The Bears (right now at least) will have the lowest available CAP for the teams in our division. I generally like the way we manage our CAP, so this surprised me. I know we have a few people that are kind of "CAP guys". Anyone know why that is and if there is CAP we expect to shed prior to next year? Even GB with their goofy contracts will have more CAP than we do.
Why would seem to be because of contracts with higher signing bonuses like Fullers that allow us to spread that money out over the life of the contract and pay a smaller salary and other bonuses year one. For Kyle those amounts are only $2 mil for 2018 but increase to $9 mil in 2019.
Putting more money into signing bonuses or roster bonuses in later years has allowed Pace more leeway and cap space to add players he needs now but the bill for those deferrals always comes due eventually. Even with those that don't inflate much from year to year we're adding more high dollar deals through the extensions Pace has handed out to core guys like Hicks and Long as they've come off rookie or shorter term deals. It all adds up.
More than likely there is cap that can be shed but it's a bit tough to do that just yet.
Why would seem to be because of contracts with higher signing bonuses like Fullers that allow us to spread that money out over the life of the contract and pay a smaller salary and other bonuses year one. For Kyle those amounts are only $2 mil for 2018 but increase to $9 mil in 2019.
Putting more money into signing bonuses or roster bonuses in later years has allowed Pace more leeway and cap space to add players he needs now but the bill for those deferrals always comes due eventually. Even with those that don't inflate much from year to year we're adding more high dollar deals through the extensions Pace has handed out to core guys like Hicks and Long as they've come off rookie or shorter term deals. It all adds up.
More than likely there is cap that can be shed but it's a bit tough to do that just yet.
Well, the Fuller contract specifically is a GB style contract that we had to agree to in order to keep him. That type of contract is an anomaly for us. Which is a reason I was surprised that we looked worse than GB.
You can toggle the 2019 season and see how those numbers change/escalate but one figure that's included is a $13.924 mil cap hit for Kevin White's 5th year option that isn't gonna happen. Once we add that back in and any potential rollover of unused cap 2018 cap to 2019 the numbers will change significantly.
The Bears (right now at least) will have the lowest available CAP for the teams in our division. I generally like the way we manage our CAP, so this surprised me. I know we have a few people that are kind of "CAP guys". Anyone know why that is and if there is CAP we expect to shed prior to next year? Even GB with their goofy contracts will have more CAP than we do.
My initial thought is that we always win the division cap war, but lose the division. Maybe coughing up some $$$ this year for better players is money well-spent. If you check the present "winner" of the 2018 cap war - it is the Cleveland Browns (LINK). Good for them. That's the only thing they will win this year. In 2019 it's the Jets as the NFL cap winner. And we are tied with the New England Patriots for 2019 cap (but what do THEY know about winning a cap war).
You can toggle the 2019 season and see how those numbers change/escalate but one figure that's included is a $13.924 mil cap hit for Kevin White's 5th year option that isn't gonna happen. Once we add that back in and any potential rollover of unused cap 2018 cap to 2019 the numbers will change significantly.
You can toggle the 2019 season and see how those numbers change/escalate but one figure that's included is a $13.924 mil cap hit for Kevin White's 5th year option that isn't gonna happen. Once we add that back in and any potential rollover of unused cap 2018 cap to 2019 the numbers will change significantly.
I'm not worried about the low cap space because Mitch still has 4 years of team-controlled costs moving forward. With Sims and Massie moving off the books most likely after next season, and with even a small rise in the cap, Pace will still have space next off season.
I think we will see the Bears playing fairly close to the cap until Mitch needs to be re-upped. At that point we might see more of a Manning-Colts (or Rogers-Packers) model where you trust the QB to keep the OFF above water while throwing draft picks at holes.
This year and next may be our last hurrahs for major additions in FA. GMcC has also made it clear the objective is to build via the draft. We've been a bit handicapped these last two years by trading picks to move up and while I wouldn't say it's impossible this year without a 3rd to dangle it's less likely.
Once we get through this draft and see how the roster shapes up this fall it'll be easier to spot those we'll look to replace but certainly Massie and Sims are two who may well be on that list and that's $12 mil of cap. If we draft an ILB who can start soon it's possible Trevathan may also go. That's another $3.5 mil net.
If we begin to develop more of our draftees and UDFA we should be fine as far as keeping or core intact and adding a key player or two.
This year and next may be our last hurrahs for major additions in FA. GMcC has also made it clear the objective is to build via the draft. We've been a bit handicapped these last two years by trading picks to move up and while I wouldn't say it's impossible this year without a 3rd to dangle it's less likely.
Once we get through this draft and see how the roster shapes up this fall it'll be easier to spot those we'll look to replace but certainly Massie and Sims are two who may well be on that list and that's $12 mil of cap. If we draft an ILB who can start soon it's possible Trevathan may also go. That's another $3.5 mil net.
If we begin to develop more of our draftees and UDFA we should be fine as far as keeping or core intact and adding a key player or two.
That is also my hope. Unless we have a situation where we think we can get into the SB with a particular guy, but I think we keep active in FA, but pick and choose more in the bargain bin where we think they have upside. We have not done very well with that approach in the past though.