The Chicago Bears may still find a way to utilize former starting guard Nate Davis and his $30 million contract for the 2024 season, provided they can secure a trade partner before the upcoming NFL trade deadline.
Davis’s relationship with the Bears has soured during the first six weeks of the season. He was benched from his starting position at right guard in favor of veteran Matt Pryor ahead of the Week 3 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. Furthermore, he was demoted from his depth role in Week 6’s game in London, with the Bears opting to keep Bill Murray active instead.
Although the Bears appear satisfied with their interior offensive line depth without Davis, other teams facing challenges on their offensive line may be interested in the 28-year-old guard, especially considering his experience, before the October 5 trade deadline.
Bleacher Report’s Scouting Department even suggested that the Colts should consider trading for Davis as a replacement for starting right guard Will Fries, who was placed on injured reserve on October 7 following tibia surgery.
“Elsewhere, Nate Davis was just benched in Chicago,” BR’s Scouting Department noted on October 14. “The Bears might be willing to let go of the veteran after he did not meet expectations. While it’s not an ideal situation for the Colts, Davis brings experience and a solid track record of production.”
Bears Left Nate Davis Inactive for Win Over Jaguars
If the Colts were interested in acquiring Nate Davis, the Bears likely wouldn’t ask for a high trade price. They might even accept a late Day 3 draft pick to relieve themselves of Davis’s contract, which extends through the end of the 2025 season.
However, the key question remains: Why would any team want to trade for Davis?
Davis has started 67 of his 71 career games since being drafted in the third round in 2019, giving him the experience teams often seek to strengthen their offensive line. Yet, it’s telling that the Bears have opted not to play him, especially given their struggles on the interior line and the significant amount of money they are investing in him—Davis carries an $11.35 million cap hit for the 2024 season.
A major indication of Davis’s declining value came when the Bears made him inactive for their Week 6 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Although he had already lost his starting position, the Bears chose to rely on Bill Murray, who had just played his first NFL game in Week 5, as the backup guard over Davis.
While a team like the Colts might be desperate enough to take a chance on Davis, it’s difficult to envision any team seeing his situation in Chicago as a compelling reason to acquire him.
Could Bears Consider Releasing Nate Davis Instead?
The Bears have already taken steps to make Nate Davis redundant on their offensive line, and it could become even easier to keep him sidelined when they return from their bye week in Week 8.
As of October 15, both guard/center Ryan Bates and offensive tackle Larry Borom are eligible to be activated from injured reserve. The team hasn’t designated either player to return to practice yet—the first step in the activation process—but they have about two weeks to make those decisions before their next game.
If the Bears activate Bates before their Week 8 matchup against the Washington Commanders, they will essentially have exhausted all reasons to keep Davis active on game days. This raises the question: Should the Bears consider releasing Davis?
While releasing Davis wouldn’t save the Bears much financially, it might be their best option if they want to use his roster spot for someone who can contribute. Additionally, they could save $9.5 million against the salary cap in 2025 with this move, though they would save the same amount if they waited until the offseason.
The Bears might also justify releasing Davis if they believe he is negatively affecting team culture. The Athletic’s Adam Hoge reported in September that the team had become “frustrated” with Davis’s practice habits, suggesting he is not particularly committed to practice. If Davis isn’t performing well and has attitude issues, the Bears could cut ties, similar to their decision with wide receiver Chase Claypool during the 2023 season.
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