Anybody that has followed NFL free agency in the past knows one thing. When the market for a particular position doesn’t start hot, it tends never to reach that point. The longer things go without movement, the cheaper players tend to get. That is why the current offensive tackle market is a big surprise. Thus far, only three notable players have secured significant deals. Joseph Noteboom and Chukwuma Okorafor signed extensions in Los Angeles and Pittsburgh while Cam Robinson and Orlando Brown were franchise tagged. This could be great news for the Chicago Bears.
GM Ryan Poles made his first move on Monday, agreeing with defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi on a three-year deal worth $40.5 million. Since then, the Bears have gone quiet. It appears they are waiting to see how the market settles after the opening surge. Thus far, they have to be happy with how things are playing out. Though the center and guard positions saw a lot of action, it’s been quiet at tackle.
Considering the team’s need at the position, this is significant.
Several noteworthy veterans remain available, including Terron Armstead, Trent Brown, Eric Fisher, Morgan Moses, and Duane Brown. Armstead is the best of that group. It is likely teams are waiting to see what happens with him. The lack of action speaks volumes. Teams might be hesitant about handing him significant money given his extensive injury history. If his deal comes in lower than expected, it could influence the rest of the market. This would be great news for a cost-conscious team like the Chicago Bears.
Watch Zach Wilson hype up his Right Tackle Morgan Moses after giving him time to rifle it for the 1st down
I love it! pic.twitter.com/ZP6JHokfpd
— 𝙅𝙀𝙏𝙎 𝙈𝙀𝘿𝙄𝘼🛫 (@NYJets_Media) August 15, 2021
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I already wrote about who I thought were the most underrated OL at each position in 2020, but am going back & watching every snap of one of those guys now..which is only confirming my initial thought: Seahawks LT Duane Brown is a STUD.
Video preview:https://t.co/B3ZDzyw95r pic.twitter.com/Ferf2GnIFe
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) June 21, 2021
The Bears are all about being opportunistic at this point of their rebuild. That means taking advantage of free agency in the right situations. If they could land a veteran tackle on a cheaper-than-expected contract, it would make Poles’ goal of retooling the offensive line that much easier. Given the demands of Luke Getsy’s new offense, the name that might make the most sense is Moses. Even for somebody 335 lbs he moves with surprising quickness and blocks well in space. It will be a fun next few days.
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