{"id":139264,"date":"2023-03-10T07:00:45","date_gmt":"2023-03-10T12:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=139264"},"modified":"2023-03-10T09:51:49","modified_gmt":"2023-03-10T14:51:49","slug":"bears-ryan-poles-free-agent-targets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2023\/03\/10\/bears-ryan-poles-free-agent-targets\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Must-Sign Free Agent Targets to Fix the Chicago Bears’ Offense"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Chicago Bears and general manager Ryan Poles<\/a> have a lot of money to spend on free agents. So much so that they could have a harder time allocating it all wisely than not. With that in mind, and free agency set to unofficially begin with the legal tampering period on March 12, this is a good time to put together a wishlist of pieces that the Bears can go after to help fix a broken offense.<\/p>\n

Chicago ranked 32nd in passing attempts and yards last season.<\/p>\n

Notably absent from this list are running backs. The Bears already roster one of the top available options in David Montgomery<\/a> and should pay him over any other free agent, though they should look to draft an option if they do move on.<\/p>\n

None of these are blockbuster names \u2013 there are not many of them available. But this collection of players should solve a lot of what ailed this side of the ball for the Bears last season.<\/p>\n

5 Free Agents the Chicago Bears Must Sign to Fix the Offense<\/h2>\n

For all of the talk about the issues the Bears\u2019 offensive line had this past season \u2013 and there were plenty \u2013 there were two true problem areas: Center and right tackle. Sam Mustipher<\/a> and Larry Borom<\/a> manned those spots, respectively, for at least part of the season as players from the previous regime putting them under the microscope from the beginning.<\/p>\n

They graded out as two of the Bears\u2019 three worst offensive linemen last season among players to appear in at least 10 games last season, per Pro Football Focus<\/a>. The other was Borom\u2019s replacement on the right side, veteran Riley Reiff<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Left guard Cody Whitehair<\/a> was not too far ahead of any of them. He also turns 31 this summer and will count for over $27 million over the next two seasons.<\/p>\n

However, his dead cap number drops<\/a> from $8 million to $4 million next offseason.<\/p>\n

Two of the biggest question marks last season \u2013 former second-round tackle-turned-guard Teven Jenkins<\/a> and rookie fifth-round left tackle Braxton Jones<\/a> \u2013 graded out as the Bears\u2019 best linemen. Both still had their fair share of ups and downs throughout the season but were far from the biggest issues.<\/p>\n

Bears Can Address Holes Along OL in Free Agency<\/h3>\n

1) Mike McGlinchey<\/h4>\n

Right tackle Mike McGlinchey<\/a> of the San Francisco 49ers is not as buzzworthy as former Kansas City Chiefs left tackle Orlando Brown<\/a>. But he fills a void without displacing Jones who would either move to the right side of the bench with Brown\u2019s potential arrival.<\/p>\n

\u201cCould he miss his market? Sure,\u201d 49ers general manager John Lynch said at the combine about McGlinchey\u2019s free agency, per Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area<\/a> on February 28. \u201cThen would we be interested? Of course we would. \u201cBut I don\u2019t see that happening. I see him being a coveted player.\u201d<\/p>\n

A former ninth-overall pick in 2018, the 6-foot-8 McGlinchey recorded a 70.3 blocking grade last season which would have ranked second on the Bears behind only Jones.<\/p>\n

At 28 years old, McGlinchey would make for a fantastic target and the Bears can outbid anyone.<\/p>\n

\n

Snapshot look at Top 51 #NFL<\/a> Cap Space<\/p>\n

1. #Bears<\/a>, $97M
2. #Falcons<\/a>, $67M
3. #Giants<\/a>, $46M
4. #Texans<\/a>, $42M
5. #Raiders<\/a>, $39M
6. #Bengals<\/a>, $35M
7. #Patriots<\/a>, $32M
8. #Chiefs<\/a>, $24M
…
30. #Saints<\/a>, -$24M
31. #Jaguars<\/a>, -$30M
32. #Buccaneers<\/a>, -$57Mhttps:\/\/t.co\/va5OPwPJi6<\/a><\/p>\n

— Spotrac (@spotrac) March 6, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n