Chicago Bears: Sleeper NFL Draft prospects at tight end
By Ryan Heckman
The Chicago Bears have a decent amount of talent at the tight end position, but it’s one spot they may look to upgrade the depth in this year’s draft.
It’s been quite the interesting offseason for the Chicago Bears. Whether it has come from fans or “experts,” the free agency grades and reactions have been priceless. There must be quite a few people out there who do not understand what general manager Ryan Pace is trying to do, but before we dive into some tight end goodness, let me explain a little.
Pace cleared up an extra $11 million in cap space the week free agency began, and many (me included) thought they had a shot at a guy like Le’Veon Bell. Maybe that’s why Pace moved some cash around? While I wouldn’t have been opposed to the idea of Bell, the real reason behind clearing some space makes a lot more sense.
The reason the Bears let Adrian Amos and Bryce Callahan go is exactly why Pace has been clearing some cash. They’re focused on the future. Their core is intact. With the guys they have currently under contract, Pace knows they can win a Super Bowl. Right now, it’s about being smart with money so that guys like Eddie Jackson can be extended in the future.
The Bears haven’t had a terrible offseason, like some may have led you to believe. They’re sitting pretty, in fact.
Let’s not forget, Pace is the king of mid-to-late round draft prospects, also — which is perfect, because the Bears don’t possess a pick in the first two rounds this year.
If the Bears are going to add quality depth, it’ll be up to Pace to know what he’s doing with limited draft capital. One of the spots the Bears could end up going after is at tight end. Trey Burton got paid, and he offers the Bears an athletic pass-catcher at the position. Adam Shaheen is still improving as a pro, and then there’s the newly re-signed Ben Braunecker.
The Bears cut ties with Dion Sims (thankfully) and are looking at the aforementioned three at tight end right now. In this year’s draft, there are some very intriguing names the Bears could find later in the draft. Who are they, and where are they from? Let’s get to it.