The Chicago Bears have already made it loud and clear that they won't break the bank or give up valuable assets to revamp the defensive line. General manager Ryan Poles may have a plan, and it certainly doesn't include a big move.
However, there might still be other ways to get stronger in the trenches. Some veterans might not make it to training camp, while others are highly unlikely to make the 53-man roster, either due to age, finances, or both.
Notably, Arik Armstead fits both of those bills. That's why Bleacher Report's Alex Kay cites him as a potential cut candidate who should be sought after at some point, and exactly why the Bears should keep an eye on his situation.
Arik Armstead would be a low-risk addition for the Bears
"If Armstead is cut, he'll still draw plenty of calls for his ability to be a reliable veteran presence in a defensive-line rotation. Contenders can't have enough quality D-linemen to cycle in over the course of an NFL game," Kay wrote.
The Jaguars can save $15 million in cap space by parting ways with him, according to Over The Cap. He lost his starting spot late last season and will be 33 in the following campaign, so the fact that they haven't released him already is somewhat surprising.
But even though he failed to record a single sack after Week 12, he still finished the season with somewhat decent numbers for a rotational player. In 16 appearances (11 starts), he put up 28 total tackles (13 solo), eight quarterback hits, seven tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and one forced fumble. Pro Football Focus gave him a 61.6 pass-rushing grade, and he lotted 48 total pressures.
Of course, he won't move the needle that much for Dennis Allen's defense, but he'd at least give them another option to throw different looks out there. Also, beggars can't be choosers, and the Bears' defensive line is among the most underwhelming in the NFL.
Armstead is used to playing at both tackle and defensive end, giving this team some much-needed versatility in the trenches. Also, as a veteran in his last leg, the Bears may not need to spend big bucks to get him to the Windy City.
The Bears could've -- and definitely should've -- been in the mix to trade for Maxx Crosby, and they also could still make a run at the likes of Jadeveon Clowney or Joey Bosa. The lack of updates in that front suggests they simply chose not to.
While that's an approach that will most definitely come back to haunt them at one point, sports always give teams another chance to right their wrong. Armstead might not be a superstar, but he can at least give this team something.
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