Chicago Bears Make Interesting Tweak To O-Line Competition
The Chicago Bears made two months on July 25th, signing wide receiver Isaiah Ford and linebacker Buddy Johnson. It appears they weren’t quite finished. GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus wanted more depth along the offensive line. So they secured veteran Aviante Collins. This is an interesting one. The veteran came out of TCU as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He signed on with the Minnesota Vikings. Sadly injuries marred what looked like a promising start there, and he eventually bounced between the practice squad and the main roster.
He spent training camp with Pittsburgh in 2021 before landing with the Dallas Cowboys for the next two seasons. The thing that stands out about Collins immediately is his athleticism. He is an absolute freak. His 4.81 in the 40-yard dash is the third-fastest in the event’s history for an offensive lineman. He also has a reputation for being a physical and nasty run-blocker. So it’s hardly a surprise the Bears are interested in him. He is a perfect fit for their wide-zone scheme that demands linemen who can move.
The Chicago Bears also may want his versatility.
Collins has experience playing both guard and tackle. Given how frequent injuries are, such things can be invaluable in a backup lineman. He can be immediate competition for Alex Leatherwood, Larry Borom, Ja’Tyre Carter, and others. It comes down to whether the Bears can look past his deficiencies. Collins has shown several times to have issues in pass protection. Much of it stems from playing too high in his stance and also not having the best power base to deal with bull rushes. It is the biggest reason he’s failed to move beyond the practice squad except in emergencies.
In 133 true pass sets during the preseason, he has allowed 19 pressures and three sacks on the quarterback. True pass sets are when he is left one-on-one without help. The good news is he showed signs of growth last year during his stint in Dallas. Their decision to move him to tackle may have had a lot to do with that. That likely is where the Chicago Bears will keep him once he joins the team. The competition certainly gets more interesting with his arrival.