How good did Martin look in the games they played with Tyron Smith? You can talk all you want about how Zach Martin is the lynchpin but with Martin in the lineup and with Smith out they looked woefully inept. They couldn't block Adrian Clayborn 1-1. Even with a great guard you're still talking about at best average tackles.
I question the idea that teams get better going good to great because it's an asset that doesn't address the players on the roster who are not good and it's so hard to find truly great players. When you look at the teams around the league who pop and have surprising years (i.e Rams), it's built around a WR of Woods/Watkins/Cupp with the same QB and RB instead of Britt/Austin/Quick. I don't see value in upgrading from Sitton or Long while keeping Massie. It doesn't change your system. You're already an offense built around good interior play so you're basically keeping what you have now, not upgrading the team. The Martin pick was an upgrade for the Cowboys, as you just suggested. I don't see Sitton or Long either going anywhere or falling a cliff in terms of their play to the level that the Bears should spend a top 10 pick to keep a guard paired next to average tackles.
Good points. I just disagree that we will be keeping Sitton and/or Long around that much longer. Sitton, for sure. Can Jordan Morgan step in and replace either with minimal drop-off? Perhaps. Kush probably can, if he is fully recovered. But OL (more than any other position group, I would argue) is built around continuity. Dallas built an elite OL. We can too. A lot of this depends on how well Long plays next year. And I am all in on replacing Massie-sooner the better. If Pace projects McGlinchey as a stud RT, I wouldn't hate that pick, either. Get an elite young OL that can grow with Trubisky. But I would bet anything that Sitton (and maybe Long) won't be here after next year. Sitton may not be here next year.
You're right-our WR corps is damn weak. But adding a Ridley wouldn't transform our offense. The Rams attacked that position from all angles-trade, FA, and draft. We should also. And I really like Ridley, and would be all for him in the 12-20 range. But I don't think he is a blue chip prospect, I think Q. Nelson is.
Pace should attack the WR with full force in the offseason. But the question is-what is the talent drop-off between a Nelson and another OG in the mid-rounds, and what is the difference between a Ridley and a Anthony Miller (or some other WR after Round 1).
My order if we are below pick 12: Chubb-Fitzpatrick-Nelson
Pick 12-20: Clelin Ferrell or Ridley.