Former Dolphins lineman Connor Williams could be nice fit for Bears |
We are getting to the point of the NFL offseason when remaining free agents start to get desperate as they look for a home before training camp. One name that hasn't been mentioned a ton but should be a name to watch in the coming weeks is C Connor Williams, who is viewed as a potential fit for the Bears.
Not only is he viewed as a fit, but many view him as the perfect fit for this team, which is still searching for an answer at the center position. The former Cowboys and Dolphins center has been very reliable since coming into this league, but he saw his season cut short due to a knee injury last year. Despite that, Williams not only expects to be 100% by training camp, but he is talking to a handful of teams and will decide where he will play before camps open. While it is unclear if the Bears are one of those teams he is talking to, the Bears should be talking to him or, at the very least, reaching out to him if they still need to do so. It's no secret that Williams is ready to find a new team and is itching to get on the field, but with his team discussions being released, it's easier to say where his head is and what he is thinking. If winning is the top priority, do the Bears fit that criterion when you look at how their last few seasons have gone? However, if scheme and fit is an option, then the Bears should be at the top of his list, as he would be the perfect addition to this team. Chicago knows that, but to add him, they need to get a little creative with the deal they structure. At just 27 years old, not only does Williams have a ton of football left in the tank, but he has experience at Center, Guard and Tackle. That type of versatility is something the Bears offensive line has yet to always have on their line, and it is something they will gladly take as they continue to improve this offense. Versatility or not, Williams has played much better the past two seasons since making the move to Center, and with the Bears needing a solution at Center, the fit is a match made in heaven. Before his season ended with a knee injury, Williams was the second highest-rated Center in the league, where he graded out at 86.5. Some would look at his success and credit that to being a contract year, but that is far from the truth, as he has been one of the best linemen for a while now. He graded out at 78.4 in 2022, suitable for the fourth-best Center, and was also a top 10 guard in 2021, where he graded out at 75.2. In other words, not only does he continue to be a top-10 lineman no matter where he plays, but he has improved in each of the last three seasons, which is what you look for in a free agent. Anytime you have that type of track record mixed with the quality of play that comes with it, it's hard to ignore him being a fit for anyone. Even with the injury question and whether or not he will be 100% by the time camp breaks, there is a reason why the Bears have viewed him as a target since the start of the offseason and why they continue to see him that way. Adding Williams to the line will certainly make that unit better and deeper, but with the Center position being less of a need now than before will Ryan Poles make the move to land him. With a projected salary of 7.5 million per season, that comes off as a bargain for a player with his successful track record. However, with the Bears starting to become tight on funds, does this move make sense from a financial and production standpoint? Simply put, the Bears would be wise to make this move, and most expect them to be in on the Williams sweepstakes as camp begins.
