If there was one objective for the Chicago Bears going into free agency next month, it is finding a way to land right guard Trey Smith. The former 6th round pick has developed into a Pro Bowler with the Kansas City Chiefs, anchoring a line that has won two of the past three Super Bowls. He’s now on the cusp of a third straight. Many feel he would be a massive upgrade for the Bears line. No price should be too high to get him, especially after allowing 67 sacks this season.
Geoff Schwartz played guard in the NFL for eight seasons from 2008 through 2015. He knows the importance of the position and who the great ones are. He was asked on the CHGO Bears podcast whether he’d pay Smith the projected $22+ million per year it would take to get him. Schwartz indicated that while he loves many things about the Chiefs standout, he’d be reluctant to pay that kind of cash. The talent does match the dollars.
Trey Smith is the best of a largely mediocre group.
Schwartz is just being honest. Rather than discounting his words as pointless, having context is important. Of the guards who played at least 50% of their team’s offensive snaps this year, Smith ranked 37th with 31 pressures allowed. His run-blocking grade of 77.4 was the 9th-best in the league. This tells you that he is a good player. The problem is that the nature of free agency means the Bears will have to pay him like an elite player to bring him to Chicago. That is what Schwartz is getting at.
There is no question Trey Smith can help the Bears. He’d be an instant upgrade over anything they have at right guard. Still, is he better than Landon Dickerson, Quenton Nelson, and Chris Lindstrom, who are the highest-paid guards in the league? No. That is the crux of the situation. Ryan Poles has said he doesn’t want to lean on free agency to solve his roster problems. Paying Smith would be a significant departure from his approach up to this point. It will be interesting to see if he sticks to his guns.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
I wouldn’t pay Smith $25M. Sorry. Draft Campbell and put him at LG and pay Jenkins $14M and put him back at RG where he excelled. Just get a really good Swing Guard just in case. I also like Bill Murray who was really good when healthy and we still have Bates. We need a solid starter at RG but we don’t need the most expensive who’s like the 5th or 6th best Guard in the league. I would rather use that money to fill out other needs. Build an all around roster instead of having to have the most… Read more »
Yes, of course, but we need to start somewhere–going from broad to specific. Plus, we only have two potential responses, + and – not five to nine.
Doc I am loving the draft and personnel interest and as a Bears fan I’ve unfortunately learned that this part of the season is more exciting than the actual NFL games. Sad being a Bears fan isn’t it? I am not sure you’re asking the right questions. It’s not what I’m wondering anyway. maybe you are and other fans are wondering what you are? I am asking, OK, what can the Bears accomplish in free agency in order to alleviate stress in the draft? So the question definitely comes back to plugging holes and filling needs which every GM hates… Read more »
Well then, which side of the ball should the Bears select in Round 1 regardless of pick number/location?
VOTE + for Offense, VOTE – for Defense. You decide.
Haha, funny query from Dr Sallie. Doc I appreciate your web advice you gave me b4 about my sausage dog indigestion. But I must disagree with your take on a big time DE/edge/pass rusher. I sincerely believe that that #1 thing that killed Eberflus was the lack of a 2nd pass rusher w. big skills. I am not arguing that we should make sacrifices to get Garrett as I don’t think that extreme is required. However, a Max Crosby or 1st round edge might be in order so that our rookie HC can be comfortable with Allen having the tools… Read more »