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New Orleans Saints Match Offer Sheet on RFA TE Josh Hill

By Bill Zimmerman

Sep 21, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints tight end Josh Hill (89) catches a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings during the first quarter of a game at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 21, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints tight end Josh Hill (89) catches a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings during the first quarter of a game at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Chicago Bears search for another tight end will continue. In what was a relatively surprising move, the New Orleans Saints decided to match the Bears offer to tight end Josh Hill and will keep him in New Orleans.

The Saints have some serious cap space and adding Hill’s salary is going to mean they are only going to have to do more work to come in under the cap, but the Saints have plenty of their own questions at the tight end position, so letting go of a 25-year old player that is useful and does have some upside potential in the end was too much for the Saints to allow.

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The Bears are going to have to continue their search to strengthen the tight end position. They currently have Zach Miller, Khari Lee, and Rob Housler. If Miller stays healthy, this isn’t the worst crew to make it through one season (although clearly not a long term answer). The problem the Bears have to face right now is that Miller’s health is always a question mark. If Miller goes down for any length of time, the combination of Housler and Lee is going to be a trouble spot for Chicago. If Miller can stay healthy, the Bears will be fine.

Regardless of the situation, the current group of Bears’ tight ends is not a long term answer. GM Ryan Pace has been building up a youthful, talented roster and hasn’t put tight end high on the priority list and he probably won’t until 2017. But right now Pace is looking for a serviceable tight end to add to the depth of the position to help get them through 2016.

With Hill being retained by the Saints, Pace’s search continues. He still has plenty of money to utilize towards these low-risk, low-salary offers to players. The free agent market has pretty much dried up. Jared Cook, Vernon Davis, Owen Daniels, or perhaps Scott Chandler are players that the Bears might consider, but none should make too much of an impact on Sundays this fall. Josh Hill certainly wasn’t going to be confused with Rob Gronkowski but losing him to the Saints does sting a little.

Bill Zimmerman is an editor and featured writer for FanSided‘s BearGogglesOn. Like his Facebook page or follow him on Twitter for more news and interaction.

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