Bears: Free agent tight ends to replace Trey Burton in 2020

With the lack of production by tight ends in the Chicago Bears offense, this team needs to look to improve the position next season. Whether they do so through free agency or the draft is up to Ryan Pace, but here are some to consider.

Wow. The Chicago Bears tight end group has not been good this season. Trey Burton has been dealing with an injury that apparently has kept him from reaching his potential. I think it is time we realize there is more at work here than his sports hernia. Burton has not only been bad, but he has also been downright cuttable this season.

Adam Shaheen has not been much better. Combined the two have less than 200 yards receiving and neither has scored a touchdown this season. I went ahead and looked at the Bears salary cap situation for 2020.

Although they are likely going to lose some significant players like Danny Trevathan and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to free agency, with some cuts and restructuring, the Bears can get to $35-$40 million in cap space for 2020.

Within these cuts needs to be Adam Shaheen. It does not sound like much, but cutting Shaheen will save the Bears a little over $1 million dollars in salary-cap space. At first, I wanted to cut Trey Burton too, but restructuring his contract will save the Bears around $3.5 million in cap space compared to cutting him only saving them around $1 million dollars.

Other cuts I made were Prince Amukamara and Kyle Long. Cutting these two alone saves the Bears $17 million dollars in 2020. Another cut candidate includes Taylor Gabriel, but I restructured his contract instead of cutting him outright. I like his skill set and no one on the team compares.

Making these moves gives the Bears enough flexibility to bring in a free agent tight end to replace Trey Burton as the top tight end on this roster. I also believe the Bears should draft a tight end in the 2020 NFL Draft. You can read about three tight ends they could draft in the second round here.