Cody Whitehair's days as a Chicago Bear could be numbered
The Chicago Bears ensured that Patrick Scales will remain their longest-tenured player after they resigned him to a one-year deal last week. If the first day of free agency was any indication, he could have some more breathing room for that title, as the second-longest tenured player, Cody Whitehair, who got drafted in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, looks like a prime cut candidate after the team signed Nate Davis to a three-year, $30 million deal.
Davis will hold down one of the starting guard spots, but the other one is up in the air. Teven Jenkins finally showed glimpses of what he could become after they moved him inside, so moving him back to tackle would be a massive gamble. Moving him to the left guard spot would make more sense after the new addition, which leaves Whitehair as the odd man out.
Whitehair has been one of the team's most consistent linemen since joining the team, but his days of being an imposing threat are well behind him. The 30-year-old will make $14.1 million in 2023, but the team can save $9.9 million if they cut him with a post-June 1st designation. That is a significant chunk of change for a player who might only get on the field if a starter goes down to injury.
The one thing that could keep Whitehair in the Windy City for one more season is his versatility. He previously played center (and was even selected to the Pro Bowl at the position), and the coaching staff could see him as an upgrade over Lucas Patrick. However, they should be able to find a starting-caliber center in the second or third round, and they might opt to go that route. As such, he is a player to watch over the next few months, as his days as Bear are seemingly numbered.