Chicago Bears: “Y” Bradley Sowell completes Matt Nagy’s tight end room

Bradley Sowell went from the roster bubble to potentially carving out a serious role in Matt Nagys offense

Early into the Matt Nagy hiring, we hung onto every word as we searched for an image of what type of coach he was. One note that he consistently went to was his urge for three tight ends.

He told reporters that he was stressing to Ryan Pace the importance of signing Trey Burton. To Nagy, he is the perfect tight end who highlights a room of three roles. When Nagy has three tight ends to fill his three roles, he sees his room as complete and firing on all cylinders.

While many see players as “tight ends”, he has a “U”, “Y”, and “F” tight end.

The “U” tight end is the player that Matt Nagy stressed for. This is a player who can motion anywhere from out-wide, to in-line and into the backfield. Trey Burton holds this role. Many fans will want to see an emergence from UDFA Dax Raymond, but for the most part, he was drafted as insurance for this role.

The “F” tight end can line up in the slot and split the seams down the field. This is the role that Adam Shaheen was drafted to play, as his size, speed, and basketball skills should stress safeties over the middle of the field.

Then, there is the “Y”. This is your traditional tight end. This is the in-line, power blocker. Sure, the “F” can slide in, and the “U” can pull block and chip on the edges. However, every team needs a “Y” to road grade, get downhill and finish on the goal line. In 2018 that was Dion Sims.

Of course, last season that did not happen. Trey Burton emerged in moments but was carrying the load with Dion Sims and Adam Shaheen dealing with injury issues. Shaheen got healthy towards the end of the season, but the team let Sims go, leaving a hole in their tight end group.

So, while Bradley Sowell is going to be considered a tight end. Matt Nagy sees him as a “Y”. In fact, he said that twice in the interview below, once going out of his way to say it.

Is Sowell going to run routes, and catch passes? He can. The element of surprise is there and wearing 85 means that he always an eligible wide receiver. We saw him finish on the goal line before and that is where a traditional “Y” will make his name.

However, in most cases, he is a sixth offensive lineman who can keep Trey Burton and Adam Shaheen lined up in their prominent receiving roles. This means more Burton motions and more Shaheen up the seams.

It also should mean a job for Sowell. Ben Braunecker has a skill set more suited to backup Shaheen, and Raymond plays similarly to Burton. The Bears need a “Y” tight end, and Bradley Sowell checks all of the boxes, and then some.

Expect Bradley Sowell to not only make the roster but. also, give us the chance to see a more diverse Matt Nagy playbook in 2019.