Don’t let anybody steer the conversation a different direction. Wide receiver may be the most hyped up Chicago Bears off-season issue. It is not, however, their biggest worry. No that lay elsewhere at the edge rusher position. Why though? Both the receiver and edge rusher spots are going to be totally barren when free agency starts March 14th. How can one be considered worse off than the other?
The answer to that comes down to supply and demand. Chicago has an equal demand for wide receivers and edge rushers. It’s the supply situation that creates the difference. Put simply there are a number of decent options available to the Bears at receiver, both in free agency and the draft. The same can’t be said for pass rushers.
In fact, the 2018 free agent class is already totally void of any proven names outside of the 38-year old Julius Peppers. After that, it’s a long list of mostly former reserves seeking a chance to become starters. What’s worse is that list is in danger of losing one of its biggest names.
Bears off-season plans may soon no longer include Trent Murphy
According to JP Finley of NBC Sports Washington, the Redskins are making a last-second push to re-sign young pass rusher, Trent Murphy. Though he missed 2017 with a torn ACL, he seemed on the cusp of a breakout the year before when he had nine sacks for the team. He’s a power rusher who is familiar with a 3-4 defense. It’s unclear where he stands, but Washington is moving hard to get it done.
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“With less than 24 hours to go before the legal tampering period opens up in NFL Free Agency, the Redskins have extended a contract offer to outside linebacker Trent Murphy, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to NBC Sports Washington.
Murphy is slated for unrestricted free agency when the new league year opens on Wednesday, unless he signs a deal with Washington first.”
It’s not known if the Bears were planning to make a hard charge for Murphy but there’s no question he could’ve helped ease the biggest problem on their roster. He’s 27-years old and by all accounts fully recovered from his injury. If Washington manages to keep him it strips the last noteworthy young rusher from the market, making it likely the Bears will have to try solving their problem in the draft.
Not ideal given the lack of high profile talent coming out of this class.
