The Reality of the Free Agent Budget

[dennehy]

Kevin Pierre-Louis: 3
Deon Bush: 3
RRH: 3.5

1 year deals at roughly 1 million

Brent Urban
DHC
Scales
Coward
Lucas
Irving

Holtz [610k]

You can spend 16 million pretty quick on depth guys and just keeping a couple of your own free agents.

But you're not spending $1mil on a $1mil contract, you're pushing the lowest guys off the top 51 number. So a $1mil cap hit only lowers the available cap by about $500k.

So in the above scenario you'd spend about $10mil, not $16.

If they need to they could probably also extend Hicks, who only has a little guaranteed $ left and might trade some yearly pay for more guaranteed.

 

[ZOMBIE@CTESPN]

A reality thread....break those hearts windy break them

 

[BaBaBlacksheep]

no one thinks Iggy is a starter.....

I honestly think they will bring back JPL and draft an ILB.

KPL

 

[modo]

JPL

fify

 

[WindyCity]

But you're not spending $1mil on a $1mil contract, you're pushing the lowest guys off the top 51 number. So a $1mil cap hit only lowers the available cap by about $500k.

So in the above scenario you'd spend about $10mil, not $16.

If they need to they could probably also extend Hicks, who only has a little guaranteed $ left and might trade some yearly pay for more guaranteed.

If you cut 4 players you would have to sign 5 players before you even got to the 51 limit to get some money back.

The Bears only have 51 players under contract right now.

But yes, you would get some money back as guys fall off the 51.

 

[dennehy]

If you cut 4 players you would have to sign 5 players before you even got to the 51 limit to get some money back.

The Bears only have 51 players under contract right now.

But yes, you would get some money back as guys fall off the 51.

By my count they have 52 right now.

Over the course of all the signings, it would probably get to at least $10mil because they are going to sign something like 15-20 plus rookies.

 

[WindyCity]

By my count they have 52 right now.

Over the course of all the signings, it would probably get to at least $10mil because they are going to sign something like 15-20 plus rookies.

That is after free agency.

OTC has them at 51 current contracts.

They will get some cap relief likely 5 million or so from cheaper guys coming off the books. That may guarantee them the 25 million in the original post.

 

[DC]

Because if they do not have a legit QB behind Trubisky and he stays in the toilet their jobs may be at risk.

Pace's job. Nagy didn't pick Mitch as you know. So, if Bears brass wants to give Pace two Head Coaches and Two QB's my dumb little plan may work. But if they gave him one QB, then I get the move to solidify a good backup QB.

 

[rawdawg]

These are per year values, so probably less in the first year for those who get longer contracts.
QB2: Will pay, likely $4-8m
G: Will pay, likely $4-8m
CB4: Scrap heap, unless Prince is released but then there will be more $ to spend.
OLB3: Medium pay, DPR type as long as Floyd is retained, $2-5m, probably older guy. Much more without Floyd.
SS: Low pay, maybe Bush and someone to compete, $3-5m total. One of the easier positions to get a decent FA.
TE: Hard to imagine they spend alot here with weak FA class, I'm guessing pretty cheap inline TE, $1-2mil.
OT3: Scrap/draft.

Agree with this.

QB2- on the low end will be someone like Keenum (3.5M in 2019). High end would be if someone gets cut like Carr, Newton, or that type of player.

RG- I think you have to get a clear starter. 6-8Mil here.

CB- not a need if Prince is back. Every other CB on the roster is back.

OLB3- I'm thinking a slight splurge here. Maybe 5Mil. Too many other needs to take a guy in the 2nd, and after that I don't see a guy that can help from the draft. Definitely aging veteran pass rush specialist here.

SS- agree 100%. 3-5Mil for 2 players. I'd bring back Bush and then another vet sometime after the draft, after the comp pick formula isn't a factor.

TE- agree 100%. I think they'll sign somewhat of a name for cheap (Eifert, Vannett?) and talk up Burton to make people think they aren't going TE early, but they will.

 

[dennehy]

That is after free agency.

OTC has them at 51 current contracts.

They will get some cap relief likely 5 million or so from cheaper guys coming off the books. That may guarantee them the 25 million in the original post.

51 contract is the threshold for what counts on the cap. Say 6 cuts, 10 re signings, 7 free agent signings, and 7 rookies. That would 18 players, pushing roughly $500-600k per player off the bottom of cap.

 

[WindyCity]

51 contract is the threshold for what counts on the cap. Say 6 cuts, 10 re signings, 7 free agent signings, and 7 rookies. That would 18 players, pushing roughly $500-600k per player off the bottom of cap.

The draft guys wouldn't happen till after free agency.

10 re-signings + 7 free agents, would remove 11 guys and 5.5 million in actual free agent usable dollars.

 

[Pegger]

Can't overlook guys that are on the roster, but have not played. If there was a development strategy than some of the younger players on the roster should be ready to take on the challenge.

Those names won't excite you much, but they are the in house solution that's cheaper than anything else.

 

[dennehy]

The draft guys wouldn't happen till after free agency.

10 re-signings + 7 free agents, would remove 11 guys and 5.5 million in actual free agent usable dollars.

You're already reserving the $5mil for rookies in your model, which would be usable before. Also almost all of the rookies this year will be drafted late and will essentially cost $0 against the cap because they will be at or near the lowest number.

 

[Chicago4Life]

We know that Pace likes to go into the draft without glaring holes on the roster, which means he has a lot of work to do on a tight budget. This is assuming that ILB is addressed in house.

QB2
RG -
OT3 -
TE -
OLB3
SS
CB3-4

To go into the draft without a glaring hole this is the list

not sure RG and TE are holes, dont see coward not being brought back and dont see shaheen/burton being cut, prob see pace bring back holtz. lucas will also likely be brought back as OT3 leaving
QB2, OLB3, SS and CB3/4

 

[Bearly]

Get a vet QB. I think they re-sign Kwiat and try Bush at SS. CB will be interesting. I don't think we do anything about the Ts in FA and maybe bring in a starting G though I hate that scenario from a budget standpoint. I much prefer developing Gs. I like our young TE potential but suspect they go for a guy at the top of tier 2 like Ebron unless completely priced out.

 

[Mdbearz]

I don't believe we will ever win a SB without a top 10 QB, which Mitch is clearly not at this point. Could we simply take a flier on some UDFA or late round pick at QB and pay them shit? I mean, if Mitch shits the bed, let the team (and our record) burn. Let's get the highest pick possible for 2021 and rebuild the offense and give a new HC or GM every chance to make some moves.

Why waste $$$ on a backup? I know there is a slim possibility the Bears D and a "remade" offensive line could maybe do some damage in the playoffs with a game manager at QB, but long term that shit won't fly. We know this. The Bears know this. So, why not cut Chase, and get a cheap option in there?

Jimmy G has made 27 passing attempts in the playoffs...I would consider that a "Game Manager". SF built the team from the trenches and they have a game manager that has taken them to the SB.

The other end is Mahomes with 77 pass attempts, and undoubtedly the better QB. So....it can be done both ways, but The Bears have not had a QB that can carry the team since Sid Luckman.

I think we should build up the trenches and not sell the farm trying to find the next Mahomes (he is the standard).

If they want to take the chance on a QB, DON'T REACH!!!

 

[coolio]

Pace is stupid as hell if he chooses to go down with Trubisky, his job should depend on how well the bears do not how Trubisky does. If we go like 10-6 and make the playoffs with Andy Dalton led us to that record then he wouldn't get fired. Imo were in a 2 year retool right now.

 

[WindyCity]

not sure RG and TE are holes, dont see coward not being brought back and dont see shaheen/burton being cut, prob see pace bring back holtz. lucas will also likely be brought back as OT3 leaving
QB2, OLB3, SS and CB3/4

They are going to bring those guys back, but they are going to upgrade those spots as well.

Coward will be in camp, but he will not be the only veteran RG re-signed or signed in the offseason.

 

[rawdawg]

Get a vet QB. I think they re-sign Kwiat and try Bush at SS. CB will be interesting. I don't think we do anything about the Ts in FA and maybe bring in a starting G though I hate that scenario from a budget standpoint. I much prefer developing Gs. I like our young TE potential but suspect they go for a guy at the top of tier 2 like Ebron unless completely priced out.

Typically, I agree with this. But the Bears already have a developing OG (Daniels) and they don't really have time to develop another as they want to compete right now, and one of the main reasons they didn't compete enough this year was the OL. You want to develop players either alongside great talent (Whitehair applies, Massie not so much) or you want to develop them before you desperately need them to play. Which is why I think they sign a RG and draft a future RT this year.

 

[iueyedoc]

We know that Pace likes to go into the draft without glaring holes on the roster, which means he has a lot of work to do on a tight budget. This is assuming that ILB is addressed in house.

QB2
RG
OT3
TE
OLB3
SS
CB3-4

To go into the draft without a glaring hole this is the list

Any position with a 3 or 4 next to it is not a glaring hole. SS and RG are the biggest holes at the moment as there is no starter or even experienced back up on the roster for 2020. TE is a huge need, but they may still roll the dice with Burton at TE in 2020 as they know his health status better than any CCSer.