Where should Lucas Patrick play for Chicago Bears in 2022?

The Chicago Bears made a signing to improve their offensive line with Lucas Patrick, a former interior offensive lineman from the Green Bay Packers. Aside from stealing away from the division rivals, fans have to love any commitment the teams make to the offensive line at this point.

While Patrick is an offensive lineman and lives in the interior, there are questions about what Patrick will be for the Chicago Bears? Is he a center, guard, would he just be depth in a perfect world?

According to Pro Football Focus, he has moved around a good bit. He has spent 459 snaps at left guard, 958 snaps at center, and 1,267 snaps at right guard.

What position will Lucas Patrick play for Chicago Bears?

Considering Patrick has played left guard the least and the team has Cody Whitehair there, the options reduce to right guard, and center, where there is hardly any competition.

In 2017 and 2018 he was a reserve and played 182 snaps at left guard, and 324 snaps at right guard.

Then, in 2019 he got his first work at the center, logging just 128 snaps in three games as a reserve. In 2020, he was called onto start in 15 games including playoffs. he played 854 snaps at right guard, and 220 snaps at left guard. This season may have been his best as well.

However, his most recent play is at center. He spent 822 snaps in 12 starts at center this year, leading the team down the run and playing another playoff game in that role.

Patrick was better as a run blocker when at right guard, but held his own in pass protection at center. The question will obviously be answered based on what the Bears do with the rest of their resources, but the early thought is that he will play center.

To start, the need for center is glaring and took away from what Justin Fields could do last season. Signing a center who just made a playoff run with Aaron Rodgers should show Fields a lot more than Sam Mustipher did.

There are not many quality centers available, and while the team could draft one it is unlikely they are ready to start next season. Even if Patrick is just a stop-gap at center, the upgrade from Sam Mustipher to him matters.

Lastly, we know that Luke Getsy knows all about Lucas Patrick. He coached with the Packers during most of Patrick’s career, so it may be no surprise the Bears’ first offensive signing is a Packers player.

Still, what Getsy may be saying is that he saw Patrick take a step at center, and knows that if he gets a second straight year starting that the team could really find something. Fortunately, the money says that even if he were a swing guard who can play center if needed, he is not really overpaid. If the Bears do find a better starting center option they can move Lucas Patrick.

Still, the thought is that as we stand today Lucas Patrick will get one year to start at center to prove that he could be the starter for the Chicago Bears moving forward.