Latest Rumor on Chicago Bears Tight End Plans Won't Make Fans Happy

People continue to debate what the Chicago Bears plan to do at quarterback. This is natural. There's lots of spirited debate on the subject. Some think they should give Mitch Trubisky one more chance. Others are calling for veteran competition of some kind. Still, others want him replaced outright. There isn't much consensus on the subject. However, that changes when the conversation shifts to another offensive position.

Tight end.

Everybody is universal on that. It has to get better. That is what happens when not a single player on the roster managed to reach 100 yards receiving for the season. So it's hardly a surprise the team has been connected to multiple names this offseason, both on the free agent market (Austin Hooper) and the draft (Cole Kmet).

However, Albert Breer of the MMQB warns their focus might end up going elsewhere this offseason. Why? Faith in somebody they already have.

"Speaking of tight ends, I’m not saying Bears won’t go forward without supplementing at the position, but word is they’re OK with Trey Burton being the headliner there, on the belief that he’s just had a lot of bad injury luck the last couple years."

Chicago Bears riding with Burton would be dangerous

That is hard to fathom. Burton has dealt with health issues dating back to December of 2018. Everything from a groin issue to a sports hernia and hip problems. Not exactly ideal for a guy you paid $8 million per year to be your guy. Now when he was healthy, the veteran did show he could be a reliable target for Trubisky and help the passing game function better. Yet Ryan Pace said it best.

The best ability is availability.

Are they really willing to gamble on him being healthy for an entire season after not being so for over a year now? If so, it's a colossal risk and exceedingly dangerous. Especially given how important tight end is to the function of Matt Nagy's offense. The only reason one could fathom for this decision would be a lack of money to make a splash in free agency and the 2020 draft class being rather weak at the position.

Even so, it feels like a bad idea.