The Chicago Bears have been busy on Saturday with the signings of cornerbacks Johnthan Banks and Marcus Cooper, as well as wide receiver Kendall Wright. So how about another?
We have officially agreed to terms with OL Tom Compton and WR Kendall Wright on one-year deals.
Welcome to Chicago, Tom and Kendall! ?⬇ ?⬇ pic.twitter.com/yrUV7b05kq
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) March 12, 2017
The Bears addressed some of its depth needs along the offensive line with the signing of Tom Compton, who played 16 games for the NFC champion Atlanta Falcons in 2016 – but didn’t make any starts. Compton was a sixth-round pick (193rd overall) by the Washington Redskins in the 2012 draft. He spent four years in Washington, playing 44 games and making 11 starts.
Compton hasn’t received steady playing time since 2014, when he started nine games and earned a 44.2 grade from Pro Football Focus. He received a 50.3 grade from PFF in 2016, but played only 82 snaps.
While Compton isn’t a clear cut starter, he has experience at guard and tackle – and his versatility could come in handy after a 2016 season in which eight different offensive linemen made starts and only two players (standout center Cody Whitehair and left tackle Charles Leno Jr.) started all 16 games.
And after the Bears missed out on offensive tackle Ricky Wagner, who signed with the Detroit Lions at the start of free agency, Compton could compete with Bobbie Massie – who signed as a free agent last offseason – for the starting right tackle job in 2017.