The Chicago Bears have released offensive lineman Cody Whitehair, but it shouldn’t be too long before the one-time Pro Bowler lands with a new team. Originally selected in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, Whitehair immediately established himself as one of the better offensive linemen in the game.
While he’s not the same player he was at the peak of his career, Whitehair’s release had more to do with money than anything else, as the Bears cleared up $9.1 million in cap space by parting ways with the veteran. Now that he’s a free agent, Cody Whitehair is free to sign with any interested team, and he’ll come at a more cost-effective price.
Top 5 Team Fits For Cody Whitehair, Ranked
Cody Whitehair is going to be something of a gamble for his next team. According to Pro Football Focus, his 45.0 overall grade ranked 73rd out of 79 eligible guards. This obviously isn’t great, but it’s worth noting that he was PFF’s 28th-best guard in 2022.
Cody Whitehair is not the type of player who can singlehandedly fix an offensive line, but he was a solid starter as recently as 2022, and his versatility is a big plus. Chances are, Cody Whitehair is not going to break the bank, so these five teams should be interested in taking a shot on this low-risk, medium-reward player.
Possible Destinations
San Francisco 49ers
Patrick Mahomes earned Super Bowl MVP honors, but Kansas City doesn’t beat the 49ers if Chris Jones didn’t blow up every single play. None of San Francisco’s interior offensive linemen had an answer for Jones, and this wasn’t a one-week fluke. Trent Williams and Jon Feliciano are amazing, but every other spot on the 49ers offensive line has some room for improvement. Brock Purdy isn’t great under pressure, so if Kyle Shanahan finally wants to get the proverbial monkey off his back, he’ll need to improve the offensive line. Signing Cody Whitehair is a good way to improve the team while still allowing the financial flexibility to go out and get bigger free agents.
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers need to bring in as much help as humanly possible if they want to give Bryce Young a chance to succeed. While wide receiver is the biggest need, the Panthers also need to shore up the offensive line. Cade Mays and Chandler Zavala had horrific seasons, with Zavala finishing as the worst guard in the league, per Pro Football Focus. Even if Cody Whitehair can’t regian his old form, he’ll still be an upgrade for this team.
New Orleans Saints
Derek Carr is a fine starting quarterback when he has a clean pocket. However, when the pocket collapses, he’s one of the worst passers in the league. Nobody likes pressure, but Carr’s statuesque playing style makes him particulalry susceptible to interior rushers. James Hurst and Cesar Ruiz are both replacement-level starters, and Cody Whitehair could provide some much-needed competition for this team. If nothing else, he’d be a valuable backup at all three interior offensive line positions.
New York Jets
The New York Jets will have Aaron Rodgers back in 2024, but they’ll need to improve the offensive line if they want him to play a full 17-game season. Seeing as he’s coming off a torn Achilles, Rodgers probably won’t be as mobile as usual, which means the Jets need to invest in the guard position. Alijah Vera-Tucker is great when healthy, but can New York trust him to stay healthy? Every other guard on the roster is a backup-caliber player, and Cody Whitehair could be exactly what this team needs to capitalize on the tail end of Rodgers’ career.
New York Giants
The New York Giants have one good offensive lineman in Andrew Thomas. Everyone else could easily lose their job. While the Giants don’t have the resources to completely revamp their offensive line overnight, the team should bring in someone like Cody Whitehair to fight for a starting job. Like it or not, Daniel Jones will be the quarterback in 2024, and if he’s going to succeed, he’ll need to actually have time to stand in the pocket and deliver the ball.
Main Photo: Jamie Sabau – USA Today Sports
