Has the stock on Chicago Bears center Sam Mustipher gone up or down this offseason?
Many Chicago Bears fans will read the title of this article and say, “who.” Not many UDFAs stick around for year two, but Sam Mustipher spent his rookie season on the Chicago Bears practice squad and is coming back again for year two. The question is, did Mustipher make up any ground from now and then? Did the Bears do anything to show faith or lack of confidence in him?
His stock is almost neutral at this point. On the one hand, this is a player who was brought in because of his ties to Harry Hiestand. Hiestand recruited him out of high school and out of college and signed him both times. After getting rid of Hiestand, the Bears showed they might not have liked the direction that he was taking the team.
Does that mean that they are indifferent to Mustipher as well? He certainly has one less voice in his corner.
On the other end, he is the only non-starter who is a true center. Corey Levin was signed to replace Ted Larsen. If needed, Levin has played center. Still, he is a swing lineman. Mustipher is a pure center and is much younger and under team control longer than Levin. Also, Levin is not a hurdle to climb. It is possible Mustipher shows growth in year two and wins the backup center job.
The team has not shown much confidence in him through one year, but he also has a more natural path to the roster than many other Bears who are more well known. If anyone has a neutral stock movement right now, it is Sam Mustipher.