Are Chicago Bears front runners for this free agent?

Adam Schefter has reported that the Indianapolis Colts and left tackle Eric Fisher are far apart as the two get ready for free agency. Schefter believes that Fisher is set to hit the market, meaning any team could sign them. One team that could wind up being looked at as the favorites are the Chicago Bears.

The biggest reason is that there are multiple connections between Fisher and the Bears. To start, the Chicago Bears General Manager was with the Kansas City Chiefs when Eric Fisher was drafted. Fisher went number one overall in the 2013 NFL Draft. At that point, Ryan Poles was a college scouting director.

If you recall that draft there was plenty of debate between the top prospect in the draft. We do not know Poles opinion, but we know that as a collective he was in the group that chose to draft Eric Fisher over Luke Joeckel. Considering one is out of the league and one will be a starter next season, Fisher was the right choice.

From 2013 through 2020 Poles climbed the Chief’s front office at the same right that Fisher slowly became one of the league’s most trusted offensive linemen. In the 2020 AFC championship Fisher tore his Achilles, and it ended his reign with the Chiefs.

In the 2021 offseason, Fisher signed with the Indianapolis Colts, and that is where Matt Eberflus joins the story. Eberflus was the defensive coordinator, but like Ryan Poles, he got to watch Fisher grow from afar.

Eberflus was in the building as Fisher rehabbed an injury that could have ended his 2021 season, but instead saw him out in the AFC championship, and back on the field in week two. That type of commitment is what coaches want to see.

Fisher was poor, especially in his first few games back. That is why the Colts and Fisher are having a hard time agreeing on his value. Still, to come back that soon, you had to know rust would be a factor as is trust in the leg you are building up.

Now, over a year removed, you would assume that Fisher is much healthier and much closer to the player he once was. So, the Chicago Bears could see the Colts pay for the hard times, then sign him a bit cheaper and get the better days out of him.

Ryan Poles did not commit to Teven Jenkins at left tackle but instead said that he will find the best five. That could mean that Jenkins goes from the left side back to the right side, where he played in college. It could mean Larry Borom sliding inside to right guard, where many projected him pre-draft. All of that could mean that the Bears will pay Eric Fisher less than James Daniels.

They are getting an older player off of an injury, but they are getting a left tackle which is more valuable than a guard. Considering the cost difference, there is reason to believe the Chicago Bears and Eric Fisher would be interested in each other.