Free Agent Target: Cameron Fleming |
The other day we discussed the importance of adding depth to this team, especially on the offensive line. Ryan Poles knows this and has made that a huge focus over the past two off-seasons. Despite that and the offensive line significantly improving, some areas still need to be addressed for the guys protecting Justin Fields.
While training camp will determine who starts and who doesn't, the Bears do have one significant flaw they need to address right now, and that is at the tackle position. As things stand today, the Bears have two very capable tackles, but what happens if one of those guys goes down? Chicago doesn't have many options, and should an injury occur to one of their starting tackles; the Bears would be forced to move a guard to the outside, which alone could have lingering effects. If the Bears make more free-agent moves, they will likely need to focus on adding at least one tackle to the offensive line to create more depth. If that is the case, why not look at former New York Giant OT Cameron Fleming as an option, as he still remains a free agent? Apart from Cody Whitehair, who has multiple years of starting experience, the Bears have a very young group on their offensive line and need a true veteran leader to help keep these guys in check. Fleming could be the player the Bears are missing, as he would bring tons of value to this team in many ways. For starters, Fleming is a long-time NFL veteran that would come into camp and have the respect of the younger guys. That is crucial in the league today, and the Bears need more veteran voices on this team. Second, Fleming has loads of NFL experience, as he has seen game action in 111 career games. That is more than any current Chicago Bears offensive line member, and at 30 years old, he still has quite a bit left in the tank. Last offseason, Fleming hit free agency in March only to re-sign with Denver in late July. The 2023 offseason is headed in a similar direction. With the draft out of the way, many teams that were once in dire need of a starting tackle are now content with their personnel. I have no clue whether that is a red flag or not, but he is getting to the point where Fleming wants to secure a multi-year deal to at least lock down some financial security. As mentioned above, the Bears could use and do need some offensive tackle depth, but Fleming would be more than just a backup if the Bears were to bring him in for the 2023 season and possibly beyond. Returning to his time with the Dallas Cowboys, before he landed with the Giants and Broncos, you will see that Fleming was used as a rotational tackle and saw plenty of action. Despite only making six starts with the Cowboys, he did play in 28 career games, so he saw plenty of action on the field. When you look at the offenses that Fleming has played in, you could argue that he has seen it all. The Cowboys are known as a pass-first team, while the Giants are a run-first team. When you look back at last season, the Bears ran the ball exceptionally well, so Fleming would be able to come in and fit in nicely. If you compare Fleming to Isaiah Wynn, Wynn may be the more intriguing option based on his age, but Fleming is the more proven player. He has way more experience and is at the point in his career where he is willing to split time if it helps a team win more games. That alone makes him an excellent fit for the Bears and their offensive line, as he could give players breaks when needed and would understand his role from the moment he walked into Halas Hall.
