The Chicago Bears offensive line is a shambles seven games into 2020. There are several reasons why this is the case. Probably sitting at the top is just a general lack of talent. None of their current starting five could be called top 15 at their respective positions. Both tackles are average and their one-time Pro Bowl center Cody Whitehair has regressed. Their best blocker James Daniels? He was lost for the year to a torn pec.
So yeah it’s pretty bad. This is why Bears fans and several in the media are urging the team to take action. Namely pleading GM Ryan Pace to make some sort of move at the upcoming trade deadline. Find this group some help. They’re clearly overmatched. Their confidence is badly shaken. The longer this goes on, the more likely it is Nick Foles ends up injured.
Here’s the question though. Would a trade actually help?
People think it is the exact fix this team needs but does the research back it up? I decided to dig into it. In the past 10 years, there have been four instances where a team acquired an offensive lineman at or near the trade deadline who ended up starting for them that same year. Were those moves beneficial at all to the acquiring teams in the short-term?
The results may surprise.
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Such a simple run, such beautiful execution. Down blocks from everyone + Austin Corbett pulling and kicking out. Look at Hygz w/ the down block and then working his way to a flowing LB and G4 prez throwing a block, too. pic.twitter.com/d4xZn0ynku
— Sosa K (@QBsMVP) September 17, 2020
Chicago Bears may not get an instant fix via O-line trade
2019 – Austin Corbett to the Rams
This came in the aftermath of a brutal loss to San Francisco. L.A. managed just 48 yards passing and seven points. Jared Goff was sacked four times and pressured constantly. Corbett arrived at the cost of a 5th round pick from Cleveland. After taking a few weeks to get acclimated, he made his first start against the Bears that year. Goff was not sacked in that game. In fact, he was sacked just six times over the final seven games. The QB had a 91.4 passer rating during that stretch. Up from 82.7 during the previous nine games.
2017 – Duane Brown to the Seahawks
The Pro Bowl left tackle, like many players for the Houston Texans, developed an issue with former head coach Bill O’Brien over money. So true to what became his form, O’Brien had Brown traded. Seattle picked him up for 2nd and 3rd round picks. Up to that point, Russell Wilson had a 100.4 passer rating but had been sacked 16 times in seven games. Did Brown’s arrival help? Not really. Wilson’s passer rating dropped to 91.0 and he was sacked 27 times over the final nine games.
This is why the #Seahawks acquired Duane Brown from the #Texans: Clowney had it too easy on Sunday pic.twitter.com/TuTkoK35FV
— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) October 31, 2017
2013 – Bryant McKinnie to the Dolphins
Miami needed more protection for their young quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Through the first six games of 2013, he was sacked 26 times. That’s not a typo. So they went after the veteran left tackle McKinnie in hopes he could stabilize things. Did it help? Not really. Over the final 10 games, Tannehill was sacked another 32 times and his passer rating dropped from 83.1 to 80.9. McKinnie retired after that season.
2013 – Eugene Monroe to the Ravens
It was a horrific start for the defending champion Ravens in 2013. Joe Flacco had a 70.1 passer rating with 14 sacks through the first five games. Left tackle was a huge issue, so they made a move in early October to bring in Eugene Monroe from Jacksonville. Did it help? Maybe a bit. Flacco’s passer rating improved slightly to 74.6 but he was still sacked 34 times over the final 11 games.
This is pretty much conclusive proof. If the Chicago Bears do make a trade, the odds of it magically solving the overall problem are remote. Blocking in the NFL is a five-man thing. One man isn’t likely to fix it.
