Mike McGlinchey? Smoke Reportedly Building Around Him And Bears
The Chicago Bears likely won’t go crazy in free agency this year. That said, they have more than enough money to take one or two big swings if they wish. Ongoing rumors suggest GM Ryan Poles hopes to strike quickly at a couple of key positions, shoring up some problematic areas on his roster. There are already hints that Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Javon Hargrave will be a target. He had 11.5 sacks last year and would solve the Bears’ glaring lack of interior pass rush. The other position figures to be an offensive right tackle, which was the biggest weakness up front. Enter Mike McGlinchey.
Dan Bernstein revealed on 670 The Score that he hears whispers the veteran San Francisco 49ers right tackle is the name to watch for Chicago. It makes sense. McGlinchey is big, long, athletic for his size, and plays in an offensive system very similar to the Bears.
McGlinchey is known best for his standout run-blocking. He was dominant in 2020. Injuries slowed him in 2021, but he regained some of his juice last year. The big issue for some is his pass protection. While not terrible, it can’t be called good, either. In the previous two full seasons he played, he allowed 37 and 36 total pressures, respectively.
Mike McGlinchey is an upgrade, just not a big one.
He is better overall than Larry Borom or Riley Reiff. That much can be said. However, he doesn’t seem like the solution if the Bears were looking to improve Justin Fields’ pass protection. Then again, their offensive identity is built around running the football. If they wish to continue with that, then McGlinchey is a solid choice. He’s big, physical, and nasty. He also has ties to the area, having attended Notre Dame in college. Combining him and Teven Jenkins on the right side could be trouble.
The truth is there is no perfect solution for the Bears. Their other two options on the market are Kaleb McGary and Jawaan Taylor. McGary is much the same as Mike McGlinchey, a good run blocker with average pass-protecting skills. Taylor is the opposite. He was a top pass protector for Jacksonville last season but is seen as a liability in the run game. From Poles’ perspective, none of his options are ideal. In such cases, the best thing to do is find the best scheme fit and roll with it. That is what McGlinchey is.