Chicago Bears: 5 Bold predictions for the 2020 offseason

Maybe the boldest of moves

I will point out that I highly doubt this happens. That said, I will lay down my bold prediction that the Chicago Bears trade for Alex Smith. Yep. I am not even sure how they go about doing it since the salary cap implications are beyond abysmal.

Washington will be paying Alex Smith $21.4 million dollars in 2020. They also drafted Dwayne Haskins 15th overall in 2019. If Washington were to cut Smith, it would actually cost them $32 million in 2020. The team will hold him before cutting him, but trading him would be ideal. This could mean the Chicago Bears could potentially get him at a discounted trade cost.

If Washington were to trade Smith to the Bears, the Bears would need to pay Smith his $16 million base salary in 2020 and Washington would be on the hook for the remaining $16.2 million guaranteed to Smith when he signed his original contract in 2018. Although this still sounds awful, it would save Washington $5 million in 2020, remove Smith from their books going forward and even net a return in draft picks. The question is what do the Chicago Bears give up in return?

Well, with Smith’s injury uncertainty for 2020, the Bears could look to give up a 2020 fifth-round pick and a 2021 second or third-round pick. Not sure that gets the job done, but I would be making that phone call if I am Ryan Pace. Give me a healthy Smith over the likes of Cam Newton, Philip Rivers, Marcus Mariota or Andy Dalton in 2020.