GM Ryan Poles found himself in a tough spot following the end of the preseason. Despite his best efforts, the Chicago Bears offensive line is already riddled with injuries. Poles did a solid job adding depth to the unit, too. It's not like they were razor-thin, to begin with. That is how widespread the health issues have been since training camp started. The worst of it has come on the interior, where Cody Whitehair, Teven Jenkins, Lucas Patrick, Nate Davis, and now Doug Kramer are all dealing with injuries. So it wasn't a surprise the Bears traded for veteran Dan Feeney from the Miami Dolphins.
A former 3rd round pick, Feeney has spent time with three different organizations. His first three years were with the Chargers before spending the previous two with the New York Jets. Miami signed him to a one-year deal worth $3.3 million this off-season. While not a star, he's started 64 games and has played all three interior positions. He's also a good athletic fit for the Bears' zone scheme. Adam Beasley, who covered the Dolphins for 15 years before joining Pro Football Network, thinks Poles scored a big win in this trade.
Part is because of the fit, but also the price paid.
"Chicago Bears Win Dan Feeney Trade
From a Bears perspective, they get an experienced backup at the league minimum. And while there was some value lost in the draft pick surrendered (more on this in a bit), it was a price the Bears needed to pay.
The Bears are a very young team (25.8 average age) with a very young, and banged up, offensive line.
While Feeney isn’t exactly a grey beard, he adds some gravitas to that position group.
Miami Dolphins Lose by a (Bottle)Nose
The Dolphins lost this trade the second they realized Feeney wasn’t going to be one of their top seven (or even eight, depending on Terron Armstead’s health) Week 1 offensive lineman.
At that point, it was just about extracting as much value as they could for a bad contract."
Dan Feeney came to the Bears cheap.
Most of his $3.3 million was tied up in signing bonuses. That means the Bears only have to pay him $1.24 million for the rest of the season. As for the draft pick, keep this in mind. Chicago has made 13 picks in the 6th round over the past decade. Only three of them managed to become productive. Khalil Herbert is a solid running back. DeAndre Houston-Carson and Pat O'Donnell were steady presences on special teams. Everybody else amounted to little during their brief stints with the team.
Chicago still has seven picks in the 2024 draft. Two are in the 1st round, and all are in the 5th round or higher. The Bears remain in great shape for next off-season. Dan Feeney was precisely what they needed. He may not be the long-term answer many hoped for. Still, they could've done a lot worse in terms of a short-term solution. He brings experience, athleticism, and the gritty demeanor they love in their blockers. It's not every day you can land a 29-year-old with 64 starts under his belt for this cheap.
