Tight end was a massive weakness in 2016. That is why the next Chicago Bears training camp battle review centers on the position. After trading Martellus Bennett and losing Zach Miller to injury, it was clear GM Ryan Pace needed to overhaul at that position. He did just that over the past few months. First he signed veteran free agent Dion Sims from Miami, then drafted Adam Shaheen out of Ashland in the second round.
It is these two men who could form the bedrock of the position long-term. Zach Miller will be the likely starter, at least to start the 2017 season. He was productive last year prior to his injury (486 yards in 10 games) and knows the system well. That said he also turns 33-years old in October. Given his health concerns, people are anxious to see who his successor will be.
Chicago Bears training camp battle participant: Dion Sims
Sims represents the exact sort of free agents that Pace loves to sign. He’s relatively young at 26-years old and is coming off the best season of his career to date. Though 256 yards with four touchdowns may not sound like much, it’s important to note he was only targeted 35 times. So it’s fair to wonder how productive he might be were he featured in an offense rather than playing a reserve role.
That earlier Patriots game was the first time we started to see Dion Sims blossoms pic.twitter.com/z8SBEuOnEu
— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) December 30, 2016
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TE Dion Sims crushes LB Lorenzo Alexander to seal the backside on this split-zone look Miami runs. #FinsUp pic.twitter.com/kcwF5J3CMC
— Brandon Thorn (@VeteranScout) December 30, 2016
It looks like he’s begun to understand how to be a receiving threat, showing solid hands and ability to get himself extra space. At the same time he exhibits a willingness and edge for blocking. He’s not afraid to get physical. That was something the Bears hoped they had in Logan Paulsen, only to find out he was dreadful at both. Sims can be a significant upgrade in that same role.
Chicago Bears training camp battle participant: Adam Shaheen
The real buzz of early practices though have center on the new rookie Shaheen. In limited snippets the 6’6″ kid from Division II looked like a man among boys on the field. His unique blend of size and speed coupled with strong hands appears to make him an instant mismatch for almost any defender he lines up against. An obvious primary reason he was drafted in the first place.
As with any Division II prospect, a bit of caution is needed. They may have dominated their competition in college, but the NFL is two or three level up. It remains to be seen if the rookie is ready that for that sort of challenge. He certainly doesn’t lack the physical skill. What it will come down to is whether he embraces the work that often separates the bad from the good.
As to who should be favored at this point? Naturally experience plays in favor of Sims. Having worked under Adam Gase in Miami last year, he might have an advantage in terms of understanding the Bears offense. At the same time he can’t match the physical upside Shaheen brings to the table. So it becomes a question of if and when things start to click mentally for the rookie.
