Chicago Bears Free Agent Options: O-Line
Upside:
OT Chris Hairston – 26, Bills (6’6 | 341): Massive tackle who has experience on both sides of the line. He’s probably better off at RT due to his ability to be a mauling run blocker and below average mobility. Hairston is solid in pass pro, but struggles at times with speed rushers and blocking in space. I think he would be an upgrade over Jordan Mills on the right side, but if Mills keeps the job Hairston would give the Bears a solid swing tackle with upside.
OG James Carpenter – 26, Seahawks (6’4 | 321): The former 1st round pick has been considered a bust for the most part, but did start 13 games for the Seahawks this season. According to Pro Football Focus, Carpenter had the best season of his young career and still finished as the 41st ranked starting guard (out of 64) with a -6.6 grade. That’s hardly anything to get excited about, but he’s still just 25 years old and has the size (6’4, 321) and athleticism to develop into a starting caliber player. Carpenter played tackle in college so he also provides some versatility and is a surprisingly decent pass blocker (1.4 grade). His struggles should keep the price reasonable and he would be an upgrade for the Bears over backup guard Michael Ola (26) who despite being a rookie this season is a year older than Carpenter.
Depth:
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OT Don Barclay – 26, Packers (6’4 | 305): Tough, high-motor player who gets the most out of his average athleticism. Doesn’t excel in any one area, but has surprisingly quick feet, good upper body strength, and uses angles well for leverage. He’s better off as a backup at guard and tackle, but can hold his own if forced into the starting lineup for a few games. Barclay ended up starting 15 games for the Packers in 2013 after an injury to Brian Bulaga and struggled overall (-14.3 grade) but showed flashes of being an effective tackle. A move to guard may be a better fit for Barclay and he could be a solid backup plan for the Bears if Ryan Groy’s solid play was a fluke last season.
OT / OG Ben Ijalana – 26, Colts (6’4 | 317): Quick feet, extremely long arms, and large hands that he uses well to control blockers once he latches on. Despite his raw technique, I expected Ijalana to develop into a dominant guard in the pros as did the Colts who traded up to draft him in the 2nd round of the 2011 draft. Unfortunately, Ijalana missed his rookie year with an ACL tear and then tore it again in training camp before his second season. The Colts waived him before the 2013 season and he was claimed by the Jets. The Jets have a strong O-line and Ijalana wasn’t able to crack the lineup. He has only played 6 snaps in his 4-year NFL career. Ijalana is a long shot and may have lost some of his quickness and explosion after the two ACL injuries, but the guy I saw on tape coming out of college is a starting quality NFL guard.
OT / OG Gabe Carimi – 27, Falcons (6’7 | 314) – Just kidding.
OT Jason Fox – 27, Dolphins (6’7 | 314): Came into the league as a project with ideal size, arm length, and surprisingly quick feet, but with the need to add significant strength and a tougher demeanor to compete at the NFL level. The Lions gave up on Fox after three seasons and he ended up on a 1-year deal with the Dolphins last year. Fox was given a chance to start the last two games of the season and had one excellent start in week 16 and then a disastrous one against the Jets formidable duo of Sheldon Richardson and Muhammed Wilkerson. He’s far from a finished product, but Fox still has ideal left tackle tools and has gotten stronger in his short NFL career. Fox isn’t ready for a starting role, but with a good O-line coach and some patience he could be a solid backup at left tackle with some upside.