Chicago Bears: Free agents available to replace Ryan Bates
By Joseph Herff
The Chicago Bears could look to sign Trai Turner
Now entering his ninth year after being drafted in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Trai Turner is now possibly looking for a new home for the 3rd season in a row. Turner played in Carolina for six seasons earning a spot in the Pro Bowl five consecutive seasons from 2015 to 2019.
The Panthers though desperately needed an offensive tackle much like the Los Angeles Chargers desperately needed an offensive guard. The two teams then swapped players as the Chargers received Turner for Russell Okung. The deal worked out for neither team. Turner had a downright horrendous season only playing in nine games before being cut by the Chargers.
Turner then signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers in which he bounced back and looked close to his former self. He was not quite the Pro Bowler we saw in Carolina, but he played at a solid level on a very poor overall Pittsburgh offensive line.
With James Daniels now in Pittsburgh, the Bears could essentially swap guards with the Steelers. In addition to that, Turner has familiarity with the Bears’ new offensive line coach, Chris Morgan, who was with Turner in Pittsburgh last season.