Another high-profile offensive line option is off the board.
This time, it is Atlanta Falcons right tackle Kaleb McGary re-signing with his original team.
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport has the scoop:
McGary wasn’t the most popular of the plausible free agent targets the Bears could’ve had eyes for this offseason. But he sure made sense as a fit. And that three-year contract worth $34.5 million looks like a bargain, especially when you consider the $12.5M AAV is far less than what fellow right tackle Mike McGlinchey is reportedly receiving from the Broncos. McGary had a connection to Bears OL Coach Chris Morgan and experience playing in the type of blocking scheme that Luke Getsy’s offense plans on employing in the future. But in the end, a return to Atlanta is in the cards for McGary.
The Falcons re-signing McGary leaves the following offensive tackles available in free agency (age in parenthesis):
- Orlando Brown Jr. (26)
- Isaiah Wynn (26)
- Jermaine Eluemunor (28)
- Donovan Smith (29)
Each of those players checks in on Pro Football Focus’ top 100 free agents going into this offseason. Does anyone grab your interest?
In the interest of fairness, it is worth pointing out that the Bears don’t have to sign a free-agent tackle to improve the offensive line. The NFL Draft has some worthwhile options worth exploring. Maybe that is why the Bears were so heavy at Northwestern’s Pro Day watching Peter Skoronski. But it’ll feel like a missed opportunity if Chicago doesn’t address a position of need before draft weekend rolls around.