The Bears have several issues to address this offseason, especially on offense following an abysmal outing in 2019. While quarterback and tight end have dominated the conversation, Chicago needs some work on the offensive line.
While the Bears are ultimately stuck with what they’ve got at tackle for next season in Charles Leno and Bobby Massie, who collectively account for $18.6 million in salary cap space in 2020, they do have a vacant right guard position that needs to be addressed.
Given Chicago’s salary cap situation, Bleacher Report believes the Bears should steer clear of addressing offensive guard in free agency and look to the NFL Draft for a young prospect.
There’s plenty of talk circulating that the Bears intend to add a veteran quarterback to challenge 2017 second overall pick Mitchell Trubisky. But no matter who the starting quarterback is in 2020, that signal-caller will have a much better chance of success if the team improves an offensive line that ranked 20th or worse in both run blocking and pass protection last year, according to Football Outsiders.
Adding that veteran under center will eat up most of the team’s $16.6 million in cap space, so the best chance at bettering the line will be on Day 2 in April.
While the Bears could target offensive tackle in what’s a deep draft class, that might ultimately help them nab a top-three guard such as Georgia’s Solomon Kindley or Kentucky’s Logan Stenberg with pick 43.
There was plenty of blame to go around on offense last season, but the offensive line didn’t make it any easier on a struggling Mitchell Trubisky both in run blocking and pass protection.
Given the amount of money invested in the Bears offensive line, the group simply has to be better. That, and they need to find a right guard to replace the retired Kyle Long.
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