Another Bears’ free-agent target off the board as Browns re-sign Jack Conklin

The Chicago Bears’ 2023 free-agent plan is taking some powerful body blows Friday. First came the news of the Green Bay Packers re-signing offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins, who many predicted would be the Bears’ top target on the open market. Then came the Cleveland Browns and their contract extension with offensive tackle Jack Conklin.

It’s a four-year, $60 million deal.

Browns and right tackle Jack Conklin reached agreement today on a four-year, $60 million extension that includes $31 million fully guaranteed, per his agent @DrewJRosenhaus, who negotiated deal with @JasonRosenhaus, @RyanMatha, Browns’ GM Andrew Berry and Browns’ VP Chris Cooper.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 23, 2022

Offensive line currently ranks near or at the top of GM Ryan Poles’ priorities this offseason. With no blue-chip prospect worthy of being picked where the Bears will likely select in the first round, free agency is the logical place for Poles to land his upgrades.

Jenkins and Conklin were two of the projected best on the market. Now, they’re gone.

The Chicago Bears will have the most salary-cap space in this year’s free-agency cycle. Bears fans have been hyped about the prospect of signing players like Elgton Jenkins or Jack Conklin, making Friday’s news quite the buzzkill.