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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