Chicago Bears: Early look at sneaky free agent adds in 2019
By Ryan Heckman
Punter Matt Wile
Why don’t we continue taking from a division rival. This time, it would feature one of the least glamorous positions in football. If the Bears choose to move on from Pat O’Donnell, which most suspect they could, then Matt Wile would be an option to replace him.
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O’Donnell isn’t a bad punter, but he is far too inconsistent. That’s the issue. He’s got the leg, but it doesn’t always show. Wile, on the other hand, held higher net average than O’Donnell by almost two yards in 2018.
Speaking of leg, also, Wile finished with the third-longest punt in the league last season at 70 yards. Only two of his punts resulted in touchbacks, as opposed to seven for O’Donnell. His hang time average was even a bit longer than O’Donnell last season.
It isn’t a position that’s talked about much, but when it is, it is typically a negative conversation. You didn’t hear a lot about Wile last year, and that’s a good thing. Chicago needs an upgrade at the punter position, and Wile is definitely an option. O’Donnell’s 1-year deal in 2018 was more so a product of lesser options out there. With multiple options in free agency in 2019, the Bears should strike quick in replacing him.