NEWSLETTER
Things were appearing to be lining up for the Chicago Bears to bring offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey into the fold.
But then, the Denver Broncos came through and put an end to that pursuit.
It isn’t officially official (and won’t be until Wednesday), but it looks like Denver is the next stop for McGlinchey:
McGlinchey and the Bears looked like an ideal pairing. The 28-year-old offensive lineman has ample starting experience in a 49ers scheme that is similar to what the Bears want to run under Luke Getsy. But a five-year deal that includes $50 million in guarantees and worth up to $87.5 million is enough to lure him to Denver. I’ll be curious to see if any reports share how far the Bears got along in discussions for McGlinchey. And I’d have an interest in learning what Chicago’s number was when it came to a McGlinchey pursuit. Keep in mind that there was a belief that McGlinchey could command a $20 million per year salary. He didn’t reach that point, but a $17.5M AAV is nothing to look past. That is a hefty chunk of change.
With McGlinchey off the board, the Bears can turn their attention elsewhere. Perhaps Kaleb McGary is someone the Bears have eyes for in free agency. Remember, McGary and Bears OL Coach Chris Morgan have a connection dating back to their time with the Atlanta Falcons. And then there is Jawaan Taylor, a free agent from the Jaguars who is probably the most highly regarded pass-blocking free agent right tackle on the market. McGlinchey might be gone, but that might not be a huge loss. The Bears still have options they can explore in other areas to address their offensive line needs.
