Three games into Caleb Williams' career, the Chicago Bears' offensive line has become a hot topic for all the wrong reasons.
Williams has been under siege, and his line deserves a hefty portion of the blame. The first-overall pick has taken 13 sacks, totaling 100 lost yards, and the Bears are averaging under 200 net passing yards per game.
The Bears offensive line also went viral for their sloppy play on a 4th and goal speed option that lost 10 yards. On the play, four offensive linemen, from left tackle all the way to left guard, were pictured lying on the ground as the Indianapolis Colts swarmed the backfield.
In a nutshell, it's obvious that Chicago isn't getting the job done up front, and that needs to change as soon as possible. In their moment of need, they could turn to a player who the Bears knew as an arch-rival for over a decade.
On Monday, Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department predicted the Bears would sign former Green Bay Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari, who is currently a free agent.
"Part of the issue with Caleb Williams to begin the season is the Bears offensive line hasn't been great in pass protection," the authors said.
"Especially with Larry Borom on injured reserve, the front office should look into bringing in Bakhtiari to give the offense a veteran insurance policy to turn to. If healthy, he can help give Williams a little more time to throw when called upon."
Bakhtiari, 32, played 11 seasons in a Packers uniform before he was released at the end of last season. He's a three-time Pro Bowler, a two-time All-Pro, and was once the highest-paid tackle in the league. The only major concern is his injury history, as he's played 13 games over the past three seasons.
It's hard to say which side of the NFC North rivalry would feel more uncomfortable seeing Bakhtiari in a Bears uniform. For 11 seasons, the tackle helped lead a Packers offense that tortured the Bears twice a year, and he once even "flipped the bird" at the Soldier Field crowd before a snap.
However, needs are needs, and the Bears could desperately use someone of Bakhtiari's pedigree. He's sitting there to be claimed by an NFL squad, and when an offensive line is struggling as badly as the Bears, any solution is a welcome one.
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