One free agent acquisition who could fill a major hole on the Chicago Bears roster next season
The Chicago Bears are widely expected to be heavy buyers during the 2024 Free Agency cycle with over $45 million in available cap space. The Bears have multiple holes to address on the roster this offseason but the biggest hole that needs addressing is on the offensive line to help protect whoever is starting at […]
The Chicago Bears are widely expected to be heavy buyers during the 2024 Free Agency cycle with over $45 million in available cap space.
The Bears have multiple holes to address on the roster this offseason but the biggest hole that needs addressing is on the offensive line to help protect whoever is starting at quarterback next season.
The team already has three established starters in place in left guard Teven Jenkins, right tackle Darnell Wright, and left tackle Braxton Jones but the other two positions are in desperate need of an overhaul heading into the 2024 season.
At right guard, the Bears started Nate Davis, Ja'Tyre Carter, and Jenkins throughout the season with Cody Whitehair filling in as well at guard. Davis signed a 3 year, $30 million contract prior to the 2023 season and could likely return at the position next year despite an underwhelming Chicago debut season. Whitehair and Carter however could be on their way out due to cap constraints, especially Whitehair.
Center, however, should be seen as the Bears' biggest liability on the offensive line after mainly starting Lucas Patrick at the position during the 2023 season. According to Pro Football Focus, Patrick finished the year with the worst pass blocking grade (40.6) on the team and committed a team-high (tied) five penalties. Patrick is a pending free agent and has already played his last down in Chicago.
Therefore, one of the Bears top priorities this offseason has to be replacing him at center and given their current assets, the Bears would be foolish not to invest heavily at the position this time around. That can come through the 2024 NFL Draft or via an incoming free agent and one name in particular stands out more than the rest.
Bears should go get Lloyd Cushenberry III in free agency
The former Denver Broncos starting center, Lloyd Cushenberry III, will be hitting the free agent market at the perfect time for the Bears to cash in on a potentially top player at the position. And the best part is that Cushenberry is still young and can be a long-term investment on the offensive line at 26-years-old.
The former 2020 third-round pick started 57 games in his career and arguably just completed his best season of his young career at a prime time. Cushenberry finished the season with a career-high 76.4 pass blocking grade while allowing one sack (his first sack allowed in two years) and four QB hits, according to Pro Football Focus.
Cushenberry's strength as a pass blocker was truly unlocked in 2023 under head coach Sean Payton leading to a potentially big pay day on the way as a free agent. He's dealt with some injury concerns in 2022 and some penalty troubles in the past but seemed to clean it up this year. If the Bears really want to make a splash at the position, Cushenberry should be their guy in terms of finding an immediate starter. But how much would it actually cost the team?
How much would Lloyd Cushenberry III cost?
According to our very own AtoZ cap experts, we now have a very clear and accurate projection for what Cushenberry's price tag could look like on the open market in free agency. Our experts project him to land a 3 year, $36 million deal that could include up to $20 million fully guaranteed. It's a high price but one that would worth it to sure up a major need on the team's offense. Here's what our experts had to say:
Cushenberry’s best comp from a production standpoint is Mitch Morse. Morse signed a two-year $19 million deal with the Buffalo Bills prior to the 2022 season. Morse was 30 at the time, whereas Cushenberry will be 26 for most of the 2024 season. Given cap inflation and his younger age, Cushenberry should clear that number by a solid margin. Cushenberry will likely look for a three-year pact allowing him to hit free agency one more time before his age 30 season.
For a cap-strapped contender looking to bolster their offensive line with Cushenberry they could structure the deal with void years to drop his 2024 cap hit to just $4.5 million backloading the deal for a Year 3 cap hit of $13.5 million and $6 million in dead cap in 2027.
The only other potential concern that could impact the Bears potential pursuit for Cushenberry is the franchise tag being used by the Broncos. However, our experts consider that possibility to be a low likelihood meaning he should more than likely hit the open market and be available to sign with a new team.
It'll be an expensive investment for the Bears' front office to make but it'll also be one that proves the team is finally being serious about protecting their quarterback. If the goal is to surround your quarterback with the best protection possible, no dollar amount should steer the Bears away from landing Cushenberry in free agency.
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