Bears add former top center prospect Ricky Stromberg |
Just when you thought it was safe to go into the water after the Shane Waldrun firing, the purge continues as the Chicago Bears cut ties with veteran offensive lineman Nate Davis this morning. Davis has been part of the Bears roster the past two seasons, making 13 career starts in that time.
However, whether it be the injuries or his lack of desire to be in Chicago this season, Davis was a liability for the Bears this season, and Chicago elected to part ways with him Wednesday morning as they continue to send a message to the offense. At this point, only a select handful of players are deemed safe, and the Bears are doing whatever it takes to try and turn this around. That includes adding players to the practice squad to see what they can do. Chicago has added former top center prospect Ricky Stromberg to its practice squad. It was the second of three moves the Bears made today. Jake Curhan was added to the active roster to replace Davis, opening up the spot for Stromberg. You may be wondering who Ricky Stromberg is. Well, Stromberg was a former third-round pick, drafted by the Washington Commanders No. 97 overall in the 2023 NFL draft. Stromberg came into the league with about as high of an upside as you can have, as the former University of Arkansas Center was ranked in the top five of his draft class, grading out as the fourth-best Center that year. Stromberg was high on many teams' lists that season, including the Bears. Ryan Poles had several visits with him during the draft process but didn't pull the trigger to get him sooner than No. 97. Now, with a second opportunity to grab him, Poles wasn't going to miss this time, as Stromberg has been added to the Bears practice squad for what hopefully will be the remainder of the season. The big concern surrounding this move is that Stromberg was limited to just four games last year due to an injury before being cut before the start of this season. Some feel the injury had something to do with his release this season, and if that is the case, it only makes sense for the Bears to pick him up if this is a long-term play. Knowing that a top-100 prospect suddenly hit the open market is a bit of relief, so there is a little bit more optimism surrounding this move. Regardless, this move has a lot of optimism as it could work out in the Bears' favor. If it does, then the Bears may have their Center of the future, and getting him at such a young age would be crucial for Caleb Williams. If you go back to the 2023 NFL draft, Lance Zierlein was very high on the prospect and had this to say about him. "Center prospect with enough athleticism and strength to be considered scheme-independent," Zierlein said. "Early impressions could leave evaluators unimpressed with his lack of control at times; however, his process and results should quickly grow on them. Stromberg generates decent movement at the point of attack and is well-schooled with landmarks as a zone blocker. His waist-bending causes inconsistencies with his mirror and recoveries in protection. He has an innate feel for angles and positioning, leading to unexpected block wins. Stromberg can become a starting center with the flexibility to play guard if needed." That athleticism part stands out, as he could be used in all different ways. Even if he is scheme-dependent, the Bears may feel their scheme hits his style; otherwise, they won't make this move. The next question is, does he see the field at any point this year? Well, he did undergo a scope in his knee in September, which was expected to keep him out for 7-8 weeks. Washington had a tough decision to make when they found that out, and they decided to release him as opposed to holding onto him. Since we are now in week 11 of the NFL season, you have to wonder if Stromberg is back to 100%, and if so, do the Bears push him to get him in enough shape to get a look at him down the stretch? It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world when you look at their line, as he could be a buy-low candidate that rewards this team.
