The Chicago Bears placed the franchise tag on wide receiver Alshon Jeffery earlier this week, but general manager Ryan Pace still has some major decisions to make this offseason with multiple players heading to free agency opening on March 9.
The Bears are looking to bring back tight end Zach Miller this offseason but will let him test the open market, as their front office wants see what his value will be as a free agent. Miller had a breakout season in 2015, recording career highs in receptions (34), receiving yards (439) and touchdowns (five).
While the Bears are looking to retain Miller this offseason, they are reportedly currently working with tight end Martellus Bennett's agent, Kennard McGuire, to find a potential trade landing spot both parties would agree on. The Bears tight end creates a $6.3 million cap hit in 2016 and is coming off a season in which he put up similar numbers to Miller, with 53 receptions for 439 yards and three touchdowns.
The Bears front office likely feels they can sign Miller at a better price than Bennett, but they will have to wait and see what the free agent tight end gets on the open market. While the Bears are shopping Bennett across the league, the team is reportedly expected to release him if a trade partner cannot be found.
The 6-foot-6, 273-pound tight end should garner some interest on the market, but he frustrated coaches and teammates during the 2015 season in Chicago and is still surrounded with questions. There is no doubt that Bennett is still a talent in the league, and he could make multiple teams a viable starting tight end option in 2016.
It will be interesting to see if any teams make a trade offer for the veteran tight end, but the Pittsburgh Steelers and his former team the New York Giants come to mind as teams that are in need of tight ends this offseason. The Steelers lost veteran tight end Heath Miller to retirement this offseason, and the Giants were plagued with injuries at the position and have struggled to find a legitimate number one guy since Bennett left after the 2012 season.
Bennett may want to go to a contender if he has his choice of a landing spot, and Pittsburgh could be appealing as they are one of the heavy favorites in the AFC next season. The Bears have reportedly been trying to trade the former second round pick for a while now, and if no trade agreement is made, expect the team to just cut ties with him, as they are looking to move forward and clear cap space this offseason.
