Chicago Bears: Looking to free up salary cap after 2020 season

Is it finally time to cut ties with Trey Burton?

Mitchell Trubisky

First and foremost, the Chicago Bears are going to have to determine if quarterback Mitchell Trubisky is the face of the franchise beyond 2020. Pace traded away a considerable amount of draft capital to move up just one spot in the 2017 NFL draft to grab him.

In his first full season, Trubisky played very well and led the Bears to a 12-4 record and an NFC North title. However, last year was a nightmare for both the Bears and Trubisky, who headed into the offseason with more questions than answers.

Trubisky’s fifth-year option is valued at approximately $24 million, which will be about $15 million more than what he’s making in 2020.

Trey Burton

Trey Burton was part of the overhauled roster during the 2017 offseason, and he generally performed well in his first year in Chicago. However, he was limited to just eight games, including five starts, and hauled in 84 yards last year.

The former Eagle has a price tag of $8.5 million this year, and the Chicago Bears can cut him while carrying a dead cap of $7.5 million. However, it seems more logical to let 2020 play out with Burton on the roster. If he fails to prove anything beyond a reason for keeping him, the Bears can cut him after the season with a dead cap of just $1.8 million.

Charles Leno Jr.

Last season was a forgettable year for Charles Leno. The former seventh-round draft pick in the 2014 NFL draft signed a sizeable four-year, $38 million contract extension before the 2017 season. He was expected to be an anchor on a revamped Bears offensive line last year, but Leno regressed considerably. He was responsible for 13 penalties and five sacks allowed.

If Leno performs similar to 2019, the Chicago Bears could cut Leno, carrying a dead cap of $5 million while saving approximately $6 million in the process.