Chicago Bears: Projecting Offensive Starters Post-Free Agency
Following NFL free agency, here"s how the Chicago Bears offense looks heading into the 2017 NFL Draft.
The Chicago Bears still have a ton of money to spend, but the free agency list in quickly dwindling. It's doubtful that the Bears will add any potential starters in free agency from here on out. The NFL Draft starts on April 27, and the Bears will be looking to add three or four potential starters from their draft class.
With this being said, let's take a look at how the Bears starting lineup looks on offense before the draft, and what positions could still use an influx of talent:
Quarterback: Mike Glennon
This has been a no-brainer after Glennon signed a three-year, $45 million contract on March 9. Like it or not, Glennon is the Bears opening day starter for 2017 and, if it all goes well, possibly beyond. The Bears will surely draft a quarterback high in the draft, but Glennon has a stranglehold on the starting job.
Running Back: Jordan Howard
Another no-brainer. After earning a Pro Bowl nod in his rookie season, Howard will look to duplicate his success in 2017. It will be very interesting to see what he can do with a full workload this upcoming season—will he continue his dominance, or will opposing teams find a way to slow him down? For the Bears sake, let's hope it's the former.
Wide Receivers: Kevin White, Kendall Wright, Cameron Meredith
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This is a questionable group. The potential is there, but can it be fulfilled? Kevin White has to stay healthy, Kendall Wright needs to revert back to his 2013 season version (1,079 yards receiving), and Cameron Meredith has to show his 2016 season wasn't just a one-year wonder. Glennon's success is tied to what these three players (and Markus Wheaton) can do.
Tight End: Zach Miller
This is still Miller's job to lose, but expect Dion Sims to see a hefty workload as well. Like Kevin White, Miller has to prove he can play a full season. He's efficient when he's out on the field, but the Bears don't know if he'll be available from a week to week basis (hence the big contract given to Sims). Miller is all of a sudden one of the longest-tenured players on the Bears offense.
Tackle: Bobby Massie and Charles Leno. Jr.
The Bears swung and missed with some big-name free agent offensive tackles, so Massie and Leno appear to enter the 2017 season as starters. Competition is expected from journeyman Tom Compton, but he's an average player at best. The Bears could (and should) draft a tackle in April to add further competition to a lackluster group.
Guards: Kyle Long and Josh Sitton
This is probably the strength of the entire offense. Long is recuperating from shoulder and ankle injuries, but he's fully expected to be a "full-go" when the season kicks off. Sitton battled some injuries last year as well, but when he was healthy, he showed why he's considered to be among the upper echelon of offensive lineman in the league.
Center: Cody Whitehair
Following an excellent rookie campaign, Whitehair appears to be entrenched as the starting center. Hroniss Grasu will push him, but Whitehair should easily beat him out. The real question is what the Bears will do with Grasu, a third-round pick in 2015 whose only real position is center.