The 2016 NFL draft was a wild one for the Chicago Bears. At least in the first two rounds. It started with them jumping from #11 overall to #9 to select Georgia linebacker Leonard Floyd. Then in the 2nd round they moved back from #41 to #49 overall after their hopeful target, tight end Hunter Henry went to the Chargers. As the board shaped up, word was that GM Ryan Pace had eyes for offensive tackle Jason Spriggs out of Indiana.
The athletic blocker slipped to #48 and it looked like the Bears were going to get him. Then out of nowhere the Green Bay Packers jumped up ahead of them to take Spriggs instead. Bears fans were disappointed. Packer fans laughed. Pace decided to trade down again, this time to #56. There he took Kansas State offensive lineman Cody Whitehair.
Sometimes the one that got away turns out to be a good thing. Spriggs flamed out in Green Bay, failing to ever crack the starting lineup and struggling often whenever he got on the field. Then last season he dealt with injury. So it was hardly a surprise the Packers let him hit free agency this year. It seems Pace never lost his interest though as the Bears scooped the 25-year old up on a one-year deal.
Chicago Bears likely see Spriggs as a reclamation project
Make no mistake. The Bears don't see this guy as competition for a starting job. He's an athletic blocker who is still young that is considered depth at tackle behind Charles Leno and Bobby Massie. Pace and the coaching staff no doubt hope that new offensive line coach Juan Castillo might be able to coax out of him what the Packers failed to. Spriggs had a reputation for lacking power and proper technique at Indiana. Castillo might be able to solve the latter.
Should people be optimistic about this? Probably not. He's likely a pure backup who has experience both at tackle and guard. That should give the Bears a little flexibility with their offensive line in case of injuries. The same goes for other recent addition Germain Ifedi. This is basically a one-year flier. Similar to what they did with Cornelius Lucas last season. That worked out well. No doubt they hope for the same here.
