Should the Chicago Bears re-sign free agent Adrian Amos or let him walk via free agency?
As the Chicago Bears have been making each decision on their impending free agents, we have looked into what the team may be pondering as they lead up to the decision. What are the cases for keeping Adrian Amos and what is the case for letting him walk and sign with another team?
Keep
Some people laugh about Adrian Amos being potentially overrated by Pro Football Focus for how high they grade him. However, there is something to what they are saying. Amos is always in position and does make the right play for the majority of the time. He missed nine tackles all season, and five came in the phantom heat game against the Dolphins.
Amos also has been able to wear a variety of hats for the Bears. He plays in the box and helps in run support. He can defend tight ends and slot receivers. Amos also plays two high and even single high as Eddie Jackson can roam into the box.
The versatility while staying in his role is more valuable than some may think. This gives a player such as Eddie Jackson the ability to roam and make plays. He knows that if he jumps a route or the pass rush forces the play to breakdown that his teammate will be precisely where he assumes him to be. It gives him the confidence to jump that extra second faster.
The two also have strong communication with each other. The continuity and understanding between Jackson and Amos are hard to quantify, but it shows on tape and is hard to replace.
Walk
Amos did have a career-high two interceptions this year, which boosted his career total to three. He also recorded his second career sack this season. Amos had just three forced fumbles and had two tackles for loss this season. If you are looking for a playmaker, he is not quite it. At that point, the question becomes how much money do you give a player who is great at doing his job but does not go above and beyond?
Chuck Pagano talked about adding aggressiveness to the defense and being attacking in the secondary. Does that mean that Amos does not quite fit his fancy and he wants another risk taker next to Eddie Jackson? Amos blitzed a total of four times this season. Was that Fangio or Amos?
The biggest question with Amos will be his contract. If the Chicago Bears could bring him back, it is a no brainer. But if the price tag becomes something more than he is giving in the box score it has to become a bigger question.
Potential contract?
Last year was a weird year for safety salaries. With Eric Reid causing a logjam at the position it is tough to gauge the market based on last year. While the average price of safety will go down, it is worth noting that Lamarcus Joyner was franchise tagged for $11 million last year, which is an average of the top five salaries. This year the tag would be $11.35 million.
Reshad Jones signed a five-year, $60 million deal in 2017. The salary cap has gone up, but given Jones will still be the second highest paid safety in the NFL next year that feels a slight bit more than what Amos would get. Tyrann Mathieu had multiple ACL injuries but still signed for $7 million for one year in Houston. Amos is likely going to get more than $7 million per year but will get less than $12 million.
A four-year $40 million deal would be about what Adrian Amos is going to be looking at this offseason. Would that type of money be worth it?