Chicago Bears (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)
Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace has a great opportunity to bolster the tight end position after the Rob Gronkowski trade between the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Chicago Bears have made the tight end position a priority this off-season after the signing of veteran Jimmy Graham and recent release of oft-injured Trey Burton. Even with Graham in the fold, considering his age and recent lack of production, speculation is that Bears’ general manager Ryan Pace is not done addressing the position.
On Tuesday, Pace may have received good news in his efforts to improve the tight end position. The New England Patriots traded tight end Rob Gronkowski and a 2020 seventh round selection in the NFL Draft to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a 2020 fourth round selection.
The trade reunites Gronkowski with Tom Brady In Tampa Bay but also creates a logjam for the Buccaneers at the tight end position. Prior to the trade for Gronkowski, the Buccaneers featured O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate at the tight end position. The Gronkowski addition likely means that the Buccaneers will look trade either Howard or Brate. Prior to trade for Gronkowski, the Buccaneers were rumored to be shopping Howard and those talks will likely intensify with the NFL Draft beginning on Thursday.
For Pace, this may be the best remaining opportunity that he has this off-season to improve the tight end position for the Bears.
Howard was the first round selection in the 2017 NFL Draft for the Buccaneers. During his rookie campaign, Howard averaged 16.6 yards per reception while totaling 432 yards on the season with 6 touchdowns. After posting similar numbers with the Buccaneers in 2018, Howard struggled during the 2019 season. The 2019 season saw Howard average 13.5 yards per reception while totaling only 1 touchdown.
Considering how heavy the Buccaneers have been at the wide receiver position in recent seasons, it’s not a great surprise that Howard hasn’t been featured prominently in their offensive system. When you factor in Bruce Arians’ tendency to highlight an offense that throws down the field, it adds some context to his drop in yards per reception and touchdowns last season.
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Howard is in need of a change of scenery and Pace should certainly entertain the idea of trading a late round selection for the former first draft pick. Especially when you consider that the 2020 NFL Draft tight end class is less than stellar.
With the Bears, Howard and his athleticism would have a chance to flourish under the offensive system of head coach Matt Nagy. If Mitch Trubisky is the starting quarterback for the Bears, Howard would be the safety blanket at the tight end position that Trubisky lacked in 2019. Or, if Nick Foles is the starting quarterback, Howard would be an instant breakout candidate for the Bears given Foles’ tendency to rely on tight ends when he is behind center.
Pace began the off-season by addressing the tight end position with the Graham signing. Now, in the form of Howard, Pace has a chance to provide a definitive solution at the tight end position for the Chicago Bears.