The Chicago Bears signing Robert Quinn and letting go of Leonard Floyd was an easy decision for this reason
When the Chicago Bears signed Robert Quinn it was a shockwave to fans everywhere. The corresponding move of letting go of Leonard Floyd was obvious in this situation.
There are plenty of ways to look at it, but when breaking down the contract, it was clearly a no brainer decision. This was a move that was all-in on the present.
When looking at the contract of Quinn, it is a five-year deal, but we know not to look at it like that. We have to look at the guarantees. In that, he got $30 million.
Considering he is making $15 million in average annual salary, he essentially has signed a two-year, $30 million deal.
When looking at Leonard Floyd, his cap hit playing on a fifth-year option would have been $13.9. In a perfect world, where Floyd performed up to this level of salary, the Bears would likely be in a situation where they would want to franchise tag Floyd. Floyd has never been consistent, so if he produced on his fifth-year option, using the tag to dangle the carrot once more makes sense. That would be valued at $15.8 million, and may rise by next year. Still, if Floyd lived up to his best-case scenario, the Bears would have paid him out $29.7 over those two years.
When Ryan Pace weighed his options, the realization came that he could have Floyd for two-years, $29.7, and hope that Floyd plays better. Or, they could sign Quinn to a two-year for $30 million.
With Quinn, they are getting an older player, although with that a much more proven player. Again, if they are only investing in two years of both, does it matter that Quinn is 29 while Floyd is 27? Quinn is the bird in the hand. We know that he is the much more proven pass rusher, so if the money is the same why not take a chance on the known commodity in Quinn.