Bears Acquire Dan Feeney in Trade to Bolster Struggling Offensive Line
Seasoned Chicago Tribune writer Brad Biggs has revealed that the Chicago Bears are nearing a trade deal for Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Dan Feeney. This development seemed almost inevitable after the Bears released four of their offensive linemen within a single day, as part of their roster downsizing from 90 to 53 players by the Tuesday deadline.
Though not yet confirmed officially (Update: Now it is!), ESPN's Courtney Cronin reports that a sixth-round pick will go from Chicago to Miami in exchange for Feeney. While it's a bit frustrating that GM Ryan Poles had to resort to a trade to bolster depth�something that could have been addressed earlier in the offseason�a sixth-round pick isn't a huge loss, especially considering how Poles has managed to stockpile late-round picks.
So, who is Dan Feeney?
Dan Feeney, a 29-year-old native of Orland Park, Illinois, was initially drafted 71st overall by the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2017 NFL Draft. The Indiana University alum has experience playing both guard positions as well as center, a flexibility that the Bears likely find appealing. Feeney's pro career started with the Chargers where he participated in 63 games, starting 57 of them between 2017 and 2020. He remained a consistent starter for the Chargers from 2018 to 2020, playing various positions along the line. Over the last two seasons with the New York Jets, Feeney expanded his positional repertoire further, spending time at center, both guard positions, and even occasionally at tight end in jumbo sets.
For those with a keen memory, Feeney's name might ring a bell; the Bears had interviewed him during the 2017 pre-draft process. At that time, Pro Football Focus had ranked him as the draft class's third-best center and 68th best player overall.
Why is this significant?
Feeney brings to the table the sort of positional versatility that the Bears highly value, particularly at a time when they're grappling with injuries along the offensive line. With Teven Jenkins still being evaluated on a week-to-week basis for his leg injury, and other key players like Lucas Patrick and Nate Davis also dealing with health concerns, Feeney's addition to the roster could not be more timely. Though primarily a depth addition, given the current state of the Bears' O-line, any help is good help, and Feeney's acquisition is therefore a welcome one.
| POLL | ||
30 AOUT | 18 ANSWERS Bears Acquire Dan Feeney in Trade to Bolster Struggling Offensive Line Are you happy about the Dan Feeney trade? | ||
| yes | 13 | 72.2 % |
| No | 5 | 27.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
