For the last seven years, the Bears have entered the offseason with no question about who their right guard would be come the start of the season.
But following Kyle Long’s announcement that he will be stepping away from the Bears and the NFL, the Bears will need to fill that spot at right guard on an offensive line that will be under new management in Juan Castillo, who was hired to replace Harry Hiestand as offensive line coach.
There are different routes the Bears could turn to replace Long — including in-house, free agency or even the NFL Draft.
Here are five candidates that could take over for Long at right guard in 2020:
1. Alex Bars
Under contract, Chicago Bears
The popular candidate to replace Long at right guard is rookie offensive lineman Alex Bars, who the Bears fought hard to keep in Chicago. The Bears paid Bars more money to remain on their practice squad — rather than him choosing to join the Patriots active roster.
Bars was promoted to the active roster on Oct. 15, although he didn’t get any significant reps in the final half of the season. Still, the Bears clearly have plans for Bars, and you’d have to believe it involves giving him a chance to win the starting right guard job in training camp.
2. Rashaad Coward
Restricted free agent, Chicago Bears
Rashaad Coward is another popular option to replace Long considering he started at right guard for 10 games in place of Long in 2019. Coward switched from the defensive line to offensive line last season, and he did a decent job in relief of Long.
Coward is set to become a restricted free agent in March, which means that he’s tied down unless the Bears allow him to become an unrestricted free agent. But it figures to be a battle between Coward and Bars in training camp next season.
3. Brandon Scherff
Unrestricted free agent, Washington Redskins
If the Redskins allow right guard Brandon Scherff to hit the free agent market, there will be no shortage of suitors coming his way — and the Bears should be one of them. Scherff is one of the best guards in the NFL — and especially good in the running game, where the Bears can surely use some assistance.
The downside is it would cost a pretty penny to lock Scherff down — with the Bears are already low on salary cap space in 2020 — and they still need to lock down some players in-house. Still, it’s an enticing opportunity if he hits the open market.
4. Andrus Peat
Unrestricted free agent, New Orleans Saints
Another route the Bears could go in free agency is with Saints offensive lineman Andrus Peat, who has played at four positions (left tackle, left guard, right guard, right tackle) in his five-year career.
While Peat settled in at left guard for the Saints, he could just as easily slide into the right guard position and provide some stability in run blocking and pass protection. In 2018, Peat was named to his first career Pro Bowl for his solid play on one of the NFL’s best offensive line units. The Bears could turn to Peat for some veteran assistance.
5. Solomon Kindley
2020 Draft Class, Georgia Bulldogs
The Bears are projected to have seven draft picks — which includes a fourth-round compensatory selection for Adrian Amos — and it’s likely that they’ll use at least one of their selections to bring in an offensive lineman. If the Bears are looking for a plug-and-play guard with starting potential, they should look at Georgia lineman Soloman Kindley.
Kindley, who is projected to be a first or second round pick, is athletic in pass protection and a powerful run blocker, something the Bears could benefit from as they look for a solution to their run game woes.
