Could the Chicago Bears already have an answer at right guard?
The Chicago Bears struggled on the offensive line last season. The team had a difficult time with constant push up the middle. Many thought Ryan Pace would address the right guard spot but do they already have an answer?
With the Chicago Bears limited with salary cap space, many assume that Ryan Pace will look to the 2020 NFL Draft to find the answer at the right guard position. Some may think Germain Ifedi is the answer, but he is not the answer. I hope that Pace brought Ifedi in only as offensive line depth who could push to start but will never actually win the starting job.
Instead, the answer seems pretty obvious to me. The Chicago Bears should be pushing for Alex Bars to start at right guard. Bars should have been a Day 3 draft pick if not for his knee injury. He proved during preseason that he is healthy. After having a whole season to essentially rest, the knee should not be a problem any longer.
Last season, while on the Bears practice squad, the New England Patriots tried to poach Bars. Bars turned down the opportunity to join the Patriots 53-man roster to instead remain with the Bears. Bars received an increase in salary, but one must wonder how much his former offensive line coach Harry Heistand convinced him to stay. Now that Heistand is no longer around, would he have made the same decision?
Is it possible the Chicago Bears told Bars about their plans for him moving forward? While watching the Bears preseason games in 2019, it was obvious to me that Bars deserved to be on a 53-man roster. The Patriots clearly saw this too. The question is, now that Kyle Long has retired and now that Rashaad Coward should be an afterthought, should Bars make the Bears’ active roster in 2020? Even better, should he be the starter come offseason camp?
Next. Freeing up salary cap space for 2021. dark
I called for the Chicago Bears to promote Alex Bars last October when Kyle Long went on injured reserve. He was moved up to the active roster but never got his chance. With his knee fully healthy, I hope he gets a true shot. Ifedi is not the answer here. I would expect the answer to be Bars or a draft pick. With limited draft picks, Bars might be the guy whether he deserves it or not. Bring on the football season, I am ready to see what this team has to offer.