Chicago Bears: 5 Offensive guards to target in 2020 NFL free agency

3. Andrus Peat (Age: 26)

The New Orleans Saints have some decisions to make. Future Hall of Fame quarterback is a free agent and Teddy Bridgewater, who some view as his heir apparent, is as well. The Saints likely re-sign Brees and Bridgewater leaves for another team so the Saints need to sign a dependable backup.

There are also decisions on new contracts for players like Alvin Kamara. The team needs to make creative moves to free up salary cap space.

That probably leaves guard Andrus Peat on the outside looking for a new team. Peat has been an integral part of the Saints’ line but with their salary cap situation and decisions to make at other spots they probably won’t be able to afford Peat.

Peat is a disciplined player. He only committed three penalties in 2019 and just 24 in his career. For comparison (and I know he’s a tackle), look at Charles Leno. Leno had 12 penalties in 2019. That just makes the offense shoot itself in the foot.

Yes, Peat missed six games in 2019 with a forearm injury but he hasn’t had any double-digit penalty season in his career while Leno has had two. Perhaps with Peat coming in and settling things down, he could help the other linemen stay in line.

Peat has a good effect on his teammates. The Saints only gave up 25 sacks all season. That is a very good number but upon closer look, you see how the line suffered without Peat. He went down early in Week 10. After he went down, the Saints line gave up six sacks in the game. They went on to give up three more in the other five games he missed. That’s nine sacks given up in the six games he missed, or 36 percent of their sack total for their season.

I think Peat would have a similar impact on the Chicago Bears. He’d be a great influence on the other linemen.