Team Needs:

OT, SS, RB, OG, CB

Available Draft Picks:

3 (88), 4(100) via OAK, 4 (120), 5 (152), 7 (216)

Starting Cap Space:

$5,918,601

Trades:

RB Jordan Howard to Oakland for pick 4.100

For about a month now, rumors have been swirling that the Bears would sign Kareem Hunt and trade Jordan Howard. That didn’t exactly work out because Hunt signed with Cleveland, but Jordan Howard is still packing his bags here and taking a trip to Oakland for a 4th round pick. The deal helps clear up some cap space and gives the Bears a fifth pick in the draft.

Restructures:

None

Cuts:

TE Dion Sims to save $6,000,000

CB Sherrick McManis to save $1,687,500

Dion Sims is a backup-quality tight end but he’s the 17th highest-paid TE in the NFL. Cutting him is huge for the team with one of the worst cap situations in the NFL this offseason. Cutting Sims and McManis clears up enough space to sign the rookies and to re-sign the players, but don’t expect the Bears to be players in free agency outside fof UDFAs.

Re-signings:

CB Bryce Callahan for 4 yrs, $28,078,452

P Pat O’Donnell for 3 yrs, $6,000,000

LS Patrick Scales for 1 yr, $900,000

DE Roy Robertson-Harris for 1 yr, $550,000 (ERFA)

Going into this offseason, the Bears have some tough decisions to make. One of those decisions is needing to re-sign one of Bryce Callahan or Adrian Amos. I chose Callahan here because in today’s NFL, slot corner is often more valuable than safety, so the Bears retain their slot corner and will look to replace Amos in the draft. Pat O’Donnell is an above average punter so he’s getting paid like it here, not a big deal for a specialist but not chump change either. Patrick Scales is a specialist to bring back on the cheap and Roy Robertson-Harris is an exclusive rights free agent that had three sacks last season, so bringing him back on this cheap of a deal is a no-brainer.

Free Agent Signings:

None

I really tried to find some space to be able to sign some free agents but it’s an impossible task with how the Bears contracts work out from all of the cap hits.

Draft Results:

3.88 – Amani Hooker, DB, Iowa

Hooker should be able to thrive in the Bears system as their safety paired with Eddie Jackson. Hooker should make this defense be even scarier with his ability to cover short zones, deep half or third, and his ability to blow up the run game should be valued.

4.100 – Chris Lindstrom, IOL, Boston College

Lindstrom is one of the safest picks in the draft this season and he seems to be a bit of a faller always, probably because he doesn’t seem like he’ll a lot better, but he’s already got a pretty high floor. The Bears get a steal here that can come in and play right away in case of injury.

4.120 – Elijah Holyfield, RB, Georgia

Trading Jordan Howard away leaves a bit of a gap in the backfield but Elijah Holyfield will be able to step in immediately as the power back to complement Tarik Cohen.

5.182 – Kaleb McGary, OT, Washington

McGary should be able to play at either guard or tackle so he’d be a valuable swing lineman here late. With great size and athleticism, if he has proper coaching, McGary could develop into a solid depth lineman.

7.216 – Foster Moreau, TE, LSU

Moreau is a tight end that’s above-average at everything but not necessarily great at anything. Although he’ll be behind Trey Burton and Adam Shaheen on the depth chart at tight end, he could eventually find his way onto the field as a fullback (which should be a seamless transition for him) and be a potential contributor on special teams.

Cap Space Spent on Re-signings:

$10,469,613

Cap Space Spent on Free Agents:

$0

Cap Space Spent on Draft Picks:

$3,151,609

Total Cap Remaining:

$1,534,879

Backfield Starters

QB: Mitch Trubisky

RB: Tarik Cohen

FB: Foster Moreau

Receiver Starters

WR1: Allen Robinson

WR2: Taylor Gabriel

Slot: Anthony Miller

TE1: Trey Burton

TE2: Adam Shaheen

Offensive Line Starters

LT: Charles Leno Jr.

LG: James Daniels

C: Cody Whitehair

RG: Kyle Long

RT: Bobby Massie

Defensive Line Starters

WDE: Akiem Hicks

NT: Eddie Goldman

SDE: Jonathan Bullard

Linebacker Starters

WLB: Leonard Floyd

WILB: Roquan Smith

SILB: Danny Trevathan

SLB: Khalil Mack

Secondary Starters

CB1: Kyle Fuller

CB2: Prince Amukamara

Slot: Bryce Callahan

FS: Eddie Jackson

SS: Amani Hooker

Special Teamers

K: Cody Parkey

P: Pat O’Donnell

KOS: Cody Parkey

LS: Patrick Scales

KR: Tarik Cohen

PR: Tarik Cohen