Post by jj30 on Feb 25, 2017 13:48:19 GMT -6
Even though the Chicago Bears have a lot of cap space to hit free agency, there are a lot of holes they need to plug. Here are some cuts that can increase their space and allow them to hit free agency hard.
After a dismal 3-13 record in 2016, the Chicago Bears need to plug up a lot of holes. A lot of the attention is on the upcoming draft in April. They have the third overall pick, so the pressure is on to choose an impact causing player.
Before then, however, there is free agency. Free agency is just as (if not more) important as the draft. A team’s entire draft strategy depends on what happens in free agency. For example, the Bears need a quarterback. They are moving on from Jay Cutler. Some people advocate choosing a quarterback with their first round pick. After two awful seasons, though, the coaching staff wants (needs) to string together some wins. They may not feel comfortable with choosing a quarterback with a pick so high. In that case, they can hit the free agent market and sign a quarterback. They can still choose a quarterback but a little later in the draft.
For example, the Bears need a quarterback. They are moving on from Jay Cutler. Some people advocate choosing a quarterback with their first round pick. After two awful seasons, though, the coaching staff wants (needs) to string together some wins. They may not feel comfortable with choosing a quarterback with a pick so high. In that case, they can hit the free agent market and sign a quarterback. They can still choose a quarterback but a little later in the draft. That way, they have a veteran quarterback who can adjust to the offensive system. Then they can groom the young quarterback to step in later.
The Bears sit in a pretty good position. According to Overthecap.com, the Bears currently have $51.632 million under that cap. That is the ninth-highest available space in the league. The reason for that is general manager Ryan Pace’s contract structures in place since he took over. There were a lot of up-front guaranteed money, but now there are a lot of non-guaranteed money.
The Bears have some players they don’t see in their future and can cut to free up more space. Here are some cuts they should make:
Lamarr Houston, Cap savings: $5.01
Houston was one of the prized signings in the 2014 offseason. He played well in Oakland and cashed in on his ability. Then he played for the Chicago Bears, and things went downhill.
It started in the middle of the 2014 season. The Bears were in a rut much like this season. The defense was historically awful for a once-proud franchise. They gave up fifty points like they were going out of style.
The Bears were in the middle of giving up another 50 point game when they faced the eventual Super Bowl champions, the New England Patriots. It was late in the game, and the Bears were down 48-23. Houston hadn’t recorded a sack for the season up until then. Ironically, the man the Bears are reportedly going after in this offseason, Jimmy Garoppolo, played in a mop-up role. Houston got through, and he finally got his first sack of the season. Instead of just going back to the huddle, he celebrated and ended up tearing up his ACL.
He came back in 2015 and had a good season. He played in all 16 games, and he recorded 8 sacks. Expectations were high going into the 2016 season.
Once again, something bad happened. Playing against the Philadelphia Eagles in the second game of the season, Houston tore his ACL once more.
The injury opened the door for Leonard Floyd, and he took advantage of it. He played well in his rookie season, and now there are questions about Houston heading into the new season.
Houston tore the ACL in both of his knees now. How he plays the rest of his career is in question. He is scheduled to make $6.99 million in 2017. The Bears may decide that is too much to pay for a player who missed 22 of a possible 48 games. If they cut him, they save $5.01 million.
Eddie Royal, Cap savings:$5 million
Here is another player who missed out on a lot of playing time due to injury. Royal came to Chicago to play the slot receiver and become a dependable possession receiver. He had some flashes, but he could not tear himself away from the trainer’s room.
In two seasons with the Bears, Royal missed 14 of a possible 32 games. Even when on the field, his nicks and bruises kept him from playing at 100 percent. After making 62 catches for 778 yards and 7 touchdowns for the San Diego Chargers in 2014, he made just 70 catches for 607 yards and 3 touchdowns in the two seasons combined with the Bears.
The Chicago Bears’ wide receiver corps needs a revamping. A huge decision on Alshon Jeffery looms. Re-signing Jeffery will cost a lot of money. Any extra money they find buried in the couch will go a long way in not only keeping Jeffery but also signing other players.
If Kevin White finally shows that he is a good number two option (not a sure thing given his own injuries), the Bears won’t pay $5 million to a number three receiver who cannot even stay healthy enough to play half a season.
The Bears will have a new quarterback in 2017 (more on that later). In order to have him succeed, the front office needs to equip him with weapons. Those weapons need to be on the field on a regular basis. Royal just cannot do that.
Bobby Massie, Cap savings: ($5.03 million)
The Chicago Bears made a small move by signing Eric Kush. With Kyle Long, Josh Sitton, and Cody Whitehair, the team has a very strong interior line. Kush adds some depth.
Where the team needs help is on the outside. The Bears signed Bobby Massie to move Long back over to his natural inside guard slot. He struggled through a good portion of the season, however. He did get better towards the end of the season, but he is an average tackle at best.
Hroniss Grasu looks to be over his ACL injury. Pace indicated that he’d like to see Grasu back at center. If so, Whitehair could move over to tackle.
“That would be a good problem for us to have,” Pace said. “If there’s one thing I learned this season it’s that you can’t have enough depth, especially on your offensive line. I view Hroniss more of a center-only. If he comes back, that’d be the position he’s competing for. If Hroniss is playing like a solid NFL starting center and gets to that level, which I think he can, that’s a good problem.
“We have flexibility with other guys. Cody Whitehair is a flexible guy and Kyle is too. We’ll see how it shakes out, but if [Grasu] is at a starter level, that’ll sort out to get the five best on the field.”
Massie signed a three-year, $18 million contract last offseason. This was one of the cleverly designed contracts that help the team. He’s scheduled to earn $6.03 million in 2017, but if the Bears cut ties with him, they only have $1 million in dead money count against the cap.
That will certainly make Pace think about hitting the open market. He’ll also probably draft a lineman as well.
Jay Cutler, Cap savings: $14 million
The time for the divorce is at hand. The Chicago Bears and Jay Cutler need to part ways, for the good of both parties. The team pulled the trigger on a trade with Denver in 2009. They sent Kyle Orton, their first round pick in 2009 and 2010, and their 2009 third round pick. In addition to Cutler, the Bears received Denver’s fifth-round pick in 2009.
Cutler came to Chicago with lofty expectations. Finally, the Bears would have a quarterback with elite talent. Fans had visions of multiple playoff victories and championships.
That did not happen, however.
For whatever reason, be it bad coaching, bad offensive lines, or his bad attitude, Cutler could only produce ONE playoff victory. He became a lightning rod for controversy with fans, coaches, and media.
Over the last several seasons, the win totals dropped and the interceptions rose. The frustrations grew as well. In addition, his body started to break down.
Part of the problem was the mega contract the Bears handed Cutler. In 2014, they signed him to a seven-year, $154 million deal. In return, they got 12 wins, 53 touchdowns, and 52 turnovers. And . no playoff appearances.
Now with the Bears at a crossroad, John Fox and the Chicago Bears feel the need to move on. He’ll be 34 when the season starts, and the injuries are piling up. In his first five seasons, he missed one game. In his last six seasons, that total was 24. He also missed a game because he was benched.
As with any divorce, the reasons for it isn’t important anymore. The fact is, the relationship is over and it’s time for both parties to go their separate ways. The $14 million the Bears save will help in improving the team, so it’s best that each side just says good-bye and move on.
The Bears also have the case of Charles Leno, Jr. If they cut him, they save another $1.8 million.
