The Chicago Bears appear to be stuck with their current offensive line for now, but it’s likely to be a key focus for the front office moving forward. Zoltán Buday from Pro Football Focus ranked the Bears’ offensive line 20th in the NFL heading into Week 4. That was before they allowed three more sacks of rookie quarterback Caleb Williams during a game against the Los Angeles Rams and lost standout lineman Teven Jenkins to a rib injury. According to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin, Jenkins is considered day-to-day.
Jenkins’ absence, as the Bears’ best lineman over the first four games, left the team in a tough spot. Head coach Matt Eberflus favors offensive lineman Matt Pryor, leading him to bench former starting right guard Nate Davis and promote Pryor to that role. When Jenkins went down, Pryor switched to the left side while Davis returned to the right.
However, Davis’ future in Chicago is uncertain. Bleacher Report’s NFL Scouting Department suggested on Monday that the Bears should target nine-time All-Pro guard Zack Martin from the Dallas Cowboys next offseason. They noted that Chicago’s issues with its interior offensive line could worsen since Pryor, Jenkins, and Coleman Shelton are all set to become free agents, and Davis could be released to save $9.5 million in cap space. The report suggested that while Martin’s time in Chicago might not be long, he could be a key player in protecting Caleb Williams and addressing a major team need.
Zack Martin Remains Among Elite NFL Offensive Guards
Despite approaching his 34th birthday, the former first-round pick out of Notre Dame remains one of the best at his position. Over the past three seasons, he has consistently earned Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors, missing only 11 regular-season games throughout his entire career.
Acquiring Zack Martin wouldn’t come cheap, as he is currently on a two-year contract worth nearly $37 million, with guaranteed money running out after this season. However, the Bears are projected to have ample cap space and a significant need on the offensive line, making Martin a highly viable option for Chicago in the upcoming offseason.
Bears May Bring Back Teven Jenkins, Likely to Move on From Nate Davis
The Bears have yet to extend Teven Jenkins, but allowing him to reach unrestricted free agency seems unlikely unless the team is highly concerned about his persistent injury problems. A second-round pick by the previous regime, Jenkins missed five games last season and four the year before, and as a rookie, he appeared in just six games, starting two, according to Pro Football Reference.
Now facing another injury, the Bears’ front office, led by GM Ryan Poles, may hesitate to offer Jenkins a lucrative extension. Despite this, he has performed as an above-average guard since his second year in the NFL. With Chicago’s offensive line lacking depth, it would be hard to imagine them letting their best lineman walk, or even allowing other teams to drive up his price in free agency.
On the other hand, Nate Davis’ situation is very different. Signed to a three-year, $30 million deal last offseason, Davis missed five games due to injury last year and underperformed when healthy. His issues on the field, combined with concerns over his work ethic and limited practice time, led to his benching over the last two games.
Given Davis’ poor play and his falling out with the coaching staff, it’s likely the Bears will seek to upgrade his position next offseason, whether through acquiring someone like Zack Martin or another option.
