Kevin White Cut by Arizona Cardinals, Bears Lose Compensatory Pick
When the Chicago Bears decided to let wide receiver Kevin White go free via free agency during the 2019 offseason, it’s pretty evident that they thought that he wouldn’t have any ill effect on them from that point on. Well, guess again.
The seventh-overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft was recently cut by the Arizona Cardinals, and is now looking for a new home. White signed a one-year deal with the Cardinals this past March.
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Unfortunately, White’s history of injuries followed him to the dessert as he battled with a hamstring injury during Arizona’s training camp. The West Virginia’s misfortune began his rookie season with the Bears when he suffered a fractured leg which placed him on injured reserve (IR) for the entire 2015 season. The following year, White managed to play in four regular-season games, but a fractured fibula in the same leg that was injured before landed him on IR once again. In 2017, White fractured his shoulder blade in Week 1, and was placed on IR for the third year in a row.
In 2018, Chicago decided not to exercise White’s fifth-year option. White managed to stay healthy, but was buried on the depth chart. The 27-year-old caught only four balls for 92 yards on the season, and had a total of 25 receptions for 285 yards and zero touchdowns in a Bears uniform.
Now, what does this mean for the Bears? Well, since White was cut by the Cards, Chicago is now without a 2020 fourth-round compensatory pick. The only way for the Bears to get that pick back is if they cut either wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, cornerback Buster Skrine, running back Mike Davis, or safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix by Week 10 of this season. Unless something out of the ordinary happens between now and Week 10, it’s pretty safe to say that neither one of those players will be getting the axe.
It would’ve been great to see White meet the expectations of a first-round draft pick in the Windy City. It’s just hurtful such talent being labeled as a “bust” for something like injuries that’s was out of his control. Here’s to hoping that White lands with another team and gets a chance to prove his worth.