Chicago Bears Mock Offseason: Going All Out for Trubisky

Cuts

• Mike Glennon ($11.5 million saved)
• Dion Sims ($5.66 million saved)
• Markus Wheaton ($5 million saved)
• Quintin Demps ($3.66 million saved)
• Jerrell Freeman ($3.5 million saved)
• Marcus Cooper ($4.5 million saved)

Projected salary cap:  $69.46 million

One of the clever methods of operation by Pace during his tenure is front loading many of his free agent contracts. So while a lot of money might be paid, it doesn’t affect the team long term, keeping the salary cap healthy for future moves if those don’t work out. This will be especially helpful for the unfortunate contract handed to Mike Glennon. Though Pace mis-evaluated how good the former backup might be as a spot start until Trubisky was ready.

Unloading what’s left of that heavy three-year deal will gain the Bears plenty of flexibility next March during what could be an aggressive free agent period. Dion Sims and Markus Wheaton have proven unreliable for both health and productivity reasons. Quintin Demps made the mistake of getting hurt, allowing Adrian Amos another chance to secure a starting job which he’s done. The same has happened for Jerrell Freeman, though his repeated PED issues also lend a big hand.