The Chicago Bears will be entering free agency with plenty of money, but so many holes. One big hole they have is right tackle. Would Mike McGlinchey be a fit?
Should Chicago Bears sign Mik McGlinchey in free agency?
According to Spotrac, Mike McGlinchey is projected to get a four-year deal worth about $43M. However, PFF has him down for $62M over four years. So, the range between $10M and $15M is pretty big.
McGlinchey was a former top-10 pick, and spent all five seasons with the 49ers, including last year when the 49ers picked up his fifth-year option. McGlinchey was taken two picks below Roquan Smith, and he is going to a lesser deal.
So, the Chicago Bears could give McGlinchey a favorable contract, fill a hole at right tackle, and feel like they did more with the Roquan Smith money than just signing him.
Of course, if McGlinchey was a star at tackle, it would be obvious for the 49ers to keep him, whether it be on an extension at a cost similar to Roquan Smith, or on the franchise tag.
One reason the 49ers. may let him walk is upcoming contracts such as Brandon Aiyuk, and Nick Bosa coming very soon. Still, McGlinchey has not been perfect, either.
He is strong as a run blocker and fits their zone-blocking scheme. Still, he does struggle in pass protection at times. You could argue that teams would attack him in big games, but also that he was good enough to get them into those big games.
For the Chicago Bears, the fit makes sense. They want to be run first, and many want them to veer toward the outside zone runs, which is where McGlinchey does excel. This could negate some of his issues in pass protection as well.
McGlinchey may just get away from San Francisco and if he does, the Chicago Bears could easily win a bidding war for him. This would be a big upgrade over the current right tackle options, so it has to be taken seriously.