3 potential trade destinations for Jaguars C Luke Fortner
• Here are 3 potential landing spots for the 3-year center.
3. Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears could be one of the most active teams in the NFL this offseason. Armed with a pair of top 10 draft picks and lots of cap space, they'll be in a position to make several splash moves in both free agency and the draft. Having Justin Fields and the top overall selection in the fold gives them lots of flexibility. They can stick with Fields and use their two first-round choices to surround him with talent.
Conversely, Chicago can choose the top quarterback in the draft, select a skill-position player with the other first-round selection, and trade Fields for picks. Regardless of who's behind center, general manager Ryan Poles needs to ensure he's get optimal protection. One area in particular they need to keep an eye on is the center position. Last year's starter, Dan Feeney, was underwhelming. But the Bears had no choice but to roll with him because they had no other options.
Things got so bad that, at one point, Chicago signed 2023 undrafted free agent Jerome Carvin off waivers. Granted, Fortner didn't fare much better last season than Feeney but he's younger and has more upside. At this point of his career, Feeney is not much than a stopgap, having previously spent time with the New York Jets, and the Los Angeles Chargers.
In the end, the Bears could acquire Fortner as a reclamation project. They are in a position to bring him in to compete for a roster spot and try to enjoy a career revival.