It is no secret that one the Chicago Bears most glaring needs is at the tight end spot. The lack of production from this position has created a ton of speculation as to what the Bears might do to fix this issue in the off-season. Will they sign another tight end in free agency? Take another swing in the draft? Nobody truly knows the direction the team will go but it seems a couple of Bears insiders have a slight idea as to what the team might end up doing. In a recent article from The Athletic, Dan Durkin and Kevin Fishbain, predicted that Ryan Pace would make a trade for Baltimore Ravens tight end Hayden Hurst. The Bears would trade a 2021 fourth-round pick to the Ravens for Hurst.
Hurst is getting squeezed out in a numbers game in Baltimore, where Mark Andrews has emerged as the Ravens’ top pass-catching option and Nick Boyle is their best blocker. Hurst, a 2018 first-round selection and former minor-league pitcher, is an excellent athlete who is still developing as a football player. He has reliable hands and is a willing and effective blocker. He’d be an immediate upgrade as a three-down option capable of playing both the “U” and “Y” role. Hurst’s contract carries a cap hit of just over $3 million.
Although this isn’t a big time splash, this would still be a steal for the Bears. Hayden Hurst’s recorded two touchdowns and reeled in 30 catches for 349 yards in 2019. Again, not flashy numbers but you have to keep in mind the role Hurst played in Baltimore. The 26 year-old is yet to reach his full potential and would be a great fit for Matt Nagy’s offense in 2020.
