A collective groan was heard from Bears fans when the team swung-and-missed in its pursuit of Bills restricted free agent offensive lineman Ryan Bates.
Bates isn’t a world beater. And it’s not like he has some Pro Bowl pedigree. But he made so much sense as a target for this Bears team. Young players with positional flexibility, starting experience, and untapped potential that could become unlocked with an increase in playing time don’t hit the market often enough. And because the Bears — as a team offering playing time and wads of cash — were a sensible fit for Bates too, it stung to see the Bills match the offer sheet.
But perhaps an alternative with a similar background is emerging with the Eagles set to cut ties with offensive lineman Nate Herbig:
The #Eagles agreed to release OL Nate Herbig, his agent Ken Sarnoff confirmed. Team had trade talks with a few teams during the draft but nothing materialized. Herbig, 23, signed his RFA tender last week, now hits the market as an unrestricted FA. Had 17 starts last two years.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) May 2, 2022
As PFF’s Brad Spielberger points out, Herbig has a history with new Bears Assistant GM Ian Cunningham because of their ties to the Eagles. Herbig, 23, has 33 games (17 starts) of experience under his belt since joining Philly in 2019. A chunk of those starts came at right guard in 2020. Cunningham, who joined the Bears this offseason as GM Ryan Poles’ right-had man, was the Eagles’ Director of College Scouting (2017-18), Assistant Director of Player Personnel (2019-20), and Director of Player Personnel (2021). In other words, Cunningham should have expansive knowledge as to what Herbig could bring to the table and if he is a possible fit with these Bears.
Chicago drafting four offensive linemen over the weekend shouldn’t stop the team from exploring other options. Herbig isn’t a splashy name, but no one was ever hurt adding a potential depth piece to an offensive line. Especially when that group was seen as a weakness that needed addressing going into the NFL Draft.