Tag: Bears offensive guard

B/R believes Bears should target proven option at guard in Josh Kline

Ahead of the NFL Draft, the Bears could scour the remaining free agent market and add a quality veteran like OG Josh Kline.

With the 2020 NFL Draft less than two weeks away, the Chicago Bears are gearing up for what’s an important draft for general manager Ryan Pace.

Considering the Bears have just two picks in the first four rounds — both second rounders at 43 and 50 — Pace needs to make those two count. And with no shortage of roster needs, Pace has his work cut out for him.

But before the NFL Draft kicks off April 23, Bleacher Report has scoured the remaining free agent market, and they’ve pinpointed one player that each team should sign. For the Bears, that’s offensive guard Josh Kline.

Chicago figures to target a guard at some point in the draft, but it should add more veteran insurance beforehand. The Bears took a flier on Germain Ifedi in free agency, but he struggled to establish himself as a reliable starter throughout his four-year tenure with the Seattle Seahawks.

Josh Kline, on the other hand, has been a consistent starter for the past five seasons. Though he would represent a step down from a fully healthy Long, Kline would at least give Chicago a proven option.

Following Kyle Long’s retirement, the Bears have a starting right guard job up for grabs. Right now, it figures to be a three-way race between newcomer Germain Ifedi, Alex Bars and Rashaad Coward. It also wouldn’t be a surprise if Pace targets an interior offensive lineman in the NFL Draft later this month.

If the Bears wanted to add a proven veteran to the mix, Kline, a five-year starter, would be a good fit. While Chicago is also in need of a starting guard, they’re also searching for depth on the offensive line. Even if Kline didn’t win the starting job, he’d be good depth for the Bears at a position that had its share of injuries in 2019.

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Guard remains one of biggest offseason needs for Bears

The Bears offense was embarrassingly bad in 2019, although it was difficult to place the blame on one position. But OL remains a big need.

The Chicago Bears had one of the worst offenses in the NFL last season. And that’s not hyperbole.

They ranked near the bottom of most statistical categories and were embarrassingly bad at times in 2019. (Remember that time they had nine total yards of offense in one half of football against the Philadelphia Eagles?)

But when it comes to fixing the offense, unfortunately you can’t pinpoint one specific position that, if fixed, would flip a switch in the unit. Quarterback, tight end, offensive line, play caller. You name it, there was blame to go around.

Righting the ship on offense has been a focal point of this offseason for the Bears, which has included four new offensive coaches — offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo, offensive line coach Juan Castillo and tight ends coach Clancy Barone — that are experts at the positions that snake-bit the Bears offense in 2019.

General manager Ryan Pace has also been active in free agency, bringing in tight ends Jimmy Graham and Demetrius Harris, as well as trading for quarterback Nick Foles and signing former first-round guard Germain Ifedi. But there’s still plenty of work to be done on offense, especially heading into the late wave of free agency and the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft.

Like many, Bleacher Report believes offensive line — specifically, guard –remains the Bears’ biggest need late in free agency. Following Kyle Long’s retirement, Chicago has a gaping hole at the right guard position.

This leaves guard as a major position of need, though it already has been one over the last couple of years—Long played just 12 games in that span. The Bears experimented with shifting Cody Whitehair from center to guard but moved him back after center James Daniels struggled to replace him.

This is arguably the only significant question mark on Chicago’s offense aside from the quarterback position. The Bears potentially addressed that, however, by trading for Nick Foles. While Foles won’t be handed the starting job, he’ll have a chance to snatch it away from incumbent Mitchell Trubisky.

There are no shortage of questions on Chicago’s offensive line, including both tackle spots, but the Bears are financially stuck with Charles Leno and Bobby Massie through 2020.

What the Bears don’t have, currently, is a starting right guard, although there are two players currently on the roster expected to compete for that starting spot in newly-acquired Ifedi and highly-touted undrafted free agent Alex Bars.

Chicago is also expected to address the offensive line in the 2020 NFL Draft. While the Bears don’t know who their starting quarterback is just yet between Mitchell Trubisky and Foles, it won’t matter if other issues, like offensive line, aren’t addressed.

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Former All-Pro guard Kelechi Osemele could be upgrade Bears need on O-line

The Bears desperately need offensive line help at the guard position, so could Kelechi Osemele be the upgrade they’re looking for?

Cordarrelle Patterson continues to recruit players to join the Chicago Bears, and his latest target is former All-Pro guard Kelechi Osemele.

From the look of his response to Patterson, Osemele might be interested in signing with the Bears, where he would have a good chance to win the starting right guard job.

Is Osemele the upgrade the Bears could use on the offensive line?

It’s no secret that the Bears need to severely upgrade their offensive line this offseason. The only move they’ve made so far is signing former Seattle Seahawk German Ifedi. Ifedi is expected to play right guard to start 2020, but if I’m the Bears, I don’t feel comfortable with him succeeding Kyle Long.

Osemele, who is still currently a free agent, could come to the Bears with a good chance at winning the starting job and would be a huge piece to this team addressing some offensive line concerns.

The only concern is Osemele’s injury history. Last season with the New York Jets, Osemele played with a torn labrum and opted for surgery. The Jets had an issue with how he handled the injury his way and ultimately released him mid-season.

If you were general manager Ryan Pace, would you take a chance on a healthy Osemele to fill that need at right guard? Or would you feel more comfortable with Ifedi or Alex Bars?

Bringing Osemele to Chicago would definitely help redeem this weird offseason for the Bears.

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Free Agency: Grading the Bears’ signing of OL Germain Ifedi

Germain Ifedi comes on a cheap 1-year deal to compete for the starting RG spot with the potential to become a contributor for the Bears.

Heading into this offseason, offensive line was one of the Bears’ biggest needs. Following a collective disappointing effort, that included a non-existent run game, it prompts change.

While that change isn’t likely to happen this season, given the monetary commitments to three starters on the offensive line, there’s definitely work that needs to be done, which explains the addition of new offensive line coach Juan Castillo.

Given offensive line was a major concern, it was a surprise that the Bears didn’t try to bring in help during the early wave of free agency, including filling a vacant right guard spot left by retired guard Kyle Long.

The Bears finally made their move on Wednesday, bringing in former first-round offensive lineman Germain Ifredi. But, like several first-round busts that Chicago has added this free agency, Ifredi came on a cheap deal for a reason.

Ifedi has been one of the most penalized players in the league. Last season, Ifedi had 13 penalties, which was tied for fifth in the NFL. There’s also the fact that he’s been lackluster at times, particularly in pass protection.

What Ifedi does bring to the table is experience and versatility. Ifedi has started 60 games over the last four seasons in Seattle, and he’s played at both the guard and tackle positions. Given the offensive line’s penchant for injuries last season — on the right side of the line — Ifedi’s versatility makes him an asset.

While Ifedi hasn’t lived up to his first-round status, the Bears are hoping that perhaps they find a contributor in the former 31st overall pick.

But there’s also the possibility that a change of scenery is what Ifedi needs to finally succeed. Maybe one team’s bust is another team’s treasure? Then again, don’t count on it when it comes to operating on Chicago’s flimsy offensive line.

Ultimately, Ifedi comes on a cheap one-year deal to compete for the starting right guard with the potential to become a solid contributor. If he sucks, he’s gone. If he doesn’t suck, well, that’s welcomed progress on the offensive line.

Grade: C+

What do you think, Bears fans? How would you grade Chicago’s acquisition of Ifedi?

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Bears signing former first-round OL Germain Ifedi to 1-year deal

The Bears finally addressed the offensive line in free agency with the addition of tackle/guard Germain Ifedi

Offensive line has been arguably one of the biggest needs this offseason for the Chicago Bears. While Chicago has been adding free agents left and right, they had yet to address one of the biggest needs on their roster. Until now.

The Bears finally addressed the offensive line in free agency with the addition of offensive lineman Germain Ifedi, who has agreed to terms on a one-year deal, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport,

Ifedi, a former first-round pick by the Seahawks, started 60 games over the last four seasons, playing both guard and tackle. The Seahawks chose not to exercise his fifth-year option, which would’ve gave him $10.3 million in 2020, and he’s found a new home in Chicago.

The Bears are mostly stuck with what they’ve got on the offensive line for another season, but there’s still plenty of work to be done. There’s also a right guard spot up for grabs following Kyle Long’s retirement.

While Ifedi has played mostly offensive tackle during his career, it certainly helps that he has experience moving to guard. He figures to get an opportunity to start at right guard for the Bears in 2020.

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