The Chicago Bears may still find a way to utilize former starter OL and his remaining $30 million contract for the 2024 season, provided they can secure a trade partner before the upcoming NFL trade deadline.
Davis has had a rough relationship with the Bears during the first six weeks of the season. He was benched from his starting position at right guard in favor of veteran Matt Pryor before Week 3’s game against the Indianapolis Colts. By Week 6, He had been demoted from his depth role, with Bill Murray taking his place for the London game.
While the Bears appear to be satisfied with their interior offensive line depth without Davis, other teams struggling with their line may show interest in the 28-year-old guard, especially considering his experience.
Bleacher Report’s Scouting Department suggested the Colts might consider trading for Him as a replacement for starting right guard Will Fries, who was placed on injured reserve after surgery on October 7.
“Elsewhere, Nate Davis was just benched in Chicago,” the Scouting Department noted on October 14. “The Bears may be willing to let go of the veteran after he hasn’t met expectations for his contract. While it’s not the ideal situation for the Colts, Davis is an experienced player with a solid level of production.”
Bears Left Nate Davis Inactive for Win Over Jaguars
If the Colts are interested in acquiring Davis, the Bears are unlikely to ask for a high trade price. They might even be willing to accept a late Day 3 draft pick to relieve themselves of the financial obligation tied to Davis’ contract, which extends through the end of the 2025 season.
The real issue, however, is why any team would consider trading for Davis.
Davis has started 67 of his 71 career games since entering the NFL as a third-round pick in 2019, so he has some experience that a team might find appealing for bolstering its offensive line. However, the Bears’ reluctance to utilize Davis, despite their struggles in that area and the significant salary they’re paying him, is telling. Davis has a cap hit of $11.35 million for the 2024 season.
The most significant indication of Davis’ value is the Bears’ recent choice to make him inactive for their Week 6 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He had already lost his starting position prior to that game, but the Bears opted to rely on Murray, who had just played his first NFL game in Week 5, as the backup guard instead of Davis.
While a team like the Colts might be desperate enough to take a chance on Davis, it’s hard to envision anyone considering him a worthwhile acquisition given his current situation in Chicago.
Could Bears Consider Releasing Nate Davis Instead?
The Bears have already started taking steps to make Davis less relevant on their offensive line, and it may become even easier to bench him after their bye week in Week 8.
As of October 15, both guard/center Ryan Bates and offensive lineman Larry Borom are eligible to return from the injured reserve for the Bears. The team hasn’t yet designated either player to return to practice, which is the first step in the activation process, but they have about two weeks to decide before their next game.
If Bates is activated before the Week 8 matchup against the Washington Commanders, the Bears may have little reason to keep Davis active on game days. This raises the question: Should they consider releasing Davis instead?
While releasing Davis wouldn’t save the Bears much money, they might still see it as the best option to utilize his roster spot for someone who can contribute. They could also save $9.5 million against the salary cap in 2025 by making the move now, although they would save the same amount if they waited until the offseason.
Furthermore, the Bears could justify the decision if they believe Davis is negatively affecting team culture. According to The Athletic’s Adam Hoge, the team had become “frustrated” with Davis’ practice habits, suggesting he isn’t keen on practicing. If Davis isn’t performing well and has attitude issues, the Bears could choose to cut ties, similar to how they handled wide receiver Chase Claypool during the 2023 season.
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