Chicago Bears: 5 Free agent offensive linemen to target this offseason
By Braden Fogal
Pittsburgh Steelers, Alejandro Villanueva (30)
Alejandro Villanueva has protected Ben Roethlisberger’s blind side for six years and if he hits the free agency market then the Bears need to act fast. Standing at a whopping 6-foot-9 and weighing in at 320 pounds, Villanueva was a captain who served as an Army Ranger captain in the United States Army.
He means business. If the Bears are losing Germain Ifedi to free agency then it’s time to find a cheaper, better option than Bobby Massie. The jury is still out on Charles Leno, but a market price of $6 million really isn’t too bad for an offensive lineman of Villanueva’s caliber. If you’ve been paying attention to the Steelers in 2020, they’ve protected their quarterback better than any other team. The Bears on the other hand are on pace to allow over 50 sacks, which doesn’t seem like a lot considering Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles have split time this year, but whomever the starter is next season deserves better.
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Sign a legitimate veteran like Villanueva and still draft an offensive lineman in the first few rounds. Let the rookie learn under a two-time Pro Bowler with a few years still left under his belt. There is a reason guys like Villanueva, Jon Feliciano and David Andrews are on this list. Chicago needs to get tougher on the offensive line and treat the position like the defensive line and bring in guys who won’t fold under pressure