RSS
Home
Bears Free Agency Options: Offensive Tackle
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
For my take on free agency at other key positions check here:
After the Kyle Orton injury at mid-season the Bears offense collapsed. There are numerous holes and needs, but with the pending retirement of John Tait none is bigger than offensive tackle. With only Chris Williams under contract as of Friday the Bears will likely need to add to this position both via free agency and the draft.
So here are some of the options you can expect Jerry Angelo to look at:
Stacy Andrews: Andrews was the Cincinnati Bengals franchise player during 2008 and is probably a prime example of why players would like to see that eliminated during the next collective bargaining agreement. Andrews tore his ACL late in the season and will undoubtedly see his market value plummet as a result. At 6’7” and 340lbs and recovering ahead of schedule, anyone who could pry him away from the Bengals could end up with a steal.
That is why Andrews should be a top target for Angelo. After watching the success of former first-round pick Marc Colombo in Dallas, this would be an opportunity to hit a homerun of his own on a reclamation project. Stacy Andrews could easily hold down the right side of the offensive line for years to come if the Bears are willing to take the chance. If nothing else, signing him to a “prove it” deal this off-season shouldn’t cost much.
Khalif Barnes: He certainly looks to be on the outs in Jacksonville after they had such a subpar season. Some of the criticism directed his way is probably unfair considering the Jags lost their entire interior line to start the season, but that’s the battle of perception that is the NFL. Barnes is a lot like Andrews in that he is big (6’5”/325lbs), young (26), and experienced (has been the starting LT for the Jaguars the last few seasons).
Bears could run into a snag given the price difference between left and right tackle and the fact they would be asking him to switch positions. But if Angelo could be convinced to fork over the kind of dough he once did for Tait, he can land a player who would be more than just a veteran stopgap.
Jon Stinchcomb: On the positive side Stinchcomb is the only one of the three who’s natural position is right tackle, having started 48 consecutive regular season games there for the Saints. It also appears that the Saints are willing to part with him in free agency and go with some of the younger players on their roster to fill his position. The downside here is that Stinchcomb is also the oldest of the trio at 29. Although with only 58 NFL games on his body he might hold up better than some aging linemen, he certainly wouldn’t be the potential long-term bookend with Chris Williams.
Stinchcomb probably provides the Bears with the best combination of value and experience to pair with Williams. His history at RT saves Angelo the headache of convincing someone to switch positions, and he’s unlikely to break the bank with his contract. Given how desperate the Bears need is here this is really the worst they should do in free agency.
John St. Clair: There has been a good bit of talk in the Chicago papers recently about how Tait’s retirement increases John St. Clair’s leverage and means the Bears have to bring him back. But as I mentioned in my Tait retirement article, pretty much any available free agent would be an upgrade over St. Clair. While he did a more than admirable job filling in for Chris Williams this past year, at 31 he’s not even remotely worth a starters contract.
Now maybe the depressed economic conditions will mean the Bears get St. Clair at a discount. Given his versatility it would be foolish not to bring him back as a backup to both Williams and whoever ends up playing RT. But it’s safe to say that if St. Clair is top of the depth chart at right tackle when the Bears report to Bourbonnais it will be a missed opportunity to get better.
For more info: Check back every day this week for the breakdown of another position.
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
As the Bears prepare to face of with Mike Singletary’s 49ers I exchanged five questions and answers with fellow examiner Samuel Lam. You …
It's hard to express honest thoughts and emotions about the Bears 41-21 loss to the Cardinals that are acceptable in print so here goes nothing. …
