August 18, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears offensive tackle Gabe Carimi (72) sits on the bench during the second half against the Washington Redskins at Soldier Field. The Bears beat the Redskins 33-31. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

With the Chicago Bears starting their first day of Organized Team Activities, a player who could possibly be on the bubble when it comes to being cut, was a no show.

Gabe Carimi, a former 2011 first round draft pick out of the University of Wisconsin, was an Outland Trophy winner in 2010. An award given to the best interior lineman in college football, was the hopeful piece of this struggling offensive line that the Chicago Bears were hoping for. During his rookie season, he dislocated his knee in Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints. He was placed on the injured reserve and missed the rest of his rookie season.

And with the offensive line still struggling, Carimi had some issues himself as he was benched as the right tackle and was expected to be replaced by Jonathan Scott. In Week 12 against the Minnesota Vikings, Lance Louis and Chris Spencer both suffered injuries, in an offensive line who still struggled on a week to week basis. I mean they had their moments of getting their assignments correct and opening some running lanes for the half back, or giving Cutler a solid pocket and enough time to get rid of the ball to find his target.

Now with the Chicago Bears signing Jermon Bushrod, Matt Slauson and drafting Kyle Long, the competition for roster spots on this offensive line is going to heat up. The NFL has a rule that OTA’s aren’t open to any rookies, due to their college sessions still going on.

The work outs are optional, but like I said, with the moves the Bears made this off-season and in the draft when it comes to this offensive line, you should attend every available work out you can. This team needs a solid offensive line if they have any hopes to reaching the post season, the defense can’t always play the part of the offense and score points.

Don’t get me wrong, as a member of the Chicago Bears faithful, it is exciting to see the defense get take away’s and turn them into 6 points. But with a new look offense, the coaching staff completely new and having new faces on this  line, everything needs to be on point and consistent. You can’t stay consistent if you don’t show up to work out with your fellow teammates. Especially if you are a first round pick from a few seasons ago.

Carimi attended a three day mini-camp in April from the 16th to the 18th, but it is doubtful he will be there today at the Chicago Bears training facility as work outs continue. He reportedly told the Bears officials that he planned to sit out the next phase of team activities, as he is doing his off-season training in Arizona. So when it comes down too it, I hope what he is doing in Arizona is working and helps him keep his job. This line needs as much help as they could get and I’m sure the coaching staff for this offense, including head coach Marc Trestman, still believe Carimi can help hold this offensive line together.

Or at least, Gabe Carimi should hope so.

Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

According to Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times, the New Orleans Saints will work out Oklahoma Sooners star left tackle Lane Johnson today. Johnson has risen high ever since he had an incredible 2013 NFL Combine performance, and he has tantalizing upside, athleticism, speed, and size. He might not make it outside of the top ten picks in the 2013 NFL Draft, and I find it impossible to think he’ll last until the Saints pick with the 15th selection in the draft. The San Diego Chargers will almost certainly be the ones to snap up Johnson with the 11th pick.

So if the Saints really want to get Johnson, then they will have to trade up. That’s probably not the best idea for this organization, no matter how much they want a new left tackle. If the Saints really do want a tackle, then they would have to trade down and try and nab a less heralded (but still talented) left tackle. They could also hope that Terron Armstead falls to them in the second-round, because he is just as athletic as Johnson (even if he isn’t nearly as good on tape). But the Saints might want to play it safe and trade down from the first round (or even up from the second) to try and secure Armstead (or another LT type).

You can follow Joe Soriano on Twitter for more NFL updates and analysis @SorianoJoe.

Jan 26, 2013; Mobile, AL, USA; Senior Bowl south squad offensive lineman Lane Johnson of Oklahoma (69) against the Senior Bowl north squad during the first half of the Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Round 1 – Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma – This seems like a bit of a reach but if Lane Johnson fell to the Saints at 15, it’s not something New Orleans could pass up.  Their #1 priority should be protecting the team’s most valuable asset, Drew Brees.  The Saints know that they have to make a splash with their first round pick being that they don’t have a 2nd rounder this year, so for them I say Lane Johnson or bust.  Lane Johnson is probably the most athletic offensive lineman, the rich man’s Terron Armstead running a sub-4.8 40 as an offensive lineman.  If Lane isn’t there at pick #15, look for them to trade down for a dynamic first round defender like Ohio State’s Johnathan Hankins or Texas A&M’s Damontre Moore as well as an extra pick.

Jan 26, 2013; Mobile, AL, USA; Senior Bowl south squad defensive lineman Montori Hughes of Tennessee-Martin (54) against the Senior Bowl north squad during the first half of the Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Sleeper – Montori Hughes, NT, UT-Martin - This is a steal for any team in need of a nose tackle.  Montori Hughes is a true nose tackle whose had some issues off the field.  Originally an SEC defender anchoring the defensive line for the Tennessee Volunteers, Montori is a steal for a 3rd day pick.  He’s a highly physical and naturally athletic nose tackle earning the start for the Volunteers by the beginning of his sophomore season.  Unfortunately, he was dismissed from the Volunteers after failing to make grades and getting involved in a “dorm room incident.”  This, coupled with the depth at 2013′s interior defensive line class is probably the main reason he falls from the 2nd day to the 3rd day which makes him a potential gem as a 4th – 7th round pick.  Luckily, there are no classes or dorm rooms in the NFL. With a Ryan guiding him on defense combined with an excellent motivator in Sean Payton, Montori Hughes can potentially be a steal in this draft for New Orleans (or any team with great defensive coaching in need of a true nose tackle).

Dec 23, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; New Orleans Saints tackle Jermon Bushrod (74) celebrates a victory in overtime with kicker Garrett Hartley (5) against the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium. The Saints beat the Cowboys 34-31 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Earlier today, the Chicago Bears made a real splash in the Free Agent market as they signed former Giants TE Martellus Bennett to a 4-year deal aimed at providing a complete target from the TE position for Jay Cutler and the offense to use this upcoming season. Now, the Chicago Bears are dead set on improving the OL, and they’ve already just landed one of the top LTs in the NFL, as Adam Schefter reports the Chicago Bears have just reached an agreement with former Saints LT Jermon Bushrod:

Former Saints OT Jermon Bushrod reached agreement with Bears.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2013

Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun Times reports it is a 5 year deal

#Bears agree to terms on a 5-year deal with Jermon Bushrod, according to league sources. More to come… bit.ly/X4rKQo

— Sean Jensen (@seankjensen) March 12, 2013

Jermon Bushrod makes the most sense for the Bears in terms of improving their OT position, as not only is Jermon Bushrod one heck of a Pro Bowl talent, but current Bears Offensive Coordinator and OL coach Aaron Kromer mentored Bushrod from day 1 while both were in New Orleans together. Aaron Kromer was the Saints’ OL coach as well as running game coordinator, so seeing him reach out to one of his star players in an effort to solve the Bears’ biggest problem should come at no surprise. That is not all the Bears are doing to repair their front 5 on offense. There are reports the Chicago Bears are pursuing OGs Brandon Moore (Jets) and Kevin Boothe (Giants), as from Michael C. Wright of ESPN Chicago citing from Brian Coz:

RT @briancoz: Bears remain the strongest suitor for FA guard Brandon Moore. #nyj

— Michael C. Wright (@mikecwright) March 12, 2013

And from his colleague Jeff Dickerson:

This has been reported elsewhere, but #Giants OG Kevin Boothe is part of that second-tier at OG that could entice #Bears.

— Jeff Dickerson (@ESPNChiBears) March 12, 2013

Not only have the Chicago Bears solved the TE position, but now they’ve completely upgraded their LT position, easily the most criticized position out of all 5 on the Bears’ OL from a year ago. There is no word on the fate of current Bears LT J’Marcus Webb, but make no mistake Bears fans, Jermon Bushrod is the LT for years to come. The OT and TE positions were the two largest areas of concern for the Chicago Bears this off-season, and after just the first few hours of Free Agency, they’ve more than solved those issues entirely. Cuts are expected to come soon for the Bears, and nothing is known of Brian Urlacher’s fate right now. Make no mistake, the long period of radio silence is over in Chicago, Phil Emery has made his presence known. And, something tells me this is just the beginning, so hold onto your hats and stay tuned!

Dec 23, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; New Orleans Saints tackle Jermon Bushrod (74) blocks against Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware (94) at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bears have made quarterback Jay Cutler very happy. They signed former New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Jermon Bushrod.

“Source: #Bears and reps for #Saints LT Jermon Bushrod are finishing up a long-term deal. #JayCutlersmiles,” Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweeted.

“Bears give former Saints OT Jermon Bushrod a five-year deal, as well,” Adam Schefter tweeted.

Apparently Bushrod didn’t see the video of Cutler getting in his offensive lines face so it might not seem as glamorous as he thinks. But Jay Cutler surely will be excited to have him.

Bushrod is widely considered one of the best left tackles in the league, however Drew Brees gets the ball out faster than Jay Cutler does, and that could set him up for failure in his tenure with the Bears. But the Bears offensive line coach, Aaron Komer, was with the Saints and Bushrod and knows him well. Certainly he thinks he is an upgrade over J’Marcus Webb if this move is being made.

Bushrod is a two time Pro Bowler who took advantage of the injury to Jammal Brown to lock down that job on the 2009 Super Bowl run. The Chicago Bears have also made progress on the defensive side of the ball signing franchise player defensive tackle Henry Melton to a one year $8.5 million deal. That is a fully guaranteed 5 years for Henry Melton.

UPDATE: Deal is worth $36 million according to NFL Network.

Jan 20, 2013; Foxboro, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker (83) runs past Baltimore Ravens cornerback Corey Graham (24) during the fourth quarter of the AFC championship game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

As the beginning of Free Agency looms later this afternoon, a ton of stories have emerged from all over cyberspace regarding which teams should target which players when this massive feeding frenzy is set to start. Now, the Chicago Bears have been a relatively quiet team thus far in the off-season following the hiring of new Head Coach Marc Trestman. However, what is well known is the Bears’ need to shore up their pass protection, and the Bears have already been linked to 3 top OTs: Vikes OT Phil Loadholt, Saints OT Jermon Bushrod, Dolphins OT Jake Long, and in addition Jets OG Brandon Moore. Also, the Bears have been in need of a true dynamic TE ever since they traded Greg Olsen in 2011 to the Carolina Panthers, and one name that has surfaced with the Bears is Titans TE Jared Cook. So, why am I discussing the plausible idea of adding yet another top play-maker into the receiving corps of the Bears that is led by one Brandon Marshall?

Well, here’s the biggest thing, he’s practically the only dependable target in the entire Bears’ receiving corps to begin with. As of right now, designated slot receiver Earl Bennett hasn’t quite lived up to the contract extension he signed back in the 2011 season, and Devin Hester has no desire to play the position anymore. Also, Alshon Jeffery is very young, and he’s coming off a season filled with multiple injuries. In addition, versatile RB Matt Forte has been banged up with ankle issues of his own in the recent past. Plus, Matt Forte’s overall role in this new offense is relatively unknown, as is the use of TEs. The final straw, is the TE market in Free Agency being extremely shallow, where Jared Cook is easily the most wanted name of that market. Still not convinced?

Here’s another area to consider in this potential signing, the Green Bay Packers. Their OL is not exactly a good bunch either, yet the primary reason why QB Aaron Rodgers is having so much success in the passing games, directly relates to the sheer number of targets they have in their receiving corps. Virtually every single WR on their roster is a starting caliber player on any roster in the NFL. Over the years, Green Bay has surrounded and maintained a deep receiving corps for Aaron Rodgers to mature with in their system that’s been a force the past few seasons. Compare that to Chicago, where its Brandon Marshall, then everybody else. The more open targets you have available to you, the faster your QB is able to get the ball out of his hands and pass the rock to move the chains. Building a strong OL is indeed key to a strong passing game, but so is the amount of weapons available to your QB. That, my friends is where WR Wes Welker comes in.

Keep in mind that I’m not the first person to come up with this theory, nor is there any confirmed interest by the Bears as of this minute. But back to the issue, the Chicago Bears need to add a target who would take advantage of the double, sometimes even triple coverage secondaries would have on Brandon Marshall. Alshon Jeffery seems to be the guy that can develop and play adjacent of Brandon Marshall as the #2 to the outside, so the Bears need a target in the soft interior. This is where Wes Welker has done most of his damage, as since he ever first dawned on the fabled patriot on his helmet in 2007, he’s been the shifty workhorse for Tom Brady. In 5 of his last 6 seasons, he’s recorded over 110 recs and 1,100 yards. Even Brandon Marshall has to be impressed with that, and I’m sure he’d be happy to see someone else get locked in by the secondary instead of being locked up himself. It’s not that Brandon Marshall ever had a tough time getting open, it’s just a ton of punishment on your body to be asked and depended on as the only reliable option for Jay Cutler. Adding Wes Welker in the slot, would force teams to pick and choose, as well as end any hopes of double covering Brandon Marshall. So…what about fixing the offensive line?

That’s the one question I or anyone else would have to ask themselves before considering this move. The Chicago Bears currently have but $6-7 mil in cap space depending on where you search. That, is not a lot of money to throw around in Free Agency, let alone compete with the New England Patriots, who essentially have an entire bank at their disposal in comparison. As of this minute, the Bears have been talking to LB Brian Urlacher, and it is completely unknown how that situation is working out. There is a considerable “x” factor that would lead to this idea being a possibility instead of a complete impossibility, and that is GM Phil Emery. He likes it to be this quiet in the off-season, where he doesn’t tip his hand to anyone in the media until the day of that move. It allows for him to work in secrecy, and prevent other teams from interfering with his work. Classic example: the trade for Brandon Marshall just this past off-season. Absolutely nobody expected that move to happen, especially for just a pair of 3rd round picks. The Bears have pulled of surprise moves before that, as they also completely wowed everyone in 2009 by landing QB Jay Cutler in a surprise trade. And, the Bears can be very quick when it comes to modifying their roster and players’s contracts to compensate for a large move, case point in restructuring Julius Peppers’s deal last summer and also extending Lance Briggs’s contract by two seasons. So, the Bears could make a few moves in secrecy regarding their own players under contract, then make a huge splash in Free Agency by landing an OL or two, and then signing Wes Welker. Wes Welker is also 31 years old, where he’s not generating nearly as much interest as WR Mike Wallace is right now in the open market. I can’t put a real dollar value on Welker, given how he’s generally played in the slot yet has the stats that tops most wideouts in the NFL. Yet, he may not cost nearly as much as some may feel, and for the sake of argument he would be a huge addition for a team making every attempt at winning the Super Bowl “now”. Plus, there is the draft as well, where the Bears could pick up even more OL and a talented TE to develop.

Of course in an off-season that’s seen more action from the league in general than it has in past years, anything could happen. Right now at least, there is no official word on the Bears pursuing Wes Welker, most if not all talk is “hype” for now at least. But, seeing how the Chicago Bears have shocked people in a big way over the recent few years, do not ever rule the Bears out of any talk that would involve adding a dynamic play-maker to their offense. Bears Head Coach Marc Trestman and Phil Emery have made it crystal clear they aim to help Jay Cutler in any way they can, and providing him such a dangerous target in the receiving corps to compliment Brandon Marshall, would do just that.

Dec. 30, 2012; Orchard Park, NY, USA; New York Jets guard Brandon Moore (65) looks to make a block during the first half against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

With Free Agency set to begin in just a few days, many have expected the Chicago Bears to be in the market for Offensive Linemen, in an effort to repair their biggest weakness in protecting Bears QB Jay Cutler. While many Bears fans (myself included) have all been screaming for a new LT, right now at least it seems the Bears are focused on fixing the OL from the inside-out, as news broke earier in the week that they are interested in Jets OG Brandon Moore. As Michael Wright of ESPN Chicago reported:

Past issues in protection indicate the Chicago Bears could be looking at offensive tackle in free agency or the draft, but the club has actually explored the possibility of bringing in an interior offensive lineman in New York Jets veteran guard Brandon Moore, according to an NFL source.

Now, his age could be a slight negative, as he will be 33 years old by the time next season rolls in. On the other hand, he has been a great OL in general for the Jets, being named to the Pro Bowl in 2011 and has not missed a game since 2003. Plus, his age could allow the Bears to structure a cap friendly deal, provided the Bears don’t make any moves between now and Free Agency to open up cap space. The Chicago Bears currently have less than $4 mil after slapping the Franchise Tag on Pro Bowl DT Henry Melton.

Another Player the Bears have been reported to show interest in, is Pittsburgh Steelers OG Ramon Foster, in which the news was Tweeted by Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun Times:

Sean Jensen‏@seankjensen10 hrs

#Bears are clearly in the market for a guard: Ramon Foster believed to be on #Bears radar. He’s started 30 games last 2 seasons for Steelers

Although a lesser known player than say Brandon Moore, he is considerably younger than said player, given how Foster is 27 years old, compared to 32 turning 33 in June. He’s also had some solid experience with the Steelers, starting 30 games in his last 2 seasons with the Steelers. Plus, if you like your OL big and nasty, then this is the player for you, as he comes in at 6’6″, 325 lbs compared to Moore, who is 6’3″, 305 lbs. Now, size doesn’t always matter as far as OL are concerned, but Bears OC and OL coach Aaron Kromer has coached an OL in New Orleans which normally featured some pretty big players in the interior, including current Bucs LG and former Saint Carl Nicks (6’5″, 349lbs) and current Saints RG Jahri Evans (6’4″ 318 lbs).  Given his young age and current experience, he may not be that big named player who everyone wants that would command such a huge salary, rather, he would provide to the Bears an adequate prospect who could be coached into a staple in the Bears interior for years to come.

Regardless whether they play Center, Guard, or Tackle, the Chicago Bears need to repair their OL if they want any hope of building a strong offense for Jay Cutler to thrive in. Another player that the Bears may have an eye on, is Saints LT Jermon Bushrod, who could be interested in following his position coach onto a team dedicated on a win-now setting. However, the Bears currently have not made any moves aimed at freeing up some money in order to make a run at a real upgrade in the LT position such as Jermon Bushrod, so, the Bears may instead choose to beef up the interior, then look at the draft to add a talented prospect for Aaron Kromer to coach up. Of course, right now the top priority for the Bears seems to be bringing Brian Urlacher back next season, which will cost some cash, but not nearly as much as he used to cost.

Anything can happen between now and March 12, so for all NFL fans especially Bears fans, stay tuned…

January 27, 2013; Honolulu, HI, USA; NFC long snapper Don Muhlbach of the Detroit Lions (48) prepares to snap the ball with NFC guard Jahri Evans of the New Orleans Saints (73), NFC tackle Russell Okung of the Seattle Seahawks (76), and NFC tackle Jermon Bushrod of the New Orleans Saints (74) at the line of scrimmage in the fourth quarter against the AFC during the 2013 Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium. The NFC defeated the AFC 62-35. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

One of the most coveted free agent offensive tackles this offseason is Jermon Bushrod of the New Orleans Saints. And teams might not even get a chance to negotiate with him as he believes the Saints will begin to negotiate a new contract with him soon.

“But at the end of the day, the business aspect is going to come out and that’s just something you have to be prepared for and ready for. There should be no hard feelings,” Bushrod said, via Larry Holder of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. “Every single player that’s left and gone to another team, they’ve definitely appreciated the experience here in New Orleans. You can’t get your feelings too wrapped into this. It’s a tough situation. But sometimes, you may have to experience change. Things aren’t always going to remain the same.”

The New Orleans Saints were reportedly considering the franchise tag but reports now say they aren’t planning on using it.

“Truthfully I can’t really say what I anticipate on their end because I don’t really know what they’re thinking,” Bushrod said. “As a player, the franchise tag is good, but it’s not what a player really wants. In my situation, I played under the (restricted free agent) tender and then played under a two-year deal.

“So I’d like to have some stability moving forward. I guess it’s a good move, but it’s still an option. I’m not going to get too worked up about it. I always just go through the mind-set of something that I really can’t control. We’ll see how things work out in the next few days.”

The Saints are tight on cap space and could wait to see how the market sets the price for tackles in free agency. This is one of the deepest positions on the free agent market.

Dec 23, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; New Orleans Saints tackle Jermon Bushrod (74) celebrates a victory in overtime with kicker Garrett Hartley (5) against the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium. The Saints beat the Cowboys 34-31 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

What a busy day this has been….even more news/rumors I’m investigating. With Tom Brady’s new 3 year $27 mil contract extension, all of which guaranteed, the Patriots open at least $15 mil in cap space up over the next two seasons, allowing them to be major players in free agency this season.

Also, for the Bears fans around here (sorry Mike Dyce) there is word going around the league that the Bears are going to attempt to sign BOTH LT Jermon Bushrod and TE Jermichael Finley, provided the Packers cut Finley loose. The Bears are also believed to be bringing Brian Urlacher back, and may approach both Julius Peppers as well as Charles Tillman on potential contract extensions for both players to gain some cap space. Unfortunately, there are no confirmations to any of these, as Phil Emery has stated he will not “tip his hand”.

Speaking about Finley, the Packers are “undecided” on the matter, but the initial thought is the franchise tag will not in play right at this minute. Instead, they may try to sign him for a smaller deal. The Packers as of this minute are mostly focusing their efforts on signing Clay Mathews to a new deal, and eventually will begin contract talks with Aaron Rodgers. For this minute at least, the Packers may not be serious players in free agency, but if a player catches their eye as cuts are made, then they will be all over them.

More updates will be posted as the day goes by. The Tom Brady deal could begin an unprecedented domino effect on the NFL, including the current negotiations between Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens.

Dec 23, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; New Orleans Saints tackle Jermon Bushrod (74) on the line of scrimmage before a play against the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium. The Saints beat the Cowboys 34-31 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

A few days ago, news was leaked and confirmed that the New Orleans Saints will not use the franchise tag on their young Pro Bowl LT, in a move that will force the Saints to search for a new long term answer at LT, but will also allow the Saints to gain a little breathing room in cap space. If the Saints decided to tag Jermon Bushrod, they would reportedly have owed at least $9.66 million for just one more year of having him at LT.

They’ve already lost Carl Nicks last year in FA, and now they’re looking to lose yet another stud player from their OL, simply because the Saints do not have enough cap space to retain all of their key players on offense. What the Saints will decide to do next to provide Drew Brees with protection is anyone’s guess, but as for right now, Jermon Bushrod is an unrestricted free agent, and there are plenty of teams that will be searching for a good young LT once free agency begins March 12. If the Saints do not re-sign Jermon Bushrod, then let’s look to see who these 5 possible teams are on this list:

Chicago Bears – It is no secret that they need to provide QB Jay Cutler with better protection at virtually every position on the OL, in particular the LT position where J’Marcus Webb has been the starter the past 2 seasons, and the results have been less than ideal. Bears GM Phil Emery even dove into detail using statistics during his press conference that presented just how bad the Bears were in pass protection.

They need to get better, plain and simple, and they’ve already taken a major step forward towards the right direction in naming former New Orleans Saints OL coach Aaron Kromer their Offensive Coordinator and OL coach, a highly regarded coach who’s mentored and helped to develop Jermon Bushrod into the 2 time Pro Bowler that he is today. This would be the most logical landing spot out of the 5, as the Bears absolutely need to find an answer to fix their problem at LT, and Jermon Bushrod would be re-united with the coach who knows him best.

Of course, the Bears have a ton of other needs including the need to find a real “threat” at TE, and to find the heir apparent at MLB with Brian Urlacher’s days neering an end, although sources are pointing out Brian Urlacher could be returning this year in Chicago. On top of that, they’re pretty tight against the cap, and would need to make a few moves in order to accommodate this would-be splash in FA. Nevertheless, if the Bears do bring in Jermon Bushrod, then they would be well on their way to repairing what has been a severe as well as chronic issue the past 3 seasons.

Arizona Cardinals – If there was an OL that was even worse than the Bears’ OL, it would be the Cardinals’. Everybody in Arizona is concerned with who will be their QB this next season, when really I’d be much more inclined to ask who’s going to protect their QB? Now, their coaching staff has stated publicly that “there’s talent” on their OL, and some fans are pointing to Nate Potter as a potential gem in the making, but well we’ve heard that plenty of times around the NFL where their respective OL is not a very good bunch.

There’s no problem in sticking up for your own players, but to go and completely ignore the problem would be a serious mistake. If the Arizona Cardinals were to pursue Jermon Bushrod in Free Agency, then they would be bringing in a solid as well as a young and experienced option to mend the issue entirely, and would provide for a better environment for any QB named the starter in Arizona.

To put all their eggs into one QB basket and expect them to play well behind this OL in it’s current state, would be a death sentence for a career. Bringing in Jermon Bushrod, who may like Arizona because of the warm weather as well as the fact he would be playing under a dome, would provide some insurance to any incoming QB long term.

New York Jets – They’ve been quite busy cutting players in moves that are aimed at creating cap space, most notably Bart Scott among others, and the trade for Jason Smith in an effort to repair their LT position, turned out to be a complete disaster. If there was one glaring problem last season besides the drama at the QB position which was revolved around Tim Tebow and Mark Sanchez, it was their front five.

Mark Sanchez, and Tim Tebow, and Greg McElroy, all received similar punishment coming from the blindside, where there seemed to be a swinging gate left wide open for all the defensive linemen to come in and get a clean shot at whomever was the QB. Since the Jets have hired a new GM, we really have no idea what exactly will take place with the team, but it seems clear that the Jets desire to get better on offense, with both the QB position as well as the LT and the OL in general being priority 1a and 1b.

Even if they do in fact decide to get another QB to compete with Mark Sanchez, you simply can’t expect the QB to play any better when there is a real question mark “protecting” your blind side. The Jets could help QB “X” play better, if you have better and consistent protection from the LT position. This is where Jermon Bushrod comes in, as he’s both young as well as affordable, where he would provide a long term answer for a key need, and allow the team to focus on other serious needs, like…finding a new potential starting QB.

Miami Dolphins – There is a reason why the Dolphins are potentially moving on from Jake Long after a long era with him as the starting LT, and that’s because he was seen as a shadow of his former great self where he’s been injured frequently, and his play went on a decline because of it.

Now, they could simply wait until the draft to find a young player to take over the LT position in the 1st round, but if they decided that a veteran would be a better option than a rookie to protect their young QB in Ryan Tannehill, then Jermon Bushrod would be a wise choice for this team to consider. He’s been relatively healthy throughout his career, and he does not seem to be asking for a huge salary that comes anywhere near what Jake Long would be asking for, so this would be an absolute win/win for the Miami Dolphins if they took this route.

Of course, they need to build a respectable receiving corps for the future franchise QB to target in the passing game, but bringing in a talented LT would certainly help Tannehill be able to find his targets easier, as the speed of the game will only increase from now on. Sign Bushrod and then either sign or draft a few solid pass catchers, and the Miami Dolphins would have the foundation to build an extensive passing game on.

St. Louis Rams – Considering how high the Rams have been drafting overall the past decade, as they’ve been in the top 10 overall in draft position for quite sometime now, you’d think they would have found a great LT to fill the void that’s been open since the days of the former great Orlando Pace came to an end, right?

Well…let’s just say when you trade your former 2nd overall pick at LT to another team for a back-up RT, which they did this past season, then that speaks a lot about the issues you have on your blindside. Not only have the Rams been bad at protecting Sam Bradford, they’ve been decimated by injuries as well. Something has to be done to bring stability to the OL in order to allow Sam Bradford to develop. However, like usual, the Rams are in a good spot to pick up a new LT to plug into the line-up in the draft, yet why not spend some of your resources to bring in a dependable veteran that’s shown he can protect your QB on a consistent basis?

When you sign your rookie QB to a deal that guaranteed him more money than a ton of other veteran QBs in the NFL were, you better be willing to protect your investment. And signing a quality starting calibre LT in FA, would allow the Rams to concentrate their focus on the skilled positions on offense.

Feel your team could use this healthy and young LT on your team? Then please represent your fan base and sound off, as I’m sure there are other teams that could look into signing a new LT not named Jake Long, Ryan Clady (who’s been tagged), or even Brandon Albert. Whatever team decides to sign this player, will be receiving a good and young prospect that can anchor your LT position, for years to come.