Ex-Bears Starter Inks Deal with Broncos
Former Chicago Bears starting center Sam Mustipher is set to swap his orange and blue jersey for the Denver Broncos' colors in the upcoming 2024 season. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Mustipher will sign a one-year contract with the Broncos after his stint with the Baltimore Ravens in 2023. Mustipher, who spent four years with the Bears starting 40 out of 43 games, joins the Broncos' roster at 27 years old.
Originally joining the Bears as an undrafted rookie in 2019, Mustipher secured a starting role on the offensive line midway through the 2020 season. Despite his tenure, Mustipher's time in Chicago was marked by inconsistent performance, notably in pass-blocking, as highlighted by Pro Football Focus. This ultimately led to the Bears allowing him to enter free agency in 2023.
Now, Mustipher looks to rejuvenate his career in Denver, where he will compete for the starting center position. With the departure of Lloyd Cushenberry in free agency, Mustipher adds depth to the Broncos' center position alongside Luke Watternberg and Alex Forsyth.
Regarding contract details, Mustipher will reportedly earn approximately $1.12 million on a veteran-minimum deal for the upcoming season with the Broncos.
Meanwhile, the Bears have made significant moves to address their center position in the 2024 offseason. Trading for Ryan Bates from the Buffalo Bills and signing Coleman Shelton, they aim to bolster the position after struggles following Mustipher's departure.
Despite these acquisitions, the Bears remain open to drafting a center in the upcoming NFL draft. Interest has been shown in top prospects like Zach Frazier from West Virginia. However, with limited draft capital, particularly after recent veteran acquisitions, the Bears may target a center in the later rounds of the draft.
| POLL | ||
7 AVRIL | 50 ANSWERS Ex-Bears Starter Inks Deal with Broncos Are you excited to see Sam Mustipher's performance with the Denver Broncos? | ||
| Yes | 9 | 18 % |
| No | 41 | 82 % |
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