Chicago Bears 2019 Mock Offseason: Stretching the dollars
By Erik Lambert
The Chicago Bears 2019 mock offseason is all about projecting where the team could go with the resources they have in play.
For this team in particular? It’s a bit of a challenge. The Bears used up much of their revenue last season upgrading their roster. Don’t get it wrong. Most of their moves were a huge success from their trade for Khalil Mack, to signing Allen Robinson and drafting Roquan Smith and Anthony Miller. Still, it doesn’t make the situation before them any less difficult.
There is a lot of work to do and it may take some creativity to accomplish all their objectives. So how might they go about it? Here’s one series of possibilities.
Re-signings:
- Bryce Callahan (CB) – 4-year, $34.6 million ($14 million guaranteed)
- Rashaad Coward (OT) – Exclusive RFA ($645,000)
- Roy Robertson-Harris (DE) – Exclusive RFA ($645,000)
- Patrick Scales (LS) – 1-year, $720,000
- Pat O’Donnell (P) – 1-year, $1.75 million
- DeAndre Houston-Carson (S) – 1-year, $720,000
- Bryan Witzmann (OG) – 3-year, $4.2 million ($1 million guaranteed)
- Josh Bellamy (WR) – 1-year, $900,000
- Ben Braunecker (TE) – 1-year, $720,000
- Benny Cunningham (RB) – 1-year, $805,000
- Khalil Mack (EDGE) – $4 million converted to a bonus
- Chase Daniel (QB) – 2-year extension at $10 million (drop cap hit by $2 million)
The Bears accomplish most of their goals with these moves. First and foremost is the successful retention of Callahan. He makes a bit more than Baltimore counterpart Tavon Young who plays the same position and is three years younger. So the Bears actually do him a solid with $8.65 million per year, locking up their key nickel corner.
Another score is the retention of Bryan Witzmann at guard. He proved to be a strong acquisition in 2018 and should make for a great primary backup for Kyle Long and James Daniels, getting a nice pay raise in the process. Chicago also helps their cause by adding a bit more cap space by restructuring Mack’s contract and also handing backup QB Chase Daniel an extension.
It may have cost them Adrian Amos, but all in all, things went well for them here.