5 reasons Leonard Floyd will return in 2020

3. Not committed long term

Going into a fifth-year has its perks. The player is going to be incentivized and we have seen that payoff. Beyond that, the Bears can still walk away after that fifth-year.

Look at Dee Ford. The Chiefs did not get much for four years and got a huge explosion in year five. They decided to franchise tag Ford but eventually traded him for a second-round pick in the 2020 draft. The Chiefs then used some of their added draft assets to trade for Frank Clark, and upgrade the position.

Still, both trades point to the idea of a market for edge rushers. Ford fetched a future second-round pick while Clark was worth a late first. If Floyd had a break out year in 2020, the Bears can franchise tag him and trade him. We have seen a team pick up a second-round pick in a very similar scenario.

Even if they do not get the same type of offer, Floyd could get paid on the open market if the Bears let him walk after year five. Edge rushers are going to get paid on an open market, see our last point. In that scenario, the Bears would have a great chance at picking up a third-round compensatory pick.

A chance at a second or third-round pick in 2021 after getting the most out of Floyd in 2020 is better than cutting Floyd in 2020 and getting nothing back.