We Learned Why Bears Missed Out On Mike McGlinchey And Kaleb McGary

The Chicago Bears have done some excellent work retooling their roster over the past two weeks. They secured a top wide receiver in D.J. Moore from Carolina. Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards dramatically upgraded the linebacking corps. DeMarcus Walker and Andrew Billings bring much-needed depth and power to the defensive line. Robert Tonyan arrived at tight end to give Justin Fields another viable weapon while D'Onta Foreman filled David Montgomery's spot at running back. GM Ryan Poles did all this while still possessing the most cap space in the NFL. His lone "failure" to this point was not landing Mike McGlinchey, Kaleb McGary, or any of the other top tackles on the market.

Orlando Brown Jr. signed with the Cincinnati Bengals. Poles stated the Bears didn't see him as a good scheme fit due to his lack of mobility. Jawaan Taylor took a lucrative deal to play for the Kansas City Chiefs. So what about McGlinchey and McGary? Both felt like good scheme fits. The latter even has ties to Bears offensive line coach Chris Morgan. Chicago Tribune insider Brad Biggs provided details.

Four relatively high-profile tackles were on the market and signed elsewhere:

Jawaan Taylor: $80 million, four years with Kansas City Chiefs

Mike McGlinchey: $87.5 million, five years with Denver Broncos

Orlando Brown: $64 million, four years with Cincinnati Bengals

Kaleb McGary: $34.5 million, three years with Atlanta Falcons

One source said the Bears went to roughly $17 million per year in an offer for McGlinchey. McGary had a heart issue as a rookie in Atlanta and that probably limited teams pursuing him.

Mike McGlinchey and Kaleb McGary were too risky.

Based on what Biggs indicates, the Bears weren't interested in McGary because of a medical issue. As for McGlinchey, the reported interest was genuine, and they were prepared to sign him. However, Poles wasn't willing to go above $17 million. That was likely the ceiling he had set based on scouting reports from his staff. So when the Denver Broncos swooped in with an offer of $17.5 million per year, the decision became easy. That may upset some people, but Poles has made it a point not to spend carelessly this time of year.

Mike McGlinchey is a solid player. He's not a great one. To help illustrate this, he now makes only $500,000 less than Lane Johnson, the best right tackle in the NFL. The Bears didn't see those two in the same tier, and rightfully so. Poles was content letting him go to Denver, believing he could find right tackle help elsewhere. He isn't wrong. The NFL draft is shaping up to have some exciting talents at the position. Chicago should be able to nab one in the first two rounds.