The Chicago Bears need to make a decision regarding Prince Amukamara this offseason. All signs point to him being a cap casualty. If the Bears cut ties with him, they will need to look at replacing him. Here are some discounted options.
The Chicago Bears need to find ways to add cap space this offseason. One way to do this is for Ryan Pace to cut ties with Prince Amukamara. Amukamara has been solid for this defense. He has his flaws but overall has been an average corner for this defense.
The problem is that Amukamara is scheduled to earn $10 million dollars this season. That would make him the 19th highest cap casualty in 2020. Other names that are around him on the list include Janoris Jenkins, Richard Sherman, and Casey Hayward. In fact, even Kyle Fuller is close as he is set to be the highest 14th highest cap casualty in 2020.
If the Chicago Bears were to release Amukamara, the team would save $9 million dollars. This move is a no-brainer in my opinion. Amukamara has served his time here well, but it is time to say goodbye. The team will need to find a serviceable replacement though.
While playing for the Bears, the team has benefited by allowing Amukamara and Fuller the ability to play man coverage when needed and they did it fairly well. Even though Amukamara does not have the interception numbers that scream superstar, he has been a strong coverage corner with his 29 pass deflections over three years. That is nearly 10 pass deflections per season.
The problem is that his salary this season does not reflect well for his numbers. Plenty of other corners could be had for less who also can cover fairly well despite not racking up the turnovers. Ryan Pace should let Amukamara walk and bring in one of these free agents to compete with Kevin Toliver for the starting corner spot opposite of Kyle Fuller.
James Bradberry
My first choice if he reaches free agency is James Bradberry. Bradberry was drafted in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers. My hope is that the Panthers will look to make drastic changes now that they parted ways with Ron Rivera and Luke Kuechly retired. If the Panthers decide to go in a different direction or Bradberry himself decides not to re-sign with the Panthers, he would be an ideal target.
Bradberry is coming off his rookie contract and will want to get paid, but the cornerback market is not the most expensive. My projected market price for Bradberry is a four year, $25 million dollar contract with $18 to $20 million guaranteed. This would be a very similar contract to what Prince Amukamara signed with the Bears in 2018 (three years, $27 million).
This would be $6-$7 million in AAV compared to Amukamara who earned $9 million in AAV. This might seem expensive to some and cheap to others, but it seems on point to me. Like Amukamara, Bradberry is not a big turnover guy either. He has eight interceptions over the last four years, but also like Amukamara he’s a solid coverage defender. In his four years with Carolina, he has averaged nearly 12 pass deflections a season.
Bradberry is a bigger corner at 6’1″ and 212lbs. He would fit in nicely in Chuck Pagano’s system opposite of Kyle Fuller.
Eli Apple
Many people probably recognize the name of the next option. Eli Apple is a former first-round draft pick. He was picked 10th overall by the New York Giants in 2016. He has not lived up to those expectations and had some issues while with the Giants.
He was suspended during his second season in the NFL and superstar safety Landon Collins called him a cancer in the locker room. Apple was considered immature and was not putting the time and work in off the field in order to prepare for games.
During his third season (2018), Apple was traded to the New Orleans Saints for a fourth-round and seventh-round pick. Apple was a backup for the Saints in 2019 as he played behind Janoris Jenkins and Marshon Lattimore. He might be willing to take a cheaper contract to play for a team where he has an opportunity to start in 2020.
Adding Apple to this team comes with some risk. He is not the best corner out there, but if the Bears want to improve in other areas, he is a cheap option they could add. Do not forget, Kevin Toliver could start and Apple might be a backup here in Chicago too.
Apple only has three interceptions during his four seasons in the NFL. That said, in a backup role he still racked up 53 solo tackles last season. If the Bears could sign Apple for a $3 to $4 million AAV it could be an ideal situation and give Ryan Pace another $4 to $5 million to throw at other positions like the offensive line or tight end.
Bashaud Breeland
The Kansas City Chiefs are on their way to the Super Bowl. Whether they win or lose, their contract situation is pretty good. That said, they need to pay Patrick Mahomes soon. This means they might not be able to bring back everyone they would like. Bashaud Breeland might be one of those guys.
Breeland signed a one-year contract with the Chiefs this year. Has been a solid addition for them too. He has two interceptions, eight pass deflections and 37 solo tackles this year. He is not a top corner in the NFL in my opinion but would be a serviceable replacement for Amukamara.
Breeland was a fourth-round pick in 2014. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins, but also has played for the Packers and now the Chiefs. The Chicago Bears should be able to sign him to a similar deal as Eli Apple and probably makes him a better option than Apple too.
Breeland has 12 interceptions over his six-year career. He also has seven forced fumbles. He will be 28 years old to start the 2020 season and therefore will likely receive a two or three-year contract.
It will be interesting to see if the Chiefs are able to bring him back or if he will seek more money elsewhere.
Daryl Worley
Could the Bears look at another former Carolina Panther? James Bradberry is currently with the team, but Daryl Worley played there just two seasons ago. Worley is a former third-round pick of the Panthers. In fact, he was taken in the same draft as Bradberry. Worley only lasted two seasons with the Panthers but played for the Raiders in 2018 and 2019.
Worley is not going to break the bank for the Chicago Bears. He earned the most money of his career this past season at a little more than $3 million dollars. Worley has been a starting corner all four years of his career. Could he come in and compete with Kevin Toliver for 2020? Would he push his way into the starting spot here with the Chicago Bears?
Over his four year career, Worley has grabbed five interceptions. He has also averaged 49 solo tackles per season. His numbers are slightly deflated as he only played in 10 games for the Raiders in 2018. He was placed on injured reserve due to a shoulder injury but returned fully healthy in 2019.
None of these guys outside of maybe Bradberry would be considered a “big” splash in free agency. With bigger names like Logan Ryan and Chris Harris hitting the market, the Bears should look to add one of these cheaper cornerback options quickly before the cornerback market jumps up higher than what the Chicago Bears are about to pay for Prince Amukamara.