NFC Notes: Bears, Eagles, Redskins

January 28, 2018

Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune spoke with a college scout who believes the Bears will draft an offensive lineman with the No. 8 overall pick over Alabama WR Calvin Ridley: “I get why you’re asking me about Calvin but I think the Bears will draft a lineman.”
Biggs writes that the team must decide the future of LG Josh Sitton, who could earn $8 million with a $7.4 million base salary, $500,000 in per-game roster bonuses and a $100,000 workout bonus if the team picks up his fifth-year option.
Even so, Biggs says there are “plenty of reasons” to keep Sitton including the fact that they have plenty of cap room to work with, have a number of other roster holes beyond guard, and RG Kyle Long is coming off of multiple offseason surgeries.
Chicago will also have a decision to make regarding RT Bobby Massie, who earns a $1 million roster bonus on March 16, which is three days into free agency.

Les Bowen of the Daily News spoke to an Eagles’ medical source who said that QB Carson Wentz‘s recovery timetable from ACL and LCL tears should have him ready for the start of the 2018 season, even though he won’t be 100 percent by then.
Former NFL physician David Chao mentioned Friday that even though Wentz also tore his LCL, it won’t extend his timetable to return, but it will make his rehab more difficult.
According to Chao, it’s still reasonable for Wentz to be ready for Week 1.
One thing to watch for Wentz upon returning next year is when he’ll be able to be a run threat, as it could be until 2019before he’s back to his previous form.

John Keim of ESPN writes that Redskins LB Zach Brown‘s asking price will be high, as his resume is in line with some of the top players at his position.
According to Keim, whether Brown returns to the Redskins next year will ultimately depend on what else they plan to do in free agency, as they could end up investing big money in QB Kirk Cousins.
Another possible free agent addition for Washington could come at defensive tackle and Keim tosses out Bennie Logan as someone to watch, given that they expressed interest in him last year.
Keim says that the Redskins may want to go cheaper at linebacker and target someone better in coverage.
As of now, Keim’s educated guess is that Washington will allow Brown to test the free agent market.
We have Cousins, Brown and Logan featured in our Top 100 – 2018 NFL Free Agents list.