The Chicago Bears are going to need to add to their offensive line in some regard. While they like what they saw from Braxton Jones, they have a hole at right tackle and may upgrade the left side if the opportunity presents itself.
The following players are not currently free agents, but if they end up being released, or traded for by the Chicago Bears it would be no surprise.
5. Chicago Bears could trade for Braden Smith
If a team is going to know Braden Smith, it would be the Chicago Bears. Sure, Matt Eberflus was in defensive meetings while Braden Smith was on offense with the Indianapolis Colts. Still, they spent four seasons together, so Eberflus could at least testify for the personality and how he would blend in the locker room.
If Eberflus says it is a good fit, it makes sense on the field. Smith is a right tackle, and at times, he was a high-end right tackle. However, the issue with Smith is that last season was one of his worst. That is the case for a lot of Colts, but Smith was playing poorly before the Jeff Saturday situation arose.
The Colts are now in an interesting spot where a rebuild may not be too far off, or at least a reload. One way to do that would be to add a draft pick for Braden Smith while also shedding $10M along the way.
The Colts would save $10M this season, but then they save big money through the 2025 season. For the Chicago Bears, they are adding a veteran who has a lot of experience and could hold things down through the duration of Justin Fields' rookie deal. Then, they can decide how committed to him they are.
We know the Colts will be calling for the number one pick, so why not at least rebuttal by asking about the cost for Braden Smith?