Tag: James Daniels

How can the Bears best improve in 2022? Fix the offensive line

The easiest path to improvement for the Bears lies in addressing concerns on the offensive line, as protecting Justin Fields will be key.

New Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles has plenty of work to do with this roster heading into free agency and the NFL draft. But arguably the most important is addressing the concerns on the offensive line, as protecting quarterback Justin Fields will be key.

There are questions both at the tackle position and within the interior of the line, as Cody Whitehair, Teven Jenkins and Larry Borom are the only projected starters currently under contract. While they figure to play an integral part in 2022, we could see some new faces along Chicago’s offensive line.

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell believes the best way the Bears can improve heading into the 2022 season is simple: “Get (most of) a new offensive line.”

Realistically, if the Bears want to try to retain some continuity while giving Fields a chance to thrive, they could move Whitehair to center, install Jenkins and Borom as the two tackles and go find two new guards. If Getsy wants to make more significant changes, there’s a chance that Jenkins is the only guy on the current roster who starts Week 1. New offensive line coach Chris Morgan is going have his work cut out for him.

The Bears also have an important decision to make about offensive guard James Daniels, who’s set to be a hot name in free agency. Daniels is just 24 years old, and he’s been a key fixture on the offensive line since he was a rookie in 2018.

While the Bears have some talented young players in place with Jenkins and Borom, there could be a shakeup along the offensive line if they bring in a veteran tackle or address the position in the draft.

Poles remained noncommittal about where Jenkins would be lining up on the offensive line in 2022, which certainly leaves the door open to a big shift up front.

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4 interior linemen the Panthers should target in free agency

The Panthers may need to revamp the entirety of their interior offensive line this spring. Here’s where they can start.

If it weren’t for right tackle Taylor Moton, the Carolina Panthers would have exactly zero assurances on their offensive line heading into 2022. So, obviously, there’s plenty of work to be done.

Much of that work has to come from the interior—where the team could lose their starting center and currently have two sets of turnstiles at guard. So, here are four options the Panthers should key in on for that area during free agency.

6 Bears who could be next in line for a contract extension

From Roquan Smith to James Daniels, here are a handful of Bears players who have made a strong case for a contract extension.

The offseason fun is about to begin with free agency just a couple of weeks away. For new Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles, he’s about to start assembling a roster that could look a lot different than from a year ago.

Not only will Poles be looking to secure talent on the free-agent market, he has some decisions to make about potential contract extensions, including most notably linebacker Roquan Smith.

There are a handful of Bears players who could be in line for a contract extension — some currently under contract and others who are set to become a free agent.

Here’s a look at six Bears players who have made a strong case for a contract extension looking ahead to the 2022 season:

8 Bears players among PFF’s Top 200 pending free agents

The Bears have several pending free agents that rank among PFF’s top 200 this offseason.

We’re just a few weeks away from the start of the NFL’s free agency, where there are no shortage of big-name players set to hit the open market.

The Chicago Bears have a few that figure to be attractive options for teams across the league, including wide receiver Allen Robinson, defensive tackle Akiem Hicks and offensive lineman James Daniels.

Pro Football Focus unveiled their list of the Top 200 pending free agents, and the Bears were well-represented with eight players making the list.

Here’s a look at the Bears’ pending free agents that made PFF’s list of Top 200 players slated to hit free agency:

Bears 2022 free agency preview: Will James Daniels remain in Chicago?

We’re taking a look at Bears pending free agents, recapping their 2021 season and looking ahead to the future. Next up: James Daniels.

Free agency is just around the corner, and Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles has plenty of work to do with this roster. There are some important decisions he has to make about who to add to the current roster and which pending free agents to retain heading into 2022.

Looking ahead to free agency, we’re breaking down every Bears free agent’s 2021 season, including the team’s need at the position and predicting whether they stay or go in free agency.

Next up is interior lineman James Daniels, who is expected to garner attention in free agency. Does Daniels fit into Chicago’s plan at offensive line in 2022?

James Daniels dubbed free agent the Bears should aim to keep

Bears GM Ryan Poles has an important decision to make about OL James Daniels: Re-sign him or let him walk.

As free agency draws near, the Chicago Bears have a number of positional needs to address to bolster the roster heading into a new era of Bears football.

While there will be plenty of new faces to join the roster, new general manager Ryan Poles also has some  important decisions to make in regards to pending free agents on the roster at the end of last season.

NFL.com’s Gil Brandt examined one free agent that every NFC team must retain. For the Bears, that was offensive lineman James Daniels, who has been solid in four years with the team.

The former second-rounder missed most of 2020 with a torn pectoral, but he bounced back with a strong season in the final year of his rookie deal, earning the best offensive and pass-blocking Pro Football Focus grades of his career thus far while starting in all 17 contests. Re-signing Daniels will make life easier for Justin Fields.

Poles made it clear the offensive line will be a focal point this offseason, where there could be a couple of starting jobs up for grabs. While that will include bringing in some new faces on the offensive line — especially those that fit Poles’ mold for offensive linemen — that also could include retaining a key member of their unit in Daniels.

Projections have Daniels set to garner anywhere from $7 to $10 million per season, which would be quite a hefty haul for Daniels. Then again, Daniels is just 24 years old and has already impressed in his short time in the league.

It’s one of many important decisions Poles will have to make in regards to the roster. Is Daniels someone he can’t afford to lose or someone he’s willing to move on from?

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Bears 2022 offseason preview: Where does Chicago stand at OL?

We’re breaking down each position entering the 2022 offseason. Next is the offensive line, which needs plenty of work.

The Chicago Bears have a clean slate after hiring new general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus, who will be looking to get this franchise back on track in 2022.

With the offseason in full swing, Poles has plenty of work to do with the current roster, which features some glaring holes at positions of need. Poles will have to decide who to re-sign, who to let walk and who to target outside of the current roster heading into free agency and the NFL draft.

Here at Bears Wire, we’re going position by position to break down where Chicago stands entering the 2022 offseason. Next up is the offensive line, which needs plenty of work.

LOOK: Bears OL James Daniels, Larry Borom working on offseason conditioning

Bears offensive linemen James Daniels and Larry Borom are already putting some work in this offseason.

The Chicago Bears have a slew of needs this offseason, including the offensive line, which could look a lot different in 2022.

New general manager Ryan Poles explained the offensive line will be a focal point this offseason for the Bears, which isn’t a surprise given how much quarterback Justin Fields was hit last season.

While the Bears aren’t set to kick off their offseason program until early April, that hasn’t stopped offensive linemen James Daniels and Larry Borom from getting some offseason work in.

Here’s a look at Daniels and Borom getting some offseason conditioning in at Spear Training Center in Vernon Hills:

Borom is coming off an encouraging rookie season with Chicago, where he started eight games mostly at right tackle. While Borom’s role on the offensive line heading into next season is unclear — it could be at tackle, could be at guard — he’ll be on the roster in 2022.

The same can’t be said for Daniels, who’s set to hit free agency next month. Daniels is expected to be a top interior lineman heading into free agency, and Poles has a big decision to make whether or not to re-sign Daniels or move on.

Well, it’s encouraging that Daniels is seen in the above video wearing a Bears shirt. Although a lot can happen between now and mid-March.

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8 pending free agents the Bears should consider re-signing in 2022

Ahead of free agency, we’re looking at some in-house free agents the Bears should consider re-signing in 2022.

The offseason is in full swing, and we’re just over a month away from the start of the new league year and free agency. And the Bears have some important decisions to make when it comes to in-house free agents.

The Bears are slated to have nearly $30 million in salary cap space, but there are plenty of holes to fill on the roster for new general manager Ryan Poles. Perhaps some of those roster spots will be filled by some of Chicago’s in-house free agents, including some big contributors from last season.

Ahead of free agency, we’re looking at some in-house free agents the Bears should consider re-signing in 2022.

Bears 2021 OL grades: Plenty of questions on the interior and at tackle

We’re taking a look at how the Bears offensive line fared in 2021.

The Chicago Bears wrapped another disappointing season that resulted in the firings of general manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy. With the offseason in full swing, it provides an opportunity for the new regime in GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus to look back at went right, what went wrong and how to improve in 2022.

Here at Bears Wire, we’re going position by position through the 2021 Bears and grading every player. Today, we’re evaluating the offensive line, a unit that struggled, giving up a league-leading 58 sacks and allowed pressure on nearly 37 percent of dropbacks, the second-highest rate in the NFL in 2021.

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