Chicago Bears: Don’t let Sitton release affect Whitehair’s development
However the Chicago Bears choose to address the vacancy at guard left by the departing Josh Sitton, they should do their best to keep Cody Whitehair at center.
Truthfully, it was a bit surprising to see how many people were surprised that the Chicago Bears declined to pick up guard Josh Sitton’s $8 million option yesterday, allowing him to walk to free agency.
After all, not that everyone noticed, but I listed him among players the Bears were most likely to cut a week ago. So, when I say “I could’ve told you that”, I meant it!
He struggled with injuries. He was aging (turning 32 this season). And, perhaps the key point, he was expensive.
Aging, injury-prone and expensive don’t make the best mixture for NFL teams. As such, this move actually made more sense than didn’t.
The #Bears have now cleared north of $10M in 2018 cap space by releasing LB Jerrell Freeman & OG Josh Sitton; hold a projected $51M heading toward free agency. https://t.co/ho8MPubMyl
— Spotrac (@spotrac) February 20, 2018
“Well, who will the Bears replace him with?!” you ask. I’m sure the Ryan Pace and the Chicago Bears have a plan for that.
That plan may involve signing Andrew Norwell or Zach Fulton as an immediate starter.
It may include drafting Quenton Nelson, who could make All-Pro teams for the next decade.
Or it could revolve around just playing who the Bears already have, namely swingman Eric Kush or second-year player Jordan Morgan. If anyone can make a reliable starter out of them, Harry Hiestand would be that guy.
One player I’d rather not see included in the Sitton replacement plan, though, is Cody Whitehair.
Yes, if needed, Whitehair can play guard competently. He did so last season and was on his way to playing at guard his rookie season until a last-minute switch to center just before the 2016 season started.
Much like Kyle Long's situation 2 years ago, don't be surprised if Cody Whitehair's positional status is up in the air. #Bears could sign/draft a C or G, which would leave Whitehair to fill the other open spot. He's not locked into C like some think.
— Aaron Leming (@AaronLemingNFL) February 20, 2018
But after seeing how difficult the constant switching of positions was for Whitehair last season, especially as a young player being counted on to essentially salvage an injury-ravaged offensive line, I’d like nothing more than to see Whitehair stay at one spot for as much time as possible.
Whitehair came into last season as a guy who might make a Pro Bowl in 2017 only to play three different positions in camp (and during the season) due to injury and never quite regain his form. Seeing him struggle to simply complete shotgun snaps when he returned to center was especially troubling.
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If we believe that Whitehair’s best NFL position is center, then the Chicago Bears must do everything they can to keep him there.
Sign your veteran, draft Nelson/someone else later or elevate one of your reserves. Do what you have to do to allow him some stability.
That said, if you’re going to move Whitehair to guard and play Hroniss Grasu/hopefully someone else at center, do it in camp and leave it that way as long as you can. Don’t leave him ping-ponging between spots all season.
Obviously, if they have to move him to guard because they’d compromising the team by not doing so, they must. But they need to exercise as much foresight as possible in this decision.
Next: Bears cut Sitton, now must find his replacement
We forget that Whitehair will only be entering his third NFL season in 2018. He still has to hone his skills, and that’s hard to do when you don’t know where you belong.
The Chicago Bears need to put him where he’ll succeed the most and let Whitehair stay there. If center is that spot for him, then the team should make it a top priority to plug Sitton’s spot with someone other than him.
Simple as that.