The Chicago Bears are heading into this offseason with some big challenges ahead in terms of the tight end position.
The Bears and Martellus Bennett have not been on the same page seemingly all season. Now it appears the Bears regime has finally had enough and will look to move the productive tight end. Bennett is a play maker but his personality has clashed with every team he has been on so the question remains does he have trade value? The short answer is yes but to the right team. Bennett could be the extra spark a contending team needs to make a run for the playoffs.
He is a mismatch for most defensive backs and there are very few linebackers who can cover him at 6'6. Plus he is only 28 which means there still is some development that can occur, and if he found the right system he could excel. For the last three seasons prior to the 2015 season Bennett recorded at least 5 touchdowns or more and at least 500 yards or more receiving.
That is some solid consistency especially coming from a tight end. In 2015 Bennett saw fewer targets thanks to the emergence of Zach Miller. The only problem with Miller of course is that he is a bit older at 31 however the Bears have been waiting for him to breakout for some time now. The Bears will need to find a team willing to take a chance on Miller and give something up of equal or greater value so they will need to look for a team desperate for a playmaker or a tight end.
Teams such as the Pittsburgh Steelers who do have Heath Miller however he is in the twilight of his career at age 33. The Steelers make sense because they could use a solid, productive tight end behind Miller and would offensively be an instant upgrade; the only question is what would they have to give up? The Packers and Seahawks could be interested in Bennett as well so if Chicago wants to move on from him it shouldn't be too difficult.