A plan seems to be coming into focus for the
Chicago Bears. It centers around improving the offensive line. GM Ryan Poles stated from the outset that area would be a focus for him. He wants to control the line of scrimmage and protect
Justin Fields. His opening move was to add Lucas Patrick from Green Bay as their new center. Now the team is aiming to land
Ryan Bates from Buffalo. If they succeed, he will take over at right or left guard.
Together with
Cody Whitehair, that should solidify the interior for the Bears. Then the problem becomes offensive tackle. Word persists that Poles isn't a big fan of
Larry Borom. As for Teven Jenkins, it sounds like the plan is to shift him back to his original spot at right tackle, according to Jeff Hughes of Da Bears Blog. A logical decision. The idea would be they're improving a spot on the line without having to add a new
face. That would leave left tackle.
The Bears may opt for a temporary fix given the pressing needs elsewhere.
https://twitter.com/dabearsblog/status/1507721767934177283
It isn't all that shocking they'd go for this. Finding a capable left tackle without a 1st round pick in the draft can be difficult. The last thing the Chicago Bears would want to do is leave Fields' blind side in the hands of a rookie unless he's a special talent. So opting for a veteran makes sense. The obvious question is who that'd be. Looking at the current market, three names stand out.
Eric Fisher
He is the most obvious idea. Poles has deep ties to him from Kansas City as the former Pro Bowler was the #1 overall pick for the Chiefs in 2013. He spent last season as left tackle in Indianapolis but struggled with 41 pressures allowed. It is difficult to tell if that was his game deteriorating or him not being in top form due to recovery from an Achilles injury.
https://twitter.com/Nate_Tice/status/1465142291345989632
Nate Solder
The former 1st round pick was a Pro Bowler in New England, helping the team win two Super Bowls. Since leaving in 2018, he's spent three seasons with the Giants. His first was solid, but the past two have been ugly with 17 sacks allowed. Does he have one more decent year left at age 34? That feels like a dangerous gamble.
Duane Brown
When Houston traded the Pro Bowler to Seattle in 2017, most felt he was pretty much done by that point. He had one or two good years in him left. So they must've been shocked when he reached his fifth Pro Bowl last season at age 36. He still seems to move well despite his age. If anybody can fill the bridge role, it would be him.
