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Chicago Bears Complete 2017 Mock Off-Season: Pincer Attack

By Erik Lambert

Jan 28, 2017; Mobile, AL, USA; North squad head coach John Fox of the Chicago Bears looks on from the sidelines as he coaches against the South squad during the third quarter at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 28, 2017; Mobile, AL, USA; North squad head coach John Fox of the Chicago Bears looks on from the sidelines as he coaches against the South squad during the third quarter at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 18, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17) during the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17) during the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /

Cuts and Re-Signs

  • Lamarr Houston – $5.01 million freed
  • Eddie Royal – $5 million freed
  • Tracy Porter – $3.45 million freed

New Cap Space:  $66.75 million

Houston may have some pass rush value but he’s now coming off his second major knee injury in the past three seasons. His contract is becoming far too expensive to keep around. Same problem goes for Royal. When healthy he’s proven quite productive but he’s just not on the field often enough. It’s always some new issue with him every week. To say nothing of the fact he’s in his 30s. Tracy Porter had a nice little resurgence in 2015 but he regressed sharply this past season.

  • Brian Hoyer – 2-year deal, $3 million ($750,000 guaranteed)
  • Connor Shaw – 1-year deal, $690,000
  • Matt Barkley – 1-year deal, $775,000
  • Alshon Jeffery – 4-year deal, $56 million ($25.2 million guaranteed)
  • Josh Bellamy – 1-year deal, $775,000
  • Eric Kush – 3-year deal, $3 million ($800,000 guaranteed)
  • Mike Adams – 1-year deal, $775,000
  • Bryce Callahan – 1-year deal, $615,000 (ERFA tender)
  • Johnthan Banks – 1-year deal, $870,000
  • Christian Jones – 1-year – $750,000
  • Cornelius Washington – 1-year, $1 milion
  • Connor Barth – 1-year, $900,000

New Cap Space:  $49.35 million

The Bears need to figure out the quarterback position. There is no harm in bringing Hoyer, Shaw and Barkley all back. It will create a competition for training camp and the preseason along with whomever else the team picks up. Alshon Jeffery is of course the big fish. One way they might be able to lure him back is with a shorter deal (four years instead of five) at nearly the same price of his franchise tag. This way he should still receive another shot at a big payday before he’s too old.

Kush showed a lot of surprising ability in relief of Josh Sitton and Kyle Long at guard. At 27-years old he looks like the perfect long-term swing backup. The remainder are being brought back on one-year “prove it” deals in order to help special teams and determine if anybody is worth keeping long-term.

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