After spending the previous three seasons with the Chicago Bears, Larry Borom might find himself on a new team come opening day of the 2024 regular season.

One of the most informed insiders monitoring the Bears, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, fielded a particular question concerning Borom and his future in the Windy City in his Q&A column on April 17. His reply was revealing.

“If the Bears select a tackle in the draft, it might get crowded.” Finding a trade partner would be the best-case scenario if Borom isn’t included in the team’s plans, Biggs wrote.
“That might be a little difficult given his pay, but Borom has plenty of experience—he’s played in 39 games and made 23 starts—if a different team is interested in him. Perhaps the Bears could exchange him for a choice in the late round or in some other fashion.

An Up-close View of Bears OL The trade value and salary of Larry Borom
Borom, a 2021 fifth-round selection by Chicago out of Missouri, has spent his three seasons with the team, playing in 39 games and starting 23 of them. However, Ryan Pace, the former general manager, chose him, and Ryan Poles, the current GM, isn’t as devoted to him.

Borom’s $2 million wage boost for the 2024 season is a result of playing as much as he has the past three years, which Biggs feels may have an impact on whether Chicago decides to keep him or not.

“Considering that the Bears signed Jake Curhan for $1.055 million on a one-year contract, and that Borom got enough playing time in his first three seasons to hit the escalator in his rookie contract that boosts his base salary to $3.116 million, that might be more than the Bears want to pay him,” Biggs wrote.

“Curhan needs to secure the position of swing offensive tackle, and who knows how competitive that competition is at the moment.”

But Chicago has other notable alternatives at swing tackle besides Borom and Curhan.

Examining the Bears’ Present Swing Tackle Selections
The Bears also acquired veteran offensive lineman Matt Pryor, who is expected to contend for the starting swing tackle spot, in addition to Curhan and Borom. Over his five seasons in the NFL, Pryor, 29, has participated in 75 games, starting 24 of them. He was acquainted with Matt Eberflus, the head coach of the Bears, from their time together with the Indianapolis Colts in 2021.

Curhan played with offensive coordinator Shane Waldron in Seattle, thus he is also connected to the Bears staff.

Borom might then be the odd man out. Nevertheless, Borom might remain, even only through the 2024 season, given his background and versatility on the field. After that, he probably won’t be playing for the team again.

According to PFF statistics, the 25-year-old offensive lineman has started 1,012 games at right tackle, 493 games at left tackle, and more than 60 games at both guard positions overall. His adaptability should come in handy whether he ends up in Chicago or somewhere else.

Borom is also adaptable enough to play guard inside. However, Biggs continued, “he would be a player to watch in training camp and if he performs well, the salary wouldn’t make keeping him prohibitive.”