Bears have gone quiet. It appears they are waiting to see how the market settles after the opening surge. Thus far, they have to be happy with how things are playing out. Though the center and guard positions saw a lot of action, it's been quiet at tackle.

Considering the team's need at the position, this is significant.

Several noteworthy veterans remain available, including Terron Armstead, Trent Brown, Eric Fisher, Morgan Moses, and Duane Brown. Armstead is the best of that group. It is likely teams are waiting to see what happens with him. The lack of action speaks volumes. Teams might be hesitant about handing him significant money given his extensive injury history. If his deal comes in lower than expected, it could influence the rest of the market. This would be great news for a cost-conscious team like the Chicago Bears.

The Bears are all about being opportunistic at this point of their rebuild. That means taking advantage of free agency in the right situations. If they could land a veteran tackle on a cheaper-than-expected contract, it would make Poles' goal of retooling the offensive line that much easier. Given the demands of Luke Getsy's new offense, the name that might make the most sense is Moses. Even for somebody 335 lbs he moves with surprising quickness and blocks well in space. It will be a fun next few days.