Should the Chicago Bears draft a kicker?

The Chicago Bears need a placekicker, so should they look for one in the NFL Draft?

Rejoice Chicago Bears fans — Cody Parkey will not be back with the team next year. What was long suspected was confirmed by Matt Nagy during an interview with the NFL Network during the NFL Combine.

That’s the good news. Actually the great news. However, there is bad news. First, the Bears will have to eat approximately $5 million in dead cap money. Second, they still need to find a replacement.

That second question is where we start — specifically, how should the Bears go about replacing Cody Parkey. They have a few options. They have already signed Redford Jones, the former Tulsa kicker who has yet to kick in an NFL game. They could also choose to pursue a free agent kicker like Matt Bryant or Stephen Gostkowski.

If they choose not to go either of those routes (a distinct possibility) they are left with two additional options. They can either draft a kicker this year or bring in a number of undrafted free agents and sign the best of the undrafted kickers.

So the question really is, whether spending precious draft capital on a kicker is going to secure the Bears a player markedly better than one that could be available as an UDFA.

Remember, college success is no predictor or guarantee of future success. Remember Roberto Aguayo? The former Tapa Bay Buccaneers second-round pick was automatic in college but was dreadful for the Bucs before having a brief cup of coffee with the Bears.

On the flip side, there is New York Giants kicker Adrick Rosas. The 2018 Pro Bowl kicker went undrafted before being picked up by the Giants.

As we know, the Bears have limited draft resources at the moment. While that could all change, they currently own only five total draft picks, and none in Rounds 1, 2, or 6. While Cole Tracy out of LSU is largely seen as the best kicker in this draft, it’s almost impossible to imagine the Bears spending a third or fourth-round pick on him — especially with potential needs at cornerback, safety, and running back.

So would it be worth a fifth or seventh-round pick? Personally, I’m not so sure. Again, although Tracy is widely regarded as the best option, the disparity between him and the second-rated kicker (whether that’s Austin Seibert, Matt Gay, or someone else) isn’t that great.

Moreover, the disparity between one of those kickers and a potential UDFA isn’t all that great either. In other words, there is no clear cut top choice. So why waste a precious draft pick on a kicker, when they could conceivably pick up a guy like Roldan Alcobendas of Eastern Washington.

Not only does he have a cool kicker’s name, but he’s pretty darn good — having won the 2018 Fred Mitchell award, presented to the top FCS, Div. II, Div. III, NAIA or NJCAA place-kicker. Oh, and the ceremony took place at Halas Hall — so he’s likely on the Bears radar.

While it would not be crazy to hear the Bears call a kicker’s name on draft day, the juice may not be worth the squeeze.