Chicago Bears Are Looking Into Possible Cornerback Help
The Chicago Bears aren’t resting on their laurels. GM Ryan Poles continues to seek out possible help for the roster, regardless of whether it’s a starter or depth. According to Field Yates of ESPN, one position that has been getting some attention recently is cornerback. He reported the team tried out multiple players headlined by former 1st round pick Vernon Hargreaves. It is a signal the team might be iffy about their depth at corner.
That isn’t a surprise. Thomas Graham Jr. is nursing a hamstring injury. Head coach Matt Eberflus said it’s severe enough that he will miss a significant amount of time. It’s possible they may seek some help at the position. Hargreaves was drafted 11th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2016. His career can only be described as disappointing. He has four interceptions across six seasons, failing to showcase the same dominance he enjoyed at Florida.
The Colts tried out veteran OT Kendall Lamm.
The Bears tried out a group of players including CB Vernon Hargreaves.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) August 4, 2022
Vernon Hargreaves picks off Jimmy Garoppolo and he takes it the other way for a #Bucs TD. Just a bad decision by Jimmy G. pic.twitter.com/h1nHY1a0Es
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 8, 2019
Chicago Bears may see him as a good fit for their system.
Hargreaves was drafted by Tampa Bay mere months after firing head coach Lovie Smith. Everybody knows by now that Matt Eberflus runs a defense very similar to Smith. The Buccaneers likely envisioned Hargreaves as a perfect fit for that scheme. Unfortunately, the new defensive coordinator Mike Smith didn’t run that style. The cornerback didn’t finally get a chance to play with Smith until 2021 in Houston. There he managed three passes defended and an interception in five starts.
Nobody inside Halas Hall likely thinks Hargreaves is some salvageable stud that was misused for years. He is a veteran with 58 career starts that has some experience in their defensive system. Bringing him in as a #5 or #6 cornerback isn’t a bad idea. Depth is always crucial in the NFL. Let him stay if he comes in and makes a good impression. He won’t cost a ton of money to acquire anyway.