Released Chicago Bears Player Emerges as Possible Solution for Detroit Lions' Offensive Line Concerns
The Chicago Bears' decision to release veteran offensive lineman Cody Whitehair last week came as little surprise, given his performance dip last season and the financial implications of his contract. Whitehair, who has spent his entire NFL career with Chicago, once earned Pro Bowl recognition as a center in 2018 before transitioning to left guard, where he primarily played in recent seasons. However, his performance rating by Pro Football Focus plummeted to a career-low of 45.0 in the past season, marking a significant decline from the previous year.
The Detroit Lions face potential upheaval along their interior offensive line this offseason, with guards Jonah Jackson, Graham Glasgow, and Halapoulivaati Vaitai approaching free agency. Vaitai's retirement is a possibility, leaving the Lions to potentially navigate the futures of Jackson and Glasgow.
Jackson, despite a challenging 2023 season, is expected to attract considerable interest and command a substantial salary on the open market. Glasgow, on the other hand, has positioned himself for a salary increase following a solid season and has expressed his desire for higher compensation.
With Whitehair's early release, he is eligible to sign with any team before the start of the new league year on March 13. The market for Whitehair during this period remains uncertain. The Lions may not rush to sign Whitehair immediately, as doing so could signal their anticipation of losing Jackson or Glasgow. However, exploring Whitehair as a potential option, given his wealth of experience and versatility, could be a prudent strategy if they face a vacancy on their offensive line.
Despite ranking 73rd out of 79 eligible guards in 2023 according to PFF, Whitehair's more favorable rating in 2022 suggests the potential for a rebound. For teams in need of offensive line reinforcement, like the Lions, Whitehair presents a low-risk, high-experience option that could bolster their roster, depending on their free agency outcomes.
| POLL | ||
19 FEVRIER | 34 ANSWERS Released Chicago Bears Player Emerges as Possible Solution for Detroit Lions' Offensive Line Concerns Is Cody Whitehair done as a starter in the NFL? | ||
| Yes | 18 | 52.9 % |
| No | 16 | 47.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
