The Chicago Bears didn't have a good first week, but they don't have anything on the Miami Dolphins. Chicago suffered a frustrating 10-3 loss at home to a division rival. The Dolphins just got pasted by the Baltimore Ravens 59-10 in which Lamar Jackson threw just 20 passes. Five of them going for touchdowns. It doesn't get much more humiliating than that. By the sounds of things after the game, it's only going to get worse.
Mike Florio of NBC Sports revealed that there is already a potential mutiny in progress with the Dolphins. Feelings have steadily grown that the coaching staff isn't interested in winning this year. Trading star left tackle Laremy Tunsil to Houston was the biggest indicator of that. Tanking may not be something they'd admit, but the evidence is growing more and more overwhelming by the day. Now several players are trying to find ways to get traded out of town.
"Per a league source with knowledge of the situation, multiple Dolphins players contacted their agents after Sunday’s season-opening blowout loss and directed them to attempt to engineer trades elsewhere. The players believe that the coaching staff, despite claiming that they intend to try to win, aren’t serious about competing and winning and by all appearances have bought into the notion that the Dolphins will take their lumps now in the hopes of laying the foundation via high draft picks for building a successful team later."
If this is the case, then perhaps the Bears could take advantage of the situation.
Chicago Bears could benefit from a number of names
It's probably too early for the Dolphins to start selling off players just yet. However, by the look of things, there's no question they'll be wheeling and dealing by the trade deadline in October. This leaves the big question for the Bears. Are there any players on that roster they could get at a reasonable price who might be worth pursuing? After careful scanning, three stood out.
Mike Gesicki (TE)
The Bears need answers at tight end. Adam Shaheen continues to look like a bust. Trey Burton hasn't been able to stay healthy. This has left the position as a considerable weak point for this offense. Other alternatives may be worth exploring. Gesicki is the teams' 2nd round pick from last year. A big 6'6 kid with 4.54 speed. He finished 2018 with 202 yards, 101 coming after the catch. There is untapped potential there that will likely go to waste as Miami begins rebuilding.
Albert Wilson (WR)
Chicago made a strong push to sign Wilson last year as a free agent. He has a history with Matt Nagy during their time in Kansas City together. Some will argue the Bears are fine at wide receiver but that Green Bay game suggests otherwise. One big thing they're missing is a target who is good after the catch. Of his 391 yards last season (in 7 games), Wilson pulled off 345 when the ball was in his hands. The Bears saw it first hand in their loss to Miami last year.
Minkah Fitzpatrick (S)
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix is the starting safety opposite Eddie Jackson this year. However, expectations are he will move on in 2020 due to salary cap constraints. In addition, primary backup Deon Bush will become a free agent as well. This will eat into the Bears' depth considerably. That is unless they take steps to head it off early. Trading for Fitzpatrick may seem unlikely at first glance. He's their 1st round pick from just last year. There's no way they'd give up on him that fast right?
Well if they made Tunsil available, why not him?
Fitzpatrick is a tremendous physical specimen with a big body, speed, and instincts that make for a premier package at safety. The problem is he's chaffing in the new defense under head coach Brian Flores. One that has relegated him to a pure strong safety position. Something he is not used to playing. He may like the idea of playing for Chuck Pagano, a defensive back specialist far more in Chicago. It would come down to Miami's price demand.
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