Lost in all the 2024 NFL Draft chatter is the fact that free agency is right around the corner. The legal tampering window opens on March 11, with signings becoming official on March 13.
The Chicago Bears are expected to be a buyer in this year's class, especially because they'll begin free agency with more than $70 million in salary cap space, which ranks third-most in the NFL.
The NFL Scouting Combine is quickly approaching, and while most of the focus will be on how fast draft prospects run, the business side of football -- the late-night conversations between general managers and agents on parameters of deals with would-be free agents -- is the real work that gets done.
You can bet on rumors connecting teams with free agents to begin swirling when the Scouting Combine concludes, and there's a chance Bears fans will hear about a connection between Chicago and center Connor Williams, who, but-for a late-season ACL injury, would be one of the top offensive linemen in this year's free agent class.
Instead, there's a chance his market will be lighter than is should be because of his uncertain status to begin next season. Perhaps that won't matter to the Bears, who've played the last few seasons with centers who Williams could outplay on one leg.
According to ESPN's Matt Bowen, who ranked his top 50 soon-to-be free agents, the Chicago Bears are a team to keep an eye on for Connor Williams.
"Williams suffered an ACL injury in his left knee in December, which has an impact on his value on the free agent market," Bowen wrote. "However, Williams was really good on tape before the injury, posting a 93.9% pass block win rate. He's a positional blocker at the point of attack and an easy mover in the run game, creating positive angles to cut off defenders. I see Williams staying with Miami in Mike McDaniel's offense. But also keep an eye on Chicago; the Bears need to address the center position."
It feels like a foregone conclusion that Poles will address center in veteran free agency. With the Bears expected to select USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, pairing him with a rookie center would be risky business.
Adding a player like Connor Williams, even with the injury concern, would be a fantastic security blanket for a rookie quarterback like Caleb, who can lean on Connor's experience identifying complex defensive strategy.
According to Spotrac, Williams will command an average annual salary of $13.5 million, and the projected contract he'll sign this offseason will be somewhere around five years, $67.6 million.
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