Chicago Bears Are Favorites To Land Danny Trevathan

Considering they have upwards of $46 million in cap space and are coming off a 6-10 season, it was a predictable outcome that the Chicago Bears would do some spending in NFL free agency this year.  It was just a matter of how much and on whom.  There are plenty of rumored targets, most of them on defense, and the one name that is gaining tons of traction is Denver Broncos linebacker Danny Trevathan.

He was drafted and developed by John Fox, who was head coach there before leaving to take over in Chicago.  That natural connection and the Bears’ obvious needs at inside linebacker make the interest easy enough to understand.  Now reports are coming in that unless something drastic changes in the next 24 hours, they are the favorites to sign him when the market opens on March 9th.

The Denver Post explains:

"“When free agency begins Monday, the vault is expected to open for Broncos defensive end Malik Jackson and inside linebacker Danny Trevathan. The Broncos made a multiyear offer of about $11 million per season to Jackson, which has not been enough to persuade him from testing the market. Jacksonville is most mentioned as a favorite to land Jackson because of its available space under the salary cap. Considered by many to be the NFL’s top available overall free agent, Jackson has been seeking $14 million to $15 million per season with a guarantee greater than San Diego’s Cory Liuget’s of $30.477 million. The Chicago Bears and Oakland Raiders are potential fits.Trevathan predicted last month the Chicago Bears would court him aggressively in free agency. They are considered the front-runners, followed by Atlanta and Miami, both of whom employ coaches with ties to the Broncos.”"

Considering the Bears have the most money (by far) to spend and employ a 3-4 defense, unlike the Falcons and Dolphins, it only adds to their advantage in the negotiating.  The Broncos are still in the running of course, but even as they restructure contracts they’re still strapped by cap problems.  Von Miller already received the franchise tag while Brock Osweiler and Malik Jackson take higher priority.

Trevathan was among those unfortunate players many in Denver felt might not be back.  If the Bears do end up getting him as predicted, it would be a major upgrade at a depleted position.