4 surprise cuts the Chicago Bears could make after 2023 NFL Draft

Surprise cuts the Chicago Bears could make after 2023 NFL Draft: Cody Whitehair, OL

Cody Whitehair is a cut candidate mostly due to his contract and the Bears’ ability to save some extra cash. But, there’s another sneaky reason why the team could move on.

One of the underrated reasons the Bears might think to cut Whitehair and save some money is due to the fact that Teven Jenkins can play guard. Should Lucas Patrick be 100 percent healthy and ready to play center, then the Bears could roll with Patrick at center, with Jenkins at left guard and Nate Davis at right guard.

Whitehair is getting older, and cutting him would save the Bears about $6 million. With Jenkins still on a rookie deal and having plenty of potential as a former second-round pick, he has the ceiling to be a very good guard in this league and it would be a shame to see that go to waste. The Bears should at least give him a shot to develop at guard, especially because he plays so aggressively.

The Bears could use someone with Jenkins’ demeanor up front, and that type of play style might just set the tone for the rest of the line. Jenkins does, in fact, make Whitehair expendable. But, it’s a risk that the team would have to take. Do they want to put their faith into a guy the new regime hasn’t been totally sold on? If so, it might just pay off. Give Jenkins a chance to flourish, and we might just be surprised.