What should the Chicago Bears do then?
Here should be the plan for the Bears to open up a great amount of cap space:
Restructures:
- Khalil Mack, OLB — $12.9
- Kyle Fuller, CB — $9 million
- Robert Quinn, OLB — $8.7 million
- Eddie Jackson, S — $6.8 million
- Charles Leno, OT — $6 million
- Cody Whitehair, OG/C — $4.9 million
- Eddie Goldman, DT — $3.2 million
Total Cap Space: $26 million
Trades:
- Allen Robinson, WR — $18 million
- 2021 First/Second Round Pick
- Akiem Hicks, DT — $10.5 million
- 2021 Third/Fifth Round Pick
- Jimmy Graham, TE — $7 million
- Bring him back cheap
- Anthony Miller, WR — $1.2 million
- Javon Wims, WR — $920k
Total Cap Space: $54 million
Cuts:
Total Cap Space: $64 million
And just like that, I opened up $64 million in cap space while gaining ideally a first-round pick and fourth-round pick. I’d have the money to pay Kenny Golladay at a discounted rate of Allen Robinson. I then could trade for Russell Wilson and use the first-round gained from Robinson and restructure his deal.
This could leave the Bears with potentially still plenty of picks to address slot wide receiver, defensive tackle, and right tackle while adding depth to other key positions like safety, cornerback, inside linebacker, and wide receiver.
All in all, don’t be worried about cap space. It isn’t ever something to be worried about as the Saints have shown that time and time again that you can dig out of the hole each year.