Projecting Tashaun Gipson contract with Chicago Bears
If the Chicago Bears decide to re-sign Tashaun Gipson, how much will he command?
Tashaun Gipson signed as a veteran coming off a down year and looking to get his career back on track. Gipson took a 1-year, $1 million deal which was even cheaper than the $3 million HaHa Clinton-Dix saw in Chicago the year prior. Still, when Gipson signed with the Chicago Bears he had the same idea in mind as HHCD.
While it did not go well in Dallas, Clinton-Dix went from $3 million in 2019 with Chicago to a $3.75 million deal with Dallas. Jumping into the Bears defense and playing beside Eddie Jackson gave Clinton-Dix a raise of nearly a million dollars.
For Gipson, it should be even more. He played better in the same role. In 2020 Gipson had 21 defensive stops, while Clinton-Dix had 15. Gipson missed fewer tackles as well, per PFF.
So, while Bears fans were fine letting Clinton-Dix walk, it is worth wondering what Gipson will get on an open market.
Finding a market for Tashaun Gipson
On one hand, Gipson played better in the same role and is more reliable. He could see $4 million on an open market. On the other, Clinton-Dix was 28 and Gipson will be 32 when the season starts.
There are currently only seven starting safeties in the NFL who are 32 or older. Harrison Smith, Kareem Jackson, Devin McCourty and Malcolm Jenkins are all making over $8 million. Gipson cannot compare, as those safeties have been consistent for the past half-decade.
Anthony Levine averages $1.8 million, Andrew Sendejo at $2.2 and Patrick Chung at $3.2 million per year are more reasonable comparisons, though. Most teams would take Gipson at a cost over Levin or Sendejo, and the case can be made for Chung as well coming off of missing all 2020.
Comparing Tashaun Gipson to Bradley McDougald
Bradley McDougald is the same age and coming off of a contract where he averaged $4.5 million per year. Looking at any metric would tell you that McDougald had a better 2019 than Gipson, but Gipson had a better 2020 than McDougald.
This is where the situation clearly impacts these players. McDougald did well in Seattle and fell off with the Jets. Gipson struggled with the Texans but in the Bears defense is much better.
Still, Gipson can argue that $4.5 million for McDougald means that he should see similar value considering he was the better player last year.
Expect Tashaun Gipson to test the market
Whether the Chicago Bears re-sign him will be interesting. They will likely want to after a strong season. However, Gipson may be holding out for the most money. His upside is a $3 million raise from what he made in Chicago last year. At worst, he should see at least $750,000K more.
After seeing Clinton-Dix perform well and fall off outside of Chicago, then seeing Gipson come from a bad year and excelling in Chicago has to have the Bears think that it is the other players around these safeties.
They would think that someone like McDougald, for less than Gipson would bounce right back as Gipson did. In that case, why pay $4.5 million for a safety that they can get for $1-2 million.
Gipson waited until after the draft to sign with the Chicago Bears last year, and the Bears waited until after the draft to sign a starting safety for the cheap salary they wanted.
Do not be surprised if Gipson is waiting for more money and the Bears are waiting for a cheap veteran again next year.