Right now the Bears have three tight ends on the roster worth discussing. Without further adieu, the least exciting of our postseason positional analysis columns.
KHARI LEE
The strangest move of the Ryan Pace era was dealing a sixth-round pick to the Texans for Lee, a tight end who is an exclusive blocker. (His attempts to catch Cutler passes have been comical.) If you’re looking for cutting edge analysis of Lee’s work as an additional member of the offensive line, you might want to look elsewhere. In the meantime, let’s assume Lee will be back in 2016 to validate surrendering the draft pick for the acquisition.
ZACH MILLER
34 catches, 439 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Miller has been one of the best stories of the season and from the way both he and the Bears have spoken it would be a surprise to not see him back in 2016. The only question now is how the Bears create a fair contract to compensate Miller for his production while considering his injury history. 2 years, $6-8M.
MARTELLUS BENNETT
53 catches, 439 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Everyone has heard the talk and Ryan Pace’s silence all-but cemented the fact that Bennett has worn out his welcome in the Bears locker room. Pace and Fox are trying to establish a culture and Bennett clearly does not fit within that culture.
You know what? I don’t care.
Sometimes, no ALL times, winning in the NFL requires having a few pieces of shit in your locker room. And Bennett, as far as NFL pieces of shit go, is quite tame. He doesn’t beat women. He doesn’t drive drunk. He wants more money and makes dumb animations he thinks are profound. Sit him down. Talk to him. Make him feel good. Throw him a few extra dollars if that’s what he needs to give 100% every Sunday.
But do not ignore the fact that Bennett is capable of being one of the league’s preeminent tight ends – as both a pass catcher and blocker. And the emergence of Miller means the Bears could enter 2016 with one of the league’s best and most productive tight end pairings.
If Bennett does not return, tight end moves into the conversation for major positions of need this spring.
