Five Bears who have the most to gain in 2017

Which players should have the most incentive to perform in 2017?

We know the term “contract year”. A player comes in with extra motivation and outperforms expectations. He knows he has a chance to cash in and does it. It is always something to consider when looking towards a new season. So who are the Bears with the biggest personal incentives this season?

5. Jaye Howard

Howard not only has a contract incentive, he know has the Chiefs providing him with extra motivation. After four years with the team, the Chiefs cut Howard later into the offseason. The Bears picked up Howard on a one-year deal for a chunk of money less than he would have had if he was playing with the Chiefs.

Howard missed a lot of time last season with a hip injury. It can be speculated that along with some cap savings that his hip had to do with the Chiefs moving on from him. The Bears passed him physically to play, but that does not mean they are optimistic on his long term health.

Howard will now be spending the rest of his career trying to earn his next contract. Given the Bears depth chart, he will have every chance to start next season and he has every chance to earn some more money next year, whether it be on a one-year deal or not.