Chicago Bears Free Agency: 5 players worth the money
By Ryan Heckman
1. Offensive Tackle Jack Conklin
First up on the list is a guy who helped anchor the line for the league’s leading rusher, Derrick Henry. Former first-round pick Jack Conklin is one of the very best offensive linemen on the market this spring, and would bring an instant upgrade to the Bears at tackle.
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Beyond creating space to sign him, the biggest issue with signing an expensive tackle would be trying to move either Charles Leno or Bobby Massie, who are locked up on multi-year deals.
If Pace can find a way to move either one of them, Conklin would provide an elite talent in place. It would be tough to shell out the cash for arguably the top tackle on the market while benching Leno or Massie, and it’s unlikely one of them are cut. But, if Pace can find a way to create the room and move one of his starting tackles, Conklin immediately upgrades an area of weakness.
Last year, we saw flashes of what David Montgomery can do with just a bit of blocking. I still believe he is the future of the Bears’ back field, so getting him guys who are able to open up holes is key.
Obviously, providing time for the quarterback (whomever that ends up being) is priority number one — especially if it’s Mitchell Trubisky. He’s a guy who needs a lot to go right around him in order to succeed, and Conklin would end up being Trubisky’s best friend up front.