Making the case for the Chicago Bears to select Mike McGlinchey.
Bobby Massie has been manning the right tackle position for the past two years. He’s actually done a decent job, far better than he gets credit for. That’s largely because his first few games in a Bears’ uniform were beyond bad. He was a turnstile at tackle and his man was constantly wreaking havoc in the backfield. Massie has improved since those games and has proven to be an asset in the running game and below average in the passing game.
But just because Massie has improved and is no longer the offensive line’s version of Swiss Cheese, doesn’t mean the Chicago Bears shouldn’t be looking to upgrade the position. That upgrade could be in the form of Notre Dame right tackle Mike McGlinchey.
More from Bear Goggles On
- Franchise tag and transition tag windows open for Chicago Bears and NFL
- How the Chicago Bears can control the running back market in 2023
- The Chicago Bears can own the city of Chicago moving forward
- Chicago Bears NFL Combine Preview: Quarterback
- 7 best free agent tackle options for Chicago Bears
McGlinchey has been working under new Bears offensive line coach Harry Heistand at Notre Dame so you can bet there will be no team with a better idea of who McGlinchey will be at the NFL level than Chicago.
McGlinchey is an athletic offensive lineman who has good technique and is ready to step in and start for basically any team in the NFL. But what is his upside? McGlinchey needs to add strength and weight to his frame, while not losing any of the athleticism that sets him apart. He has a very high floor, but the ceiling may not be impressively high. Many scouts see McGlinchey as the type of guy you can start from day one but he will never be more than a solid starter and probably won’t reach Pro Bowl and definitely won’t reach All-Pro status. For many solid teams picking in the mid to late rounds, they may be very pleased with that type of production, but when you hold the eighth pick in the draft, you want more.
The Bears would be wise to go elsewhere at 8,⎌if McGlinchey ends up being the target, the best bet would be to trade down and select him a few picks later. There are better prospects with better upside to take at eight than the Notre Dame tackle.
You can be certain of one thing though, if the Bears select McGlinchey, it will come with the full approval of Heistand and if he supports the pick, it will be pretty tough to argue. The Bears need a tackle and if the best offensive line coach in the country says he’s the guy, then everybody should probably trust him.