Getting Houston would be great but if ya sit and think about what we still.need to do at OLB, K, P and depth signings and then some money for the draft picks and then you have to go into the season with some money on the books even if it's 2-3 mil then you see how quick that money goes and don't think there's any way we could get a guy like Houston. $16.5 mil is very little money.
The Bears aren't as bad off as you think. They really don't have very many depth needs. The Bears bring back the majority of their 2 deep depth chart from the 53 man roster last year.
QB- both guys back
RB- top 3 back, Davis added to replace Cunningham
WR- top 3 back, Bellamy and White replaced by Patterson and Hall
TE- top 3 back, Sims not replaced but finished the year on IR
OL- starting 5 back, Coward and Sowell back. Witzmann replaced by Larsen. Need to replace Kush
DL- all 6 from 53 man last year are back
OLB- 4 of top 5 are back, need to replace Lynch
ILB- all 4 guys are back
CB- outside starters back, as is Toliver and McManis. Skrine replaces Callahan. They only need to replace Marcus Williams, who never played.
S- Jackson and Bush are back. HCD replaces Amos. Only need to replace DHC. (and i just realized the Bears went from DHC to HCD in their safety group)
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So, at this point the "depth" the Bears need other than a 3rd edge rusher are a 4th TE, 4th safety, 6th corner, and 9th offensive lineman. Need a kicker, punter, and long snapper, but those are chump change positions. You can pay Houston like 10Mil this year, and draft the other 4 positions, be a better team than 2018, and still have nearly 4 million in space to use during the season.