Chicago Bears should have no problem upgrading right tackle in free agency

The Chicago Bears’ platoon at right tackle in 2022, which featured Larry Borom and Riley Reiff, has pushed the position to or near the top of their offseason needs. Fortunately for GM Ryan Poles, he’ll have no shortage of quality options to choose from in free agency.

In fact, right tackle may be the strongest position group in the 2023 free agent class.

NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero outlined seven unheralded free agents who are poised for a monster payday, and three of them are right tackles: Mike McGlinchey (49ers), Jawaan Taylor (Jaguars), and Kaleb McGary (Falcons).

“Four-time Pro Bowl selection Orlando Brown Jr. was a somewhat-surprising addition to the free-agent pool when the Chiefs didn’t tag him a second time, and he should get his bag as the clear top left tackle available,” Pelissero wrote. “But three right tackles also figure to cash in.”

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The Bears have the most money to spend in free agency — by a wide margin — and even if they can’t sign their first choice from the list of high-priced right tackles, there’s almost no chance all three will slip away. Even if Poles has to overpay for one of them, it’ll be money well spent considering the need and importance placed on protecting Justin Fields.

Jawaan Taylor may be the most logical target for the Bears. He’s the youngest of the bunch, and while his run blocking remains a work in progress, he’s steadily improved each year of his career. At 25 years old, he’d join the Bears with 68 starts on his resume. He won’t turn 26 until November.

“The going rate for top RTs these days is $15 million to $19 million a year, and it won’t be a surprise if Taylor lands on the high end of that range after starting all 68 games (including the playoffs) since he joined the Jaguars as a second-round pick in the 2019 draft,” Pelissero wrote. “Per PFF, Taylor allowed a 2.5 percent pressure rate last season (third-lowest among tackles with at least 300 pass-blocking snaps) and posted a 98.4 pass-blocking efficiency grade (fifth-best).”

There may not be a headline-grabbing wide receiver or pass rusher available in this year’s free-agent class, but a right tackle, like any of the big three, would be a significant addition to an offense that’s desperate for consistent offensive line play.