Chicago Bears Keep or Pass: Bryce Callahan
Should the Chicago Bears keep Bryce Callahan or let him walk via free agency?
With Bobby Massie signed the only debate Chicago Bears have for the time being is Adrian Amos vs. Bryce Callahan. The Chicago Bears are likely to bring one back at most at this point, and there are fair points on both sides.
After recently breaking down the decision on Adrian Amos as well as free agent names we focus on Bryce Callahan today. Should the Chicago Bears keep him or let him walk?
Keep
Bryce Callahan broke out in 2017, but had the best year of his career in 2018. He was strong in coverage, as a blitzed and against the run.
He allowed 8.2 yards per target in coverage beating his 10.1 career high. He had eight hurries this year and nine in his career which led to two sacks, a career high as well.
On top of that, the question is who is going to replace Callahan? With Adrian Amos even if they do not add a free agent they could bump up Deon Bush and pay a depth safety.
For the Bears they have Sherick McManis, a career special teamer. That is no slight to McManis who was fantastic in the NFC Wild Card loss. However, he did allow the game winning interception. Kevin Toliver is an option but outside and slot are different beasts and Toliver is typically an outside corner.
The Bears would have to upgrade from Callahan if they lost out on him.
Pass
Ryan Pace has never seemed to show faith in him. The two seasons before 2018 Callahan had to fight and claw for playing time and beat out Cre’Von LeBlanc in camp on 2017 to solidify his job.
After a surprisingly strong 2017 many thought it was time for Pace to pay his due and sign Callahan before a breakout year came. Ryan Pace gave Callahan the lowest tender and wound up being right in his opinion that Callahan would not have a market.
Still, Callahan showed up motivated in camp and put together a performance that may have you thinking the team should extend him before the big year. Still, they were confident in heading into 2018 with him as a free agent.
Yes, he played the best year of his career. He also finished the year on the IR. Ryan Pace saw him as a UDFA and got two or three years of quality play. Does he think he squeezed all of the juice out of the orange?
On top of that, while Amos has a clear backup, the Bears did fare fine without Callahan as well. They allowed a 39.5% run success rate with him and a 40.7% success rate without him. They allow a 47.6% pass success rate with I’m and 46.5% without him. That sample is 468 snaps without him and 658 snaps with him.
Would the Bears want to offer him another one-year deal? Is the market going to be what he thinks it will be?