NEWSLETTER
When the Bears hired Titans TEs Coach Luke Steckel and made him Chicago’s new Assistant OL Coach, I stashed the name Nate Davis away for a future date. And it turns out that day is today, as NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reports that Nate Davis is signing with the Bears.
Finally, an offensive lineman is heading to Chicago:
What an interesting signing for the Bears, who finally snag some much-needed offensive line help. Davis has been on our radar since November. Here’s what we had to say about him then when he was seen as one of the handful of offensive linemen ranking among the 25 best free agents (at the time):
Davis sneaks into back end of the top 25 as a guard who excels in run and pass blocking. He has youth on his side, too. Davis will start the 2023 season at age 26. The combination of age, positional need, floor, and ceiling should make Davis an intriguing target the Bears should have eyes on this offseason. Of course, the Titans might want to keep him, too. But they have needs elsewhere. And former GM Mike Tannenbaum shares with Bowen that the Titans would likely let Davis walk in free agency rather than overpay him. Considering how the Bears have an estimated $125 million in space under the cap, overpaying to improve the offensive line shouldn’t be an issue.
Davis, 26, has been a primary starter at right guard for the Titans during his time in Tennessee. He has played just one full season as a pro, participating in a full 16-game slate in 2020. In his most recent season, Davis played 12 of 17 games — but Pro Football Focus graded him out as the No. 17 overall guard. PFF has 77 who qualify, so checking in among the top 20 puts Davis in a good place. And that he is still just 26 makes me think the Bears are prioritizing signing younger players who are still on the rise. From a strategic standpoint, I’m into it.
More to come…
