The Chicago Bears will need to add some depth to the tight end room this offseason
On the surface, the Chicago Bears tight end room looks good. Trey Burton is the starter and while Adam Shaheen missed most of the season, he slowly came around and should compliment him next season.
However, below the main two, the Chicago Bears are going to need to add to the position.
Behind Burton and Shaheen the team has Dion Sims. Sims only played in eight games last season before a season ending injury. He would save the team $6 million on the salary cap and barely brought any value as it was when he was active.
Sims is likely gone, but there is no depth behind them.
Daniel Brown and Ben Braunecker enter the offseason as free agents. While both could be back. both were brought in before Nagy, who admittedly has specific players and roles in mind with his tight end groupings.
With that in mind, it would make sense that Nagy would want to bring his own player. That player is likely more of an in-line blocker, which could help get Shaheen spread out wide in mismatches passing the football.
That is why Sims saw the field but barley caught any passes. What is nice about this need is that it is going to come cheap. A fifth round pick would be the earliest investment, and low end salary money can give Dion Sims value at a small percentage of the price.
Some cheaper free agent options include Luke Wilson and Mercedes Lewis, and Foster Moreau could be a draft name to watch. We will begin to highlight depth tight end options who excel as blockers entering free agency.