The Chicago Bears have many holes to fill and one of the biggest is the tight end position. After trading Martellus Bennett to the Patriots, Bears fans watched Zach Miller limp through another injury-plagued season getting very little performance out of the position for Chicago. Heading into 2017, Miller remains the top tight end on the depth chart despite his ripe age of 32 and the fact that he's never played a 16-game season in his NFL career.
Ryan Pace needs to address the tight end need, fast.
Starting at the top, Rob Gronkowski is widely considered the best tight end in the NFL and he might be on the trading block already. With their recent Super Bowl victory the Patriots proved they really don't NEED Gronk to be successful. Not only that, but Bill Belichick and the Patriots have made a NFL-high 62 trades since Tom Brady became the starting quarterback. Those trades included players like six-time Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins and Pro Bowl pass rusher Chandler Jones. It's clear Belichick and the Patriots will trade ANYONE, except Tom Brady.
Most recently, after undergoing his third back surgery and sitting out most of the 2016 season, Gronk was photographed shirtless at the team championship parade pounding beers.
Doesn't exactly mesh with the high level of respect people attach to the brand of New England. As many people know, this is one of many stunts by Gronk others include off-seasons filled with booze cruises and porn stars. The partying has contributed to Gronkowski's popularity with the fans, but it's also made him a bit of a black-eye to the reputation of the Patriots' organization.
Taking all that into account, many analysts expect New England to pursue a trade for Gronk this offseason, and Chicago is arguably the most "tight-end needy" team on the market.
According to the New York Daily News, NESN Sports and many others, the Patriots are expected to at least listen to trade talks for the four-time Pro Bowler. If New England is listening it would be wise for the Bears to enter the conversation to see what the price is.
The 27 year-old has suffered through many injuries as a professional football player and that has contributed to missing a decent amount of time. Gronk missed nine games last season, five in 2014 and nine in 2013. He does, however, have five seasons where he played 10+ games, but three of them were pre-2012. It's obvious Gronkowski is a big injury risk, similar to Miller, so if the asking price is astronomical at least Pace could say he investigated.
However, if the asking price is somewhat reasonable ... that changes the conversation. Gronkowski has three manageable years remaining on his contract (with cap hits of $7 million, $11 million and $12 million from 2017-19), so interested teams won't have to break the bank to land the game-breaker. It's more a matter of determining what the upfront cost will be to trade for his services.
The Bears got a fourth-round pick for Bennett after offering him up to New England after they threw in an additional sixth-rounder. Bennett was considered by many to have a lot of talent, but his time in Chicago was simply up. Many are now saying the same about Gronkowski and the Pats. Bennett also already had a Pro Bowl under his belt before Chicago dealt him.
Let's say the price is in the same ball park. What if the Bears could acquire Gronkowski for their third round pick? Would that be a deal worth investigating if you are Pace?
Many analysts suggest that O.J. Howard, from Alabama, is the top tight end of this draft class and should be taken in the first 20 picks leaving Chicago to battle for the lower tiered crop coming out of college. Gronkowski is an elite addition that could provide immediate value, overwhelming value, if healthy.
"The 6-6, 265-pound machine has plenty of faulty circuitry though. Gronkowski has undergone surgeries for his ankle (one), forearm (three or four, depending on who you believe) and knee (one) in addition to his back problems. He's also missed time with hamstring woes. One more injury and his value takes another significant hit, would Pace gamble on that?"
When you factor in the type of players Pace looks for, Gronk fits the mold. He's young, he's versatile and he appears to be available at a buy-low type price. The only question mark is his injury history and how that will play into his future.
At the end of the day, the price could end up being too high. But, if the Chicago Bears are serious about winning, they need a new tight end. The way Gronk pound beers, he should fit into Chicago perfectly, we already know how good he is at football.
Doesn't exactly mesh with the high level of respect people attach to the brand of New England. As many people know, this is one of many stunts by Gronk others include off-seasons filled with booze cruises and porn stars. The partying has contributed to Gronkowski's popularity with the fans, but it's also made him a bit of a black-eye to the reputation of the Patriots' organization.
Taking all that into account, many analysts expect New England to pursue a trade for Gronk this offseason, and Chicago is arguably the most "tight-end needy" team on the market.
According to the New York Daily News, NESN Sports and many others, the Patriots are expected to at least listen to trade talks for the four-time Pro Bowler. If New England is listening it would be wise for the Bears to enter the conversation to see what the price is.
The 27 year-old has suffered through many injuries as a professional football player and that has contributed to missing a decent amount of time. Gronk missed nine games last season, five in 2014 and nine in 2013. He does, however, have five seasons where he played 10+ games, but three of them were pre-2012. It's obvious Gronkowski is a big injury risk, similar to Miller, so if the asking price is astronomical at least Pace could say he investigated.
However, if the asking price is somewhat reasonable ... that changes the conversation. Gronkowski has three manageable years remaining on his contract (with cap hits of $7 million, $11 million and $12 million from 2017-19), so interested teams won't have to break the bank to land the game-breaker. It's more a matter of determining what the upfront cost will be to trade for his services.
The Bears got a fourth-round pick for Bennett after offering him up to New England after they threw in an additional sixth-rounder. Bennett was considered by many to have a lot of talent, but his time in Chicago was simply up. Many are now saying the same about Gronkowski and the Pats. Bennett also already had a Pro Bowl under his belt before Chicago dealt him.
Let's say the price is in the same ball park. What if the Bears could acquire Gronkowski for their third round pick? Would that be a deal worth investigating if you are Pace?
Many analysts suggest that O.J. Howard, from Alabama, is the top tight end of this draft class and should be taken in the first 20 picks leaving Chicago to battle for the lower tiered crop coming out of college. Gronkowski is an elite addition that could provide immediate value, overwhelming value, if healthy.
"The 6-6, 265-pound machine has plenty of faulty circuitry though. Gronkowski has undergone surgeries for his ankle (one), forearm (three or four, depending on who you believe) and knee (one) in addition to his back problems. He's also missed time with hamstring woes. One more injury and his value takes another significant hit, would Pace gamble on that?"
When you factor in the type of players Pace looks for, Gronk fits the mold. He's young, he's versatile and he appears to be available at a buy-low type price. The only question mark is his injury history and how that will play into his future.
At the end of the day, the price could end up being too high. But, if the Chicago Bears are serious about winning, they need a new tight end. The way Gronk pound beers, he should fit into Chicago perfectly, we already know how good he is at football.
