The Chicago Bears added depth to their offensive line with the addition of former second-round pick Jason Spriggs. Spriggs, who’s spent his career with the Packers, signed a one-year deal with Chicago on Friday.
While he certainly won’t be competing for a starting job, he’ll provide much-needed depth at a position that was a concern last season. While Spriggs hasn’t lived up to his second-round billing, perhaps new offensive line coach Juan Castillo can salvage some potential left in Spriggs.
Let’s get to know the Bears’ newest offensive lineman:
1. The Bears were interested in Spriggs in 2016 NFL Draft
It doesn’t seem like a coincidence that the Bears are taking a chance on Spriggs considering general manager Ryan Pace was interested in the former Indiana Hooiser in the 2016 NFL Draft.
The Bears were looking at drafting Spriggs, but Packers general manager Ted Thompson traded up to snag him before Chicago could with the 48th overall pick. Instead of getting Spriggs, the Bears traded back and drafted interior offensive lineman Cody Whitehair with the 56th overall pick.
Considering Spriggs hasn’t lived up to his second-round billing — and Whitehair has earned a second contract — the Bears certainly got the better end of the deal.
2. Packers traded up to draft Spriggs in 2nd round
The Bears were certainly interested in drafting Spriggs in the 2016 NFL Draft, but they weren’t alone. Their rivals to the north, the Packers, were also high on Spriggs. So much so that they traded up to snag him in the second round with the 48th overall pick.
Ultimately, the Packers sent three draft picks to the Colts (57th overall, a fourth-rounder (125th) and seventh-round pick (248th) to move up to draft Spriggs. But considering he turned out to be a failure for Green Bay, it’s surely.a move they’d like to have back.
3. Spriggs is another former bust joining the Bears
The Bears have spent this offseason bringing in former busts at low-risk, high-reward deals, among them cornerback Artie Burns, pass rusher Barkevious Mingo and offensive lineman Germain Ifedi. Spriggs, a former second-round pick with the Packers, didn’t pan out during his time in Green Bay, and he certainly fits the bill.
Spriggs played in 36 games for the Packers, where he started nine. In those 36 games, Spriggs had 10 penalties, including six false starts during his career with the Packers. He’ll fit right in with Bears left tackle Charles Leno, who was among the league-most in penalties in 2019.
4. Spriggs figures to be Bears’ new swing tackle
Make no mistake, the Bears didn’t bring Spriggs in to compete for a starting job at offensive tackle. He’s a depth signing. But if Spriggs plays well on what should be a minimum deal, he could be kept around for future seasons.
While Spriggs played left tackle at Indiana, he saw time on the right side during his time with the Packers. He could very well be the Bears’ swing tackle next season, where he could provide insurance for Leno or Bobby Massie.
5. Spriggs has struggled with injuries
Spriggs never panned out for the Packers, and perhaps his inability to stay on the field contributed to that. In his second season, Spriggs was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. He was activated off injured reserve later that season, where he started five games at right tackle, before landing back on injured reserve with a knee injury in late December.
Spriggs, who was waived by Green Bay in August 2019, spent that entire season on the Packers’ injured reserve list.
