Chicago Bears Mock Off-Season: Adding the Nagy Flavor
By Erik Lambert
Cuts
Projected salary cap space: $41.6 million
- Mike Glennon (QB) – $11.5 million saved
- Pernell McPhee (OLB) – $7.075 million saved
- Dion Sims (TE) – $5.66 million
- Markus Wheaton (WR) – $5 million
- Willie Young (OLB) – $4.5 million
- Jerrell Freeman (ILB) – $3.96 million
- Quintin Demps (S) – $3.927 million
New salary cap projected: $83.7 million
The presence of a new coaching staff likely means there will be a significant adjustment to the personnel. This means older or expensive players on the roster might not be as safe as they were under John Fox. Truth be told most of the 2017 free agent class will get the boot. The Bears aren’t paying Glennon $16 million to sit on the bench as a backup. Sims was supplanted by Adam Shaheen late in the season. Wheaton was a disaster and Demps went down with injury.
As for the rest it’s about age and injury issues. McPhee has issues in both his knees and now his shoulder. Young is turning 32 this year and coming off a season-ending injury of his own. As for Freeman he’s in his 30s now as well but also has the stain of multiple suspensions too. The Bears defense seemed to get along just fine without him.