The Chicago Bears may have to look outside of the roster to patch up the offensive line
Over the first five weeks of the 2020 regular season, the Chicago Bears offensive line has been about average. They looked fine against the Giants and Lions but struggled against the Colts and Bucs. However, in their first week after losing James Daniels, there are serious questions about how bad this line may be.
Not to say that one person has carried the line, but the drop off to Coward was noticeable and against a weak defensive line, the Bears struggled to get anything going. So, with two weeks until the trade deadline, the left guard spot may have to be somewhere the Bears go outside of the organization to find help.
Before reading this keep in mind that the Bears would be looking for a one-year replacement, for the most part, assuming they trust Daniels to come back in 2021. Beyond that, the Bears have to remember the salary cap will lower next year, and that they already traded future draft capital to move up in the 2020 draft. With that in mind, they are not selling the farm for an elite upgrade. However, these five players could provide depth, an upgrade for Rashaad Coward, and could be acquired reasonably cheap.
With that in mind, here are five trade options for the Chicago Bears.
5. A.J. Cann, Jaguars
The only reason that this is not a slam dunk is that Cann has spent his entire career at right guard, while the Bears need a left guard. Still, the Chicago Bears are starting a defensive tackle who has only played right tackle in the preseason and only played right guard in the regular season. He is not an experienced left guard.
So, if the veteran Cann can switch sides for a chance to play for a winner, he could be a trade option for a late-round pick. The Jaguars plans in 2020 seem obvious at this point. They should be trying to sell off some pieces and gain draft capital. Cann is signed for 2021 but could save the Jags $5 million in cap space next year if they move on from him. The Bears could take on 2020 salary, and save the same amount in 2021 if they are confident that Daniels is healthy, or he does not live up to the trade.
Ben Bartch is a rookie but has gotten some snaps for Jacksonville. Tyler Shatley is a depth center who could give them snaps in the interior as well. In fact, if Cann is not available, the Bears should call for Shatley and see if he can add depth.
However, Cann is a six-year veteran who has been a starter since his rookie season. He can be trusted to come in and stabilize a line, and for the right price would be an intriguing addition.