NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Bears have a clean slate with a new general manager calling the shots and head coach with a fresh vision. These new-look Bears are just one year removed from a second playoff appearance in three seasons, but face a laundry list of needs. They’ll need to make good decisions at important positions to get back into the postseason hunt. One way to get there is with a solid run in free agency. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the more promising and available targets to see if there’s a fit for the Bears in 2022.
Previous free agent targets: C Brian Allen, WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Potential Target, Age (in 2022), Position
Terron Armstead, 30, left tackle
Performance and Grades
Season stats: 8 games (8 starts)
Career stats: 97 games (93 starts), 3 Pro Bowls (2018, 2019, 2020), All-Pro (2nd team, 2018)
Pro Football Focus (2021): 75.9 overall, 26th of 83 qualifying tackles
PFF grades (since 2017): 76.5 (2017), 90.0 (2018), 81.2 (2019), 84.9 (2020)
Highlights
https://twitter.com/WeAreBigGuys/status/1342890257264631812
Terron Armstead laid it on the line in Week 14 vs. San Fran! Nowhere near 100%, just 2 weeks removed from a high ankle sprain with a visible limp. He played every snap and played well. Then went into the walking boot right after the game. Special, special performance. pic.twitter.com/haglvXYt3t
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) December 12, 2019
Hot off his latest Pro Bowl nomination, Terron Armstead earned new season-highs in Overall (86.3) and run block (86.5) grading on Christmas.
Plays like these will most definitely help the cause.#Saints #WhoDat
pic.twitter.com/rE2IaAuzf5— PFF NO Saints (@PFF_Saints) December 27, 2020
Existing Rumors and Bears Connections
NFL dot com writer Nick Shook plays matchmaker, connecting the dots with Armstead being an ideal free agency target for the Bears:
“The Bears need a rock-solid left tackle and would find exactly that in Armstead, who carries with him an impeccable reputation as a leader. Signing Armstead would be quite a way to start a new era in Chicago for general manager Ryan Poles and provide much-needed protection for Justin Fields.”
Possible Contract Considerations
After the Chiefs gave Orlando Brown Jr. the Franchise Tag on Tuesday, Armstead became the highest-profile free agent offensive tackle. In fact, Armstead is Pro Football Focus’ highest-ranking free agent. Not just left tackle. But of any player at any position. And because of that Armstead is in line to get PAID.
According to PFF’s projections, Armstead could get a three-year deal worth up to $60 million. The site’s forecast includes $43.75 million in guarantees and comes with an average annual value of $20 million. For what it’s worth, if PFF’s guess on AAV and total guarantees are accurate, they would both rank among the top-5 for tackles. It is a pretty penny, but that is the cost of doing business in the deep end of the left tackle pool.
The Fit
FWIW – Armstead has been on our radar since September:
Sounds Like the Saints Will Let Pro Bowl Left Tackle Terron Armstead Hit Free Agency Next Offseason … Just Sayin’https://t.co/COZ7oEjQqq
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) September 18, 2021
Just sayin’…
And I suppose you can see why here:
Terron Armstead is a tremendous scheme fit for wide zone. He is one of the best in the league at blocking this concept. pic.twitter.com/uolTOSGeQu
— Mike (@bengals_sans) February 15, 2022
It’s not just that the Bears need offensive linemen. They need good ones. Justin Fields needs help. Fields has loud tools and tremendous upside, but it is tough to showcase that talent when he is running for his life or being blown up of sack artists. This is where someone like Armstead would come in handy. Armstead has three Pro Bowl appearances under his belt, was voted by his peers as a top-100 player going into the 2021 season, and plays with the kind of edge that you’d expect from a tone-setting blind-side blocker.
Armstead has the type of résumé that should put him on the Bears’ radar. Then again, the Bears aren’t alone in needing offensive line help. The market for Armstead’s services shot be hot. But that doesn’t mean Chicago’s football team shouldn’t find a way to have involvement in this particular sweepstakes. Although, the Bears should proceed with caution. Armstead has never played a full, healthy season. Injuries limited him to eight games in 2021. And even when he was at the peak of his powers between 2018 and 2020, Armstead missed time. Two games in 2020, another in 2019, and six in 2018 is tough to ignore. Don’t get it twisted. Armstead is good. And the fit is a sensible one. But this feels like a buyer beware situation.
