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- Dec 12, 2011
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Coaching
DC: Chuck Pagano
He seems like a good culture fit in terms of style and personality, he has experience running a 3-4 defense and ran a great one in 2011 for the Ravens, and he has valuable big game experience as a HC. Pagano can be trusted to run the defense in the same way as Fangio and like Fangio he will not be jumping in front of the camera whenever it is near by. The DB background is something I like as well as that is the most complex part of the defense.
DB: Steve Wilks
I am going to ignore the 1 year mess in Arizona. Wilks was a very good DB coach in Carolina and he had 1 good year as a DC. He can come in and fill the DB coach role, as long as he does not get a DC job, and he gives the Bears a potential transition if Pagano gets back into a HC role.
Starting Cap Space: 20 million
2020 Cap Space: 50 million [assuming 200 million cap]
Obviously, this is not a lot of money and it looks like even less when you consider the Bears only have 30 something players under contract. The Bears are going to have to be pretty responsible with their money, but they should have more than enough for a functional offseason and can create more with a couple of moves that push money back into 2020 and 2021 where a new CBA should give them additional breathing room.
Released/Not Re-Signed [7 Million Saved]
TE Dion Sims [6 million]
This may be the easiest cut of them all and the final turd from the disastrous 2017 free agency period. Sims is awful at everything and makes way too much money. Not cutting him last season was a mistake as the Bears could have rolled that money forward and used it this offseason or in the Mack and Goldman extensions to lessen later years cap hits.
OLB Sam Acho [2.1 million]
Good guy, good locker room guy, but I do not think he is as good as Isiaih Irving, he is hurt and he makes 4x as much money as the current backups.
K Cody Parkey [-1.1 million] [2020 Savings: 3.1 million]
There is simply no way that he can ever set foot in Soldier Field again. It was a horrendous signing that already cost the Bears a playoff game, he cannot be allowed to cost the Bears anymore.
OT Bobbie Massie
I think Massie will get another deal that pays him in the 6 million range and that is too much for him. He is not 5.5 million better than Rashard Coward. The Bears need to go cheap at RT as the free agent class is no inspiring and they do not have the money to spend big here.
OLB Aaron Lynch
I would love to have Lynch back as I thought he was a very good option as the 3rd OLB, but guys who played at the level he did this year are looking at deals with 5 million/season. The Bears simply cannot afford to invest that in that position with what they pay and will be paying the top 2 guys.
P Pat O'Donnell
He is too inconsistent for the Bears to invest real money into. He was having a great playoff game before he shanked the most important punt of the season. The Bears can pay an UDFA or 7th round pick 1/5th of what O'Donnell will command and at worse get someone at his level.
OG Eric Kush
Lost his starting job, then lost his backup job, so I cannot see him back with the Bears who need to start using this roster spot to develop a long term replacement for Kyle Long.
RB Benny Cunningham
I know he plays special teams, a unit that underperformed all season, but he brings nothing to offense and he is the least dynamic RB on the team. The Bears need some speed and potential in this spot.
Cap Space: 27 million
Restructure [5 Million Saved]
OG Kyle Long, convert 5 million of un-guaranteed money into incentives, saving 5 million.
-200k/game active
Cap Space: 32 million
Extensions [5.7 Million Spent]
The Bears need to use the remaining years on some deals to spread the cap hit out and make the deal easier to handle in later years. It also provides them with leverage as the players risks injury/ineffectiveness in 2019.
-There is simply no way that they are going to let Whitehair leave, he is very good and he happens to be close with Trubisky. The C and the QB have to work together to make checks and calls and I see no reason to break up the partnership.
-I want to keep Floyd, but I do not want to pay him at a clip of 13 million on his 5th year option in 2020. That is too much considering the other deals that the Bears need to get done. The Bears should pick up the option and work on an extension for Floyd that wipes out the option and gives him more truly guaranteed money. Right now he has 5 million guaranteed and 13 million option guaranteed for only serious injury. The new deal he has 23 million in actual guarantees and doesn't have to take 2 years of risk to get to a real pay day.
C Cody Whitehair
Remaining: 1 year 1.3 million/0 guaranteed
New Money: 4 years 38 million/25 guaranteed/10 SB [Brandon Linder]
Total Contract: 5 years 39.3 million/25 guaranteed
Year 1: 3 guaranteed salary/2 SB [5] [Actual cap addition 4.7]
Year 2: 4 guaranteed salary/2 SB [6]
Year 3: 5 guaranteed salary/2 SB/1 roster bonus [8]
Year 4: 6.3 salary/2 SB/1 roster bonus [9.3]
Year 5: 8 salary/2 SB/1 roster bonus [11]
OLB Leonard Floyd
Remaining: 1 year 5.1 million/0 guaranteed + 5th year option [13 million]
New Money: 4 years 37 million/23 guaranteed/10 SB [Jabaal Sheard +]
Total Contract: 5 years 42.1 million/20.1 guaranteed
Year 1: 4.1 guaranteed salary/2 SB [6.1] [1 cap addition]
Year 2: 5 guaranteed salary/2 SB [7] *saves the bears 6 million in the big cap year
Year 3: 4/2 SB/2 roster bonus [8]
Year 4: 6/2 SB/2 roster bonus [10]
Year 5: 10/2 SB [12]
Cap Space: 26.3 million
Re-Signed [12 Million Spent]
CB Bryce Callahan 3 years 15 million/6 guaranteed
This is really a 1 year 4 million dollar deal that protects the Bears, but turns into the 3 year deal if Callahan stays healthy in 2019. Callahan emerged as one of the best nickle backs in the league and to me should prioritized over Amos who I think will make more money than the Bears can afford to pay him.
Year 1: 3 guaranteed salary/1 roster bonus [4]
Year 2: 3 salary/1 roster bonus [4]
Year 3: 6 salary/1 roster bonus[7]
OG Bryan Witzmann 1 year 1.5 million/1 guaranteed [1.5]
He started slow, but he started to play really well in a reserve role before Kyle Long came back. He looked like a clear upgrade over what the Bears were getting from Kush. I think keeping an experienced backup is important with Long's health and 1.5-2.5 seems to be the rate for an experienced backup OLmen.
WR Josh Bellamy 1 years 1.75 million/1 guaranteed [1.75]
I have not been a fan of Bellamy, but this season he had enough moments on offense and special teams that I think he is worth keeping. In the past my issue with him was that he could not catch and he did not add anything to offense, but that changed and good for Bellamy.
LS Patrick Scales 1 year 1 million/250k guaranteed [1]
I had no issues with Scales this season outside of the fact that he was snapping to an inconsistent punter and a kicker who sucks.
RFA [Orginial Round 2.2 million]
TE Ben Braunecker [non tender] 1 year 1 million/500k guaranteed [1]
I am not interested in keeping Braunecker at 2.2 million, but at less than that I am interested in seeing his role expand. He made some nice catches down the stretch and seemed entrenched in the #3 TE role. 1.2 million doubles his pay and keeps it at a more reasonable cap hit. The Bears did the same thing with Bellamy this season.
S DeAndre Houston-Carson [non tender] 1 year 1 million/500k guaranteed [1]
Again, DHC is not a player I am interested in paying 2.2 million, but he is a key special teamer and a part time defensive player and I think a pay raise is deserved.
ERFA
DE Roy Robertson-Harris 1 year 620k
There will be some debate for RRH whether he is an ERFA or a RFA. He spent his rookie year on the non-football injury list which technically does not count as a year of service. Recently, McCarron won his grievance against the Bengals about a similar situation, so to avoid that I would be fine with the Bears meeting RRH in the middle of the ERFA [620K] and 2nd round RFA [3.9 million] and giving him 2 million for the season.
OT Rashard Coward 1 year 620k
I think there is a very good chance Coward is the Bears starting RT in 2019. He flashed all preseason long and the Bears used a roster spot on him.
OLB Isiaih Irving 1 year 620k
A decent number of flashes this season that make keeping Irving as a possible #3 OLB well worth it considering he is so cheap. There is some pass rush spark here that the Bears need to continue to see what happens.
Cap Space: 14.3 Million
DC: Chuck Pagano
He seems like a good culture fit in terms of style and personality, he has experience running a 3-4 defense and ran a great one in 2011 for the Ravens, and he has valuable big game experience as a HC. Pagano can be trusted to run the defense in the same way as Fangio and like Fangio he will not be jumping in front of the camera whenever it is near by. The DB background is something I like as well as that is the most complex part of the defense.
DB: Steve Wilks
I am going to ignore the 1 year mess in Arizona. Wilks was a very good DB coach in Carolina and he had 1 good year as a DC. He can come in and fill the DB coach role, as long as he does not get a DC job, and he gives the Bears a potential transition if Pagano gets back into a HC role.
Starting Cap Space: 20 million
2020 Cap Space: 50 million [assuming 200 million cap]
Obviously, this is not a lot of money and it looks like even less when you consider the Bears only have 30 something players under contract. The Bears are going to have to be pretty responsible with their money, but they should have more than enough for a functional offseason and can create more with a couple of moves that push money back into 2020 and 2021 where a new CBA should give them additional breathing room.
Released/Not Re-Signed [7 Million Saved]
TE Dion Sims [6 million]
This may be the easiest cut of them all and the final turd from the disastrous 2017 free agency period. Sims is awful at everything and makes way too much money. Not cutting him last season was a mistake as the Bears could have rolled that money forward and used it this offseason or in the Mack and Goldman extensions to lessen later years cap hits.
OLB Sam Acho [2.1 million]
Good guy, good locker room guy, but I do not think he is as good as Isiaih Irving, he is hurt and he makes 4x as much money as the current backups.
K Cody Parkey [-1.1 million] [2020 Savings: 3.1 million]
There is simply no way that he can ever set foot in Soldier Field again. It was a horrendous signing that already cost the Bears a playoff game, he cannot be allowed to cost the Bears anymore.
OT Bobbie Massie
I think Massie will get another deal that pays him in the 6 million range and that is too much for him. He is not 5.5 million better than Rashard Coward. The Bears need to go cheap at RT as the free agent class is no inspiring and they do not have the money to spend big here.
OLB Aaron Lynch
I would love to have Lynch back as I thought he was a very good option as the 3rd OLB, but guys who played at the level he did this year are looking at deals with 5 million/season. The Bears simply cannot afford to invest that in that position with what they pay and will be paying the top 2 guys.
P Pat O'Donnell
He is too inconsistent for the Bears to invest real money into. He was having a great playoff game before he shanked the most important punt of the season. The Bears can pay an UDFA or 7th round pick 1/5th of what O'Donnell will command and at worse get someone at his level.
OG Eric Kush
Lost his starting job, then lost his backup job, so I cannot see him back with the Bears who need to start using this roster spot to develop a long term replacement for Kyle Long.
RB Benny Cunningham
I know he plays special teams, a unit that underperformed all season, but he brings nothing to offense and he is the least dynamic RB on the team. The Bears need some speed and potential in this spot.
Cap Space: 27 million
Restructure [5 Million Saved]
OG Kyle Long, convert 5 million of un-guaranteed money into incentives, saving 5 million.
-200k/game active
Cap Space: 32 million
Extensions [5.7 Million Spent]
The Bears need to use the remaining years on some deals to spread the cap hit out and make the deal easier to handle in later years. It also provides them with leverage as the players risks injury/ineffectiveness in 2019.
-There is simply no way that they are going to let Whitehair leave, he is very good and he happens to be close with Trubisky. The C and the QB have to work together to make checks and calls and I see no reason to break up the partnership.
-I want to keep Floyd, but I do not want to pay him at a clip of 13 million on his 5th year option in 2020. That is too much considering the other deals that the Bears need to get done. The Bears should pick up the option and work on an extension for Floyd that wipes out the option and gives him more truly guaranteed money. Right now he has 5 million guaranteed and 13 million option guaranteed for only serious injury. The new deal he has 23 million in actual guarantees and doesn't have to take 2 years of risk to get to a real pay day.
C Cody Whitehair
Remaining: 1 year 1.3 million/0 guaranteed
New Money: 4 years 38 million/25 guaranteed/10 SB [Brandon Linder]
Total Contract: 5 years 39.3 million/25 guaranteed
Year 1: 3 guaranteed salary/2 SB [5] [Actual cap addition 4.7]
Year 2: 4 guaranteed salary/2 SB [6]
Year 3: 5 guaranteed salary/2 SB/1 roster bonus [8]
Year 4: 6.3 salary/2 SB/1 roster bonus [9.3]
Year 5: 8 salary/2 SB/1 roster bonus [11]
OLB Leonard Floyd
Remaining: 1 year 5.1 million/0 guaranteed + 5th year option [13 million]
New Money: 4 years 37 million/23 guaranteed/10 SB [Jabaal Sheard +]
Total Contract: 5 years 42.1 million/20.1 guaranteed
Year 1: 4.1 guaranteed salary/2 SB [6.1] [1 cap addition]
Year 2: 5 guaranteed salary/2 SB [7] *saves the bears 6 million in the big cap year
Year 3: 4/2 SB/2 roster bonus [8]
Year 4: 6/2 SB/2 roster bonus [10]
Year 5: 10/2 SB [12]
Cap Space: 26.3 million
Re-Signed [12 Million Spent]
CB Bryce Callahan 3 years 15 million/6 guaranteed
This is really a 1 year 4 million dollar deal that protects the Bears, but turns into the 3 year deal if Callahan stays healthy in 2019. Callahan emerged as one of the best nickle backs in the league and to me should prioritized over Amos who I think will make more money than the Bears can afford to pay him.
Year 1: 3 guaranteed salary/1 roster bonus [4]
Year 2: 3 salary/1 roster bonus [4]
Year 3: 6 salary/1 roster bonus[7]
OG Bryan Witzmann 1 year 1.5 million/1 guaranteed [1.5]
He started slow, but he started to play really well in a reserve role before Kyle Long came back. He looked like a clear upgrade over what the Bears were getting from Kush. I think keeping an experienced backup is important with Long's health and 1.5-2.5 seems to be the rate for an experienced backup OLmen.
WR Josh Bellamy 1 years 1.75 million/1 guaranteed [1.75]
I have not been a fan of Bellamy, but this season he had enough moments on offense and special teams that I think he is worth keeping. In the past my issue with him was that he could not catch and he did not add anything to offense, but that changed and good for Bellamy.
LS Patrick Scales 1 year 1 million/250k guaranteed [1]
I had no issues with Scales this season outside of the fact that he was snapping to an inconsistent punter and a kicker who sucks.
RFA [Orginial Round 2.2 million]
TE Ben Braunecker [non tender] 1 year 1 million/500k guaranteed [1]
I am not interested in keeping Braunecker at 2.2 million, but at less than that I am interested in seeing his role expand. He made some nice catches down the stretch and seemed entrenched in the #3 TE role. 1.2 million doubles his pay and keeps it at a more reasonable cap hit. The Bears did the same thing with Bellamy this season.
S DeAndre Houston-Carson [non tender] 1 year 1 million/500k guaranteed [1]
Again, DHC is not a player I am interested in paying 2.2 million, but he is a key special teamer and a part time defensive player and I think a pay raise is deserved.
ERFA
DE Roy Robertson-Harris 1 year 620k
There will be some debate for RRH whether he is an ERFA or a RFA. He spent his rookie year on the non-football injury list which technically does not count as a year of service. Recently, McCarron won his grievance against the Bengals about a similar situation, so to avoid that I would be fine with the Bears meeting RRH in the middle of the ERFA [620K] and 2nd round RFA [3.9 million] and giving him 2 million for the season.
OT Rashard Coward 1 year 620k
I think there is a very good chance Coward is the Bears starting RT in 2019. He flashed all preseason long and the Bears used a roster spot on him.
OLB Isiaih Irving 1 year 620k
A decent number of flashes this season that make keeping Irving as a possible #3 OLB well worth it considering he is so cheap. There is some pass rush spark here that the Bears need to continue to see what happens.
Cap Space: 14.3 Million