Chicago Bears 2018 Mock Offseason: The Big Push
By Erik Lambert
Cuts
QB Mike Glennon ($11.5 million saved)
The experiment didn’t work out. Glennon in essence bought the Bears a month to develop Mitch Trubisky further. Now he’s one of the most expensive backups in the NFL. The idea that Chicago will keep a $16 million salary cap hit in 2018 is ludicrous. He may not have been worth the money but that’s the price of doing business. Pace constructed his contract so that he could cut bait quickly. He does so here.
WR Markus Wheaton ($5 million saved)
Another misguided 2017 investment. Chicago had hoped Wheaton could provide their offense with an element of speed to ease pressure on the running game. Thus far the former Steeler has occupied the training room more than the field, suffering one ailment after another. Expectations are the Bears will completely revamp the receiving corps next year. Wheaton has already shown he’s unreliable, so why keep paying him like he is?
ILB Jerrell Freeman ($3.5 million saved)
He’s played well when on the field but Freeman has too many red flags going against him now. He will be 32-years old in 2018. He’s been caught using PEDs for the second-straight year and is also coming off a torn pectoral muscle. Combined with the standout play of Christian Jones in his absence and it feels like the end of the road for Freeman.
S Quintin Demps ($3.66 million saved)
It’s an NFL rule. If you’re an older player, don’t get hurt because there’s a chance a young buck can step up and steal your job. That’s exactly what is happening to Quintin Demps. The 32-year old broke his arm early in the season. With him out Adrian Amos was thrust back into the starting lineup and has played like a star since. If that continues for the next eight games the Bears are almost certainly going to stick with the 24-year old.